Entry Level Advice (Page 1 of 2)

Good advice Jess. if the budget doesn't run to the Blues Jnr then check out a Fender Pro Jnr, a Laney LC15R or even the Epiphone valve amps. All not bad for the money and fairly low powered for home use. If you can spend a little more than go for a Cornell Romany or Romany Plus. As for the guitar I'd suggest a used Japanese 50's or 60's reissue Strat or a Mexican Classic series instead of the Mex Std. They're just that bit nicer to play. Good luck.

Second on blues junior, bang for buck thing.  Look on Craigslist for deals locally, you will see them quick.  Also, get on Gear Page to get you up to speed on everything out there.  I'd buy a mex strat or epiphone locally as they all match musicians friend prices; but you can look it over; fit, feel, neck, ect.  I'll go thru like 20-30 epips at local stores before I find one acceptable; strats seem more uniform but really look necks over.   I have a couple strats and have changed to S.D. surfer pups, Callaham bridge, LSR nuts (to play around with different strings), and I really like those Planet Waves tuners; also luv them snake oils.  Can't figure how fender sells their stuff with standard single coils.   

My 14 year old wanted geetar 2 years back; I had mustang/vibrolux reverb late 60's.  Hadn't played in all that time.  So I bought him amer strat, TRRI custom 15; he played for a month or so and didn't sound like Jeff Beck, gave up; too immature I think.   Six months later, I picked it up, started doin cowboy chords again, making wifey sing, ha  ha.   Got  a few dvd's (Greg Koch, Johnny A, Jim Weider, Ronnie Earl, bunch of them out there), and Hal Leonard SRV  Lightnin Blues 2nd edit & Edly's Music Theory for Practical People 2nd edit.  Will get ya goin quick.  THen you can go back to Robert Johnson, T-bone, Hooker, O Rush, freddy King, on and on.  GET WITH other players, do more good than anything. 

Ya know, I play an hour or so in morn and again before go to bed; boy I wish would have connected as a kid many years back.  Quick got a couple fender amps, and bought a Bruno 35 Cowtipper, couple strats and gettin ready to order a lentz.  Playin makes one feel so good.  And ya know, best thing about it all just playin myself, got me into Bonamassa, Duarte, Trout, and all the great music been missin for all these years.

I have guitar friends that are forever buying selling geetars like other friends buy/sale guns as they get tired of them.  Usually these guitars are in nice shape and got all the probs worked out, smooth as silk; check those out.  My 2 cents.

it depends if you want to gig or if you want to play out places.

Line 6 amps have a lot of bang for buck because of all the different simulation sounds.  Even Joe used one as a back up to his vintage twin reverbs...

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping.

Well it's just that I'm very satisfied with the Valvetronix amp. It's quite versatile for an entry level amp. The TexMex pickups are indeed different from the Texas Specials, but I read some reviews where people actually preferred em over the Texas Specials, even for getting an SRV sound. I only played the 60th anniversary one in the shop though, never played the SRV strat, so sorry for my lack of experience there
You might also try some epiphone les pauls too if you're more into the thicker sound of humbuckers.
Just make sure you always try the gear yourself and pick what feels and sounds good to you, as different people have different opinions.

If you listen very closely you can actually tell the difference between single coil Fenders and humbucker type Gibsons. You probably have the ability because you have listened to so much music (Joe etc.). Yes, I know that you can purchase humbucker Fenders and hybrids of each manufacturer. Many great guitarists can mix and match amps to produce the sound "in theirs ears" and produce great sounding Cd's etc. Much recorded sound that you have heard and "liked" is quite complicated and beyond the realm of a hobbiest. The production engineer is quite unappreciated and humble to say the least. So now you wonder my thoughts.

Pick a guitar you want to play. My first and only guitar is non-tremolo (Tele).
Pick an amp you can crank (tube 15-40 watts)
Get a dirty pedal that overdrives (your choice)

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Pick up a nice, well maintained 70's era Fender Champ (all tube) amp.  They should still be under $300.00 bucks.  Great Fender clean tone!  Pick up a 'Tube Screamer' type pedal for the overdrive (blues to rock) and you're all set.  MUCH, MUCH better tone than solid state amps or modelers will give you!  I used this set up when I got back into playing after a long layoff (I'm 45) to save some cash.  I've 'upgraded' a bit since, but I STILL find this combination appealing.

my problem with amps is that Id rather spend the money on another guitar, while keeping the amp i am unhappy with...   Once you do get a really good amp you'll realize having good guitars and a less-than amp was a terrible way to live!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping.

Solid choices - Good luck (and have fun) Bill S!