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Looking for a good quality electric guitar for a beginner...what do you experienced players think of the Fender Strat - Mexican version? Thanks.
Edit: I should mention this is for my son mostly...(I'll probably try messing with it too) who is already a pretty talented drummer.
He has expressed an interest in picking up the electric guitar....I don't accoustic is going to be his bag.
posted
My first guitar was a Mexican Strat. I still own it. Plays and sounds great! Very versatile sound, you can play anything from Beach Boys to Black Sabbath with it. (you can tell your son who those bands were - haha)
If you're looking for a hard rock/metal guitar or something like jazz you may want to look into something with humbucker pickups. They have a different sound than the single coil pickups on the Strats.
I suggest going to a music store and playing around with any guitar that appeals to you. If your son thinks its ugly or dorky he won't play it. Make sure you play it through the amp you plan to use at home. All amps sound different too!
edit: I also suggest getting a multi effects pedal (like a Zoom 505). They are cheap and make practice so much more enjoyable because of all the incredible sounds they can make. A couple of beginner lesson books (with a play-along CD) sure helped me.
[ December 03, 2003, 12:57 PM: Message edited by: David McDonald ]
-------------------- David McDonald Palm Harbor Florida USA
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www.musiciansfriend.com has been a good source for us. We have bought several guitars there (The guys have 12-15 guitars between the three of them! I lost count.) But David's idea about trying them first is valid too. That web site will give you a quick overview though and let you see the price ranges.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Cool...thanks for the suggestions...I'm gonna give the website a look-see Jane.
My boys buddy has a Mexican Strat....and seems to like it. I didn't know if it was significantly different from the American made ones...it's definately cheaper, so there must be some quality concessions somewhere.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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the mexican strat is maybe not the best guitar for the price (pick-up, tremolo,) you can probably find something better for the same price and not paying just for the name but it`s not a bad guitar and with fender you can buy in confidence and they have a great service to customer also if later you want to sale the guitar it`s still a fender and you will have a better price for it so if your son know exactly what to buy it`s a good guitar to begin with, and to grow with
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First an electric guitar also means an amp. Matching a guitar and amp is important. Check out www.musciansfriend.com, Todd. They always have Mexican Strats on sale. They're called Standard Strats as opposed to American Strats. They're basically the same as American Strats, but they're assembled with cheaper labor and have slightly cheaper hardware and pickups. We've had both Standard and American versions ripped apart to put graphics on them and I bought one for one of my boys for Christmas several years ago. There's not a lot of differece, but the Standards are about a third of the cost of the American version. To me the Fender Standard Strat is your best choice and they're easy to play. My 2 younger sons play guitar and hang with the other band kids and these guitars are extremely popular with the kids. Squires are Fender clones and even cheaper yet, some of these have humbuckers as well. The kids kind of thumb their nose at them though even though they're not bad guitars, because they don't have Fender written on the headstock.
Ibanez is a popular guitar brand for kids, because Joe Satriani and Steve Vai play them. I think Epiphone has great value on some of their guitars which are basically the same as Gibsons with cheaper hardware and cheaper labor. The Fender Stratocaster, though, is the world's most popular and most copied guitar. It was a hit in the 50's when it first appeared and has been a hit ever since. We have about 9 guitars/bases and I love 'em, but I know when kids are starting out, if its not easy to play and it doesn't make a good sound, they won't touch them.
Also if a kid doesn't have a musical ear they're going to have to play mechanically and that's not easy. Even though he's a drummer he may not be able to distinguish pitches. To test a kid's musical ear hit a note on any musical instrument and see if they can match it with their voice. If they don't have a clue, maybe think of another gift.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Fender has a lower line called Squier. They are really nice for starting out. I had one for a few years, sold it because I wasn't keen on the sound, but they guy I sold it to could make it sing!! I guess it was me, not the guitar.lol.
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I bought an inexpensive Ibanez about 15 years ago. I don't know if the quality of their cheaper guitars is as good as it used to be but I still have it and its always been my favorite. I used to have an american made Fender "American Standard Strat." I think I bought that one in 1991. I wish I didn't sell it...but I sold it to a friend so at least I can play it when I want to.
-------------------- Brian Snyder Sign Effectz Woodbridge, New Jersey Posts: 723 | From: Woodbridge, NJ USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Now's a good time to look, I've been noticing a bunch of package deals (guitar, amp, strap, picks)in the ads lately. Now that the instrument biz has been Wal-Martized with national retailers. Last spring I got my son a B.C.Ritch package for like a buck 60 ... within a week his best friend got the fender package for like 250. (it's over here almost every weekend) Both are decent playing guitars but have way different sound ... one doesn't sound "better" just different ... both are really kinda crap but great fun and good learner guitars.
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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If you're looking at Mexi-Strats give these guys a look Rondo Music I bought one of their "Jazz Bass" copies and it's every bit as good as the Mexican made ones (In my opinion, others may vary).
Also you can check Harmony Central for reviews on guitars, and get an idea of what other people think.
I think Peavey makes the best starter amps for the $ spent.
-------------------- David Cooper, The Sign Shack Enid, OK. Posts: 658 | From: Enid,Oklahoma, USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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I suppose that American Music and Musicians Friend do have the best deals going with the type of instrument you're seeking. Latigo has some 32 or more top of the line guitars hanging on the walls in the main room in the recording studio. Rosemary has 4 of the finest bass guitars available. Virtually all of them but two are collectors pieces. Even though he could play anything he wants, Lat plays a Godin electric and a Taylor acoustic. The point? At $1,800.00 the Godin is the least expensive guitar out there. At $675.00 the Taylor is the least expensive of the acoustics. Lat is an accomplished jazz guitarist and a killer rock guitarist, and the sound he gets from those two *figuratively* lower end instruments is preferable to him than anything else on the walls. Moral...... "Dollars don't always have a lot to do with a playing preference." Sometimes, with instruments, its more status and ego.
BTW........ Why so many? We actually do use all of them at different points in recording certain kinds of music during sessions. We prefer the natural differences to the electronically produced differences.
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Jeff Healey actually prefers the Squire over the American Strat. But then again, he plays it resting across his lap.
I wouldn't recommend a Strat for a beginner. The floating tremelo is great for those dive bombs, but you're always tuning. Even my Strat Ultra requires constant tuning adjustments. Sonny Franks just bought a Gibson SG. I had a ball with that thing. If I'd had an Aussie school uniform, I would have been a dead ringer for Angus.
[ December 04, 2003, 02:17 AM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
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Nope. I disagree, Steverino. The strats we have are vintage, but Lat doesn't play any of them with the tremelo. He's a string bender. Any experienced strat player will tell you to remove the rear cover plate, place a rubber block between the back of the channel and the back of the string retainer. That completely eliminates the tremelo. Tune it and forget it. The Strat is a great beginner guitar.
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Go the Epiphone route first. Good starter pricing. Let him learn on that and later on that sucker will be still be a great slide guitar for when he plays the blues.
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Todd, Latigo just reminded me that we have an Epiphone Les Paul Gold Top guitar, 4 years old but brand new and untouched/unplayed. We took it in lieu of partial payment done for a music store that went under. It has its own case. Prices on this guitar have climbed since then but if you want it at our original collection price, email me. Lat will never play it anyway and its just hanging there in the racks.
In addition......... This particular instrument would probably be one he'd stick with. Very low action and an easy player.
[ December 04, 2003, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: pierre ]
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Whaddya know, something I know a little about. I worked in a music store as a gitfiddle repairman and spent three years as a roadie, guitar-tech really. And built electrics for a while. Still have the last one I made. Tele copy make from get this, Black Walnut with a Cherry top. SWEEET!
I would suggest looking into picking up a used guitar w/amp. There are always people out there who are selling combos that they bought for whoever and then they lost interest or moved up to a better piece. Almost any axe/amp set around $150-200 should suffice to see how serious you and the boy is.
If you really want a new guitar, here's how I always looked at it;
For a low dollar guitar, look into the Epiphones. They're built to Gibson's specs, only overseas. Great instrument for the money. Peavey makes some nice low cost guitars too. They're in Meridian, MS.
For a middle of the road guitar, look at Ibanez, (make sure it's a Japanese built guitar, the price will be obvious), These are fantastic guitars made with great hardware and pretty decent wood. Again, Peavey applies here too.
If you're convinced you and the boy are serious, look at Gibson, the American made Ibanez and G&L.
The high dollar Gibsons are all still made in Tennessee, all hand assembled by true artist, (i.e. musicians!). They have a great custom shop too.
The Americam Ibanez guitars are made in Bensalem, PA and are assembled with the best hardware and some of the best alder and rock maple ever cut.
The G&L are far and above the cream of the crop in my opinion. The name comes from George Fullerton and Leo Fender. Those names ring a bell? They should Leo is of the Fender Strat fame and George is/was his right-hand-man back in the day. After selling out to the Japanese, Leo wanted to get back into 'axe grinding'. Only problem is that the contract he signed prohibited him from using the Fender name. So his old buddy suggested 'G&L'. All these guitars are made in Cali and last I knew, Leo checked everyone that went out the door. Part of my job at the music store was to set up all new guitars wehen the came in. I NEVER had to do anything to a G&L except hang it on the wall. Says something about quality, I think.
Silly me. I forgot to mention Paul Reed Smith. If PRS guitars are good enough for Santana, well then.
And if you really have money to burn, there is always Rickenbacker. I don't think they ever made a bad guitar. Also, I hear Gretch is back in the biz. Oh what I'd give for a Falcon.
As a side-bar, anyone having excessive problems with having to re-tune a floating tremelo there are a couple things to fix that. I hate to say it, but go to a heavier gauge string. I know heavy strings suck, but they hold up far better. Stevie Ray use to use 12's and sometimes 14's and look at what he could do. I can't bend like he did with 08's . Of course, his tech used to have to change saddles almost everynight!
Another thing, if you have a bridge w/fine tuners and a locking nut, (please tell me you do), put one string on at a time, tune it and move on to the next one. When done with all strings, BEFORE locking down that nut, prestretch the string. Never heard of that? Easy to do. Take the four fingers on your right hand and place below the bottom side of a string. Place your thumb on the top and slightly twist your wrist. Do this about five or six times starting as close to the nut as you can and work your way towards the bridge. Then re-tune. Stretch one string then retune before moving to the next. This works. I use to do this on stage between songs when out lead guy broke a string. The last thing he needed to worry about was having to retune that one string all night.
Sorry, I got a bit carried away. Hope this helps someone, somewhere. I'll try to get a pic of the Tele copy I have posted.
Lee
[ December 04, 2003, 03:28 PM: Message edited by: Lee Hulick ]
-------------------- Lee V. Hulick AKA Vance 139 Weinland St. New Carlisle, OH 45344 Posts: 101 | From: New Carlisle, OH | Registered: Sep 1999
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Nope. No help. Please rewrite it in alternate terminology.
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Great reply, Lee. My youngest son built his own bass. Bought everything he needed from "Carvin." I bought a Peavey tube amp with a Black Widow speaker from a pawn shop for $250. It weighs a ton, but it'll blow most other amps out of the water. It'll also blow your ear drums.
Seriously I'm looking at the recent Musciansfriend catalog and they have 2 starter packs that might make good gifts for a beginner.
1) Epiphone LP Special II (single cutaway) guitar; Epiphone studio 10 amp; gig bag; electronic guitar tuner; strap; cord, picks for $239
2) Ibanez GRX40 guitar; AIBZ10 amp; gig bag; cable; tuner; headphones; strap; pouch; instructional DVD and book for $249
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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The kool thing about buying a starter guitar, is that as long as you get a good neck and a solid, (NOT PLYWOOD), body, the sky's the limit for upgrades. Take the Epi, it will take stock Gibson parts as well as aftermarket parts designed for Gibsons. You can move up to some killer Gibson pick-ups or into some mondo hot DiMarzios. Either way, you can't lose. One thing I like about the Epi's is that they look so much like their big brother that I wouldn't feel guilty about cutting into the body to add a third p/u or a bridge with peizo saddles. I have one of those and it's going into the next guitar I buy or build. You can also get a thing called a Les-Trem if you look hard. It's a tremelo setup that replaces the stock tailpiece on most Gibsons and has fine tuners. Pretty neat little tremelo. They're no longer being made, but I've seen them on E-Bay.
The Ibanez is the same way regarding aftermarket parts. If you want to move up to a finetuning bridge and a locking nut you can, with some work though.
Like mentioned in David McDonald's post, get some kind of effect unit. It makes a big difference when practicing. Makes if feel more legitimate, like there is a reason for all this kool noise:).
Lee
-------------------- Lee V. Hulick AKA Vance 139 Weinland St. New Carlisle, OH 45344 Posts: 101 | From: New Carlisle, OH | Registered: Sep 1999
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Buy a novice a "beginner's guitar" and they'll never make it. Buy the absolute best you can afford and you have an even chance. If it's not easy to play they'll lose interest fast. Those of you who have taught the instrument know exactly what I'm talking about. There are two "humps" in the way of the novice. The first is the instrument itself and how easily its fretted, the second is the "boredom" factor that , if not overcome, will end the effort and the interest. Buy the best instrument you can afford.
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Pierre, you couldn't be more on the money. That's why I went from wanting to play them to wanting to build them. I saw results fasster by building them. I learned the first 6 or 8 bars of about 100 songs and that's it. I got bored really fast.
Lee
-------------------- Lee V. Hulick AKA Vance 139 Weinland St. New Carlisle, OH 45344 Posts: 101 | From: New Carlisle, OH | Registered: Sep 1999
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Here's a photo of my first electric guitar. It's a 1968 Fender Telecaster. I still have it!
The year was 1970. I was still single. My fulltime job paid 2$ an hour, so I had money to burn. For years I had dreamed of owning a Fender Telecaster. Until Hendrix came on the scene, the Tele was on everyone's wish list. A Telecaster came with a cool, chrome bridge cover you could remove and use as an ashtray. Talk about value.
The only problem was price. A brand new Tele could easily cost $400 dollars! Nobody had that kind of money!
One day, I dropped into a music store in Kitchener, Ontario. We never knew the owner's real name. Everyone just called him "The Fat Man." He knew I was looking, and pulled out a used 1968 Telecaster that had just been traded in. You could actually see a hint of the red band jacket the former owner wore embedded in the finish. Remember when bands wore jackets?
After some haggling, The Fat Man offered me the guitar and case for the grand total of $250 dollars. He even tossed in a small, used National amp and cord. My new girlfriend, and future bride, Barb, offered to loan me a few bucks. That old Strats followed us around ever since.
As a guitar player, I'm much like some old sign painters that have painted the same layout for 40 years. It was always easier to just play the stuff you already knew and not endure the pain of learning and practise. I am the Master of 60's stuff. If a guy named Bobby sang it, I knew it! Those songs, along with Last Kiss, House Of The Rising Sun and a good selection of nasty, sailor songs ensured I was a success at campfires and other venues that attracted drunk people. With 10 or more beers under your belt, you really do sound like Elvis!
The old Telecaster has turned out to be a good investment. Fenders built before RCA bought the company in late 68 have turned into collector items. A 50's Strat in good condition can easily go for 20 grand or more. I found one collector on the Internet willing to pay 4-5 grand for a 68 Strat. The Fat Man must be rolling in his grave.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
quote:Originally posted by Steve Shortreed: The Fat Man must be rolling in his grave.
LoL! Groovy looking Tele man. I've been gassing for one lately. One like that would cost far too much - it's a keeper! I'd sure like to drop in one day and give it a ride.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Todd, if you're interested in that Les Paul you'd better say so soon. I now have 3 emails from beloved Letterheads getting in line for it and, now that Lat remembers its there, he want's it gone.
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Hey Joe! GASSING now I know you are a player (I live in a constant sate of GAS).
Do yourself a favor,if you want a "tele" vibe, but would like it on the cheap, check out the "Tribute" line by G&L. They have Asian CNC'ed bodies, but American electronics and pass inspection/setup at the plant in California. There is not a better "bang for the buck" going right now (IMHO of course YMMV) [URL=http://www.glguitars.com ]G&L Guitars[/URL]
-------------------- David Cooper, The Sign Shack Enid, OK. Posts: 658 | From: Enid,Oklahoma, USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Its gone. A $600 Epiphone Les Paul Gold Top & hardshell case for the cashout price.........$308.
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Aaaargh! Guess you missed my emails. I sent them to both addresses you gave me. Oh well, thanks for thinking about me anyway. Drats...foiled again.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Sorry, Todd. We received no emails whatsoever. You used the one posted in my profile AND mkntraks@centurytel.net ? Nothing at all came to us on either one. Very sorry.
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Pierre....yeah...I sent them there. I did receive a mailer damon problem from your profile site...but nothing from the other. Oh well,...thanks again for the offer. It was nice of you nevertheless.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Wow, Steve, what a possession. I ran across a book in our public library on the history of electric guitars. It was a large book with great pictures of all the important brands. Les Paul and Leo Fender were enormously influential. When the Japanese got into it, with the cheaper labor in the '60's they made fantastic guitars at rock bottom prices. Ever since its been a quest to make quality guitars at affordable prices, that's why you have the Mexican made Strat and other clones.
The most interesting story for me, though, was the one about Paul Reed Smith. He started making guitars at home when he lived with his parents. He was determined from the get go to make the ultimate electric guitar. He G A V E Santana a guitar, because he was convinced it was going to be the best guitar he'd ever play. The rest is history, but I had a chance to play my friend's Custom 24 http://www.prsguitars.com/showcase/current/current.html and it was certainly 1 fine guitar. I mean since we're drooling here. The paura bird inlays are gorgeous. With just the weight of the guitar in your hands, you know you're holding a hell of an instrument. They don't give these babies away though -- 3 large and up.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Todd Gill: I should mention this is for my son mostly...(I'll probably try messing with it too) who is already a pretty talented drummer.
He has expressed an interest in picking up the electric guitar....
Hmmm, reminds me of a great musician who passed away 10 years ago yesterday. He started as a drummer, then picked up the guitar, which he became pretty well known for his incredible solo compositions and improvisations. He was also probably one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century.
Oh yeah, his name was Frank Zappa.....
-------------------- Tim Rieck Signs Halfmoon Bay, BC Posts: 736 | From: Halfmoon Bay, BC, Canada | Registered: Sep 2000
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. Of course, his tech used to have to change saddles almost everynight!
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