Beginner's electric and amp

Muhammad

Hey guys,

I have a friend looking to learn to play the guitar.
He's into mostly alt.rock/punk/some mainstream stuff.

I thought about advising him to get an acoustic first, but he wants to play mostly electric guitar driven music so I'm wondering if there is a point to that.
It may be better for his finger strength and ears initially, but then again, it may just put him off playing cos it's not the sound he wants to create/hear..

So he's asked if I could help him buy his first axe and amp.

Any suggestions?

I'm wondering about a squire strat or a decent ibby for 2k or so (definately a fixed bridge for a beginner!!).. Something he can at least grow into for a few years.

For the amp I'm torn between a 5w ibanez valbee tube amp (sounds great for what it costs) or a roland cube 15/30 - the advantage the roland has is some built in effects.

Any other suggestions?

I think his budget is about 2 - 3k..

IceCreamMan

with that budget i dont think a valve amp is doable...

the cube 15 X is a great lil amp for about 1000. then scour the net for a great second hand guitar, lots of good bargain out there

aja

I agree with the Cube 15X

For the guitar - well I was happy with my Ibanez. When I started playing I couldn't stand the twang I got from fenders. Now I realize that I just didnt know how to use them properly.

In any case, take him to a shop and you play while he watches. He will be able to like what he hears on at least one guitar

singemonkey

Muhammad, I think the cube will offer a versatility that will let him explore more at this early stage. When he knows good tone from bad, then he'll appreciate the tone of a tube amp. For now, the cube would let him experiment more.

Squiers... hmmm. I don't think anyone would deny that a lot of them are stinkers?

Depending on the style of guitar he likes, I'd toss in a strong vote for a Yamaha Pacifica 112. I've seen these new within the last year. The PAC112 is a strat-like guitar (slightly modified body shame and headstock - but, unusually, in a good way) that has a strong reputation for quality far beyond its modest price-tag. I own a high end Pacifica 904, and I've a buddy who has a upper mid-ranged PAC721, and they're life-time keepers. I've never played a bad Pacifica, or seen a review that didn't praise them. If you're recommending a guitar that will grow with the player, it's hard to go wrong with Yamaha.

As to the electric thing: It can be a big help to learn on electric. Biggest problem for beginners? Giving up because you can't fret the notes for the chords (usually barre chords). Electrics make this barrier easier to surmount.

Muhammad

Great comments guys, you really gave me alot to think about;

@Icecreamman - I paid R1200 for my valbee from TOMS about 2 years ago, I think they're still about the same price, and with a little negotiating could probably be got for the same.
The only problem is no effects, not even reverb.
Which means your gonna play either clean or crunchy and thats that.
Which is why i'm leaning toward the cube myself.

aja & singemonkey; I agree on the squire comments, I had a squire strat a ways back - cant say it left much of a mark on me, but regardless, I was trying to be fair and assume that I was just tone deaf back then so maybe they might be good guitars.. but i'll keep it in mind when we test em.

I really think a good 2nd hand Ibby is great value for money, like an SZ320 or 520 (remember fixed bridge only) and they look good too.

I'll look into the pacifica though, always got and image of some surf rock/beach boys type picture when i heard the word pacifica.. lol

IceCreamMan

Muhammad wrote: Great comments guys, you really gave me alot to think about;

@Icecreamman - I paid R1200 for my valbee from TOMS about 2 years ago, I think they're still about the same price, and with a little negotiating could probably be got for the same.
The only problem is no effects, not even reverb.
Which means your gonna play either clean or crunchy and thats that.
Which is why i'm leaning toward the cube myself.

at 1200 for the valbee its a gimmeee, did not realise they that cheap in ZA, when i was in europe they about 190 euros there.

aja

There is an ibby RGR321EX on sale in the classies. That was my first guitar. Serious bargain IMO

Only problem with it is that it is more geared towards heavy stuff. The cleans are not great on those pups

BMU

Someone who wants to play electric should get an electric. On an acoustic you don't sufficiently learn the very difficult business of muting the unplayed strings, obviously a crucial skill for playing with gain. IMO you also learn to press too hard which will limit your speed for years to come.

singemonkey

Muhammad wrote: I really think a good 2nd hand Ibby is great value for money, like an SZ320 or 520 (remember fixed bridge only) and they look good too.

I suspect that's true. I haven't played very many, although all I have were good. And they have a great reputation.

I'll look into the pacifica though, always got and image of some surf rock/beach boys type picture when i heard the word pacifica.. lol

That's what I used it for ? But Pacificas are really a range of guitars - going from carved, solid flame-topped, set neck, floyd rose metal-machines, to vintage strat style guitars like my 904 or the 112. The only thing they all share is the headstock shape.

But all Yamaha electrics should be on your radar. Good guitars.

Muhammad

@singemonkey; lol at the pacifica quip.. maybe its giving away our ages?

I saw the ibby in the classified and I also thought it was too metal..

another great guitar which i owned for quite a while is an ibby sas32fm.. wonderful tone and a butter fretboard..
but i think it's a hair out of his budget..

and the reason there are no caps is cos i'm typing with one hand and eating lunch ?

Banditman

The Pacifica's a great first electric. The ony thing "wrong" with it for many people is that it lacks the words Stratocaster or Les Paul (behinf Squier & Epiphone) on the hedastock. Don't let that dissuade you, they're gems.

Look at these two.

http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/f-yamaha-pacifica-Classifieds-W0QQKeywordZyamahaQ20pacificaQQisSearchFormZtrue

dee

You can't go wrong with a Pacifica 112. Probably the best guitar in that price range. It even whips some of the more expensive guitars.

The lower Ibanez SA guitars are also not bad. Good action, nice neck and decent parts will keep any beginner happy for quite a while.

singemonkey

That said, you need to know what model you're dealing with. A 112 is a great guitar that can hold its own with much more expensive models, but you still shouldn't pay more than R2000 for it. You should be able to comfortably get a 600 series or even a 700 series for under R4K, and a 300 series for under R3K. Sad but true.

George-Engelbrecht

Just curious if you got right and if your friend got something cool?

Stoner-Riff

I would LOVE to say, get a used Fender Pro Jr and a Squire Tele, but i do not think 3K will cover that, not even used ☹

Maybe a used Ibanez RG 321 and an SS amp of some sort.

VellaJ

I was gonna give some advice, then saw the date this thread started ?

George-Engelbrecht

VellaJ wrote: I was gonna give some advice, then saw the date this thread started ?

Lol, I realized today that I shouldn't be digging so deep into these old posts!