Beginner guitar kit.

Trubore · 2010-07-01T07:11:54+00:00

Here goes my first post on this forum.(Apart from the introduction of course) So I'm a beginner and I want to play a little of everything at first. I'm look...

Beginner guitar kit.

Trubore

What you guys are saying makes a whole lot of sense. I think I'll rather save up and buy some decent secondhand gear.
My budget is really tight, seeing that i'm still a student but in time I may buy something decent.

At the moment I don't really know what I want to play. I love rock blues etc. For now I'll just have to practise on the g225. ?

Edit
Just saw your reply now singemonkey. The kit from Ibanez goes for about R3400.
The problem is I like a variety of styles, thank you piano lessons for 15 years... I need direction... I don't mind waiting six months for a nice deal to come along, and to save up enough to get it.
I think I should listen to more music, maybe that will help me decide on what to play...

singemonkey

There's a forum member selling a Fender Stratocaster with a humbucker at the bridge (very versatile) for R4,000. That's not bad for rock and blues - imo ?

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/classifieds/mim-fender-hss-stratocaster-midnight-wine/

At around this price you can get a very versatile, well made guitar that should take you at least 3 years of playing before you start wanting more (and with a decent guitar like this it's worth upgrading the parts).

Another thing I didn't mention about second hand is that you'll get more of your money back (quite likely all of it) when you resell. That Ibanez kit, for example, you'd be lucky to get R1,800 in today's prices if you resold. Whereas a second had guitar that's worth R4k today is worth R4k to the next buyer and R5k in four or five years time. Guitars, unlike cars, don't really depreciate.

aubs1

singemonkey wrote: There's a forum member selling a Fender Stratocaster with a humbucker at the bridge (very versatile) for R4,000. That's not bad for rock and blues - imo ?

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/classifieds/mim-fender-hss-stratocaster-midnight-wine/

I would grab this guitar in a heartbeat if I were you.

You can then save up and get a nice little amp later........

singemonkey

But the main point is, there are a lot of really good instruments going around for the price of that kit. So hold off, decide what kind of thing you want and then hunt for it.

As for an amplifier, you can get the kind of thing that comes with that kit for almost nothing second hand. So that'd be a decent start if you spend the bulk of your money on the guitar. Otherwise, you can pick up a Roland Cube which has built in effects and sounds really good for such a very common and cheap (especially second hand) amplifier.

R3,500 - R4,000 can get you a helluva nice guitar. You could spend another R400 - R1,500 on an amp (from very cheap and nasty to rather nice) and you're good to go. I'd say rather get a great guitar now, and a crappy amplifier. It's going to matter more how nice the guitar is to play than how nice it sounds. Later on you get a great amp to complement the guitar and you have great sound and great playability.

Trubore

Thanks for the link singemonkey!! I'm so keen on this guitar!!!! We have a yamaha clavinova at home with line ins etc so I can run it on that for the time being. Do you think I would be doing the right thing getting this guitar guys? I'm putting all my trust in your opinions as I have no experience of guitars!!
Thanks

raithza

There is a marshall prac amp on the classifieds for R600 that I would definitely check out if I were you.

You definitely won't be disappointed with that guitar and it will last you for several years without depreciating (if you look after it well). But it's still a good idea to go to a music shop and try out 3 or 4 different ones to get a feel for what YOU like.

Trubore

Thanks, will do that today.

I'm really excited about this guitar, but I won't have money for an amp just yet...

I need to finalize this before the university begins... Otherwise my studies will suffer... hehe ?

*EDIT*

I have another stupid question... What does the HSS stand for?

[deleted]

Trubore wrote: What does the HSS stand for?

HSS is abbreviation for Humbucker, Single, Single.

This is the pickup configuration on that particular Stratocaster...

3 single coils would be SSS

2 Humbuckers would be HH

Hope that helps? ?

Banditman

Hi Trubore and welcome to the forum.

Without patronising you in any way, pickups are those square or rectangular items under the strings on the body of the guitar, basically electromagnets that "pick up" the string vibration & convert to sound - to be very simplistic. Tell you what - here's a very, very basic way to start looking at things.

HSS refers to one possible pickup configuration on an electric guitar: In this case Humbucker -Single coil - Single coil. Strat-type guitars tend to be commonly S-S-S or H-S-S. Put just as basically, single coils tend to sound sharper / clearer & humbuckers fatter / warmer.

I'm hardly touching on these topics and there's a lot more to it than that.

Don't worry about the opinions of others in the shop regarding your playing - everyone starts out in the same place. Follow Singemonkey's advice on trying out different guitars to see what you gel with. It's not just about looks: Fenders have different scale lengths to Gibsons. My hands might be comfortable with a certain scale length and profile while yours aren't & vice-versa. That's one reason to try before you buy. If you're not comfortable playing the instrument it'll just sit in the corner of your room after a while.

The Strat mentioned is a great starting point, far better (IMO) than the stuff you get in starter packs, but try a Strat first before paying for one. If a Gibson-type is what suits you then consider a used Epipone Les Paul or buy a Traditional series Tokai. Step up from the Ibanez entry level & they've got some decent guitars, but I'd try get one used if I was you. Another option is a tidy used Yamaha Pacifica 112 (look on Gumtree Cape Town - under 2500 for a very good entry guitar) which I'd consider better than much of the opposition at that level. Get yourself a used practice amp for now.

If you're seriously going into guitar, then a decent 2nd hand guitar & practice amp combined with a good guitar teacher will get you off to a flying start.

Banditman

Oh yes - please, please, don't go to any blue facade'ed shops and buy a Sh!tmuller with starter amp because they're so cheap.

Trubore

I'm almost on my way to PTA to pick up the fender 8) Thanks for all the advice!!! Appreciate it!!!

[deleted]

Trubore wrote: I'm almost on my way to PTA to pick up the fender 8) Thanks for all the advice!!! Appreciate it!!!

Does Singe get some sales commission Dee? ? ?

Congrats on the new guitar! Its a great buy that will last you a lifetime ?

Warren

singemonkey wrote: I'd say rather get a great guitar now, and a crappy amplifier. It's going to matter more how nice the guitar is to play than how nice it sounds. Later on you get a great amp to complement the guitar and you have great sound and great playability.

I'd just like to add to this, if I may:

SM has given some very sound advice, but I think it's important to note that the tone you get from your electric guitar is very dependent on your amp / effects.

I couldn't figure out, when I started playing, why some players had such an amazing sound and mine was so...unadorned. I couldn't (and still can't) play ZZ Top style pinch harmonics (squeelies) effectively on my little practice amp, just because it doesn't have the sort of response required. Your amp, and the way that it responds to your playing with different settings, is all a very important part of the learning process.

You don't need to spend heaps of cash yet though. A small practice amp will sound quite plain initially, but this is quite easily helped along by a decent pedal or two - if I stick my Tube Screamer on my 15 year-old tranny practice amp the difference is astonishing, and suddenly I can mess around with types of music that I couldn't before.

Anyhow, not to take away from any of the other advice. The guys are 100% correct, and it's very important to have a decent, playable instrument. Just keep in mind that after you have adjusted to some of the electric basics, you'll want to take another look at the rest of your rig. The best idea is to spend time with other muso's who can let you try out their stuff and point you in different directions.

Trubore

Just want to thanks everybody once again for the great advice. Eventually I got the peavey 158 (also from Dee). And I'm truly happy!!

Been practising way to much, so my left wrist hurts like crazy but I'm enjoying every second

singemonkey

Congrats. Don't try to play through the pain, ok? If it hurts, stop, or do something different that doesn't hurt. You can get repetitive strain injuries from playing guitar, right? No joke.

Listen I'm glad you found a guitar that you're happy with. It was just the first good deal I saw in the classifieds as an example. But I'm sure if you decide to sell it you'll get that money back with no trouble. But Dee can buy me a beer anyway ? (kidding).

What was said about the trouble of making the guitar sound good? It's totally true. But to me that comes second. First you've got to enjoy playing. So it's worth advising a beginner to spend more on a guitar, imo. When you're enjoying playing but you want to sound great, then get a great amp. It's no good having great tone if you're so frustrated playing the guitar that you stash both under the bed forever.

Enjoy, it and keep us informed about your progress.

Bob-Dubery

Hi and welcome ?

Some tips

1) Do some homework RE gear. You're making a start with your enquiries here.
2) Arrange to have take some lessons. This will give you a good grounding and some direction. A teacher may also be able to advise you on gear or get you a good deal.
3) Shop around. Check out as many shops as there are in your neighbourhood. See what ranges they have and what the prices are. Compare the goods on offer.
4) Don't turn up your nose at 2nd hand kit. This can be a good way to get more guitaring bang for your bucks.
5) Practice
6) Make sure the guys in the guitar shops you visit and use get to know you and what you like to play. This will help them steer you in the right direction kit wise
7) Get a good guitar first. You can get the rest later. Rome was not built in a day, nor were most guitar rigs. Doing it this way also gives you more time to figure out what you actually want.
8) Learn about guitar set up (action, intonation etc)
9) If you have a friend or friends who play then ask them to go along when you make your initial purposes.

infernox

Trubore: Im in the same situation as you currently and look at many options regarding my first real guitar (used to play a bit of bass) and I came to the following conclusion:

Fender Starter Kit: R2800+-
Cort Starter Kit: R2700+-
Ibanez Starter Kit: R2600+-

Then I gave Music Connection in Randburg a call and got a Cort X1 Guitar and a Roland 15x Amp for less than R2400 with a bag and cable.

Much better amp with a highly regarded beginner (my first) guitar. Picking up the X1 tomorrow and the Amp next week after my tax has been done.

singemonkey

infernox wrote: Trubore: Im in the same situation as you currently and look at many options regarding my first real guitar (used to play a bit of bass) and I came to the following conclusion:

Fender Starter Kit: R2800+-
Cort Starter Kit: R2700+-
Ibanez Starter Kit: R2600+-

Then I gave Music Connection in Randburg a call and got a Cort X1 Guitar and a Roland 15x Amp for less than R2400 with a bag and cable.

Much better amp with a highly regarded beginner (my first) guitar. Picking up the X1 tomorrow and the Amp next week after my tax has been done.

Post pictures, both of you! ? And let us know how your progress goes.

infernox

Bloody problem with shipping... X1 will only be delivered on Monday...

will have to wait for Amp as my tax just came in and I owe them close to 1K...

babraham

This thread needs a revival! ?

I would like to buy my first electric guitar and like the original poster, the Ibanez Jumpstart kits are what caught my eye first.

I'm on a very tight budget being a student. I currently have R2000 but that could be stretched to R3000 with a bit of saving up, if the extra money would result in a far better purchase and be worthwhile.

I mostly only listen to metal.

Like those in this thread, my friend gave me the advice of buying 2nd hand. With my budget being so ridiculously small, I see how this is a great way to optimise the quality of instrument I'm buying.

I have no real knowledge of guitars but for some reason, a black Ibanez just appeals to me. For all I know, they're frowned upon in the guitar world but to me, they're gorgeous! ?

So I went to the junkmail website and searched for an Ibanez in Gauteng (I live in Edenvale/Bedfordview). The only recent result in my price range was a guy selling his GRX70DX Jumpstart kit for R2 000. Some more Googling revealed that they usually go for about R3 500 new.

This excited me so I set about reading reviews and the reviews were favourable, relative to the price obviously! I phoned the guy up but he'd sold it already.

Since then, I've found some jumpstart kits for sale (new) at heavily discounted prices!

GRX70DX Jumpstart kit for R2 399:
http://purpleonline.co.za/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=574

GRX70DX Jumpstart kit (with 15W instead of 10W amp) for R2 719:
http://www.maxmusic.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=GRX70XJCA%2015W

*They have the same kit with the 10W amp at the same price. Weird!:
http://www.maxmusic.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=GRX70DXJCA

GSA60 Jumpstart kit (15W amp) for R2 950:
http://www.mercurymusic.co.za/pMIGSA6/Ibanez-GSA6-Electric-Guitar-Pack.aspx

I originally registered hoping to find out how significant the difference was between the Ibanez GRX70 and GSA60.

However, having read the entire thread, I'm now considering perhaps scrapping the "all in one kit" idea? Although considering how heavily discounted these deals are that I found, do they not perhaps offer similar value to buying 2nd hand?