First guitar

[spawndn72]

How does a new guitar player who does not know what they are going to like/dislike or what a "good" guitar should feel like make an informed first purchase?

[spawndn72]

Didn't get any responses, so I will expand on my original question and see if that helps.

I like the sound of a Les Paul, but I have read a lot of threads about their inconsistencies and that you really have to try a bunch out before you find a good one. But to be honest I do not think I would know a good one from a bad one. So as a new player, what should I be looking for when making my first purchase. My budget is $1600 or less.

If I would be better off buying something else as my first guitar, please let me know that too.

Thanks

[randypttt]

Hey spawndn, if you have that much to spend you shouldn't worry about the 'inconsistencies'. In that price range you should be able to find an LP that most any of us would play.
From the range of apx $800 to 2K there's probably not a lot of problems to deal with. Find one you like the look of and have the store tech (if there is one) set it up.
At your level you should be good to go.
My son has an Epiphone LP that he payed $500 for and it's beautiful. Natural top and a great neck. Some of the electronics could stand to be modded but otherwise it's a nice guitar.
You should do well with what ya got.
Good luck.

[Sidmore]

I usually recommend a strat-type guitar with a hard tail or decked trem as a first guitar - they're easy to play standing or sitting, don't weigh a ton, and the non-floating bridge will help alleviate beginner tuning issues. They're also easy to mod later when you begin to develop distinct likes & dislikes.

A quality example of the above can be had for $500 leaving you plenty of $$ for a small amp and some lessons.

[Pietro]

First guitar should usually be a Tele imho. Most versatile and simple to build a great guitar. You can get a great Made in Mexico one for WAY under a grand, even new.

But when I was starting out, that wasn't what I was into...

In that price range you can get a used Les Paul Standard or Traditional I bet if that's what you really want.

Just take good care of it and baby it as best you can, because it's rare, in my experience, that a "first guitar" is the one you settle on long term.

[blues junkie]

I would look at the PRS SE line or a used USA made PRS, those guitars are very consistant in quality, so a first time player can buy a good one. I would also go to a reputable dealer and they would be able to find you a good guitar.

Where do you live? If we know where you live, we could recommend a good place to purchase a guitar or maybe a member that lives in the area could help you find a great first guitar.

Good Luck.

[adaytonguitarist]

I would also go with a strat.
- They are awesome guitars.
- Cost $600-700 for a used USA Strat
- You can swap out every part fairly easily
- They are virtually indestructable, unless you grab it by the neck and give it the old pete townsend.

Also when you are ready to trade up you get your money back.

[Rumble]

A Gibson SG might be the ticket.

[pbmw]

I agree that a tele would be a great choice

[stratman89]

Originally Posted by Pietro

First guitar should usually be a Tele imho. Most versatile and simple to build a great guitar.

[texasdw]

First off, if you like the sound of a Les Paul, then go that way. You can certainly get a strat type guitar in that price range, and it'll be a real good one. But, it'll be a strat type guitar. If you're wanting a LP but you buy a strat you'll be wishing... Good Les Pauls are not that difficult to find, regardless of what the connoisseurs on this forum may lead you to believe .

Secondly, go guitar shopping with somebody who knows what they're looking at, and make sure it's somebody you trust. Let them help you out.

Third, regardless of the make or model, be prepared to have somebody knowledgeable do a set-up for you. That can make the world of difference between a guitar that is ok, and one that you'll enjoy playing for years to come.

[Eko]

I would recommend you first assess the type of music you want to play. If you want to play heavier music get a guitar with humbuckers (Les Paul, SG, etc), if you want to play more clean or bluesy stuff go for single coils (Telecater, Strat, etc). Obviously there are tons of variations and different tone woods and etc, but as a base line remember that.

I really don't recommend spending more than $300 dollars on your first guitar. You can get a great used PRS SE Custom, MIM Tele, Epiphone Les Paul, etc for around $300 dollars used. These guitars are all extremely good sound wise. The difference between a $300 guitar and a $1,500 guitar would be negligible for a starting guitarist and is very hard to notice even with A/B tests (See a Gibson SG vs Epiphone SG on youtube or MIM Tele vs American Tele).

Take the remaining cash you have and buy a nice small tube amp and maybe few pedals. I recommend the Vox AC4TV or the Bugera V5 paired with a Bad Monkey or TS9 pedal.

In total you'll have spent $600 dollars or so and your tone will be great. Save the rest of the cash for something else like lessons or a case or an acoustic guitar.

Most people start off with gear worth less than $200 dollars that plays like it's worth less than $50.

[Eko]

Remember, the guitarist makes the guitar not the other way around.

[440gtx6pak]

I think a good bet for just one guitar would be a HSS USA Strat used. It will cover a lot of ground for one guitar. If you don't need a tremolo for now, just block it or tighten the springs (use 5). You will never lose a dime if you sell it and it will move fast. Now, if you ever get a Les Paul, just change the Strat to a SSS pickuguard and loosen up the tremolo. By the way don't believe most of the 'b.s.' on this forum from people who don't like a certain brand. Guitars are all pretty good today within their respective price ranges and worst case they just need a good set up.

[bettset]

if you like les paul tone, you want a humbucker. with your price range, you should find something pretty good actually. do you have any friends who have played longer than you? play on an amp at whatever store you go to similiar to yours.....if you have one, or bring yours. are you in the USA? this could make for an interesting search for you depending. try strats, teles, prs', epi's & sg/lp's. find a neck that allows you to fret well....no fighting say by the nut & near the neck pickup. feel the pots for adjusting the volume & tones.....are they scratchy, some don't do much at all. but those can be replaced as needed. play it unplugged & listen to how the sound comes off of it......the resonance, this is where a friend who plays would come in hand. let them play it. i've had friends buy guitars after i played them at a store. look at the neck from the headstock down to see if the neck is not twisted. if it has a bow, see if the store can easily adjust the truss rod. there's alot of things to consider. gotta get them thru questions & experience. who are your favorite players. if i were starting today, i would get myself the newer prs se santana. and then for the amp, a warm fender & some drive or boost to fatten things. but effects come later down the road........get your basics first