Help out a wandering noob...

[heyheymymy]

Hi. First post here....

I'm looking for my first solid body electric guitar. Price must be under $500. I've narrowed my highly unscientific search to G&L Tributes and Reverend Stage Kings (looks, perceived quality), though I'm open to suggestions (I'll add that I haven't been nuts about the Schecters and Ibanez I've seen, and the Godin Exit 22, while I'm sure is nice, just doesn't get my juices going like the Reverends and Tributes, and passion is part of my personal equation).

For a versatile, do-it-all (well, most of it; no metal, no surf, no jazz...), can any generalizations be made about

Strats and Strat copies
Teles and Tele copies
LPs and LP copies

And pickups... Humbuckers, single-coil, P90s... some combination?

Here's a simple (?) example:

Of the Charger 290, Charger HB, and Flatroc, which is likely to be the most versatile? Or is a Jetstream or Warhawk a better bet? (If I weren't already bald, I'd be pulling out my hair....)

Music I'm interested in playing is all over the place... Replacements, Liz Phair, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Pixies, Hole, Green Day, Neil Young....

Thanks for any and all advice.
David

[bynt]

Well it seems like you're a big Neil Young fan and that's definately a humbucker thing going on there but I think for the money I really like the Made In Mexico (MIM) Teles as far as all around versatile guitars. I don't know what you have to spend but Les Paul Studio's are quite nice. Albeit I don't think (just my opinion) they are nearly as versatile as a Tele. I feel I should also state that mostly I'm a strat guy. But Tele's can do rock, country, slide, alternate tunings, punkish, (Frank Blacks' played them) strummy you name it. Just a big hunk of wood. I regret getting rid of mine. You can pick them up pretty cheap. Can't beat the newer MIMs for the money. Good luck and welcome to TGP!!!!

[Crazyquilt]

Given what you've described, I think you'd be happy with any of the Reverends, or a G&L ASAT Tribute, either with the smaller MFD pickups (Classic), or the bigger ones (Special). I think that the Special is more versatile -- the big MFDs are like a Tele on steroids. I've got a G&L Trib ASAT Special Semihollow, and it's a very impressive guitar.

I haven't played the Chargers, but I own a Warhawk HB & owned a Flatroc, although the original version, which was all alder, rather than mahogany/spruce. The Flatroc will be a more country/rootsy sound, which would fit well with your interests. However, with the bass contour & 25.5" scale, you can get a P-90 guitar -- or a HB -- to sound very much like a Tele-ish single coil. The Flatroc, with the bass contour dialed back, gets more Gretschy.

If you want to play it safe, I think the ASAT Special would be the thing. If you want something with a little more character & uniqueness, I'd suggest the Flatroc. With a trem, I might add, for that occasional rockabilly/country wiggle. OTOH, if you want a giant Strat, you could get a Jetstream 390 -- certainly a versatile guitar.

[Tycho]

I can't argue with any of the above (and I'm a huge Reverend fan), but since you've already looked at the Exit 22, do yourself a favour and try the Godin LG with P90s. It's a wonderful guitar for the price, and it'll give you the Neil sound.

[Dave B]

Don't forget that $500 could get you a nice used guitar that new cost around $800 - $900. This may expand your choices a bit, <edit> while raising the quality.

[ssimon64]

How bout one of those cheap PRS's? the santana SE... or some such.

[Glowing Tubes]

Used is the way to go, just spend some time in the emporium, you might find something to your liking.

No humbucker but:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=200873
(not my add)

I'm going to go look at Reverend guitars myself today. :BEER

[bluesdoc]

2nd on the prs santana se guitars. And yes, buy used if you can try it first (or approval period). Actually that'd be true for any guitar, new or used.

jon

[ford]

The Reverends are fantastic buys in my opinion. Of course, so are the Tributes. The other guitar player in my band had his gear stolen and being on a budget he purchased a Tribue Asat Classic from Buffalo Brothers guitars..

I would check them out there for sure.. www.buffalobrosguitars.com

I went and played some more MIM's this week and most just don't cut it off the rack to me. Too much variance from what I've played.

rock

bford