Guitar and Guitar Shop (TV/Newbury) Recommendations pls
Discussion
Hi,
I looking to upgrade my peavey predator plus guitar soon. There's essentially nothing that wrong with it but it doesn't feel as 'nice' to play as more expensive guitars and the sound is a bit weak in places. Anyway, the wife would like to buy me a 40th birthday present and I suggested a guitar and she likes the idea so if there's anything along the same lines as the peavey (that is strat-ish) for a budget of around £400 that anyone could recommend it would be great.
More importantly could anyone recommend any good guitar shops within the thames valley (nearer Newbury the better) with helpful staff (I'm still learning to play and therefore know the best part of f.all) that would be great.
Thanks,
Mark
I looking to upgrade my peavey predator plus guitar soon. There's essentially nothing that wrong with it but it doesn't feel as 'nice' to play as more expensive guitars and the sound is a bit weak in places. Anyway, the wife would like to buy me a 40th birthday present and I suggested a guitar and she likes the idea so if there's anything along the same lines as the peavey (that is strat-ish) for a budget of around £400 that anyone could recommend it would be great.
More importantly could anyone recommend any good guitar shops within the thames valley (nearer Newbury the better) with helpful staff (I'm still learning to play and therefore know the best part of f.all) that would be great.
Thanks,
Mark
I'd recommend Guitar Village in Farnham. Probably 45 minutes from Newbury I'd guess and they've got something like 1000 guitars there, from £100 to £10,000.
For £400 the Fender Highway One Strats are good (USA assembled), as are the Made in Mexico range. I've not tried one but the PRS SE Custom is similar and gets good reviews. Probably worth looking at Ibanez, but I don't understand their range at all so I can't help as to which.
If you like the Strat sound then make sure that the guitar either comes with at least one single coil pickup or has humbuckers with a coil tap. The Strats can come with 3 single coils or, for more flexibility, 2 single coils and 1 humbucker. The guitar in this link is of the later configuration just so you know what to look for.
Guitar Village is a great shop and I'm sure they'd explain anything you wanted to know anyway.
For £400 the Fender Highway One Strats are good (USA assembled), as are the Made in Mexico range. I've not tried one but the PRS SE Custom is similar and gets good reviews. Probably worth looking at Ibanez, but I don't understand their range at all so I can't help as to which.
If you like the Strat sound then make sure that the guitar either comes with at least one single coil pickup or has humbuckers with a coil tap. The Strats can come with 3 single coils or, for more flexibility, 2 single coils and 1 humbucker. The guitar in this link is of the later configuration just so you know what to look for.
Guitar Village is a great shop and I'm sure they'd explain anything you wanted to know anyway.
gingerpaul said:
In your price range you won't get an American PRS unfortunately. The SE range is their far eastern (Korean?) made range. They still good though. The price of an American Custom would be £1,800.
Have heard good things about the korean SE range too... they're the ones I meant
This kind of thing... http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/product-detail.asp?...
£439.00 + delivery
Body
* Mahogany back with flat maple top and flame maple veneer
Neck
* 25" scale length mahogany 22-fret neck with rosewood fretboard and moon inlays
* Neck carve - wide fat
Hardware
* PRS designed tremolo
* PRS designed non-locking tuners
Electronics
* PRS designed treble and bass humbucking pickups with zebra bobbins
* Volume and tone control with 3-way toggle
I had one of the early PRS Santana SE guitars.
Was alright. Nothing to set the world on fire.
If new, +1 with the strat. If used, try try try to find a Patrick Eggle berlin (Slightly smaller than the PRS ) or Vienna ( About the same size as a PRS) Better IMHO than most USA Prs, at SE money. They also WON'T loose you ant money. My Berlin was £450 a year back. They now fetch approx £600.
Was alright. Nothing to set the world on fire.
If new, +1 with the strat. If used, try try try to find a Patrick Eggle berlin (Slightly smaller than the PRS ) or Vienna ( About the same size as a PRS) Better IMHO than most USA Prs, at SE money. They also WON'T loose you ant money. My Berlin was £450 a year back. They now fetch approx £600.
That place in Farnham looks to have a pretty decent selection for the UK. Never been in but stumbled passed it pissed out my face when it's been closed enough times...
I'd say just try everything you can. Like a car no one can tell you what's going to feel best for you without a test drive.
I'd say just try everything you can. Like a car no one can tell you what's going to feel best for you without a test drive.
I wandered over to sticks and string but I guess he was kind of busy or I didn't have enough of an idea and I came away with a catalogue.
Anyhoo, having thought about it a bit more over the week (and trying to get more of an idea what I want out of a guitar to be more helpful to shop people) I want a general purpose guitar that's versatile but I'll mainly be concentrating on blues type stuff towards rock and roll and probably give the thrash metal and shredding a miss for a while (I can always sticking some screaming pickups in the peavey if I have the urge).
To that end I've got a shortlist of 3 to try when I get time to go to guitar village. The PRS, the fender strat highway one and a Gibson SG Special...
I know playing them is important but of the three I'm kind of hoping I'll like the gibson best
Cheers,
Mark
PS. I forgot to say... I mainly play through a v-amp2 on cleanish tube settings through headphones as we have kids but when they're awake I play through my 70s park tube amp.
PPS. I sheilded and sorted the grounds on on my peavey this weekend... very satisfying, no string grounding issues whatsoever and now only a very very slight buzz on the single coils (humbucker is silent) and it sounds great again.
Anyhoo, having thought about it a bit more over the week (and trying to get more of an idea what I want out of a guitar to be more helpful to shop people
) I want a general purpose guitar that's versatile but I'll mainly be concentrating on blues type stuff towards rock and roll and probably give the thrash metal and shredding a miss for a while (I can always sticking some screaming pickups in the peavey if I have the urge).To that end I've got a shortlist of 3 to try when I get time to go to guitar village. The PRS, the fender strat highway one and a Gibson SG Special...
I know playing them is important but of the three I'm kind of hoping I'll like the gibson best
Cheers,
Mark
PS. I forgot to say... I mainly play through a v-amp2 on cleanish tube settings through headphones as we have kids but when they're awake I play through my 70s park tube amp.
PPS. I sheilded and sorted the grounds on on my peavey this weekend... very satisfying, no string grounding issues whatsoever and now only a very very slight buzz on the single coils (humbucker is silent) and it sounds great again.
Edited by dern on Monday 4th August 10:41
collateral said:
That place in Farnham looks to have a pretty decent selection for the UK. Never been in but stumbled passed it pissed out my face when it's been closed enough times...
It's a great shop, a real aladin's caveof a place. Tried out the fender, the prs and a gretshe corvette and liked the fender best of all by absolutely miles. Bought one like this...
Very pleased with it, done nothing else but play it since I got home.
Cheers,
Mark
gingerpaul said:
Nice one! I like the atmosphere in GV too. They make it far too easy to part with your money. 
I know you can buy cheaper online but in my opinion a decent shop is where it's at. Just being able to sit down and play in your own time to be sure of your purchase is well worth the extra you'd pay. Having said that they let me have a hard case at half price and through in a decent lead which considering you don't have to pay postage it pretty much comes out even.Highly recommended.
The room full of valve amps... drool, had to be dragged out
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