second time around i started with a ibanez SA series guitar and Vox AD15 ....which i reckon is a brialliant starter kit ..bought it second hand for 3 clip all in.

the Vox gives u wide range of amp modelling an tones and the SA series had a HSS set up which was perfect.

my advice an take it with a pinch of salt , would be a similar set up.

2nd hand Ibanez Gio or something else with 'buckers. I love Fender and I love my strats and teles. But when you're starting out you don't want that single coil sound that's such a bitch to dial in right. You want something meatier that covers your bad chordwork while you're learning and can sound like the rock bands you most likely want to emulate.
For an amp, jeez, I don't know. Line6 spiderjam or Fender g-dec would be ideal hey, but you won't find one that cheap. They have decent modeling and presets and you can play through em with backtracks, so they're perfect tools to start learning on.
Otherwise the Cube, line6 spider and fender mustang should be good value as starter amps.

Since Squiers are rubbish, if I was buying today, I'd get a Yamaha Pacifica 112 - which most assuredly aren't. But I'd get even more bang for my buck by getting a higher end model 2nd hand - 600 series or so. They're so under-rated that a semi-pro guitar like that can be had within that price range. Hell, I got my full-on pro quality (leaves USA Fenders in its dust) MIJ 900 series for R5K brand new a while back.

For an amp, a cube or a Fender Mustang is fine (also because you get to get some of the effects experimentation out of your system) - until you can save up a little more for a small but excellent tube amp like a Laney Cub12.

Another important thing is not to skimp on the guitar in order to be able to get a nice amp. You learn to play on the guitar, and it makes little difference whether it's amplified or not. A good guitar makes that process a lot easier whereas an amp doesn't help at all. So rather buy a crappy no-name-brand amp if it'll help you get a better guitar.

If I had to do it all over again I'd buy 2nd hand. You get more bang per buck that way. Amp as well. You can pick Roland micro-cubes and type of thing 2nd hand for real cheap and, as Singe says, spend more on the axe. I got a little electric set up here that is not going to give Joe Satriani any sleepless nights but is good enough to practice and experiment. I got a Cort strat copy, a micro-cube and I spent some money pimping the cort with pickups that I bought here on GFSA and a new nut. I'm still under your budget - though I might have spent relatively more on the guitar.

guitar wise......... well decide if you want single coil tone or humbucker .best way to decide that is ask him for a list of his fav songs he listens to and see what the predominant tone is........ cos thats prob why he wants to play ....... to sound like the artists he likes........



and amp wise i'm amazed at how cheap 2nd hand tube amps can be..i bought a laney cub 10W all tube amp for under 2K and it was awesome and would blow any of the smaller cubes and vox's solid state amps away ........ and for under 2K

and like everyone is saying buy 2nd hand you get way more for your money

Without a doubt I'd recommend a second-hand Cort KX1Q. I picked up one for under R2k recently and it now successfully competes with my R25k+ instruments for my affection... Brilliant 24 fret set neck, fixed bridge and coil tap for single coil or hum selection. Mahogany body and quilted maple top. A solid guitar with great looks, exceptional tone, sustain and playability.

Amp-wise I like the Roland cube range (even the micro-cube) for their tone and solid reliability. Tough little amps... The Fender Mustang offers more but the more electronics inside, the greater chance of running into issues at some time...

I'd recommend spending 2000-3000 on the amp and less on a guitar. Laney Cub 10, Marshall Valvestate or those hybrid vox amps are some good choices with the Laney being first prize.
Guitar wise the Yamaha pacifica is a good idea. HSS would be preferable. See what is available for a good price. If he really gets into it after a while he can easily sell the cheaper guitar and
buy something to suit his emerging style.

Hmmm ok,
Do u rate a Laney Cub (+/- R2000 new) would be better than a Roland Cube (+/- R1000 2nd hand)?
The Cube has all the effects built in and I doubt a beginner would be able to appreciate a tube amp.

My first thought would be to spend more on the guitar than the amp and upgrade the amp later. I suppose the ideal would be to spend say R2000 on a little tube amp and R2000 on the guitar? But then you'd lose out on the built in effects, which are lots of fun ?

Just to clarify, I know a Laney
Cub would blow the Cube out the water for sound quality. ?

But I can't help thinking a beginner would get have more fun playing with built-in distortion etc and having a nice guitar.

If I were to spend R4000 on a complete system now. I'd spend R1000 on a cheap Ibanez, R1000 upgrading the pickups and R2000 on a little tube amp ?

Played a Jackson Kelly recently, light, smooth and relatively affordable. Lovely ax. Metal Head.
Marshall valve state 65w amp, don't know if they still make them tho, probably have to go second hand. Sure they have overdrive.

Mattocaster wrote: Hmmm ok,
Do u rate a Laney Cub (+/- R2000 new) would be better than a Roland Cube (+/- R1000 2nd hand)?
The Cube has all the effects built in and I doubt a beginner would be able to appreciate a tube amp.

My first thought would be to spend more on the guitar than the amp and upgrade the amp later. I suppose the ideal would be to spend say R2000 on a little tube amp and R2000 on the guitar? But then you'd lose out on the built in effects, which are lots of fun ?

i was quote about a grand for a brand new XL15 cube btw

If you are a first time buyer and you want to have fun with effects for whatever reason (I think a good clean sound is WAAAAY more important) spend 400 bucks on a small zoom multi effects pedal and then flog it when you grow out of it. There are many available.
You will never grow out of a cub 10. You might get a bigger amp and use it as a spare. I went from a twin reverb to a cub 10 and I'm pretty happy.
I would def say that at this stage amp is far more important than guitar. Cheaper guitar through better amp sounds way better than good guitar through cheap amp.

BluJu wrote: I would def say that at this stage amp is far more important than guitar. Cheaper guitar through better amp sounds way better than good guitar through cheap amp.

I entirely disagree. When you're starting out, it's not how you sound that's important - you're not playing to eager fans. It's whether the guitar helps or hinders your playing. How many of us started out with a sub-standard guitar and realised that it had slowed down your development when you finally got a good one? I know it did me. Both on acoustic and electric, the el cheapo beginner's guitar can be a serious hindrance to learning to play.

You need a mid level guitar (or something like a Pacifica that's as good as a mid-level guitar at a beginner's price) to ensure that it plays well enough so that you don't blame yourself for your lack of progress when it's actually the guitar. There must be thousands and thousands of potential players who give up for this reason. Conversely, a good guitar helps you learn to play and inspires you to pick it up.

If I had R5K to spend on a beginner's kit, I'd spend at least R4K on a guitar - and potentially R5K. Anything left over I'd spend on any kind of thing that could amplify it.

Once you can play well, it's worth sounding good. Then, as you say, you can't go wrong with a cub - despite how cheap they are.

singemonkey wrote:
I entirely disagree. When you're starting out, it's not how you sound that's important - you're not playing to eager fans. It's whether the guitar helps or hinders your playing. How many of us started out with a sub-standard guitar and realised that it had slowed down your development when you finally got a good one? I know it did me. Both on acoustic and electric, the el cheapo beginner's guitar can be a serious hindrance to learning to play.

You need a mid level guitar (or something like a Pacifica that's as good as a mid-level guitar at a beginner's price) to ensure that it plays well enough so that you don't blame yourself for your lack of progress when it's actually the guitar. There must be thousands and thousands of potential players who give up for this reason. Conversely, a good guitar helps you learn to play and inspires you to pick it up.

If I had R5K to spend on a beginner's kit, I'd spend at least R4K on a guitar - and potentially R5K. Anything left over I'd spend on any kind of thing that could amplify it.

Once you can play well, it's worth sounding good. Then, as you say, you can't go wrong with a cub - despite how cheap they are.

I think the truth is somewhere in the middle here.

I got the same advice when I got my first electric: don't bother with amp / effects etc.

Playing electric guitar is as much about understanding how the amp interacts with the guitar as actually playing the guitar. I think it's useful to have that awareness up front, when you're starting out. Certainly, you don't want to over-emphasize the effects side of things, but it's useful to hear how distortion, delay etc. impact what you're playing, or rather how you incorporate them into your playing.

I couldn't understand why I couldn't sound like Joe Satriani (not his playing, just his sound) when I was fresh on the guitar. One day I plugged my old Aria into a cranked Laney amp on a plot somewhere during a jam, and "Whoa!" it sounded like magic. I was still playing what I was playing (not much) but what was there sounded so much more awesome. ?

I think a good teacher (or a dad who knows guitar) helps big time in that regard: the only point of reference I had was the music shop guy who said, "Play without effects when you're learning to play." I think a better teacher would have said, "Learn about effects, but don't use them as a cruch or emphasize them too much at first, until your technique is sound." or some crap like that.

On the other hand, considering you can get a decent Cube amp for R1k or so, I definitely agree on the 4k/1k split, or at least something close to that.

Squire Strat with a Roland Cube. You just cant go wrong.

sorry to rain on the roland cube parade, but the vox mini 3 or fender mustang 1 are much better amps than the roland cube.
I got rid of mine because it sounded like crap!
Sure its got effects, but they werent exactly great! The fender mustang has much better effects as well as usb!
The vox's modelling is also much better than the cube could hope to be!

Guitar wise, anything really, but amp wise, please check the vox and fender first befpre going with a roland cube!

Most important thing... take him to a music shop, let him look at the guitars and play different types. Whatever you get must be visually appealing to him and comfortable, otherwise motivation to practice is going to be a problem. This in addition to the other points of course but it's very often left out of the equation!

Jack Flash Jr wrote: Most important thing... take him to a music shop, let him look at the guitars and play different types. Whatever you get must be visually appealing to him and comfortable, otherwise motivation to practice is going to be a problem. This in addition to the other points of course but it's very often left out of the equation!

Good advice.

Hey guys,

Ended up buying a 2nd hand mint-condition Epiphone Les Paul Studio (Red Burst) incl Stagg hardcase and stand for R2400. Absolutely beautiful guitar and the guy had had it set up perfectly. A great deal and very happy with it. ?

Just for interest, anyone know how the standard pups compare to something more expensive like EMG's or Seymour Duncans? The guitar sounds great but my experience lies mainly with single coils.

As suggested it would have been a good idea to let him choose the guitar himself, but the parents are set on it being a surprise. I don't think you can go too wrong with a Les Paul though. ?

Here's the pictures from Gumtree:







Now just have to find the amp...
Hello Gumtree... ?