Guitar experts - criticize my shopping list

[Srdjan]

Hello, fellow canadian guitarheads!

I'm a beginner on a budget, so I didn't go too crazy. Help me make some last minute changes before I click the submit button.

I would have used musiciansfriend.com, but not every item ships to canada. music123 ftw!

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/4968/guitar2ku4.th.jpg (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=guitar2ku4.jpg)

[iaresee]

The pickups on that OLP are garbage. So is the construction. Come to think of it the neck finish is the only thing on that guitar I can find anything nice to say about. Can you swing a MiM Fender Strat or Tele instead? It's just a better bang for your buck. Gibson branded strings wouldn't be my first choice, I prefer D'Addario's. Try out a pack of EXL120s. If you can swing a few extra dollars buy a better cable, maybe a Planet Waves. And I'd buy an Epi Valve Jr. or a Fender G-DEC instead of a Spider but the Spider is not a bad entry-level amp.

[jane]

Yeah. I think a MIM strat would be a good choice if you can swing it - especially used, there's some on craigslist or whatever. Have you gone to a guitar store to try guitars? I see that you live in Kitchener - there's Sherwood music and L&M in Waterloo. I too prefer D'Addario strings but *shrugs*. And I don't really have much to comment on about the amp.

[violation]

Mmmkay, suggestion 1: don't actually buy from Music123. It's American I believe and you'll get nailed with those not-so-pretty brokerage fees! If you want a rough idea of prices, check out LAMusic.ca or AxeMusic.com!

Guitar, yeah like iaresee said above it's really not too good. I was thinking about getting one 'cause I figured 'Sweet, EVH -style axe on a budget.' but it's seriously terrible dude lol.

Strings, not a terrible choice but Dean Markley would be my choice (those little suckers stay bright forever and then some).

Cables, again I agree with iaresee... Planet Waves are a lot better (if you're playing sitting down make sure you get a right angled one on atleast one end! Saves time re-soldering them!).

Amp isn't too bad for a beginner... check out the Roland Cube and the Vox Valvetronix too.

Welcome, by the way!

[jane]

Amp isn't too bad for a beginner... check out the Roland Cube and the Vox Valvetronix too.

Yeah, the brokerage fees & duty probably won't be pretty. I forgot about the Vox Valvetronix - I tried a bunch of those and really liked them.

And welcome from me too -where are my manners going?

[Srdjan]

Wow, thanks for the fast replies guys :rockon:

I'll check out some local stores, I didn't even know about sherwood and L&M. I'll also look on craigslist and ebay for a used MIM (made in mexico?) strat, my budget can't go over 350 though.

What are your general thoughts on the Line 6 amp? I've been reading very mixed reviews... I'll check out the cube, the vox seems too pricey for me.

[violation]

Line 6 isn't terrible at all but the Cube and the Vox are a lot better IMO. Modelling is a good way to start... all the different tones you can get could be inspiring and handy for covering tunes (which is likely where you'll start!). My main beef with all Line 6 products is the chorus effect sounds too digital.

Plus you'll upgrade later... no matter how hard you try and fight it :eek:

[Robert1950]

The general opinion of the Line 6 Spider is fairly low on this Forum. Vox Valvetronix has a much higher approval rating. I would check your local music stores to compare prices. There are also warranty issues when you purchase from the states. I have no idea about the guitar you've selected. If it is a strat style, you may want to consider a Yamaha Pacifica. Prices have dropped somewhat in Canada due to the lousy American dollar.

I've heard that a couple of Kitchener stores aren't bad. Some people from London come up to KW because the stores are better.

[iaresee]

made in mexico?
Yup. Made in Mexico.

[jane]

If your budget can't go over 350 then I really wouldn't recommend buying for music123 because you're very likely going to get dinged for brokerage fees. I'm going to suggest buying your amp used as well - 14% tax really takes a big chunk out of your budget. Other guitars that you might consider - I've played some really nice Yamahas, Squiers and Epiphones but whatever guitar you choose, consider getting it professionally set up (or at least, get a friend to set it up) because that really makes a difference. Cables... L&M has 20' Apex cables for like 10 bucks - I have one and I prefer my Planet Waves one, but it works. *shrugs*

[jane]

I've heard that a couple of Kitchener stores aren't bad. Some people from London come up to KW because the stores are better.

I like Sherwood Music - not sure if they carry the Roland Cube though - but I know Waterloo Music does for sure.

[Srdjan]

Hey Jane - wanna set up my guitar when I buy it? :D

Thanks for the suggestions, sounds like you have some experience with these stores. Will they let me plug in and play, to test out all the guitars?

[jane]

Hey Jane - wanna set up my guitar when I buy it? :D

Thanks for the suggestions, sounds like you have some experience with these stores. Will they let me plug in and play, to test out all the guitars?

Lol. I wouldn't trust me to do more than change strings and set intonation, tbh. (Or at least, I wouldn't trust me to set up someone else's guitar.) Yeah, they'll let you plug in and play - at least, I've never been told no and I'm a terrible guitarist. Or usually someone will ask if you want them to play something - which is what I did when I was starting out and couldn't play more than 3 or 4 chords.

[Budda]

its a good idea to always try out the guitar you bring home - you want to know it's comfortable and doesnt have anything wrong with it.

[Stratin2traynor]

Check Craigslist. I see reasonable guitar and amp packages all the time. You can get something decent for $350 and upgrade as you progress. I recently saw a Valvetronix 30 watt for $200 on the Vancouver CS....

[violation]

Check Kijiji too!

[greco]

I have been going to Sherwood Music for years.

The folks there are very helpful and friendly. They have a great selection of guitars and amps at virtually all price points. They also (usually) have gear that is on consignment or has been traded in. Sherwood also carries a very large selection of parts and accessories for guitars.

Sherwood Systems is in the same building and is fun to have a look at. Mics, stage equipment, lighting, PA systems, rackmount gear, DJ equipment, etc.

Sherwood Music have both guitar repair/setup services (ask for Mike) and amp repair services (ask for Rich at Amplifiers Plus ....to the left as you go through the front door).

Dave

[ne1roc]

I buy from these US stores all the time. Brokerage fees are not as bad as everyone says they are, at least not on lower value orders. You do get hit with taxes though and they end up being substantially higher then the brokerage fees. Some of the deals you can get online are still cheaper then buying locally even after combining all the brokerage and shipping fees.

If you do your homework, you can save a ton of dough, but most of the time you are better off buying locally.

[Paul]

Long & McQuade has a low price guarantee. They'll match any price from a brick and mortar seller. Show 'em a BIN from ebay and they'll wish you luck. L&M has a 30 money back return policy. Keep it clean and fresh while you try it out, and they'll take it back if you don't like it, for any reason.

L&M has a resonable rental policy, where you can try various items. A portion of your rent can go towards purchase should you make that decision.

I've had nothing but good experiences with L&M Cambridge, (formerly Murch Music).

[david henman]

Wow, thanks for the fast replies guys :rockon:

I'll check out some local stores, I didn't even know about sherwood and L&M. I'll also look on craigslist and ebay for a used MIM (made in mexico?) strat, my budget can't go over 350 though.

What are your general thoughts on the Line 6 amp? I've been reading very mixed reviews... I'll check out the cube, the vox seems too pricey for me.

...if you can get to a long and mcquade store by the end of this month, you can take advantage of their six months no financing sale, which really makes a purchase like this painless. they will also give you a free set up, as well as reliable warranties.

i think the line six amp is good bang for your buck.

but, don't get too carried away with all the fancy effects etc...you need to appreciate the joy of playing clean and unaffected occasionally!

:smile:

-dh

[Paul]

...if you can get to a long and mcquade store by the end of this month, you can take advantage of their six months no financing sale, which really makes a purchase like this painless. -dh

Good point, but I believe the October no interest financing option is only available on Yorkville distributed products. That includes the entire Gibson/Epiphone family, as well as Yorkville/Traynor, and some other brands.


...but, don't get too carried away with all the fancy effects etc...you need to appreciate the joy of playing clean and unaffected occasionally!

:smile:

-dh

I knew I like you for a good reason. :smile::smile:

90% of my plugged in playing is guitar -> cord -> amp.

[Srdjan]

Wow, there is some really nice deals on CL... I've narrowed it down to these 3, which one would you choose?

Fender Squire 50th anniversary 1996 strat - $200 - http://toronto.craigslist.org/msg/453652905.html

Yamaha EG112 - $125 - http://toronto.craigslist.org/msg/454580774.html

Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J - $150 - http://toronto.craigslist.org/msg/445860433.html

[Maxer]

IMO you can't go wrong with the Yamaha Pacificas... very good value for a pittance. Scored a ten year old one via Craigslist a few months back. Paid a titch more for it than perhaps I ought to have but it was in excellent shape and came in a solid hard case. Natural finish, classic Strat-ish shape with a phenomenal neck and a really nice resonance to it.. it's a real pleasure to play and it rivals my guitars that cost multiples of what I paid.

Yammys generally are given short shrift in North America but they are great players and the QC tends to be quite high.

[Srdjan]

IMO you can't go wrong with the Yamaha Pacificas... very good value for a pittance. Scored a ten year old one via Craigslist a few months back. Paid a titch more for it than perhaps I ought to have but it was in excellent shape and came in a solid hard case. Natural finish, classic Strat-ish shape with a phenomenal neck and a really nice resonance to it.. it's a real pleasure to play and it rivals my guitars that cost multiples of what I paid.

Yammys generally are given short shrift in North America but they are great players and the QC tends to be quite high.

Very cool :rockon: I've heard nothing but good things about them as well.

One thing bothers me though - someone on this forum said something about tremolos, and how no-names generally have tuning problems. The ad for the Pacifica states "Black body with maple neck and tremelo for use in conjuction with whammy bar", but there doesn't seem to be a whammy in the picture. Is this something I should be worried about?

Thanks :)

[Maxer]

To be honest, I don't know. My second-hand PAC came without its whammy bar. I wasn't concerned because I don't really dig conventional old-school whammies as I find they often cause intonation problems. If I want to do some bends I keep on Floyd-equipped Washburn around and the rest of my guitars are either hardtails or they have the tremelo bridge screwed down tight to the body.

Though I stand by my first post that in general Yamaha gives great value for your investment, I'm a little shy of the tremelo system they use for their base-line guitars... and the lower-end PACs are just that. Your mileage may vary... perhaps you should check one out in the flesh and play it for a half-hour or so and see how it feels and if the thing stays in tune after giving the whammy a decent work-out.

Another guitar I'd have no trouble recommending is a Washburn X-series, like the X-10 or X-11. Again, a Strat-style guitar with lots of versatility tonally and super-comfortable to play. These would come in at around the same price as the Yamaha you're looking at - maybe a few bucks more.

http://idisk.mac.com/maxman23/Public/RedOnGreen.jpg

[Steve P]

The Pacifica 112 is a fine starter guitar. It was my first guitar. I've been shopping for an upgrade after playing for a year. Although I'm enjoying playing different guitars while shopping, it has reinforced my belief that the Pacifica is a really great guitar for the money.

Yes, using the whammy bar will throw the guitar out of tune. You can get away with subtle use of it, but bigger dive-bombs will play havoc with tuning. I think it is good enough to start though. As a beginner, you probably don't want to be playing around with a Floyd Rose whammy bar, as they are a real pain to set up properly (for beginners), especially if you change tunings a lot.

The HSS pickups are okay, and will get you diverse tones.

The general build of the guitar is high quality for the price. They hold up well in comparison to strats. Since they are built well out of decent tone wood, I think Pacificas are worthy of pickup upgrades if you desire something different after a while.

I would advise against the Spider amp -- many Spider owners regret their decision in short order. IMO their tone is inferior to the Roland Cube or Microcube series and the Vox Valvetronix or DA5 digital modellers.

My advice would be to try the Vox Valvetronix or little DA5s. If you play a lot of metal, you might prefer the Microcube. I would recommend getting only a 5W amp to start -- you won't need anything larger for home practice & low-volume friendly jams. When you decide to upgrade to a nice tube amp (it will happen, trust me), then you will still have a nice, portable 5W modeller for late-night practice or a battery-driven afternoon in the park. There is no point getting a digital 75W half-stack, as by the time you need to be heard over drums and other instruments, you will probably be very unsatisfied with its tone.

BUT ... in the final analysis, use your own ears and judgement. Have fun shopping!

[Maxer]

Not that I'd advise it but you can also get a PAC with a Floyd Rose instead of the stock whammy... costs more, mind you, but it is an option. However, going that route means it's a whole other experience... Floyd-equipped guitars handle quite differently from a conventional guitar... i ways both subtle and not so subtle. You have to appreciate what you can do with them and how playing them requires different techniques. They're not for everybody, but they certainly are worth investigating.

As has been said before though, it's a real golden age for guitar players. There's tons of great gear out there available at phenomenal prices. It's more affordable than ever for a newbie to get a quite decent package and start playing.

[fretman57]

Check out Agile guitars very nice guitars for a nice price!

Scotty