very new to electric guitar need your opinion...

[BZanZ]

i currently have an old gibson challenger which is missing a pickup and needs new strings, other then that its in alright shape, and my friend also lent me a tiny amp.

my question is would it be better for me to get some new strings and a new pickup or just buy this

http://robsonmusic.com/masterpack.html

the amp that comes with this is better then the one i have now. but i am wondering if the guitar would be the same better or worse then what i have now. as i am just a beginner cost is a concern as well. (the master pack is around 100$ for me 300 retail) and i am unsure of what the cost of a pickup would be.

any insight would be GREATLY appritiated.

[devnulljp]

That's an interesting funky old guitar -- I'd keep it.
Farcaster has some nice pickups here: http://www.guitarscanada.com/Board/showthread.php?t=13776
That DiMarzio PAF might just do the job for $50. You might need to get someone to install it if you're not too familiar with that end of things, but it shouldn't cost too much. Get whoever does that to give it a decent set-up too.
You can also pick up an Epiphone valve junior amp for not much more that $100 which would get you going and you'd have much better gear than anything with the word "pack" in it.
Really, those "perfect for beginners" package deals usually roughly translate as "anyone that's been playing for a while will spot this as a dog from a mile off and we've got no chance of selling it so let's take advantage of people who don't know any better yet"
Just my $0.02 worth

[WEEZY]

Definitely fix-up the Gibson!

If you have a look at craigslist, you'll see dozens of ads trying to unload 'gutar starter kits' exactly like the Robson one. The reason is: they are shit.

Quick question: Is it a Challenger or a Challenger 2? If it's an original Challenger, it should only have 1 pickup at the bridge. If it's a Challenger 2, it should have 2 pickups... so you might not be missing a pickup after all...

Even though it's a lower-end Gibson, your guitar is somwhat rare (they only made them from 1983-1985) and has some cool factor for sure. Assuming it's all stock, you'll want to change-up the bridge and pickup(s)...and maybe the tuners as well. Then you'll have an amazing guitar and excellent value for the money!

G'luck!

[Scottone]

definitely stay with the Gibson...looks like a nice beginner guitar and will just increase in value over time.

Do you have any pics of the guitar?

[blink]

Personally, I'd stay way from starter packs. If the Gibson is in decent playing shape, that is the neck is straight, decent frets, and can be adjusted (truss rod and bridge/saddles) then I'd say fix/setup the Gibson. If you aren't sure how, take it in to a local shop and have a guitar tech look at it. He'll likely be able to tell you if it's worth fooling with.

You could probably get away with having it setup, new strings, and even a new pickup if it needs it for around 100 bucks. This might seem like a lot, but believe me, having a decent guitar to START with makes learning so much easier and a lot more fun as well.

I started on a cheapo plywood Kay that had nasty action and almost gave up on guitar 25 oddd years ago. If it hadn't been for a buddy with a "nice" guitar who showed me that your guitar didn't have to suck I may never had continued with it. lol

Good luck!

[BZanZ]

it is almost identical to this one

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3865/1712/1600/gibsonchallengerII.0.jpg

but mine is more of a traditional wood color and has no wammy bar i have the pickup closest to the neck but at the bottom there is just a hole where one should be.

[BZanZ]

or 2 humbucker*** pickups sorry.

[devnulljp]

I agree with blink above - I had one of those -- mine was a Kay catalogue LP Custom, which could easily have doubled as a cheeseslicer. It fell apart and was replaced eventaully wit ha Hondo, which was also horrible. Best stay away from starter packs.

You should be able to at least play the Gibson even with one pickup missing. I seem to remember an obscure young guitar player doing that years ago ;)

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9736/eddievanhaleniv2.jpg
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6222/evhfrankensteinxn5.jpg

[Robert1950]

Keep the Gibson - get it fixed up and set up (strings included)

[Scottone]

it is almost identical to this one

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3865/1712/1600/gibsonchallengerII.0.jpg

but mine is more of a traditional wood color and has no wammy bar i have the pickup closest to the neck but at the bottom there is just a hole where one should be.

If the front pick-up is working, I would just get it set up for now (i.e. new strings, truss rod adjustment, etc). You can always add another pick-up later on.

[zontar]

Just in case you didn't get what the other guys were saying--Keep it.

If you want to mod it you can do that as you get ot know the guitar and learn what you'd like it to do better, and even if you later get a better guitar--you'll have this one with some serious memories and learning experiences.

[blink]

Just in case you didn't get what the other guys were saying--Keep it.

If you want to mod it you can do that as you get ot know the guitar and learn what you'd like it to do better, and even if you later get a better guitar--you'll have this one with some serious memories and learning experiences.

+1 to the serious memories.

Over the years I've had and sold/traded gear that I now kick myself for getting rid of. I know what type of sound and setup I want now so that doesn't happen any more, but man...some of that stuff over the years....dang I miss it.