Dunkield Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 Advice required from any axemen or women on this forum. My son will soon be 14 and has been playing the spanish guitar for some time now. He working his way through his grades at school and seems to be enjoying playing and practicing more as time goes on. He has also started electric guitar lessons and has worked out that some girls seem to like like guitar playing boys which also helps He already has a very good spanish guitar and a reasonable electric guitar - an Ibanez GR something or other, he is now making noises about wanting/needing a better electric guitar. Knowing nothing about them other than Fender and Gibson are the best known makes, what do we get him if we were to pleasantly surprise him?? I will of course go to a good shop for some advice, but if they have any sense they will try to 'up sell' me if they can, so I thought I would get some independant advice first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 (edited) Fender Stratocaster and treat yourself to a box of high quality ear plugs !!!!! Whoops...........forgot to mention that I'm not an axman or woman although current girlfriends family were worried that I could be an axe murderer when I invited her to go on a motorcycle trip to the seaside on our first date. Been to a few seasides in quite a few countries on the bikes since. http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?...at=stratocaster Edited November 1, 2005 by old rooster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 Hi Stuart Well as my original handle was Axemaniac I can give you some pointers Firstly, I would suggest you try and figure out what type of music he wants to play. Different Guitars can sound very different and will obviously make a difference to the overall sound. In general if he is leaning to wards a heavier sound rock etc. then you need a guitar with Humbucker Pickups. If it is a lighter more glassy sound then single pickups will do which also do very well for blues etc. As for make well most guitars these days are pretty damn good. If you the heavier sounding guitar with the humbuckers go for a Gibson SG or Les Paul, both legendary and both girl getters!. If not go with a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster, the latter being more of a girl getter but the first being more usable, tone wise. In both cases make sure you get an American original, they will cost heaps but are a sound investment, pardon the pun. But you might well avoid this all together, as decent amplification is always the key. It doesnt matter what guitar you have if you have got a good amp. Somthing he may well not be aware of. There are many too choose from but any top end product from Laney, Marshall, Orange, Vox etc will suffice. God ya getting me started, where's me Telecaster! Regards, Axe. PS If ya need more advice, send me a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 Thanks guys, He is drooling over Gibson SG and Les Paul pictures in the mags - so who knows what santa may bring . I will make sure he can have a play on anything before I part with my hard(?) earned reddies. Just as well I have all the shooters I need for a while. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 If they are the two choices i'd go with the SG. There are several reasons for this which are: The Les Paul is extremely heavy and costly, The SG whilst being lighter and having a through neck has a slighty cheeky sound and is alot easier to play, especially when trying to reach the top notes. The fact that this is my number one guitar for practice and recording has nothing to do with my bias, nor the fact my favorite guitarists all use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 If they are the two choices i'd go with the SG. There are several reasons for this which are: . The fact that this is my number one guitar for practice and recording has nothing to do with my bias, nor the fact my favorite guitarists all use them. ANGUS ANGUS ANGUS ANGUS!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 Gibson Les Paul mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm LB, not at all biased Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddytat Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 dont get him a new electric...get him a decent accoustic... much better than spanish ones, get an steel strung one, not nylon..sound amazing. yamaha are decent quality..for the price. My fave guitar was my £100 or so pound yamaha. The cheaper ones sound just as good as the expensive ones. And, from a female point of view..guys who play accousic are sooo much better than electric players. More skill in it, see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 I agree with puddy with one small proviso,it has to be a steel bodied guitar and he should play it using bottlenecks and steels.....send me a copy of his first album please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexon Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 Les paul, SG and Tele get my vote but there many very good copies out there. If you can afford the £600+ price tag get the originals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 Could get him a nice 20 bore shotgun for that money ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 Could get him a nice 20 bore shotgun for that money ;-) Yer, but could he 'holidays in the sun' on it LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 Could get him a nice 20 bore shotgun for that money ;-) He will be getting one of those as well, on the condition he never beats his old man at clays. :*) Hopefully when he make his first million he can pay his parents back + keep us in lifestyle we could have had if we hadn't had a family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadSpringer Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 I agree with the suggestion of an acoustic, this will improve his playing and the £150 - £250 price range has some good guitars. I would take him with you to the shop as he will have to like the look and feel of the guitar, get him to try several different makes. The Ibanez RG should be adequate for a few more years, is he after a different look, feel or sound? Don’t rush in and get a top end Gibson, Fender or whatever. He will get more out of learning to play well on a mid range guitar and progressing on to owning and playing a high quality instrument. Worth looking here http://www.epiphone.com/ as the Gibson copies are excellent. Have a look at this http://www.line6.com/guitarport/ great practice tool but only computer based. The POD 2 and POD XT can be used through an amp as well as the PC have a look here http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/products....6&c=FX%2FPedals If you want to treat him to a handmade guitar then I would highly recommend a Gordon Smith (The British Gibson) http://www.fairplay.demon.co.uk/ They are well built, have a fantastic sound and the playability is amazing. Not the best looking guitars for a young lad to impress the birds with but he will love the sound and playability! I have a Gypsy 1 and a Gypsy 2 and these are the guitars that I can’t put down. Worth looking on Ebay some bargains to be had at times http://musical-instruments.search.ebay.co....pZ1QQsacatZ3858 Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 ACOUSTICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is he a folk singer? or maybe a happy clappy God botherer? No my friend this about Rawk an' freakin roll!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadSpringer Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 ACOUSTICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is he a folk singer? or maybe a happy clappy God botherer? No my friend this about Rawk an' freakin roll!! It will improve his playing all round. Even his break neck death metal riffs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 Indeed Snake, that is the direction in which he is heading. He is particularly fond of Nivana, White Stripes & Greenday but also likes a bit of Led Zep on those "big cd's" as he used to call them, that I still keep in the cupboard. Just for balance he plays spanish (isn't that acoustic? ) at school and plays in an ensemble on Saturdays as well. Add in Gymnastics and Fencing (not that sort) and you can guess how much time is spent in mum's taxi Modern kids, I ask you what were we doing when were 13?? Cycling and Fishing, in my case, not much else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 Ive spent a fair bit of money on differing guitars and when all is said and done its all down to tone. The SG I play all the time and use for recording is actually a £125 copy JHS. It made from a cheaper alternative hardwood but plays fantstic. But above all the cheap pickups mounted in it have a sweet and soulful sound. Great for those older sounding 70's rock riffs. At the fear of repeating, it really doesnt matter what name is on the headstock as long as the guitar has been built correctly, setup correctly and provides a good tone from the quality components used on it. One of the best things I ever did to my USA Tele was t0o put a cheap Hot Rail on the bridge pick-up. I coil tapped it and now provides me with an incrediable array of original and Hot Tele 70's tones. Sounds great with a bottle neck, its thoroughly good, or was that George Thoroughgood ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 I'm with the pro he ain't biased , he just leans a little 'cos ov the ale . all the best yis yp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddytat Posted November 2, 2005 Report Share Posted November 2, 2005 (edited) lol absolutely nothing wrong with accoustics! Spanish guitars (classical ones with 3 nylon strings) are okay...but nothing compared to a good steel strung accoustic. Not a better sound in the world. If you go to leckies too quick, it makes you a sloppy player,,if you really try with accoustic you play much better. Its far too easy to have a kid playing leckies, badly, and just wacking on distort or whatever. Far too many electric guitar players out there who need lessons again! And you can take accoustics anywhere without bothing with amps. Plus they sound nicer. Plus, like i said, guys with accoustics are cuter Edited November 2, 2005 by Puddytat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 I have to be honest, if I could go back and start again, I would do so on a clasical guitar. It does provide a better foundation to build on. The worlds best rock guitarists all started the same way. Yngwie Malmstein is probably the best name to mention to prove this fact. His arpeggios are out of this world and just how he can play so many notes in such a short space of time is always going to be beyond me. Me, i'll stick with my rock n blues, big it up for SRV! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 i would say get him a guitar to suit the music he WANTS TO PLAY!! if he likes greenday and nirvana, then get him an electric, as he will lose all will to learn if hes plucking away on an acoustic. if he wants to play more complex stuff like led zeppelin then hel need an electric, as you just dont get enough frets on an acoustic. my recommendation would be a les paul. Epiphone if you are on a budget, Gibson if you wanna show off all the stuff about playing better on an acoustic is rubbish, there is so much more you can do with an electric if you are prepared to put in the effort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadSpringer Posted November 5, 2005 Report Share Posted November 5, 2005 Paulos Green Day, Nirvana & Led Zep have all written some excellent acoustic songs! An acoustic will teach you to fret cords properly and not hide behind effects or amplification. I'm not saying stick to an acoustic but if you learn to play an acoustic well it will benefit your playing of an electric!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Proof that shootin' and geetaaaars do have some kind of link :thumbs: From what I have learned on this forum, this is an accoustic guitar yes? Redneck He seems to have pretty effortless style I will give him that. Yeeee Haaaa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Yeee Haaa, hey pwa how 'm I done gonna get me up in that hide, I done gone 'n drank 'll that moonshine.Hic! Guess 'll just play muh 6 string. Hic! :thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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