Guitarists 🎸 of the smb
- Thread starter Steve 10
- Start date
bobster999
Winger
Thurston
Winger
Epiphone or Squire are generally good for starting out. Which of the entry level models from these manufacturers you prefer will largely depend on your personal preference, and whether you lean more towards team Gibson or Fender.
You’ll inevitably get the bug though and end up splurging thousands on a more upmarket model(s), like the aforementioned Gibson and Fender, so from an economy standpoint it might be worth cutting out the proverbial middle man. Therefore I’d just suggest going to a guitar shop and seeing what you fancy.
bobster999
Winger
I'm not sure why Epiphone has got this image of 'it's good for starting out'. Plenty of well known bands and artists use them
Thurston
Winger
Probably just because they’re essentially entry-level Gibsons and are on the more affordable end of the spectrum, while being solid and reliable.
It’s not a knock. Absolutely nothing wrong with them at all for any level.
DaveH
Striker
For a tiny cheap amp, I'm really impressed with this. It sounds like a much bigger amp.Ooh, new kit...what is a Spark Go?
EDIT: Googled it. So it's like a Blackstar Fly 3 I guess...
Blackstar Fly 3 Mini Amp - Andertons Music Co.
Get the Blackstar Fly 3 Mini Amp from Andertons Music Company today!www.andertons.co.uk
My son got his first electric for Christmas (Epiphone SG Special, second hand and in good nick, got him a better guitar than going new). He wanted a cheap amp to go with it so got one of these.
There are a number of reviews and demos of it on YouTube. Good clean sound, overdrive and delay too. Will never be any good playing in a room of people but in his bedroom it is great.
As for guitars, be careful going too cheap or not going with well known brands. When I was 16, I saved up some money and got a Fenix (Korean) strat copy. Looked really nice. It was just awful to play. I've still got it and had it hidden in the back of the lab at my old work for the occasional lunch time playing. Although I've now just got a Squire, which is another relatively cheap guitar, switching back to that just feels bad, doesn't give a nice tone, very chunky unfinished fret ends, gives some degree of fret buzz no matter what you do with it.
Blind Joe Death
Central Defender
Lovely gesture!
@Steve 10 Take this man up on his offer, a well set up guitar makes all the difference.
fyl2u
Striker
I recommend you go to a big guitar shop and have a look at all the guitars in your price range. If anything looks like the kind of guitar you could relate to visually, because it looks like something used by bands who play the kind of music you want to play, then try it out.
Steve 10
Central Defender
Fabulous gesture, unfortunately I live in East Yorkshire now & only come for home matches now & again & to see family.
Fabulous gesture thanks mate, unfortunately I live East Yorkshire now & only come up for the match & to see family now & again.
If I drop you a message when I'm next due up & see if it works with yourself?
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Travis Bickle
Striker
I’ve only been playing a couple of years and have a Squier strat and Epiphone slash Les Paul gold top, got the 2 for less that 700 quid and love them both. They’d be good starters. Thinking about getting a proper fender Jazzmaster or Jaguar next. Anyone know what the main differences are? They look identical.
Makcem Crihs
Midfield
I've just sold a load of guitars there and he gave a decent price too
gabbiadini1
Winger
Of course mate. If you let me know where in Yorkshire you are too, I’m a member of a luthier club so can probably put you in touch with someone good near you if not…
Biggest difference is scale bridge to nut. The Jaguar is 24", so shorter than a Les Paul, the Jazzmaster is full scale Fender clocking in at 25.5"
Jazzmaster pickup bobbins are wider, they're not P90's but do sound different from the Jaguar. The Jaguar pickups are more your traditional fender ones in size but the Jaguar sounds brighter and I think has a distinct sound, very trebly and jangly. The jazzmaster is much less harsh but are still bright. Both have 1meg pots fitted, so they let a lot of high end brightness through which is where they vary from Strat or tele sounds. The Jaguar has a high pass filter which can cut some brightness, and both traditional models have a rhythm circuit which only operates the neck pickups for a darker sound.
I'd pay attention to the bridges of whichever one you want to buy. The trad bridge can be very flaky on both models, but Fender quite often swap them out themselves now. I don't think many models have come with the threaded bridge for a while but avoid the one that look like below. they're an absolute bastard for strings popping out of their groove and into the next one.
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Big Jeff
Winger
Shambo
Striker
Never even held one!
Bought a Squier Strat 20+ years ago and an Epi Les Paul 50s style a few years back but tbh I just don't get much use out of either, hence why I can't justify another electric. Tempted to get rid of the LP and use the money for a Tele.
I am more of an acoustic man, and bought a new one a couple of years back (a 3/4 size) and an electric piano too which I am plodding away at learning.
bobster999
Winger
I got a Sheraton Pro ii last year. Fantastic to play and sounds great
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