• From: Kings Lynn, UK
  • Registered: 2009-11-11
  • Posts: 175

Topic: Guitar beginner

Hi everyone,

The great JB has inspired me to want to pick up a guitar again. I started to learn guitar about 20 years ago, but being a late teenager, I decided that it was too much like hard work, and after 6 months my playing was nothing like David Gilmour (my then guitar hero) so I gave it up as a bad job, as I didn't get instant gratification. My budget is quite limited, and obviously being a beginner I don't want to go out and shell out £500 on a guitar and amp. What I'd like to know is, is there a decent guitar/amp combo that I could get for around £200 - £250 that would be ok sounding to start with? I'll upgrade when I get a bit better, but the best guitar in the world will still sound rubbish in my novice hands lol

Thanks for any help you guys can give me smile

Jon

Jono on the radio www.blastradio.co.uk & on I-Tunes under Top 40/Pop category.
Saturdays 11.00 - 13.00 GMT (06.00 - 08.00 EST)
Joe almost always guaranteed in the playlist wink
Find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#/dog8myscreenie?ref=profile

dog8myscreenie's Website

  • From: South England
  • Registered: 2009-04-23
  • Posts: 154

Re: Guitar beginner

Try one of the starter kits from Fender or Gibson.

You get everything u need to get cracking. Nothing is brilliant by any means, by the guitars are playable and u get something to plug it in to!

http://www.guitarandampshop.co.uk/acata … Pack_.html

Something like that maybe smile

  • From: Kings Lynn, UK
  • Registered: 2009-11-11
  • Posts: 175

Re: Guitar beginner

GregP wrote:

Try one of the starter kits from Fender or Gibson.

You get everything u need to get cracking. Nothing is brilliant by any means, by the guitars are playable and u get something to plug it in to!

http://www.guitarandampshop.co.uk/acata … Pack_.html

Something like that maybe smile

Thanks geezer I'll have a look smile

Jono on the radio www.blastradio.co.uk & on I-Tunes under Top 40/Pop category.
Saturdays 11.00 - 13.00 GMT (06.00 - 08.00 EST)
Joe almost always guaranteed in the playlist wink
Find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#/dog8myscreenie?ref=profile

dog8myscreenie's Website

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Guitar beginner

Yeah, both those are good choices. Also, Ibanez usually has similar "Packs" around this time of year. Definately worth considering.

    Another option: Do you have Guitar Center over there? If so, their "Laguna" (House brand) is pretty good, for the $$$. One of those and a Line6 Spyder 15 Amp would be a great option.

    In fact I would recommend the Line6 15 Watt Amp over most any of the Amps in the Package deals. But, either way you'll probably be more than happy.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • BVer
  • Bronze Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-05-07
  • Posts: 26

Re: Guitar beginner

Budda wrote:

Yeah, both those are good choices. Also, Ibanez usually has similar "Packs" around this time of year. Definately worth considering.

    Another option: Do you have Guitar Center over there? If so, their "Laguna" (House brand) is pretty good, for the $$$. One of those and a Line6 Spyder 15 Amp would be a great option.

    In fact I would recommend the Line6 15 Watt Amp over most any of the Amps in the Package deals. But, either way you'll probably be more than happy.


NO no no. the spiders have such horrid tone. lifeless and dull imho. here is my suggestion...

for about 500 Eruo you can have a Epi Les Paul and a peavey Classic 30 used and you'll be very happy for anything blues rock

  • From: Grapevine, Tejas
  • Registered: 2009-11-03
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: Guitar beginner

Awsome idea.

I, too, love music, but have NEVER played a note in my 47 years of existance.

I'm thinking about a christmas present for myself to get a guitar and take lessons.

There's a guitar center about 5 miles from my house.

For those of you who play, do you recomend an acoustic to start out with or should I look at a solid body electric.

  • BVer
  • Bronze Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-05-07
  • Posts: 26

Re: Guitar beginner

Rockfarmer wrote:

Awsome idea.

I, too, love music, but have NEVER played a note in my 47 years of existance.

I'm thinking about a christmas present for myself to get a guitar and take lessons.

There's a guitar center about 5 miles from my house.

For those of you who play, do you recomend an acoustic to start out with or should I look at a solid body electric.


about the acoustic or electric thing: I learned on a acoustic. it's harder and you might want to quit. but it's much more rewarding in the long run IMO.

  • From: South England
  • Registered: 2009-04-23
  • Posts: 154

Re: Guitar beginner

Even now i work most of my stuff out on an acoustic before it goes anywhere near an electric.

With acoustics and the purchasing of..

Ignore the name written on the headstock, look for something in the budget range with a spruce top and play as many as you can. You'll find something you like that plays and sounds nice and the beauty of it is you'll take it everywhere cos it's not worth a small fortune.

My acoustic cost £30 from some company called Countryman and I do everything with it. Open mics, recording, friends parties, jamming, playing in fields.. I've even played it up a tree! It's battered, it's been everywhere and I love it.

  • From: The Gates of Delerium
  • Registered: 2008-05-07
  • Posts: 1,412

Re: Guitar beginner

Isn't it amazing how many people were inspired by Joe to pick up a guitar? Join the club!
Agree with Epiphone or Fender combos. You will have to spring for an electronic tuner as the ones supplied in the starter kits are crap.  Wholeheartedly suggest you try them out at the store first (try before you buy). The Epi LP special and Squirer bullet are at the bottom of the product line so don't expect much. For that outlay you can get a pretty decent acoustic guitar so that's another option.

Major Tom to ground control...
  • From: Kings Lynn, UK
  • Registered: 2009-11-11
  • Posts: 175

Re: Guitar beginner

All great advice, thanks a lot guys, I knew this would be the best place to ask ;o) My local music shop sells Ashton (I think that's what they're called) and also Yamaha packages. The Yamaha are a little more expensive but both packages come with Yamaha practice amps (15 or 20W can't remember which). I've been having a look around and it seems Yamaha are a pretty good guitar. Does anyone have experience with them? That's what I'm looking at for the moment at least. If I want something different I may have to go to a music shop further afield.

Thanks for all the help

Jon smile

Jono on the radio www.blastradio.co.uk & on I-Tunes under Top 40/Pop category.
Saturdays 11.00 - 13.00 GMT (06.00 - 08.00 EST)
Joe almost always guaranteed in the playlist wink
Find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#/dog8myscreenie?ref=profile

dog8myscreenie's Website

  • Registered: 2009-11-22
  • Posts: 6

Re: Guitar beginner

I've been teaching guitar for a few years now and always recommend Yamaha Pacifica guitars to any beginners that ask my advice. They're really well made guitars and play very well when properly set up. The cost savings have been made on the hardware so they'll take pick-up upgrades and last you for years. If you're just starting I'd suggest a s/h Pacifica 112 and a Vox DA5 combo - hours of bedroom fun!

  • From: Kings Lynn, UK
  • Registered: 2009-11-11
  • Posts: 175

Re: Guitar beginner

drwiddly wrote:

I've been teaching guitar for a few years now and always recommend Yamaha Pacifica guitars to any beginners that ask my advice. They're really well made guitars and play very well when properly set up. The cost savings have been made on the hardware so they'll take pick-up upgrades and last you for years. If you're just starting I'd suggest a s/h Pacifica 112 and a Vox DA5 combo - hours of bedroom fun!

Thank you so much for the advice, I'll go see my mate at the local music shop and see what he's got smile

Jono

Jono on the radio www.blastradio.co.uk & on I-Tunes under Top 40/Pop category.
Saturdays 11.00 - 13.00 GMT (06.00 - 08.00 EST)
Joe almost always guaranteed in the playlist wink
Find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#/dog8myscreenie?ref=profile

dog8myscreenie's Website

  • From: Grapevine, Tejas
  • Registered: 2009-11-03
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: Guitar beginner

drwiddly wrote:

I've been teaching guitar for a few years now and always recommend Yamaha Pacifica guitars to any beginners that ask my advice. They're really well made guitars and play very well when properly set up. The cost savings have been made on the hardware so they'll take pick-up upgrades and last you for years. If you're just starting I'd suggest a s/h Pacifica 112 and a Vox DA5 combo - hours of bedroom fun!


Thanks.  I see Guitar Center has this guitar for $299.  Can you also recommend a beginner amp to go along with this?

- Mike

  • Registered: 2009-11-24
  • Posts: 5

Re: Guitar beginner

dog8myscreenie wrote:
drwiddly wrote:

I've been teaching guitar for a few years now and always recommend Yamaha Pacifica guitars to any beginners that ask my advice. They're really well made guitars and play very well when properly set up. The cost savings have been made on the hardware so they'll take pick-up upgrades and last you for years. If you're just starting I'd suggest a s/h Pacifica 112 and a Vox DA5 combo - hours of bedroom fun!

Thank you so much for the advice, I'll go see my mate at the local music shop and see what he's got smile

Jono

You are probably set up now, but a Mexican Fender Strat and the Fender Champ 600 would be a good combo...but may be slightly out of the price range...?