Need help deciding please

Jarred1978

Hi all, novice guitarist been playing on and off and uncertain which "budget" guitars are good value for money for all round versatility. From some research I think I have narrowed down to a few options but just need some advice from someone with a bit more knowledge. Any help is appreciated.

Options:

Schecter omen extreme 6 diamond series - R5000
Ibanez TM302 - R5890
Ibanez RC320 - R5000
Ibanez ART120QA - R6295
Ibanez ART120 - R4695
Squier Affinity Telecaster® Electric Guitar - R5200
Epiphone Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar - R6000
Epiphone Les Paul Studio LT - R5000

Any other recommendations welcome 🙂

thanks
Jarred

guidothepimmp

Hey Jarred

Welcome to the forum.

The keyword I took out of your description is versatility. I think all of the models you listed are decent and seem fairly priced. If you are happy to look at second hand, you could find better specced fiddles at not wildly different price points (specifically talking to the epipihone models.. ie.. studio vs standard).

Do you have a preferred genre you fancy playing? And do you have an amp? Or are you looking at going via PC with software?

Good luck in your search

Jarred1978

Thanks so much for the reply. Prefer going new to be honest. Generally in the rock genre. Not looking for major distortion. More a combo of classic rock and alternative with some country influences. Going to be running it through my Mac.

guidothepimmp

Jarred1978
So if buying new.. it would be handy to hold and play the guitars before buying. Maybe hit up a store with a good selection. The guitars you listed are a mix of set necks, bolt on necks etc.. also have an assortment of bridges. None are better than others.. but preferences might lead you to like one over the other..

Other decent brands could be Cort (CR, G or M series), or the Yamaha Pacifica..

If you do walk into a store.. remember to ask for a discount price.
I have never bought a guitar through an online retailer.. so cannot comment here. I find buying blind to be an unnecessary risk.

Good luck

V8

Welllll.....if you must buy new,

and you are into strat and tele style guitars, then SX is the brand to look at - they do a great tele clone, if you can find stock! The Strat clones are also really good.

If you want a LP/SG stye, Epiphone do them best (at the price)

And, my choice, a HSS 'Superstrat", I'd likely end up with a rock oriented Ibanez. Or maybe a Yamaha Pacifica if I could stretch the $$$ to the 212 or....I'd get a SX strat (or tele) and swop the bridge SC for a Tonerider rocksong Humbucker or similar - bit of work though.

guidothepimmp it would be handy to hold and play the guitars before buying.

+1, I'm particularly to a certain neck profile - 50's era guitars tend to have a clubby 'baseball bat' (aka D profile) style neck - not my taste. While 60's era have a slimmer C profile, which I prefer. Also radius of the fretboard (flatter 12-16in radius for lead, 7.5-12in for rhythm) tends to have a influence on playing style and comfort.

If you can get hands on what you are considering before buying - that would be best - especially if you can just drop into a store or three to compare them back to back. If not, then buy from reputable retailer that has decent returns policy - if you get something you really don't like or it's a lemon (it happens), then at least you can get something else!

At around 6k, expect to spend a little (R300) on a basic setup and some decent strings - it'll make a world of difference.

If it were my 6k...

I'd buy a bass ;p

But were it have to be a guitar, then a 2d hand Yamaha THR10 amp (+/- 2-3k) and either a new SX (to be modded) or a 2nd hand RG Series Ibanez (I love the necks),

You will play more if you have a amp that's easily accessible - I've done the PC thing at length - it works and can be fun (Amplitube on a iPad is impressive!) . But I know, the easier it is to play, the more I'll play. And the Yamaha THR is perfect for what you want to do.