Some help / suggestions needed

hcolyn · 2009-03-18T21:56:54+00:00

The story up until now... I started playing classical guitar on an Ibanez, and while buying strings one day saw a cheap electric guitar pack. Wow. I need....

Some help / suggestions needed

FenderBender

If you aren't yet familiar with the term GAS, you would be surprised to know that you already fell prey to this bittersweet affliction with your purchase of the cheap guitar pack ?
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Articles/Avoiding_GAS/
The fact that you are asking these questions on this forum indicates that you are already shaking the disease ?

My suggestion is that you glean as much knowledge as possible from forums, manufacturer's homepages and search for equipment reviews. Make a shortlist and go and hold, play, feel, shred or crank every item on your shortlist. When you feel really comfortable with what you are evaluating, you will know what you want and you will never have to risk buying gear that you want to sell a month later ?

In terms of the axe, I agree with inflames. I picked up a second-hand Cort Zenox for R1000 on this forum and it is better than any other second-hand axe I have tried at that price! It has two noise cancelling humbucker pickups (that are great for blues), a tune-o-matic bridge, maple neck (like a standard Stratocaster). The string through agathis body design lends a deep, dark tone to the timbre.
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/electric_guitars/cort/zenox_z22/index.html

I can't find anything on the X-1. The X-6s I found on gumtree have basswood bodies. Basswood is soft. A Floyd Rose trem bridge, with whammy bar, mounted on basswood is probably not good for durability (even though you are only planning on messing around in your apartment for now) and you will more than likely also be retuning a lot.

On the amp front, the cube 15 is great:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/guitar_amplifiers/roland/cube_15/index.html

There are other options depending on whether you want to play on the fly, crave lots of effects, keep your shredding quiet at 3am or record your efforts. I started playing with a reasonably priced effects processor and now I use a laptop, and software for all effects, drums and recording. Going this route will require the use of an external USB or firewire compatible soundcard, or audio interface to be more precise. You can find good quality units for as little as 1K. I use this interface:
http://www.alesis.com/io2
There is lots of freeware, shareware and driver software available to keep you busy for a while, although you would still need to decide between headphones or a decent hi-fi system to monitor your efforts. Occasionally, when I have a riff in my head that I need to play quickly, I find that there is nothing to beat plugging into a freestanding amp or processor/amp combo and let rip without the associated hassle of a PC.

Buying second-hand is a good option right now. I have seen bargains abound on gumtree over the past month thanks to the global recession and you may be lucky enough to find really good gear for 3K.

Heath

i would go with the cort , or go find a second hand cort on gumtree (i lover cort guitars , they are excellent value for money), the cube is your best bet amp wise .

hcolyn

Thanks for all the input! It looks as if the cube is at the top of the amp list at the moment... guitar wise: is the overall quality of Cort pretty OK? I am not familiar with the brand at all, and kinda ignored them (which is probably weird as they seem to be very popular).

Heath

there quality is very high , well built guitars , normally use good pickups and good woods . interestingly enough the cort factory makes alot of the ibanez guitars as well

AlanRatcliffe

In your budget, I'd second buying secondhand. Look for a Roland Microcube - small, flexible, surprisingly good sounding and reliable.

I also punt Cort (what else is new), but NOT the X-1, which is aimed squarely at the hard rock market. Look at the G-series for Stratlike instruments and look at the M-series for Gibson-style stuff (deciding between the two styles is your job). For a more flexible instrument, maybe look for a Strat-style jobbie with a humbucker at the bridge instead of the more traditional single-coil - that covers a lot of musical ground. Avoid guitars with Floyd Rose Bridges and locking nuts - too much to worry about unless you need the radical dive-bombing and other techniques for hard rock/metal.

Keep an eye on gumtree and give us a shout if you see something you want an opinion on. We're very opinionated.

AlanRatcliffe

BTW - I saw the new rosewood board Cort G200 the other day in metallic red - actually, very nice and just under R2K retail (about R1750 if you really push ?). I think that's going to be my entry level recommendation from now on. Basswood body, which is to be expected from an inexpensive instrument, but that's fine with the thick factory polyester finish to protect it and brighten up the tone.

BTW, Cort are the biggest guitar manufacturer in the world. They make a lot of the Asian guitars with other peoples names on the headstock. The Korean factory turns out some really nice stuff.

Heath

i played a g200 the otherday when testing the blackstar ht dual pedal , and was very impressed with it's tone and playablity , hell i almost walked out the shop with it (irc it was 1499 tag price @ music mate).

the zenox range the z40 and z42 are also in the 13-1700 range and have coil splits , which will give you a multitude of sound as well on the les paul shape

FenderBender

Not a bad deals?
http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-Roland-Cube30-Ibanez-RX-series-Guitar-Incl-extras-W0QQAdIdZ114365654
http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-Washburn-Electric-Guitar-Maverick-Series-W0QQAdIdZ89283334

AlanRatcliffe

Not the Washburn - Floyd Rose Trem. The Ibanez is a good buy because of the 30W amp and all the accessories, but the RX series are only entry-level instruments, so I'd probably try and squeeze him on price.

hcolyn

Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it!
You are right, second hand is probably the way to go when you are looking at my budget but I do not really know what to look for when I go and buy the guitar. I have also spotted this http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-BLACK-IBANEZ-GSA60-AND-ACCESSORIES-FOR-SALE-W0QQAdIdZ114602757 on gumtree, having a little soft spot for ibanez ?

The other option seems to be the Cort G200 or Z40, which I will feel a little more comfortably buying as there is probably going to be some sort of warranty on it.

Heath

if you speak nicely to the sales guy you can get the z42 with better pickups , for about hundred buck more then the z40 , the z40 is there base model , where the z42 has the coil splits , and better quality wood , also a sexier shape then the z40 imo .

AlanRatcliffe

The Ibanez looks pretty cool, nice body contouring and a decent bridge. I'm not sure how much they sell for though, so I can't comment on price.

I was looking at getting a Zenox a couple of years ago to turn into a fretless. Then I played them - they were all dead as doornails and more than half had issues with backbowed necks, even with the truss rods adjusted all the way down. I was looking mostly at the better, set neck versions too (Z44, IIRC), but did have a quick squizz at a few Z22 and Z40 too.

Heath

i have the z44 and all i can say is WOW .

hcolyn

A local store is selling the Cort G200 for R1700 new, but they also have a second hand one for R1000 - do you guys think these are good deals (considering the second hand one is apparently good as new)?

AlanRatcliffe

That sounds fine. If they say it's "good as new" ask them if they'll guarantee it for a year. If so, it's a no-brainer. Great instrument to start on and the price leaves enough of your budget to get a better amp.

inflames

I agree with Alan, visit the shop and view the guitar. You will quickly see if the guitar is in 'good as new' condition.

hcolyn

Thanks again guys, appreciated as always!

I think I have made a short list (does 2 items count as a list?) of possibilities: the G200 and the Squier Bullet. To my electric-uneducated fingers they feel pretty much the same (the bullet is a 2008 afaik). There were subtle differences but did not stand out as feeling better than the other. Are there any reasons (build quality etc) that should make me lean to one of them, considering they are more or less the same price?

FatBoy

I play a Squier Telecaster, but the Standard Series. It is my view that anything below the Standard Series, like the Bullet you mention, is not a good idea. I think the Cort might be better in this price range, but again, go play on both, and go home with the one that speaks to you ?

AlanRatcliffe

+1. The bullets are the cheapest of the cheap and IMO overpriced for what they are.

The Cort has a few subtle touches that make it a better instrument, like the comfortable neck joint (play high up the neck, over the neck joint and you'll see what I mean), 22 frets, sealed (not just closed) tuners and a graphite nut. The red Cort is also a metallic (metallics and sunbursts you usually don't see with cheaper instruments).

hcolyn

Thank you. The Cort it will be then! Now only to decide between red and sunburst... ?