Getting Into Guitar Again (Help Pls)

I played guitar when i was a young chap for a few years and i've been wanting to get back into it again for a while now, and finally have the funds to do so. Can any of you recommend a decent guitar or brand. i dont care of its electric or acoustic cuz im not sure which im gonna get yet, just gonna browse some options. There are soem big music stores near me like guitar center and sam ash and they sell used guitars which is an option. thanks

 

I like Fender MIM or squier classic vibe. That and a small solid state for practice should get you rolling. If you wanna get GOOD, go with a tele. They're a weird mix of fun, versatile, and unforgiving. The con to this is that they're probably more frustrating, too.

Epiphone's been cranking out fairly decent quality stuff too, I might mention. I'm personally more of a fender guy but it depends on what you wanna play, both for what the guitar is and the style

*Edit - to the mods, this might get more relevant traffic if moved to Performing Arts

 

Thans man! I used a fender back in the day, and a yamaha i think for acoustic.

Are epiphones expensive or do they have some in the below $400 do u think?



I bet if i psted this in love & sex it would get like 300 views in an hour lol

 

Spend big bucks on a swanky guitar, before you actually attempt to put in the hours and hours of practice it takes to get up to speed again

What could go wrong?


Just get a shitty cheap guitar and see if you could be fucked practicing first

 

If you can afford it, I'd recommend a Martin for acoustic. I have a fairly cheap Yamaha acoustic and I enjoy it, I do notice the difference when dropping into guitar center and playing the more expensive acoustics tho.

For electric maybe a Gibson or Fender...


My advice on whether to go acoustic or electric... acoustics are more versatile, in that you can take them places like the park, beach, camping, etc. It also stands on it's own better, as you don't really need a band or backing music track to play with. However the feeling of playing an electric guitar is on another level, something about the energy that can go into it, coupled with the dynamics of being able to switch tones and effects. You need an amp and usually have to play with other music/tracks for the electric to be worth it. There are backing tracks on youtube though and you can download metronome clicker apps, so it's not really an much an issue if you just want to play inside.

 

idk if you noticed but i said i would be willing to get a used guitar, which are usually pretty cheap. carry on

 

That's why I said relevant

Um, the Epi Les Paul Standard can be had for $400, used will go lower. They're decent overall, tend to be hit or miss. Especially from Guitar Center. lol

The LP studios are stripped down versions, about 350 for a less pretty version of the same thing. LP 100's are okay, they're about 250... I suppose it'd be an okay guitar to start out on if you're JUST getting back into it. I personally am not a fan but I'm a snob. The Wilshire series tends to be of good quality - used, those things can be as low as 200.


A Squier Classic Vibe is waaaay more assured to be fair quality though - I've seen people gig those pro


A not on acoustic - if you're learning, probably a better option. You can't hide behind distortion or effects on an acoustic, and as GB pointed out, they're handy in that they're not electric. Yamaha makes decent starter acoustic guitars - I regularly use one for my Tuesday lessons when I'm too lazy to bust out my own... which is always

 

Mid and upper range Epi's are nice these days... Cheapest ones may be okay, maybe not, it's a crap shoot. Ibanez makes some good guitars too, but tend to lean towards the "metal" crowd.

 

thats what i like about my acoustic was that i could take it anywhere like wen id go camping or just outside anywhere. id probably just be playing by myself since the drummer and guitarist i used to play with moved away.

 

In that case, have you thought about making your on guitar, with todays tech, you just need decent pickups really, software can make it sound like anything

 

For 3 or so hundred you should be able to get something made in japan maybe from the 80s. Japanese made guitars are almost as good as usa made and way better than korean chinese or malaysian ones. Im talking manufactured in japan not necessarily a japanese brand. If youre goin for acoustic check out old alvarez acoustics made in japan. If electric, you try to find an old fender japan strat or telecaster.

Basically as far as low but not super cheap guitars go my best advice is to get something manufactured in japan from a brand youve heard of

 

Yeah... throw some really good pickups on a piece of shit guitar... Still gonna sound like a piece of shit, but louder.

 

I want to like this post. Fucking quota

Deranged, are you at all familiar with the little secret in the used-guitar world known as Electra Guitars? They're good... real good. There's a phoenix on fleabay right now that I'm gassing over SO hard and COULD pay for if the money weren't gonna be going towards a new amp and tele project


Don't listen to vanilla - a piece of shit guitar will just discourage you. Hell, buy a squier affinity and slap whatever pickups you like in it, it'll carry you WAY further than most of the POS beginner models. Oh - NEVER buy a Dean.

 

Not familiar with that brand

 

They're known for making a wide variety of these and their Les Paul copies. And the obvious upside-down peace logo. I think they actually rebooted in 2011

 

for the love of god stay away from sam ash.. unless your buying firewood..

 

...really? I've generally had positive experiences with Sam Ash - my #1 was from their local shop.

 

Is sam ash lame? ive been there a few times as i have guitar center but never noticed anything out of the ordinary. this was a while back though.

 

Id already owned about a dozen guitars before a Sam Ash purchase. Which was mail catalog, that probably makes a lot of difference than buying in a store. If you have service you can depend on.
Currently my Fender Stratocaster is the longest lived guitar I have owned. Most dont make it past 3yrs, this one is going on 8yrs old now.

 

You've already got a lot of great suggestions here, but since you don't know a lot about guitars I would suggest you go to a reputable guitar shop that has a tech and have them point you in the right direction.

So called 'cheap' guitars like squire bullets, lower end epi's and such can be decent guitars if they are set up right. You can spend more on a mid-range guitar, but it still doesn't guarantee they are set up well from the factory.

One of the reasons,( besides cheap hardware), that they can offer them so cheap is because a big part of the labor involves getting the action set up right. Monkeys can cut and assemble a bolt-on neck guitar, but factory set-ups are rarely optimal, and usually shitty. You need someone who knows what they are doing for that and it takes time and expertise the factorys not willing to spend, it cuts into the profit margin. Only on higher end guitars can the builder afford to actually take the time to do it right, and it's reflected in the price. Cheap fenders and epi's from China and Malaysia for instance are purposely set with a high action so as to hide possible flaws in the fretting and neck relief. It's what Ty was saying about being a crap-shoot to get a good one. If you can find a good one, and get it set up professionally it can be as good as or better playing than a more expensive model of the same brand. Since you don't know what to look for, you are better off going to a reputable guitar shop and having them help you. They might have a great guitar already set up, or you can negotiate the price to have them set up a guitar you buy from them, if needed. The other thing to consider is the trade/ resale value. Buy the best guitar of the most well known brand you can afford, then if you want to trade up, you've got something someone might want. Typically, cheap fenders and epis are worth about half of what you pay for them new, as soon as you walk out the door. lol


If this all leaves you confused and bewildered, lol the most basic advice I would have is go play a lot of guitars and buy the one you like in your price range. Ty?