Any guitar players?

[Jscotty]

I use a classical guitar, been playing since 25, I can play electric, but it takes getting used to the strings being closer, and using the effects, I would advise to start with a soft classical guitar with plastic strings, until you develop calluses on the tips on your fingers, then switch to metal strings, it'll hurt less. ;)

Good point- Classical music is really the basis for all other music and those who are classically trained have the ability to do any other type of music. Also, starting out with a more difficult instrument will help you build your endurance so that playing the electric guitar will be a breeze. I attribute my extensive keyboarding ability to having had played acoustic piano for a number of years.

[MarshallM]

If you want to play electric guitar starting with classical technique is a waste of time. Start learning in the same style you want to sound like. Use a pick if you want to play electric. People that are classically trained have to start all over again when they try playing classic rock. Classic rock is basically a totally different instrument and just because you can play classical doesn't mean your going to be good at blues bends. I'm not saying classical is bad but its a waste of time if you want to play traditional electric. Also stay the fuck away from Gibson. Most overprices muddy sounding shit guitars known to man. Ibanez or fender would be good first choices. http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsit...s/beginner.htm

[ivo316]

Sorry, I re-read my post and I did not explain myself correctly...

I wasn't saying you need to train classical, of course a "flamenco" guitar player like Paco de Lucia may never get Rock right, it's also a matter of feeling, but a cheap electric guitar with metal strings will make your fingers hurt, this could discourage a beginner, that's why I advised him to start with a classical guitar with plastic strings, until he can use at least 25-30 chords and play "somewhat" right, then switch to an electric guitar and learn the specifics. I'll quote myself here:

"but it takes getting used to the strings being closer, and using the effects"

An electric guitar is a totally different instrument, but to learn the basics will be easier on a classical guitar, then perfect skills and grow on the electric. ;)

[trent]

15 year player here. Big collection of guitars.

Initially, buy the best guitar you can afford. You cannot go wrong with a Gibson (I have 2 bitchin ones) or any quality guitar. I don't think it matters playing either electric or acoustic right off the bat, a good guitar will lend itself to easier and faster play time. Playing a cheap guitar is discouraging, as they can be hard to hold, handle, fingers, picking, everything.

After I played electric with a pick for 14 years, I started to study Flamenco. At first, I bought a cheap ass nylon string, and even I, a great player, was like, this sucks, due to the quality of the cheap guitar, and did not practise of play often enough. I spent the money, and bought a very nice Flamenco specific guitar. (yes, classical and flamenco guitars are VERY different). Once I got the quality instrument, I was able to play much better, and easier, and less discouraged and the new style of music, and have taken a great leap in my flamenco playing.

Lots of good advise in this thread, but as previously stated, buy something nice, it will have better resale value if you ever decide to sell later also. A cheap guitar, is always a cheap guitar.

[trent]

Also stay the fuck away from Ibanez or Fender. Most overprices muddy sounding shit guitars known to man. Gibson would be a great first choice.

I fixed that for you, you had a lil mix up.

[Quik325ix]

Hey dude, ive been playing since i was 11 and i currently own an alverez acoustic, handmade acoustic, handmade classical, Les Paul standard special edition, and an old Fender Strat. All those guitars and the one i always come back to is the strat. It was by far the cheapest guitar and will always be my favorite. the tone is smooth and the action is easy. If you go with a strat, get the one piece maple neck, not the rosewood fretboard. The action is so much better and it just feels smoother. I play jazz, blues, and alternative kinda stuff and the tone is always right on. The only thing its not great for is metal and if thats what you are after, i would definately go with something with humbucker pickups. PRS guitars are the balls, but expensive for a first guitar. ummm thats about all i have to offer! good luck with your search!

[MarshallM]

Man Gibson is horrible. You don't even know. Their neck joint design is the worst. Think about it. Fender bolts the neck to the body. Bare wood compressed via bolts onto bare wood. Gibson glues their neck (except for Firebird) to the body. So not only is the neck just hanging there with no compression to transfer the vibration it also has a nice layer of insulating glue to further prevent the transfer of sound. If you want a nice guitar a Neck Through guitar is miles better then Gibson. Gibson is overpriced. When you get a Gibson you are paying for the brand and the shape. Want some tech on this here it is. http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsit...ntingMyths.htm.

http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsite/techarticles/neckconstruction.htm

Also PRS has gone downhill in recent years as they started to practice the black art of cost cutting. Oh we can not get a switchcraft jack and get a Korean one instead and save a dollar per guitar kind of stuff.

Ive been using a 80's Peavey V-type. It has neck through design (pickups are mounted on the neck) and great thin profile neck that is wide to make playing fast very easy. Its a great metal guitar that I use for everything and it only cost me 300. Yea only 300 for a neck through which is better then a slop glue in neck. Don't pay for marketing and don't go to guitar center to buy a guitar. Go to a PRIVATE owned store that is interested in making you happy. If the place has commissioned sales people get out as fast as you can.

If you want to spend a bunch of money Ed Roman is a good start. He has tons of 1000-2000 dollar handmade guitars. That blow PRS out of the water. Or get a Parkey nightfly.

[trent]

Man Gibson is horrible. You don't even know. Their neck joint design is the worst. Think about it. Fender bolts the neck to the body. Bare wood compressed via bolts onto bare wood. Gibson glues their neck (except for Firebird) to the body. So not only is the neck just hanging there with no compression to transfer the vibration it also has a nice layer of insulating glue to further prevent the transfer of sound. If you want a nice guitar a Neck Through guitar is miles better then Gibson. Gibson is overpriced. When you get a Gibson you are paying for the brand and the shape. Want some tech on this here it is.

Sorry, quoting from some no-name doesnt help your case. What a great bit of propaganda from the builder. And you can't tell me "I don't even know." I own guitars of all types, I have glue on necks, bolt on necks, and a neck through. They all have pluses and minues. It is all a matter of opinion, but I still believe Gibson so be the best standard in guitar sound.

Oh, btw, I am not a "Guitar Center" kiddie. LOL. Most of my guitars are rare, and i have searched the high seas for them. I know more than you think you are not talking to another "idiot."

[BimmerBall]

Gibson glues their neck (except for Firebird) to the body. So not only is the neck just hanging there with no compression to transfer the vibration it also has a nice layer of insulating glue to further prevent the transfer of sound.

LOL. i guarantee you'll sustain longer with a gibson than a fender.

To the OP, a Gibson Studio would be fine. And if you don't like it, it's easy to recoup most if not all of your money back. Whereas if you go with a $300 guitar, well, you just smoked $300.

[MarshallM]

Thats cause fender has single coils not because of guitar design. Coils can be changed. Why is Gibson good? Ive never liked Gibson so here is your chance to convert me. I could never see how they could justify over 1000+ prices for a machine made guitar.

[BimmerBall]

Thats cause fender has single coils not because of guitar design. Coils can be changed. Why is Gibson good? Ive never liked Gibson so here is your chance to convert me. I could never see how they could justify over 1000+ prices for a machine made guitar.

it has to do with the vibration of the string and the waves being bounced off the wood, not the pickups. all the pickups do is convert the movement of the string into electrical energy. test it yourself with an unplugged guitar. the note sounds longer on a glued neck than a bolt on. Not to say that one is better than the other, I mean i love a good stratocaster but i just prefer the les paul most of the time. Every now and then i love playing blues on a single coil strat to get that thin sound.

[trent]

Thats cause fender has single coils not because of guitar design. Coils can be changed. Why is Gibson good? Ive never liked Gibson so here is your chance to convert me. I could never see how they could justify over 1000+ prices for a machine made guitar.

Well, first off, as this is all a matter of opinion, mine, yours, Ed Morons, or whoevers. I completely believe that the actual WOOD that a guitar is made out of is the key ingredient, not the neck, the body, after all, this is where the pickup and bridge is located. I am a fan of big, chunky, heavy guitars. My main ax, a mid 80s Flying V, is heavy (I don't think it was machine made..if it was, then its pretty amazing). HEAVY. This guitar has more sustain, and volume than my other guitars.

For my playing, I can cover more tones with the V than anything else. Death metal, yes. Jazz, yes. Country, yes. Blues, OH yes. For me, big thick cutting tone is my goal. Very bassy, very solid. For me, playing a Gibson is almost like playing a guitar that is doubled an octave lower -which for metal is just unreal.

The neck for me is fantastic, one of the fastest necks I have ever played. And as for the neck attachments, I don't buy the logic. As, you can take a little stick of wood, and just very lightly touch the body in one place, and you can feel that piece of wood vibrating heavily. If a little piece of wood, touching in a 1/100 of an inch spot can get vibration transfer, i don't see why a neck that is "glued" on at a 2x3 attachment spot doesn't transfer vibration. It may be a poor design, and accident prone (i do believe they could break easier, although I am still not positive. I once dropped my les paul off a 3 foot drum riser, and it landed on the headstock and didn't break), but I do not think that lends itself to a poor sound. It isn't like the glue is 1/4inch thick or rubber isolated.

I have played almost every type of guitar, PRS, Dean, Ibanez, Peavey, Fender, BC Rich, Jackson Custom Shops, etc etc...I must say, I would pick my V over all of them.

[trent]

LOL. i guarantee you'll sustain longer with a gibson than a fender.

I agree with you, even with a pickup change. You can stick the best pickup in the world in a strat, and still won't get the sustain. I have played many MANY modifed Fenders (including custom shops), and they don't sustain like a Gibson, or even others.

[Hawk]

I listend to the sample files on Gibsons website for the Les Paul and its sounds way bluesy and 50's can u modify that for classic rock and metal type stuff? The explorer sounded awsome. Im not opposed to a V is thats what you like trent I mean If you guys want to reccomend an exact guitar I wouldnt come back un happy just the Les sounds way old, can that be modified with amp etc?

[trent]

I listend to the sample files on Gibsons website for the Les Paul and its sounds way bluesy and 50's can u modify that for classic rock and metal type stuff? The explorer sounded awsome. Im not opposed to a V is thats what you like trent I mean If you guys want to reccomend an exact guitar I wouldnt come back un happy just the Les sounds way old, can that be modified with amp etc?

That isn't how hit works. If you like Metal/rock, listen to Zakk Wyle of Ozzy, Hatebreed (insane dropped down hardcare), Slash of GNR, (all three and just a FEW off the top of my head) all use Les Pauls almost exclusively. Randy Rhoads also played a white less paul often. Almost anybody who is anybody is rock or metal has played or plays a Gibson Les Paul at one time or another.

The next guitar I will be buying will be a AAAA Flame Top Les Paul (these are like $4000+)

The Les Paul is one of the most versitle guitars ever made, also one of the most imitated of all guitars (besides the Strat). You can truely play ANYTHING with a Les Paul. They have one of the best looks of all time and can cover any time of playing style.