Hello from Cape Town

robvdp

Hi All ?

Just found this Forum as I have been searching for some advice.

So, let's start with the introduction...
I am actually an ex drummer, I have owned an electric guitar before and played for a few months but my social life, studies and relationships unfortunately came in the way of my playing.

I played drums from about age 14 to 21 but haven't played any instrument for the past 4 years and I am really missing it ?

So jumping to the present.. I am almost 30 years old, getting married in a few months and I am ready to make time for music again.

I wanted to start playing drums again but the reality is the only option for me would be to get an electronic kit and to get a good electronic kit will cost me at least R25k
So this made me decide on rather taking up guitar again an setting a budget of about R10k

I have read through the singemonkey post but I have a few questions though,

It seems like the post is quite dated, even the one on his blog was last updated in 2016.

If you had a budget of approx R10k what would you get?
I would like an electric with an amp that can take headphones if needed (not sure if this is blasphemy lol)

I always loved the look and feel of a Les Paul, but I am not sure how the quality of Epiphones are currently, the PRS SE guitars also looks amazing.

What are the preferred suppliers for PRS , Epiphone etc?

Thanks guys. Hope this was enough information for an introduction.

Cheers.
Rob

NorioDS

robvdp Welcome @robvdp

Well let me see if we can get the venerable @singemonkey to chime in here by tagging him ?

I think you can easily get something going for under R10k.

Personally, I'd probably go for an Ibanez just because I've always found them to offer great value for money. A second-hand, quality Ibby shouldn't set you back more than about R4k-R6k.

Next up, you can get great little practise amps that take headphones. (Not blasphemy at all. Reality for us bedroom warriors, especially if you stay in a townhouse.

So for an amp, I'd probably get the Orange Micro Terror again. It's what I'm using now. Takes headphones, has a valve in the preamp. Nice tones. Doesn't have a clean channel though. You can get it chimey by turning the gain down and the volume up. Also helps if you ease back on the volume knob on your axe as well.

Anyway, I think mine was R3500 or R4500. Second hand, you can get 'em cheaper.

That should leave you with room for a pedal or two and some cables. I'd probably go for a boost pedal. Maybe the Joyo Vintage or, budget permitting, a real Tubescreamer. That'll let you switch more easily between clean and driven.

Now I'm the "pointy headstock" guy. So that's what I'd do. Let's hear from some Gibson and Fender lovers ?

V8

robvdp Greeting and welcome!

I'll be representing the Fender clan (kinda, I'm a strat fan)

I did write a little article to partially update Singe's wise words, Part I here

robvdp I would like an electric with an amp that can take headphones if needed (not sure if this is blasphemy lol)

Not at all....! It's always more fun to hear the roar of a guit in clear air - but headphones are useful if your neighbours are boring and if you enjoy stereo processing (ping-pong delays ftw), a bit cheaper than two amps

robvdp I am not sure how the quality of Epiphones are currently

Actually really good - at times better than a gibson (some even come std with gibson usa pickups). THough not all are equal, try a few to find one that speaks to you. One thing, is that your budget probably won't stretch to a new Epi LP + amp, etc...But that's okay, a good secondhand one should be around 3.5k-6k.

Alternatives to a Epi would be a Tokai. It'll likely be a a MIC one, but Tokai have good Q/C and there's a local distributor (Lance WIener) so there's good after sales support.

There's also a bunch of LP copies (Morris, Samick, Cort, ESP, PRS). For the metal addict, a ESP, for a rock n blues a PRS for vintage vibes a Morris and under no circumstance (unless it's damn near free) would I get a Cort - not a bad guitar, just bland.

You could get a fake Gibbo...but that really can be hit n miss - at best it's a rebadged epi with upgraded pups - at worst a badly made bodge job.

Distributors for Epiphone were Marshall/Mars - after thier spilt, I'm not sure - think Mars retained the dealership. PRS - no idea!

As a strat head, I have to mention that the S-type (Strat copy) guitar in HSS config is the more versatile, less back breaking guitar. More moddable too! And the last Yamaha Pacifica I played was too fun -But I digress.

Amp : Boss Katana 50w - New R4500
Guitar Epi/Tokai LP 2nd hand - +/- 4k-5k
Cables/Picks/etc - Remainder of budget.

Happpppy shopping!

NorioDS

V8 Amp : Boss Katana 50w - New R4500

Oooh yes. I definitely would go for that. I love my Micro Terror but the Katana, if you learn to use it, looks like it will give you MILES and MILES of tone options.

robvdp

Thank you so much guys, really appreciate all the advice!

From the research I did the Boss Katana 50 also stood out as the best amp to get at this price range, I think that decision is made then, just to choose the guitar now..

I would like to go new as I don't have enough knowledge to comfortably buy second-hand if that makes any sense.

I had a look at Marshall music's online shop and it seems like the Eiphone LP Studio is going for about R5500 and the Epiphone LP Standard is about R7800

The PRS SE 22 is also around the R7-8k mark.

I could not find any sites that sell Tokai guitars... you have any idea where to find these?

Are there any good strats in the R5-7k range?

I had a look at Ibanez but there are so many models.. not sure which ones are good

I guess I just prefer the look of the LP but I will need to go feel both of them and see which one is more comfortable etc.

Thanks again.

V8

robvdp I would like to go new as I don't have enough knowledge to comfortably buy second-hand if that makes any sense.

Does make sense - I had to buy some dogs before I found keepers. Though, buying new doesn't guarantee a decent guitar either.,.And you'll lose 25-50% (brand dependent) when you walk out of the store with your shiny new purchase.

Here's some contact deets for Tokai/Lance :
https://www.facebook.com/Tokai-Guitars-Kemper-Amps-South-Africa-284385538867/
http://www.tokaiguitars.co.za/

AFAIK, Marshall's only has physical stores in Jhb (Mars bought out the the Cpt operations) - so you might not be able to try before you buy.

@domhatch and @warrenpridgeon are our resident PRS fans (unlike me) - sure they can enlighten you on their virtues...?

robvdp Are there any good strats in the R5-7k range?

Not new...You'll find a Squire Vintage Modified Strat (good, but not worth it at new price). The Squire Classic Vibe is real good, but 10k new and around 5-6k 2nd hand. Still a tad pricey. Bothners did blow out some Fender Std's Mex) at R7.5k new - maybe they have a few still at that price. Though at 8k there's a 1984 Tokai strat lurking at the Gear Junkie (2nd hand) that is GREAT...

robvdp I had a look at Ibanez but there are so many models.. not sure which ones are good

ROFL...you and me. @NorioDS swears by his JS - Which I do like the look of. Though 80% of ibby's like gain...rock/metal machines (imho) - Which isn't a bad thing, just a bit 1D for me.

From way out of left field, Gretcsh also do a LP/Singlecut flavour - and I do like those a lot too. But I see the new prices are a bit silly.

last thought - since you are lucky to be in Cpt - visit the Gear Junkie and chat the fellows there. try out some guits to get a feel for a strat/lp/etc... perhaps you'll be emboldened to try 2nd hand. *

*Disclaimer : I am a honorary 'junkie' and spend far too much time there!

robvdp

Again... I cant thank you enough for all the information, I will be sure to post my gear once I have it ?

Any tips on online lessons I can follow? Seems like Justinguitar is the goto suggestion for this.

I love my rock and metal music but would also love to learn some blues guitar, always makes me smile when someone plays the blues.

Anyway, thanks again for all the assistance, I really appreciate it.

Rob

V8

robvdp Seems like Justinguitar is the goto suggestion for this

Prreeettty much! I'd mention studybass to get a rhythmic foundation but as a drummer, that shouldn't be an issue ?

Don't discount a few lessons with a teacher - holding a plectrum for speedy & accurate metal picking or seeing how to get the finger working for a bluesy fingerstyle takes time but getting some inside info reallllly helps when they can correct your technique in real time.

Hope to see them pics sooner than later ?

Jazzman105

V8 Don't discount a few lessons with a teacher

+1! Even if it's just five lessons

robvdp

Great! Thanks guys, any suggestions where to go for a few lessons in CPT?

Cheers

Jazzman105

It depends on where in Cape Town you are. I believe that getting to lessons shouldn't be a major effort, so it's important that your teacher is relatively close to you.

Too much hassle to get there = easy excuse to say "nah not this week"

I wasn't plugging for this, but I teach a few folks in my area. I'm based in Bellville.

V8

Jazzman105 It depends on where in Cape Town you are. I believe that getting to lessons shouldn't be a major effort, so it's important that your teacher is relatively close to you.

Stole the words out of my head... ?

Rene was on the forum for a long while and he's in Bergvliet last I recall : https://www.renesongs.com/

In the CBD there's the jazz workshop :http://jazzworkshop.co.za/. Don't be scared off by the jazz thing, the fellows there can teach pretty much anything. Though I'm not sure how theyapproach drop in lessons, prefer to work monthly last time I was there.

One of my mates is in & out of teaching (Claremont) - but he's the metal and rock guy I learnt a lot from. When I see him next, I'll ask if he's still doing it.

Bizarrely I have 5 mates I see regularly who have or currently teach guitar - and each one has a 'speciality' or a reason why I'd recommend them over each other - learnt something from every single one of them!

robvdp

Thanks guys, I am more on the northern suburbs side, so going to the CBD or claremont won't be possible.

I found a place close to me, has his own website as well: http://guitartuition.co.za/

Maybe I should give it a go and see, what's the normal price range for guitar lessons? Just so I know if I am being taken for a ride or not ?

Thanks again for all the assistance guys, really appreciated it.

Jazzman105

Different teachers structure their lessons and fees differently, but on average, I wouldn't pay more than R150 per hour for beginner lessons.

V8

Somewhere between R250-400/hr for a professional teacher w/qualifications (E.g Jazz Workshop is R199/30m). At a certain level it's worth it, this level of teacher is gigging regularly, has contacts throughout music and those alone are worth it...at a certain skill level.

There's a goodly amount of peeps offering beginner lessons, I've bumped into a few of them...my first question is where they learned from. It's usually the only question, because the answer is generally 'youtube' and then we move on. ?

If you pop into Mars (Tableview), chat to Josh (salesperson) and ask if he is still doing private lessons - he's a really good rock/metal player. Though he's younger , he has taught at a good few schools around Cpt. Oh and you'll get to perv some Epi's n Gibson's as well.

robvdp

Hi Guys

So I have been to a few music shops and basically my options are below:

Guitars:
Epiphone SG 400 in worn cherry - R4500
Epiphone SG 400 Pro (with the coils split) in black - R6000
Cort CR200-GT Les Paul Goldtop - R4600

Amps:
Fender Champion 20 - R2495
Marshall Code 25 - R3295
Boss Katana 50 - R4000

I not be playing any gigs with my setup, mainly for use in my study and with headphones.

Any suggestions on what I should go for?

Cheers ?

V8

The easy choice -> Katana 50W all day long.

The difficult one is SG Pro vs Worn SG (Don't get the Cort new). Did a little forum reading now - some like it shiny (PRO) and other satin (Worn) - fewer commented on the sound than the look...

My head says PRO for the coil tapping, my fingers might like the worn SG more (I read it's a slimmer neck profile). I'd say, between those two it's a entirely personal choice to which looks and feels better to you.

robvdp

Thanks! I had to pull the trigger on the katana...it's the last one they had in stock and no other stores have them in stock, all the other shops quoted me about R5999 so I think R4000 was a good deal.

I think I like the worn cherry SG more.. the neck is not gloss so it feels better in my hand.

Josh at Mars music Tableview said he likes the Normal SG better, he said the only real difference is the coil split but the guitar loses too much volume when you split to a single pickup, not worth it to him.

So I think I will be picking up the Normal SG then for R4500 Does the price seem fair?

Guess the only thing I still need to buy is a guitar cable, any cables I should avoid? I think they quoted me on a Warwick cable @ R130 for a 6m cable.

Anyway, thanks again!

V8

robvdp So I think I will be picking up the Normal SG then for R4500 Does the price seem fair?

For a new one, that's a decent price. I kinda agree with the coil split thing, though one usually has a boost pedal in your pedal chain to bump the volume when you split. My objections to a coil split is that it rarely sounds like a legit single coil - but I don't think that's a sound you are looking for right now?

In time, if you want a single coil sound OR the stock pups arn't your thing - you could either upgrade the SG with pups that coil tap (R1500-R4000) & a coil split switch (R200) + install (+/-R350)...or just get a 2nd hand strat, which is what I'd do ?

What you can try - if strings are old -is get Josh to re-string your SG (new strings make all the difference) - ask him to do it "Like Ollie does it" - he knows what that means ?

Also see if he'll throw in some discounted lessons - he is experienced teacher particularly for metal/rock.

robvdp I think they quoted me on a Warwick cable @ R130 for a 6m cable.

Good price, best cheap cable - they use a copy of neutrik connectors - there's a collar in the connector that saves the soldering.

robvdp

Oh and another difference between the guitars, the pro version comes with Wilkinson Vintage Classics machine heads whereas the non-pro version comes with grover machine heads. Josh from Mars music said the grover machine heads keeps tuning better than the Vintage ones.

V8

robvdp grover machine heads. Josh from Mars music said the grover machine heads keeps tuning better than the Vintage ones.

Grovers are good - so good I'm surprised they use them on the Worn and not the PRO.

Annnddd I almost forgot...DO google "rabea massaad katana youtube" and watch everything he does with it - lots of tips to get the most out of it.

P.s. R4k is a goood price locally - especially since there's usually no stock (local distributor ia a bit daft)

modulator

Do you hear an objectionable difference with the coil split? Seems handy to me. You could always de-shine the glossy neck to suit your feel, if the profiles are the same. One might want to go for the better tuners for sure, but are the pickups the same? If so, you could add coil-split switching yourself later, as well as upgrade tuners if required. In the end, go with your fingers, eyes and ears, as you say, you are not gigging now. It is a significant difference in price. You could always later downgrade to a paddle or eye-gouger style guitar, after exhausting all the fun DIY mods on this one.