I need some GUITAR advice...

[dingo]

GUITARS!

I am resurrecting my grade school hobby of playing the guitar. I now have the time and intense drive to commit to it whole heartedly. I've scoured countless guitar sites, but was also curious what my fellow t4r members think. This has been something I've always wanted to do for a long time now.

I was use to playing acoustic, but I want to give electric a good go. I plan on getting myself a Fender Strat Standard HSS (humbucking configuration) with double pickups at the bridge. Mainly as a hobby, playing at home, definitely NOT performing. Does anyone have any advice as far as:

- upgrading the pickups down the line?
- good portable practice amp?
- experience with Fender Stratocasters in general?
- likes/dislikes on the model in general?
- preference in rosewood or maple fret board?

My bro-in-law just bought a Stratocaster Standard American model (too rich for me). He suggested the plain old standard as a good starting point. So what do you think, gals and guys - Sunburst with rosewood? The other solid colors seem kind of blah to me. (not actual HSS model, just posted for color scheme)

 

[jharris2]

Sorry -- I'm a brass player. Haven't played guitar in ... well, more years than I care to admit.

 

[Iron Clad Lou]

I started playing acoutic Takamine's, sweet guitar...I now have a Gibson Les Paul Studio electric (all black) with a Fender amp..nice set up! Portable practice amps have come a long way these days...sounds like what you want to get will work great!

 

[WEINERDOGBONE]

I've played an acoustic guitar for years. When my son wanted to start, he borrowed a Strat from my brother. After he had been playing for a year or so, I bought him an American Strat. I think it is wise to start modestly with the Mexican manufactured Strat. You can get them at a reasonable price and there is nothing wrong with them at all. I would worry about pickups and all that buisness to begin with.

I also bought my son an Epiphone portable amp and he loves it.

 

[dingo]

Thanks for all the input guys. Well, I bit the bullet on Sunday (of all days, Mother's Day) and picked up the Fender Strat Standard HSS model or "Fat Strat" in Sunburst. I decided to go with a maple fret board instead because I like the feel. Brand new out of the box, I have yet to attach the tremelo bar. It's solid and has a sweet sound to it.

Here's the small portable practice amp I also picked up made by Line6. This will stay in the 4Runner so I can practice in all my glorified suckiness during lunch breaks at work. It's AC and DC powered so it can run on 6 C batteries for 20 hours. Pretty f'n loud for small unit.

The amp also has a nice built-in tuner. I was tuning the 6th/low E string in the pic.

I'm so excited. I haven't even peeled the cellophane and stickers off the pick board and backplate yet! Hopefully in the next coming years I hope to get much better and get a better American version. If you guys hear a god awful painful off-tune ringing like cats being skinned, it's probably just me.

 

[jharris2]

Nice-looking guitar. Even better that it has the sound you're looking for. Congrats on the purchase. Hope it brings you lots of enjoyment (in addition to the lots and lots and lots of practice ).

 

[dingo]

Nice-looking guitar. Even better that it has the sound you're looking for. Congrats on the purchase. Hope it brings you lots of enjoyment (in addition to the lots and lots and lots of practice ).

lol Thanks, John. That and plenty of finger tip calluses and cramps. Btw, you mentioned you play brass - saxaphone, trumpet? I'm just curious. My cousin plays the alto sax. I tried it for a bit and could not hang. I don't have the lung endurance.

 

[jharris2]

lol Thanks, John. That and plenty of finger tip calluses and cramps. Btw, you mentioned you play brass - saxaphone, trumpet? I'm just curious. My cousin plays the alto sax. I tried it for a bit and could not hang. I don't have the lung endurance.

I play cornet in a brass band and trumpet in another band. It's a great way to meet new folks and to have a good time. The fun part about music is that it doesn't matter what you do for a living or how much education you have, when you get together to play or to listen, everyone is equal.

 

[ImOnAPlain51]

That's a great looking guitar Dingo, you're gonna like it. I play as a hobby and to relax also. You can't go wrong with a Strat, they have a good blues/rock sound to them....and Line 6 makes some pretty good Amps. If you've been playing acoustics, then you should fly through the electric. I have a Yairi Alvarez, but I have to get some new strings for it some time.

We nearly have the same thing...

American Deluxe Strat in Sunburst

Line 6 Spyder

 

[dingo]

The fun part about music is that it doesn't matter what you do for a living or how much education you have, when you get together to play or to listen, everyone is equal.

Amen to that. Music is universal. I know it sounds corny but it does bring people together in good ways.

That's a great looking guitar Dingo, you're gonna like it. I play as a hobby and to relax also. You can't go wrong with a Strat, they have a good blues/rock sound to them....and Line 6 makes some pretty good Amps.

Thanks, ImOnAPlain51! That American Strat of yours looks nice. I really am a big fan of the sunburst color scheme, it has a look of a classic instrument in modern form. I'm thinking of getting a wall hanger too. Those Spyder amps are sweet. If the guy at the guitar center never recommended it I would not have ever known about the Line 6 Spyder series. On another note, the 4runner has pretty good cabin acoustics. I fold down the 2nd row to stretch out while I quietly practice. I am almost tempted to leave the hatch open and set the amp model output to the "Insane" setting.

My next items on the list are a good hard case (instead of that flimsy gig bag it comes with) and a stand or hanger. Oh, that and memorizing the other 2000 or so chords. Yikes.

 

[ImOnAPlain51]

Thanks, ImOnAPlain51! That American Strat of yours looks nice. I really am a big fan of the sunburst color scheme, it has a look of a classic instrument in modern form. I'm thinking of getting a wall hanger too. Those Spyder amps are sweet. If the guy at the guitar center never recommended it I would not have ever known about the Line 6 Spyder series. On another note, the 4runner has pretty good cabin acoustics. I fold down the 2nd row to stretch out while I quietly practice. I am almost tempted to leave the hatch open and set the amp model output to the "Insane" setting.

My next items on the list are a good hard case (instead of that flimsy gig bag it comes with) and a stand or hanger. Oh, that and memorizing the other 2000 or so chords. Yikes. [/B]

Thanks Dingo, I like it. I agree the sunburst has a classy/elegant look about it. My amp has an Insane setting on the "amp models" too, it's fun to mess around with it every once in a while. :rocker: .

What kinda case are you gonna get? A regular Fender hard shell? that's what mine came with. It's a pretty nice case. If you haven't checked already, Musician's Friend usually has some good deals.

 

[dingo]

What kinda case are you gonna get? A regular Fender hard shell? that's what mine came with. It's a pretty nice case. If you haven't checked already, Musician's Friend usually has some good deals.

Ah, thanks for referring me to that site! :bigok:

Some good deals there. I was thinking of just getting the contoured Fender hard case for strats and telecasters. Less obtrusive than the usual rectangle cases. Still up in the air about it though. Just want something simple and compact but with a hard shell. Having the Fender logo on it would make it nice though.

 

[dingo]

My new other wife

Time to revive an old thread with an update. So I get sick of the office and decide to drive down to Guitar Center on Van Ness (downtown San Francisco) during lunch...

Ended up buying something I've wanted for a while - a Gibson Les Paul Studio, in Darth Vader BLACK. This thing plays sweet! The string action is super low and the setup is perfect right out of the box. The tone is awesome with a LOT of bite coming from its two humbucker pickups. Mmmmm... new guitar smell:

The LP also compliments my Fender Strat's lighter tone with a fuller, deeper humbucker tone.

Best of both worlds. Also bought some new stands. Even better, the guy who helped me out to load my new stuff into the 4Runner also complimented me on my Sport Edition and the Shadow Mica. I am happy.

Next on the list of totally unnecessary and selfish purchases - A larger Marshall, Line 6, or Fender tube amp. Lord Jesus Christ please stop me!

 

[Dire Wolf]

Nice gear. Don't forget to check out craig's list for an amp. Just like motorcycles, alot of folks buy gear and don't use it so they have to sell it for alot less than they paid. You should also subscribe to guitar world magazine or similar. It keeps your exposure up so you don't loose interest.



If it's too loud, your too old

 

[icantsee]

Dennis...have you ever been to Guitar Center on Van Ness?

I took that picture just for you, I happen to be near by.

Guitar Center
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
1645 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 409.0350

Guitar Center Website
http://www.guitarcenter.com/

Guitar Center (yelp)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/guitar-center-san-francisco

Guitar Center (Yahoo!)
http://local.yahoo.com/info-21335411-guitar-center-san-francisco?csz=San+Francisco,+CA

Disclaimer: No...I'm not affiliated w/ this company. Just sharing information.

 

[dingo]

Nice gear. Don't forget to check out craig's list for an amp. Just like motorcycles, alot of folks buy gear and don't use it so they have to sell it for alot less than they paid. You should also subscribe to guitar world magazine or similar. It keeps your exposure up so you don't loose interest.

If it's too loud, your too old

Thanks, Dire. I keep my gear out so I'm more inclined to play rather than some of my friends who keep their stuff in the closet. But since the Gibson LP costs a pretty penny, I am willing to keep it hidden from my 4 year-old (and the wife) for now!

Dennis...have you ever been to Guitar Center on Van Ness?

I took that picture just for you, I happen to be near by.

lol

Yep Kenny, that's the very GC I went to last Wednesday! I really lucked out and actually got street parking right IN FRONT of the door. It's my equivalent of a candy store. With very dangerously expensive candy. If you guys are ever there, ask for Will, he took good care of me and was really cool. :bigok:

Edit: Oh thanks for taking that picture, Kenny. If you don't mind I'm putting on my desktop so I can pretend I'm there when I get antsy at work.