New Guitar

[projectwellness]

i've been playin guitar for a while and a i have a peice of shit squire stratocaster, and i'm looking for a good cheap guitar for an intermediate player. any sudgestions?

[whammybar]

You can find some really nice MIM Strats but you gotta try a truckload of them first and then one day wham! you'll find one that sounds absolutely beautiful. Just my two cents for a lower priced but nice sounding guitar.

[suttree]

welcome to the forum project.

what kind of music are you into? what kind of budget do you have to throw around? what don't you like about your POS squier?

[projectwellness]

welcome to the forum project.

what kind of music are you into? what kind of budget do you have to throw around? what don't you like about your POS squier?

well i listen to pretty much all kinds of music, but i mostly play punk and metal. i work at kfc so i my budgets around $500 max. my POS squire has been pretty good but its old, chiped up, and my bridge pickup is the only one that works (three single coil)

[starvingstudent]

Epiphone Les Paul Classic... i got one. sounds great. check out Kijiji

[Tarl]

A Godin Exit 22 would be a great choice. HB and single coils and Canadian made. Very versatile and superb bang for the buck.
http://www.godinguitars.com/godinexit22p.htm
An ibanez AXS42 would also be a good choice.....http://www.axemusic.com/product.asp?P_ID=11870&strPageHistory=search&strKeywords=Axe,Clearance,Center&numPageStartPosition=1&strSearchCriteria=all&PT_ID=all
or an Ibanez SZ320....http://www.axemusic.com/product.asp?P_ID=3827&strPageHistory=search&strKeywords=Axe,Clearance,Center&numPageStartPosition=1&strSearchCriteria=all&PT_ID=all

[suttree]

if you're into going fast, the ibanez RG line is a popular choice, as they have slim fast necks, and are generally pretty well built.

if you're into more old school metal and punk, an epi les paul, or an SG, or one of the decent korean explorer copies would be a good bet (2 humbuckers and a set neck), and a guitar like this has the benefit of being simple, which means you can play other stuff on it if you get into other styles.

for modern punk sounds, a lot of old school guitars are showing up, ES335's and les paul jr's are everywhere.

for heavier/modern metal, you might try an ESP or a schecter...

[devnulljp]

Epiphone Les Paul Special or a Jnr.
Or if you like em pointy, there was a pretty Dilion Explorer on here a while back going for what $400?

[rev156]

Check out the Hagstrom's. Great guitars, reasonable price. http://www.hagstromguitars.com/

[Vincent]

I think the schecter hellraiser is probably one of the better guitars out there in its price range however its about $200 over your budget before taxes.

http://www.onlinestagegear.com/Brand/Schecter/C/C1-Hellraiser-BCH.jpg

La Music is a canadian website in canadian dollars...nice guitar...comes in black as well.

Schecter C1 Hellraiser
http://lamusic.ca/default.asp?szNav=Product&PID=15332#

Epiphones are made by gibson however they are a lower end version of the gibson guitars however they are still pretty nice for the price.

Other guitars in your price range include

Epiphone Flying V 58 Reissue 6 String Electric Guitar $529
http://lamusic.ca/default.asp?szNav=Product&PID=13471#

Epiphone Les Paul 100 6 String Electric Guitar $249
http://lamusic.ca/default.asp?szNav=Product&PID=171

Epiphone Les Paul 56 Gold Top 6 String Electric Guitar
http://lamusic.ca/default.asp?szNav=Product&PID=170

Epiphone Les Paul Classic 6 String Electric Gutiar $444.49
http://lamusic.ca/default.asp?szNav=Product&PID=5414

Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top 6 String Electric Guitar $539
http://lamusic.ca/default.asp?szNav=Product&PID=5323#

There are more epiphones on LA music...just type epiphone in search...best way to navigate LA Music is by using search.

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4579/5323iw2.jpg

[Bevo]

If you want cheap, find a used Hotrail pickup and have it installed in your guitar. While you at it get it set up and adjusted to how you like.
Setup $50-$100
Pickup $50-$100
Look around and you will get some good deals, at the most it will be $200 for a completly killer guitar.

With the cheaper guitars they use the cheapest parts and don't give it much of a setup. Its very possible to end up right back where you started but out of pocket some cash.

Jeff Healey played a Squire..can't be that bad eh!

Bevo

[GuyB]

I think that Godin guitars give you the best buy for the buck. Look at the Exit, as mentionned above, or the Freeway... and there are others too.

[Canadian Charlie]

I have a Dimarzio hot rail "Tone Zone" on my Fender MIM Strat and it sounds great

[Scuzzy]

I also had the squire strat and I know just how shitty those things are. I upgraded to an epiphone SG in the $500 range and I love that guitar. It's nothing special but that is a good upgrade on the squire and they are relatively easy to find.

[Budda]

my squier strat isnt shitty *shrugs* and its affinity series.. and its old.. wierd.

anyway, i'd get a USED shecter C-1 hellraiser. should be in budget. check out kijiji and craigslist, evilbay if need be (100% positive :)).

they're reliable, look great, sound great, play great.. i got no beef with schecters! except that i found their C7 neck to be too thin in some areas *gasp*

[Apostrophe (')]

Someone posted a link to this not long ago:

35 Electric Guitars Under $500
http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/hot-little-numbers/apr-07/27604

Complete breakdown:
http://www.guitarplayer.com/oldcontentimages/Music_Player/Guitar_Player/May_2007/attachments/HotLittleNumbers.pdf

[konasexone]

I posted that link and I highly recommend Reverend guitars. Just got my first one and I'm picking up a second one in a few weeks. Amazing value! I have a Buckshot that compares to any tele I've ever played. Next one is Double Agent.
The Club King 290 is also amazing. Check them out on you-tube. There's a guy on there who goes by the name of Unknown Hinson you might want to listen to playing that Club King.

[Metal#J#]

my squier strat isnt shitty *shrugs* and its affinity series.. and its old.. wierd.

anyway, i'd get a USED shecter C-1 hellraiser. should be in budget. check out kijiji and craigslist, evilbay if need be (100% positive :)).

they're reliable, look great, sound great, play great.. i got no beef with schecters! except that i found their C7 neck to be too thin in some areas *gasp* I'm not trying to discredit Budda's advice but IMO Shecter guitars are over priced......even used. Every one I've played would require fit and finish work ( mostly hanging and uneven frets). It's too bad their QC sucks.......they do have some really nice shapes.

[suttree]

I'm not trying to discredit Budda's advice but IMO Shecter guitars are over priced......even used. Every one I've played would require fit and finish work ( mostly hanging and uneven frets). It's too bad their QC sucks.......they do have some really nice shapes.

really??? i worked in a schecter dealer for several years, and i've seen literally hundreds of their guitars, and i'd have to say that the fit and finish are as good as the industry gets... especially the fretwork. i'm very surprised to hear someone say that (although i'll agree they're not the cheapest of imports)... this has not been my experience at all...

[Budda]

i too havent come across many horror stories (none i can think of) about schecter guitars.

i got a used, beat up C7 blackjack and it was a solid instrument. at $275 shipped i was happy lol

[toastman]

As another poster said above, the Ibanez RG line is great. Very easy to play and perfect for metal and even punk. I have an RG320 and love it

[Archer]

I'm not trying to discredit Budda's advice but IMO Shecter guitars are over priced......even used. Every one I've played would require fit and finish work ( mostly hanging and uneven frets). It's too bad their QC sucks.......they do have some really nice shapes.


I think Schecter guitars feel like toys. And their veneers look WAY too gaudy.

I have never played one that I thought was a TRULY good guitar.

[Andy]

You can't go wrong with anything from Godin. North American made (partly US, partly Canadian), great quality control, great guitars.

Otherwise, the PRS SE stuff has always impressed me.

[desinet1]

ebay will be a good place to search for the best deals, once you have finalized about the model.