Tell Me About Electric Guitars
- Thread starter mikethompson
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What I learned is to not cheap out on the amp. A nice tube amp can really make the guitar sound so good.
Ive played guitar for 20+ years. Acoustic is my go to, but I have electrics. I mostly play bluegrass and jazz, so it's alot of fun to take jazz to the electric. The electric is a much lighter touch, it takes some gettting used to. But they're alot of fun if you figure em out. It's tricky for because I'm so used to the acoustic.
It's worth hitting a pawn shop and trying one out
It's worth hitting a pawn shop and trying one out
Visit your local guitar/music store and play a bunch of guitars that catch your eye. Pick one that feels good and that's within your budget.
As others have stressed, have the guitar setup to your liking. String height, gauge, etc.
Forget about amps and interfaces....spend your time learning to play.
Vox (as well as a few other manufacturers) makes these little gadgets that plug into your guitar, called Amplug. They run on AA batteries and you plug your headphones into it. There's reverb and distortion available in the gizmo, if you get tired of a clean tone.
Keep it simple and practice as much as possible......and have fun
As others have stressed, have the guitar setup to your liking. String height, gauge, etc.
Forget about amps and interfaces....spend your time learning to play.
Vox (as well as a few other manufacturers) makes these little gadgets that plug into your guitar, called Amplug. They run on AA batteries and you plug your headphones into it. There's reverb and distortion available in the gizmo, if you get tired of a clean tone.
Keep it simple and practice as much as possible......and have fun
In my experience (20+ years), there are two main things that cause people to stop practicing and/or quit guitar entirely. Those are:
1. The setup of their guitar, as you mentioned
2. Having uninspiring tone. Even beginners don’t want to listen to a guitar that sounds like crap.
It’s no longer necessary to spend a lot to have professional tone. So you might as well get a good start. It’s not hard or complicated to setup these days. It’s a matter of plugging straight into an interface, downloading a program, opening it, and playing away!
Those amplug things sound like a can of bees IMO.
I second the Epiphone Les Paul. My son got a used Les Paul Traditional Pro with some Christmas money a few years ago when he started getting somewhat serious about playing (he's 13 now). I love the sound of a Les Paul, but he eventually bought a new Fender Strat because the tone appealed more to him especially for Jazz Guitar, so he ended up selling the LP.
But for overall sound and versatility, I loved the LP. Plus, the Trad Pro could switch between Dual Coil and Single Coil tones through the pickups, so there were a ton of options when it came to trying to dial in specific sounds.
But I'd take my acoustic over them all.
They are easier to play because you don't have to push down as hard being plugged into an amp. However for me, electric is harder to play, because they tend to have thinner necks. I have long fingers, so a wider neck is preferable.
I've played for 35 years, all good advice in prior posts. Take my advice with a grain of salt, as the only job I've ever been fired from was guitar teacher; twice, in fact (for not making it fun).
1. Get a decent acoustic. I started learning on my mom's old Yamaha (FG-18 I think it was). Tough to play, but it sounded great and really built up calluses quick.
2. For a good electric practice and play along tone use an audio interface with a stand alone amp sim program. I used Scuffham and stick a tube screamer in front of the interface. They key to this is also a great set of over-ear headphones.
3. Make sure to get a guitar that stays in tune.
4. Don't be bashful when you start learning to play, it will build confidence and bring out the best tone of your instrument. In other words, play your guitar like it owes you money or killed your dog.
IMHO, to unlock the instrument you'll need to start in standard tuning and learn where all the notes are. There's only 11 notes, and they repeat as the octaves go up. Learn where they all are, and it will also help you to tune properly (I think it's called tempering).
1. Get a decent acoustic. I started learning on my mom's old Yamaha (FG-18 I think it was). Tough to play, but it sounded great and really built up calluses quick.
2. For a good electric practice and play along tone use an audio interface with a stand alone amp sim program. I used Scuffham and stick a tube screamer in front of the interface. They key to this is also a great set of over-ear headphones.
3. Make sure to get a guitar that stays in tune.
4. Don't be bashful when you start learning to play, it will build confidence and bring out the best tone of your instrument. In other words, play your guitar like it owes you money or killed your dog.
IMHO, to unlock the instrument you'll need to start in standard tuning and learn where all the notes are. There's only 11 notes, and they repeat as the octaves go up. Learn where they all are, and it will also help you to tune properly (I think it's called tempering).
Bass is fun. Being a guitar player for almost 30 years, I can play some lines on a bass that make it sound like I know what I'm doing. But don't let me fool you, I don't.
Why I prefer classical guitars, wider neck. Also 12 strings are more comfortable for my hands.
But I love my strat.
If you’re just starting out an acoustic forces you to play cleaner and mistakes are easier to hear. A great way to learn, but everybody is different.
For the money of a decent amp and electric guitar you can get a really nice acoustic.
Ultimately, get an instrument that feels good, sounds good, and plays well for you, whatever it is.
If you get an electric, learn to set it up yourself, it’s not hard on most guitars and makes a huge difference in playability.
For the money of a decent amp and electric guitar you can get a really nice acoustic.
Ultimately, get an instrument that feels good, sounds good, and plays well for you, whatever it is.
If you get an electric, learn to set it up yourself, it’s not hard on most guitars and makes a huge difference in playability.
I second everything @rmbittner said above! I also bought an audio interface for $65 from Sweetwater and I use Tracktion Waveform 12 (it's free!) to record songs. It's a SUPER cheap but killer way to make music with acoustic OR electric!
Whatever you buy have someone who knows check it out to make sure it was set up well.
Check the whole neck for fret buzz.
Epiphone is a pretty good bet because they are affiliated with Gibson.
If you get a good one it will serve you well as a beginner or an expert.
There are a pretty decent number of big time pro musicians that use epi's.
But you do want to make sure that you don't get a lemon.
While the quality control is generally better than Chinese or Indonesian mass produced guitars, the don't get as much QC as Gibsons. You are generally safe with the name but I've seen a couple that were set up terribly from the factory.
Lots of excellent advice above, Mike. I wouldn't avoid the Asian made guitars as an option. Sometimes you can find a gem. I was looking for a guitar to keep at my girlfriends. I did not want to drop a whole lot of cash and found a Fender Squier Affinity Strat. The neck felt good, so bought it for around $350.00 CDN. Did it need some work? LOL yes. A set up, some serious fret dressing and edge removal, a little neck sanding to remove some ... shall we say ... rough patches ... a new set of quality strings ... Rev Willie's are my first choice ... Brought it home from my guitar tech guy, plugged it in and I was blown away. It has the most magical set of pickups. Tones up the wazoo. Now it stays here and my Classic Vibe Strat is at her house. As far as amps, that rabbit hole can be scary and costly. I don't have the room for any of the larger amps I've once owned, so I bought a Spark. Not costly, and with added software it offers me countless amp options. The tones are pretty good. As good as a Blues Jr, or Marshall? No, but it's compact, light weight, and versatile. I'd suggest you visit a good local shop, talk with one of their guitar specialists, tell them what you wish to play ( style of music ), if you flat pick or finger pick, what type of music you like, or your guitar hero's, and your budget. Grab a stool, and play as many different guitars as they'll let you. More than likely one will start whispering to you..... then the trouble begins..... hahahahahahaha
Not gonna lie, seems like there is a lot more 'kit' required with an electric.
With my acoustic, you just need the guitar.
It is still very tempting though...
With my acoustic, you just need the guitar.
It is still very tempting though...
One more note: The quality of inexpensive electrics has never been better. You can get a terrific-playing guitar for under $300 easily. Add a cable, strap, and an inexpensive practice amp, and you’re good to go.
At this point, don’t worry about effects, the “benefits” of a tube amp, or anything else. At this point, you’re still learning to play. There will be time enough for all of the add-ons and accessories once you’ve mastered the basics.
And if you want to forego everything but the guitar, I’ll again recommend the Epiphone Casino, since you can actually play it acoustically and still be heard.
Chances are, whatever you find that fits your budget and your style will be a playable, well-made instrument that you can enjoy for years. I currently own 21 guitars/basses—with just about every major brand represented, from Fender, Gibson, Taylor, PRS, Gretsch, Hofner, and Rickenbacker down to Epiphone, Squier, and Vintage (a British budget brand). And the price I paid for each one has no relationship whatsoever to the pleasure I get from playing every one of them.
At this point, don’t worry about effects, the “benefits” of a tube amp, or anything else. At this point, you’re still learning to play. There will be time enough for all of the add-ons and accessories once you’ve mastered the basics.
And if you want to forego everything but the guitar, I’ll again recommend the Epiphone Casino, since you can actually play it acoustically and still be heard.
Chances are, whatever you find that fits your budget and your style will be a playable, well-made instrument that you can enjoy for years. I currently own 21 guitars/basses—with just about every major brand represented, from Fender, Gibson, Taylor, PRS, Gretsch, Hofner, and Rickenbacker down to Epiphone, Squier, and Vintage (a British budget brand). And the price I paid for each one has no relationship whatsoever to the pleasure I get from playing every one of them.
I play a Gretch hollow body. I got it for my 40th (13 yrs ago) Still love it. Here is an example of it.
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the space between strings is less making it harder in some ways, but easier action depending on the string gauge you chose and how you set up your action. You may be able to make your acoustic easier by getting some lighter strings and having it "set up" at a shop.
