Comments on: Beginner electric guitars - What to look for and expect http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/ What to know about electric guitars - My opinion and experience. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:47:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: admin http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-207 admin Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:29:48 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-207 Hi Lepruk, You're welcome. It was great to have you on my site. Best of luck to you. Hi Lepruk,
You’re welcome. It was great to have you on my site.
Best of luck to you.

]]> By: Lepruk http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-206 Lepruk Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:55:03 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-206 EDIT: I do keep hovering over the Buy now button for that fat strat pack heh; probably buy it tomorrow knowing my impulse... just looks like such a nice guitar + amp that you could keep with you for a good couple of years. EDIT:

I do keep hovering over the Buy now button for that fat strat pack heh; probably buy it tomorrow knowing my impulse… just looks like such a nice guitar + amp that you could keep with you for a good couple of years.

]]> By: Lepruk http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-205 Lepruk Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:19:35 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-205 Thanks a lot Andrew for taking the time to help out some random guitar newb!. Decided to go to a local guitar shop today and have a mess about even though I only currently know 4 chords and 1 of the basic scales (the salesman rolled his eyes a few times)... Anyway LOVED the feel of the fat strat (couldn't tell you if it is the exact same one I linked you)... Btw I actually managed to pick up a very cheap squier bullet strat for £50 with a cheap amp / case / handful of picks. I am definitely going to buy that fat strat i think though in about a month's time. Was incredibly comfortable to hold; on an odd note I actually really didn't like the epi les paul in the end... I think fender has just gained a new strat fan ^.^... thanks again for all the advice. Luke Thanks a lot Andrew for taking the time to help out some random guitar newb!.

Decided to go to a local guitar shop today and have a mess about even though I only currently know 4 chords and 1 of the basic scales (the salesman rolled his eyes a few times)…

Anyway LOVED the feel of the fat strat (couldn’t tell you if it is the exact same one I linked you)…

Btw I actually managed to pick up a very cheap squier bullet strat for £50 with a cheap amp / case / handful of picks.

I am definitely going to buy that fat strat i think though in about a month’s time. Was incredibly comfortable to hold; on an odd note I actually really didn’t like the epi les paul in the end…

I think fender has just gained a new strat fan ^.^…

thanks again for all the advice.

Luke

]]> By: admin http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-204 admin Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:02:55 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-204 Oops, looks like I need to correct myself again. That cheaper squier stop dreaming guitar pack with the three single coils has a squier SE special strat. Not an affinity series. Sorry Lepruk. Even more reason to go for the Fat Strat. Oops, looks like I need to correct myself again.
That cheaper squier stop dreaming guitar pack with the three single coils has a squier SE special strat. Not an affinity series.

Sorry Lepruk. Even more reason to go for the Fat Strat.

]]> By: admin http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-203 admin Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:19:16 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-203 I also need to mention that the Squier affinity strats in the stop dreaming and start playing packages have a body that's made from Agathis wood whereas the stand alone affinity strats are made with Alder wood. Agathis is in fact not a bad choice for a tonewood. A friend of mine who is an experienced luthier (Guitar builder), tells me that one of his best sounding electric guitars actually had a body made from pine. Agathis is a conifer (same family as pine) and a lot of people really like the sound. There are some other woods that no-one uses yet which also sound great, but I'm keeping those secrets for now. - Cheers I also need to mention that the Squier affinity strats in the stop dreaming and start playing packages have a body that’s made from Agathis wood whereas the stand alone affinity strats are made with Alder wood.

Agathis is in fact not a bad choice for a tonewood. A friend of mine who is an experienced luthier (Guitar builder), tells me that one of his best sounding electric guitars actually had a body made from pine.

Agathis is a conifer (same family as pine) and a lot of people really like the sound.
There are some other woods that no-one uses yet which also sound great, but I’m keeping those secrets for now.
- Cheers

]]> By: admin http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-202 admin Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:09:03 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-202 Hi Lepruk, I know it says Admin, but my name's Andrew. I had a good look at the two resources you listed and it appears that they are totally different packages as well as being two different strats. The one with the Fat Strat looks like it has a much better amplifier with the package as well as a few other things. I haven't seen any of their newer Stop dreaming and start playing stratocaster packages, but it looks like the dolphin music one is an older package. It is possible to buy a humbucking pickup that fits into a single coil spacing and replace the bridge pickup with that later, but I've often found that the guitar companies fit the most compatible pickups. So, I'd still go for the Fat Strat, even though the demos I did where with a 3 single coil guitar. The guitar amp plays a big part in the sound you get out of a guitar. I think you'd appreciate the extra cash spend later on. Single coils have a tendency to pick up electromagnetic interference, especially from computer screens and fluorescent lighting. That might not hassle you that much, but for myself, I do a lot of recording in front of the computer. I love the sound of single coils in the other two positions but nothing beats a good humbucker in the bridge for great rock tone. You could use tin foil to create an interference free chamber underneath the pickguard so all the electronics are isolated. It seems to work quite well. I hope this helps. Hi Lepruk, I know it says Admin, but my name’s Andrew.
I had a good look at the two resources you listed and it appears that they are totally different packages as well as being two different strats.
The one with the Fat Strat looks like it has a much better amplifier with the package as well as a few other things.
I haven’t seen any of their newer Stop dreaming and start playing stratocaster packages, but it looks like the dolphin music one is an older package.

It is possible to buy a humbucking pickup that fits into a single coil spacing and replace the bridge pickup with that later, but I’ve often found that the guitar companies fit the most compatible pickups.

So, I’d still go for the Fat Strat, even though the demos I did where with a 3 single coil guitar.
The guitar amp plays a big part in the sound you get out of a guitar. I think you’d appreciate the extra cash spend later on.

Single coils have a tendency to pick up electromagnetic interference, especially from computer screens and fluorescent lighting.

That might not hassle you that much, but for myself, I do a lot of recording in front of the computer. I love the sound of single coils in the other two positions but nothing beats a good humbucker in the bridge for great rock tone.

You could use tin foil to create an interference free chamber underneath the pickguard so all the electronics are isolated. It seems to work quite well.

I hope this helps.

]]> By: Lepruk http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-201 Lepruk Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:29:42 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-201 Hi again admin; Thanks for the prompt response; Well I can get the squier fat strat with all the starting stuff for about £170 ($250)(i'm in the UK you see and things are a bit more pricey here): Link: http://www.reidys.com/index.pl?submit=View_PLU&PLU=5377 it's actually about £50 ($75) more than the 3 single coil version... would you still say that it is worth the extra boost in price for the marginally better amp and the HSS layout? Link: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop/flypage/product_id/21350 (sorry if the links aren't allowed here; just easier to show rather than explain)... thanks for your guidence. Hi again admin;

Thanks for the prompt response;

Well I can get the squier fat strat with all the starting stuff for about £170 ($250)(i’m in the UK you see and things are a bit more pricey here):

Link: http://www.reidys.com/index.pl?submit=View_PLU&PLU=5377

it’s actually about £50 ($75) more than the 3 single coil version… would you still say that it is worth the extra boost in price for the marginally better amp and the HSS layout?

Link: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop/flypage/product_id/21350

(sorry if the links aren’t allowed here; just easier to show rather than explain)…

thanks for your guidence.

]]> By: admin http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-200 admin Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:00:26 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-200 Hi Lepruk. Thanks for stopping by to comment. If I had a choice to make between the Les Paul special 2 and a Squier Stratocaster, I would take the Squier any day, but I would make sure it's the Squier Fat Strat. You can get a far wider range of guitar tones out of a Fat Strat. I would stay away from using the tremelo system on a strat though, cos mostly they just make the guitar go out of tune. It's also good to keep in mind that a lot of the guitar tone comes from the amplifier. Hmm, I think I should write a little post about that. Hi Lepruk.
Thanks for stopping by to comment. If I had a choice to make between the Les Paul special 2 and a Squier Stratocaster, I would take the Squier any day, but I would make sure it’s the Squier Fat Strat.

You can get a far wider range of guitar tones out of a Fat Strat.

I would stay away from using the tremelo system on a strat though, cos mostly they just make the guitar go out of tune.

It’s also good to keep in mind that a lot of the guitar tone comes from the amplifier. Hmm, I think I should write a little post about that.

]]> By: Lepruk http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-199 Lepruk Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:29:53 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-199 Hey. I am in the process of choosing my very first guitar. I have wanted to play for about 10 years but never had a chance when I was younger due to money issues... Anyway I was considering the les paul special 2 but this article has made me seriously look at the squier by fender... I assumed it would be a pretty poor guitar as it is often a bundle guitar but with this article and some further reading it seems it actually has some bite to it for a beginner. Anyway a bit of a long post sorry but thanks for the detailed info; so hard to start out with something like this especially when there is a money investment needed. Hey.

I am in the process of choosing my very first guitar. I have wanted to play for about 10 years but never had a chance when I was younger due to money issues…

Anyway I was considering the les paul special 2 but this article has made me seriously look at the squier by fender…

I assumed it would be a pretty poor guitar as it is often a bundle guitar but with this article and some further reading it seems it actually has some bite to it for a beginner.

Anyway a bit of a long post sorry but thanks for the detailed info; so hard to start out with something like this especially when there is a money investment needed.

]]> By: admin http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-175 admin Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:14:39 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-175 Thanks Siggy, great to hear that you're getting an electric. If it wasn't for the fact that I ditched my first acoustic for an electric guitar, I probably wouldn't be doing half the things I do on guitar. I do have one acoustic guitar, but I play it like an electric anyway. Thanks Siggy, great to hear that you’re getting an electric. If it wasn’t for the fact that I ditched my first acoustic for an electric guitar, I probably wouldn’t be doing half the things I do on guitar.
I do have one acoustic guitar, but I play it like an electric anyway.

]]> By: Siggy http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-174 Siggy Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:13:05 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-174 This is an awesome site, i have been trying sooo hard to learn on a dodgy acoustic for quite a while, and had as good as given up. this article made me realise i need a proper electric (i prefer them anyway). Im going to be looking at this site more often to learn!! Rock on dude This is an awesome site, i have been trying sooo hard to learn on a dodgy acoustic for quite a while, and had as good as given up. this article made me realise i need a proper electric (i prefer them anyway). Im going to be looking at this site more often to learn!! Rock on dude

]]> By: admin http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-166 admin Sat, 23 Aug 2008 21:23:03 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-166 Correction! Looks like the Fender lead 2 was discontinued (sad word for guitarists) in 1982. The Mustang looks like the closest thing available nowadays. It could also be a great guitar for young beginners, seeing as it has a short scale length, only 24 inch scale length as opposed to the Strats 25.5 inch. I borrowed a beat up old mustang when I was about 14 years old, and it was quite a blast to play. Correction!
Looks like the Fender lead 2 was discontinued (sad word for guitarists) in 1982. The Mustang looks like the closest thing available nowadays.
It could also be a great guitar for young beginners, seeing as it has a short scale length, only 24 inch scale length as opposed to the Strats 25.5 inch.
I borrowed a beat up old mustang when I was about 14 years old, and it was quite a blast to play.

]]> By: admin http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-165 admin Sat, 23 Aug 2008 21:05:40 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-165 Thanks for the positive feedback Chris. I'll have to look into that Lead 2 guitar. May be just the right thing for some beginner electric guitarists Thanks for the positive feedback Chris. I’ll have to look into that Lead 2 guitar.
May be just the right thing for some beginner electric guitarists

]]> By: Chris http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-164 Chris Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:43:46 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-164 I want to say that you site is great! I was looking around and found some fabulous articles. A first electric guitar that I would recommend would be a Fender Lead II if you could get your hands on one. It has a small neck, to make it easy for fingering for a beginner, and the sound is great! Just make sure that you have the action or intonation set when you get one. The intonation tends to last a while on this thing and I've only had it done once since I bought it! The body is quite light as well. I want to say that you site is great! I was looking around and found some fabulous articles.

A first electric guitar that I would recommend would be a Fender Lead II if you could get your hands on one.

It has a small neck, to make it easy for fingering for a beginner, and the sound is great! Just make sure that you have the action or intonation set when you get one. The intonation tends to last a while on this thing and I’ve only had it done once since I bought it!

The body is quite light as well.

]]> By: Vintage Guitar http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-163 Vintage Guitar Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:53:37 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-163 a) Demand for the guitar - something is not as valuable if it is rare and no one wants it! So be careful there if you are told 'this is rare' - find out if there is a demand for that particular guitar. a) Demand for the guitar - something is not as valuable if it is rare and no one wants it! So be careful there if you are told ‘this is rare’ - find out if there is a demand for that particular guitar.

]]> By: Daniel Craig http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-157 Daniel Craig Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:16:11 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-157 Hey, I was looking around for a while searching for beginners guitar lessons and I happened upon this site and your post regarding r electric guitars - What to look for and expect | Electric guitar, I will definitely this to my beginners guitar lessons bookmarks! Hey, I was looking around for a while searching for beginners guitar lessons and I happened upon this site and your post regarding r electric guitars - What to look for and expect | Electric guitar, I will definitely this to my beginners guitar lessons bookmarks!

]]> By: VintageP http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/beginner-electric-guitars-what-to-look-for-and-expect/#comment-2 VintageP Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:58:44 +0000 http://play-electric-guitar.net/blog/?p=3#comment-2 This is some right on stuff here! I'm amazed at how good the entry level guitars have become. I have both a Squier Affinity Strat (my first guitar) and a Fender American Strat. They have different personalities but both are fun guitars to play. This is some right on stuff here! I’m amazed at how good the entry level guitars have become. I have both a Squier Affinity Strat (my first guitar) and a Fender American Strat. They have different personalities but both are fun guitars to play.

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