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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.

    8 days later

    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 ?

      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.

      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 replied to this.

        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 replied to this.

          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.

          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 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)

                Hi Guys
                Just wanted to say thank again for all the advice and assistance, it is really appreciated.
                I picked up my gear this morning ?
                The neck of this SG feels sooo good..I am in love lol.

                Tried to attach a pic of my setup but the upload fails every time.
                Cheers!

                • V8 likes this.
                • V8 replied to this.

                  robvdp I picked up my gear this morning ?

                  Nicccceeeee! Just in time for ridiculous amounts of festive season jammin ?

                  robvdp Tried to attach a pic of my setup but the upload fails every time

                  Ahh, the forum does have a limitation on file size ( < 1mb) and perhaps image size - though I've not had a issue with image size - just file size.

                      Yeaahh I'm already jamming, loving it, started with Justin Guitar now.. going to do the basics on there and then I will get some lessons from Josh in the new year, attaching a reduced image now ?

                      robvdp Killer combo!

                      There's open jams at Kill CIty (Salt River) every month, good fun if you are keen. Also a good opportunity to get a bit of time on other instruments (drums/bass) and hear your rig in a 'band' setup - I was on drums half the time on Sunday - was a laugh!

                          2 months later

                          Hi Guys! Me again

                          Sooo I have since sold my Epiphone lol... Just couldn't get used to the feeling of the guitar, but I've learnt sooo much in the past 2 months that I know what I wanted a guitar to feel like.

                          I got an amazing deal on a new PRS SE Standard 24.

                          Picked up the guitar yesterday, but I need a setup done on the guitar, restring etc.

                          Could you perhaps suggest someone in CPT?

                          Thank you.

                          • V8 likes this.
                          • V8 replied to this.

                            robvdp Ahhh, is part of the journey - I've had a few guitars/basses but find I have a default that I prefer. Took owning a few to get there though. A fair few PRS fans 'round here.

                            There's a lot of guys - these are the one's I've used or heard good things about.

                            If you are patient, Foster Guitar Worx (Durbanville), if in the CBD Gareth Travis (works out of Mars), Traut Guitar Worx (Muizenberg) will collect in/around Cpt and finally The Gear Junkie (Salt River) are priced reasonablly..

                            They're all on facebook - but feel free to poke me if you need more info on any.

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