Electric Guitar Advice
Discussion
Hi there musicalheads, I am just after a little bit of advice on an electric guitar purchase so first of all....
I know diddly squat about guitars except for a few manufacturers names.
On of my "things to do next year" is to begin learning the electric guitar, a lad at work has offered me an Ibanez RG550, the guitar is finished in gloss black and to me, a total noob, looks and feels awesome. It is very good condition with two very minor marks less that 2mm in size, and it is left handed. Perfect.
I think the guitar is around 15yrs old and comes with a hard case and all the gubbins. He paid £350 for it and wants me to make an offer, I am in the mode of thought that guitars don't depreciate like cars if they are looked after.
Any thoughts welcomed.
Cheers
Gaz
I know diddly squat about guitars except for a few manufacturers names.
On of my "things to do next year" is to begin learning the electric guitar, a lad at work has offered me an Ibanez RG550, the guitar is finished in gloss black and to me, a total noob, looks and feels awesome. It is very good condition with two very minor marks less that 2mm in size, and it is left handed. Perfect.
I think the guitar is around 15yrs old and comes with a hard case and all the gubbins. He paid £350 for it and wants me to make an offer, I am in the mode of thought that guitars don't depreciate like cars if they are looked after.
Any thoughts welcomed.
Cheers
Gaz
Hi mate,
I'm also a left handed guitarist. And funnily enough i have an RG550EX that i bought about 5 years ago. I still use it and think it is a pretty good all rounder. A new RG550 is abouit £450 i believe, so £350 for a 15yr old one seems a bit steep. Yamaha Pacificas are good starters, or an acoustic? The electric guitar will sound crap no matter how expensive, if you're going through a cheap amp. Something to think about.
Charlie
I'm also a left handed guitarist. And funnily enough i have an RG550EX that i bought about 5 years ago. I still use it and think it is a pretty good all rounder. A new RG550 is abouit £450 i believe, so £350 for a 15yr old one seems a bit steep. Yamaha Pacificas are good starters, or an acoustic? The electric guitar will sound crap no matter how expensive, if you're going through a cheap amp. Something to think about.
Charlie
Oh it won't be £350, somewhere under £300 for sure.
I want electric because that is where I will end up anyway if I go down the acoustic / cheapo electric route first I'll only bin 'em in favour of something like the RG550 anyway. So I'd like to get it right first time if possible.
You say £450 for a new one? Is that a left handed one?
Thanks for your input.
I want electric because that is where I will end up anyway if I go down the acoustic / cheapo electric route first I'll only bin 'em in favour of something like the RG550 anyway. So I'd like to get it right first time if possible.
You say £450 for a new one? Is that a left handed one?
Thanks for your input.
Yeah roughly £450 for a new one, though i'm not sure if you can get that model left handed, just the EX when i was in the market. I remember i paid about £800 for my RG550EX about 5 years ago.
Make sure that the RG550 is actually what you want. From a beginner's point of view a double locking trem can be difficult to get on with, and when it comes to changing strings tuning can be frustrating! It also doesnt allow you to play around with alternate tunings quite so easily. But if it's what you want then go for it.
Have a look on sites like http://www.lefthandedguitars.co.uk/index.php as they are quite useful.
Make sure that the RG550 is actually what you want. From a beginner's point of view a double locking trem can be difficult to get on with, and when it comes to changing strings tuning can be frustrating! It also doesnt allow you to play around with alternate tunings quite so easily. But if it's what you want then go for it.
Have a look on sites like http://www.lefthandedguitars.co.uk/index.php as they are quite useful.
Ibanez guitars in general aren't especially sought after second hand, other maybe a couple of top-end models, so don't even go anywhere near £300 .... The guitar is worth £200 tops in my opinion. (£150 would put in the 'bargain category and £250 would be throwing your money away tackle). As has been said, just make sure that this is the type of guitar that you want. Don't just get it because it's convenient to do so and 'the right sort of money'.
I've got 7 guitars worth about 5 grand (new) and my favourite is a Levinson Blade Durango which cost me £195 used, so you don't need to spending much more than that to get a good 'un.
I've got 7 guitars worth about 5 grand (new) and my favourite is a Levinson Blade Durango which cost me £195 used, so you don't need to spending much more than that to get a good 'un.
To be honest, if you're learning you could get away with paying less. Something like a Squire Strat is perfect for the job (£130 new - around £70 secondhand), and if you give up you won't lose so much money. You're not necessarily losing quality either - with the Ibanez you'll be paying for things like a floating bridge, a locking nut or maybe even the humbuckers that you might not even use or benefit from.
I'd echo the advice about a Yamaha RGX/Pacifica as well. I started on an RGX and it saw me through years of gigs and got me well into 'intermediate' territory before I got something a bit flasher.
One of these should do you ok:
http://www.yamaha.com/guitars/products/productdeta...
The beauty of these is that they're incredibly good guitars for the money (I've always felt Squires to feel a bit cheap) and you get the humbucking pickup too which drastically increases your musical repertoire...
One of these should do you ok:
http://www.yamaha.com/guitars/products/productdeta...
The beauty of these is that they're incredibly good guitars for the money (I've always felt Squires to feel a bit cheap) and you get the humbucking pickup too which drastically increases your musical repertoire...
I'd offer him £100 and see what happens. You might grab a bargain and you can always tell him that left handed guitars are worth less because there aren't as many left handed people around so harder to shift 
Check ebay for completed listings to see if you can find something comparable to gauge the price other people are willing to pay on something similar.
If you like the look of it, and it feels nice, go for it if you can strike a good deal
Check ebay for completed listings to see if you can find something comparable to gauge the price other people are willing to pay on something similar.
If you like the look of it, and it feels nice, go for it if you can strike a good deal
nice to see so many lefties on here!!!
I bought a LH Stagg strat copy - yes I knew what I was buying, but I'm really a bass player,so didn't want to waste money. It's ok, cost about a ton with an amp.
Got a Wesley SG copy on ebay - cost me 41 quid - I kid ye not, sounds pretty good, and allow me to do angus impressions while murdereing back in black!!!
I'd try a pacifica - all the reviews say they're the dog's doodies for the money, and if you progress, you can always upgrade later on.
I hope one day to have enough money to buy a Les Paul in either Alpine White, Ebony, or tripple A bookmatched wood - I might not even play it as I'm so crap, but just to own one - mmmmmmmm!!!!
I bought a LH Stagg strat copy - yes I knew what I was buying, but I'm really a bass player,so didn't want to waste money. It's ok, cost about a ton with an amp.
Got a Wesley SG copy on ebay - cost me 41 quid - I kid ye not, sounds pretty good, and allow me to do angus impressions while murdereing back in black!!!
I'd try a pacifica - all the reviews say they're the dog's doodies for the money, and if you progress, you can always upgrade later on.
I hope one day to have enough money to buy a Les Paul in either Alpine White, Ebony, or tripple A bookmatched wood - I might not even play it as I'm so crap, but just to own one - mmmmmmmm!!!!
r5gttgaz said:
very good guitars. I can only really echo the sentiments of others who've sang the praises of the pacifica, great all rounders, and nice for those just learning. I started out with one and a fender squire strat, preferred the Yam I must say, still got it to this day. You won't go wrong with one of those tbh.nice to see so many lefties on here!!!
I bought a LH Stagg strat copy - yes I knew what I was buying, but I'm really a bass player,so didn't want to waste money. It's ok, cost about a ton with an amp.
Got a Wesley SG copy on ebay - cost me 41 quid - I kid ye not, sounds pretty good, and allow me to do angus impressions while murdereing back in black!!!
I'd try a pacifica - all the reviews say they're the dog's doodies for the money, and if you progress, you can always upgrade later on.
I hope one day to have enough money to buy a Les Paul in either Alpine White, Ebony, or tripple A bookmatched wood - I might not even play it as I'm so crap, but just to own one - mmmmmmmm!!!!
I bought a LH Stagg strat copy - yes I knew what I was buying, but I'm really a bass player,so didn't want to waste money. It's ok, cost about a ton with an amp.
Got a Wesley SG copy on ebay - cost me 41 quid - I kid ye not, sounds pretty good, and allow me to do angus impressions while murdereing back in black!!!
I'd try a pacifica - all the reviews say they're the dog's doodies for the money, and if you progress, you can always upgrade later on.
I hope one day to have enough money to buy a Les Paul in either Alpine White, Ebony, or tripple A bookmatched wood - I might not even play it as I'm so crap, but just to own one - mmmmmmmm!!!!
Check out an Epiphone; Gibson looks at bargain prices.
I had an Epiphone Les Paul "Black Beauty" for a couple of years and it was really very good. I'd still have it now, if I hadn't seen a PRS Santana on offer at a local music store (they offered a good px btw).
And, as above said, avoid locking nuts and trems. As a beginner they'll drive you up the wall. I know.
I had an Epiphone Les Paul "Black Beauty" for a couple of years and it was really very good. I'd still have it now, if I hadn't seen a PRS Santana on offer at a local music store (they offered a good px btw).
And, as above said, avoid locking nuts and trems. As a beginner they'll drive you up the wall. I know.
Another vote for the yamaha pacifica here
Cant go wrong with them really, and if after 6 months you find your not still playing, you wont have lost much.
I bought one 2nd hand a couple of years ago as a 'stop gap' while looking for a decent fender strat, and in the end stuck with it as it just plays so well for the money
You havent mentioned budget or what you intend to play it thro, but I'd recommend spending at least as much on the amp as the guitar, so a LH pacifica and a half decent practice amp should bring you up to that £300ish your mate wants for his old ibanez...
Out of interest, does your plan to learn include a few lessons to get you started ?
Cant go wrong with them really, and if after 6 months you find your not still playing, you wont have lost much.
I bought one 2nd hand a couple of years ago as a 'stop gap' while looking for a decent fender strat, and in the end stuck with it as it just plays so well for the money
You havent mentioned budget or what you intend to play it thro, but I'd recommend spending at least as much on the amp as the guitar, so a LH pacifica and a half decent practice amp should bring you up to that £300ish your mate wants for his old ibanez...
Out of interest, does your plan to learn include a few lessons to get you started ?
Nimbus said:
Another vote for the yamaha pacifica here
Cant go wrong with them really, and if after 6 months you find your not still playing, you wont have lost much.
I bought one 2nd hand a couple of years ago as a 'stop gap' while looking for a decent fender strat, and in the end stuck with it as it just plays so well for the money
You havent mentioned budget or what you intend to play it thro, but I'd recommend spending at least as much on the amp as the guitar, so a LH pacifica and a half decent practice amp should bring you up to that £300ish your mate wants for his old ibanez...
Out of interest, does your plan to learn include a few lessons to get you started ?
Plans. Cant go wrong with them really, and if after 6 months you find your not still playing, you wont have lost much.
I bought one 2nd hand a couple of years ago as a 'stop gap' while looking for a decent fender strat, and in the end stuck with it as it just plays so well for the money
You havent mentioned budget or what you intend to play it thro, but I'd recommend spending at least as much on the amp as the guitar, so a LH pacifica and a half decent practice amp should bring you up to that £300ish your mate wants for his old ibanez...
Out of interest, does your plan to learn include a few lessons to get you started ?
Guitar - Yamaha RGX121ZL £150
Amp - ??? not to fussed, only going to be playing in my spare room
Lessons - yes an hour a week.
I like stuff from Led Zep, The Who, GNR, AC/DC that sort of stuff.
Rather than an amp, have you thought about something like a POD?
My amp gathers dust these days and is really only used for gigging. My POD goes right into the stereo and has a headphone socket for late night wailing. In case you haven't heard of them, it's an amp modelling box that allows you to dial up pretty much any amp or tone from Marshall JCM900s to Fender Blackfaces. Have a look here:
http://line6.com/podxt/
Probably cheaper and better sounding than most budget amps...
My amp gathers dust these days and is really only used for gigging. My POD goes right into the stereo and has a headphone socket for late night wailing. In case you haven't heard of them, it's an amp modelling box that allows you to dial up pretty much any amp or tone from Marshall JCM900s to Fender Blackfaces. Have a look here:
http://line6.com/podxt/
Probably cheaper and better sounding than most budget amps...
r5gttgaz said:
Plans.
Guitar - Yamaha RGX121ZL £150
Amp - ??? not to fussed, only going to be playing in my spare room
Lessons - yes an hour a week.
I like stuff from Led Zep, The Who, GNR, AC/DC that sort of stuff.
Guitar looks cool Guitar - Yamaha RGX121ZL £150
Amp - ??? not to fussed, only going to be playing in my spare room
Lessons - yes an hour a week.
I like stuff from Led Zep, The Who, GNR, AC/DC that sort of stuff.
quite rock orientated with two humbuckers so should be good for your type of music.Amp, well you'll get as many opinions as you will about which guitar to buy, but from that site the Vox modelling amp has a good reputation
http://tinyurl.com/35onp9
and there are some good samples of people demonstrating it on youtube, might be worth a look.
Lessons are an excellent idea, at least to start with so you get the basics, then you can decide whether you want to continue on your own, or keep them up.
I have 30 minutes a week, even after 4 years, mainly because it gives me the motivation to practice and play as much as possible, as I feel guilty if I havent done my 'homework'
.Theres also some good guitar resources on the web, this ones particularly good, but again, loads on youtube.
http://www.justinguitar.com/
Sorry to raise this thread again but what do you lot think to this amp?
http://www.thomann.de/gb/vox_ad15vtxl.htm
Just for bedroom practice.
Cheers.
http://www.thomann.de/gb/vox_ad15vtxl.htm
Just for bedroom practice.
Cheers.
Id go for the Ibanez.There's very little difference between any RG type guitar and the more expensive Ibanez models.It has a great neck, the trem is one of the best floyd type trems.Ok so changing strings is a pain at first but you'll soon get used to it.It offers alot of scope for pickup upgrades (more useful if using tube amps).
The black RG550 (I assume it has a maple fingerboard) was one of the favourites of 80s metal players.It has just been re-released for around £750 street as an anniversary model.
Yamaha's are good starter guitars.They play well for the price but you'll outgrow it.
The RG is a guitar that is good enough for pro's, only really needs pickup upgrades (if anything) and I wish I'd never sold mine.£250 would be a steal-go for it.
The black RG550 (I assume it has a maple fingerboard) was one of the favourites of 80s metal players.It has just been re-released for around £750 street as an anniversary model.
Yamaha's are good starter guitars.They play well for the price but you'll outgrow it.
The RG is a guitar that is good enough for pro's, only really needs pickup upgrades (if anything) and I wish I'd never sold mine.£250 would be a steal-go for it.
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff