Advice on buying a guitar

Hi,

I want to buy an electric guitar, but the prices here in Taiwan are pretty steep. A Fender, which is what I want, is up in the 40,000 price range. Yamaha guitars are pretty cheap, 8-10,000, anyone have any experience with these? Any other cheap models that you can recommend? I’m intermediate, I don’t require anything fancy, but something that won’t sound completely like crap or go out of tune after ten minutes.

I play alternative rock.

Thanks

For the money, I wouldn’t go for a Yamaha unless you can find a really good one. There are much better deals out there.
I’ve been having a hankering for one of those Danelectros – cheap, funky and extremely cool. Try a bunch of 'em, though, as some are a lot better than others. Find a good one and it’ll make you smile, plus you won’t cry too hard if it gets stolen or smashed.

Or an Epiphone (although I haven’t met one I liked and QC seems to be spotty). I have an Ibanez semi-acoustic Artstar (styled a bit like a Gibson 335) that I’ve been very pleased with indeed. It cost an incredibly reasonable NT$24,000.

Aint it purty?
Tony’s Music (search the archives) has some 2nd hand US Fenders at around 25-30,000 a pop, and there are loads of Mexican Fenders at around 15,000, as well as a good selection of Danos.
Tons and tons of choices there.[/img]

Sandman I like that one. I went to Tony’s yesterday and saw a Gibson ES137 that was way too expensive for me, but that’s what I want. How much of a difference does the acoustic body make to the sound? The guy at Tony’s said it gives it a more jazzy sound. The sales people there were the friendliest I have found so far. I think I will have to settle for an Epiphone.

It makes a huge difference and does give a lovely Wes Montgomery-type sound on the front pickup with the treble rolled off a little.
Mine also doesn’t have a feedback problem and can scream like Ted Nugent if I want it to.
That guitar is anything but a one-trick pony and I just love it.
There’s a couple nice Epi semis in Tony’s (or there used to be). One is a blonde “Joe Pass” model, which I fooled around with and really liked, although the style has a deeper body and maybe lacks the Ibanez’ centre block (which would give feedback problems). They also had the same guitar in a tobacco burst finish (like my Ibanez) which absolutely stank. I pity the poor sucker who bought that dog. There used to be a couple of 335 Epis – a nice surf green one (kind of a pale turquoise colour) and a clunky, badly set up Oasis (union Jack) one with sticking-out fret-ends, badly placed bridge, stripped out thread on the tailpiece, heavily filled fingerboard where they’d fucked up the placement of the fret markers – you name it. As I said, you really have to go over Epis with a fine-tooth comb.
All those Epiphones will need a pickup change if you’re serious about getting some good tone – something to think about if its the lower price that’s attracting you. A good pair of aftermarket Gibson super 58’s will set you back about NT$6,000 in Taiwan, although there’s always ebay, I suppose.

[quote=“Owl”]Hi,

I want to buy an electric guitar, but the prices here in Taiwan are pretty steep. A Fender, which is what I want, is up in the 40,000 price range. Yamaha guitars are pretty cheap, 8-10,000, anyone have any experience with these? Any other cheap models that you can recommend? I’m intermediate, I don’t require anything fancy, but something that won’t sound completely like crap or go out of tune after ten minutes.

I play alternative rock.

Thanks[/quote]

Fenders are great, but they do command a high price. Have you looked at the Squire models? I’ve tried a couple a few years ago, and they felt good and sounded OK. A pickup change would be necessary. Like the others have said, Epiphones are OK, but I don’t know if most are right for alternative music.

How much of a DIY person are you? You can pick up a kit via catalog/online order, or buy parts from separate vendors and put it together. I purchased parts from Carvin and built a very good guitar. It doesn’t compare to my custom-order Carvin DC400 or ESP axes, but it plays greats and sounds awesome.

It really depends on your budget. Pick out a few models in that price range and try them out in the store. You’ll know the better guitars immediately by the feel and sound.
Good luck!

If you are playing alternative rock, then a Fender sounds the go… Sonic Youth, Mudhoney, Nirvana etc etc all used Fenders extensively. They offer a lovely sort of tone, very different to Gibsons. I play both Telecasters and 345’s live and the difference in tone, well these things have been discussed in guitar circles ad nauseum for eons.

Give us an idea of the tone you want to pull and perhaps we can offer more suggestions. Fender Jazzmasters, and Tele Deluxes seem to be quite popular. Japanese made Fenders are very tasty guitars.

In my experience, set a budget and then go over it! Get the very best you can afford, you wont regret it.

Steve Earle uses Epi Casino’s (made in Korea) and the live sound he gets is quite special. But yes, the Epi’s have a few quality issues.

Go out and find a guitar you like playing, one that is comfortable to play. I used to play a Fender Stratocaster that my dad gave me and it was cool, but I had to switch a tone pot for a volume pot. Now Squire vs. Epi’s is a tricky question. For tone I would say that a Les Paul destroys a Stratocaster and a tele. For gigging the same is true, although the neck of a Strat is smaller but has a longer scale so if you are like me and have small hands I’d go with a Les Paul or an SG.

If you want to find deals go out into Taipei County you’ll find some great deals. I saved $12000 (7000 vs 19000 at Tony’s) on my Epiphone Les Paul Custom guitar by going to Pan Chiao.

[quote=“Grasshopper”]
If you want to find deals go out into Taipei County you’ll find some great deals. I saved $12000 (7000 vs 19000 at Tony’s) on my Epiphone Les Paul Custom guitar by going to Banqiao.[/quote]

Johnny 5 needs more input. Directions or just the general area.

This is pretty subjective and depends on the ‘tone’ you are after. A country player would prefer the tone of a Tele whereas rockin’ types would prefer Gibson tone.

I think we need to ascertain the sorts of sounds he is after before we can really determine what guitar is ‘best’.

I recommend a Japanese made Fender over most other guitars. They are a notch above the Mexican made ones and can be had for 14000-18000ish. They are INCREDIBLE instruments.

Sorry I will correct myself. For playing live a Les Paul or an SG is more versatile. In terms of controls. If you play straight into an amp you can get two different volume levels and two different tone levels or blend both. You can’t do that with a tele or a strat.

[quote=“Grasshopper”]Go out and find a guitar you like playing, one that is comfortable to play. I used to play a Fender Stratocaster that my dad gave me and it was cool, but I had to switch a tone pot for a volume pot. Now Squire vs. Epi’s is a tricky question. For tone I would say that a Les Paul destroys a Stratocaster and a tele. For gigging the same is true, although the neck of a Strat is smaller but has a longer scale so if you are like me and have small hands I’d go with a Les Paul or an SG.

If you want to find deals go out into Taipei County you’ll find some great deals. I saved $12000 (7000 vs 19000 at Tony’s) on my Epiphone Les Paul Custom guitar by going to Banqiao.[/quote]
:laughing:My '72 Tele Custom Thinline gave MANY a Paul a run for its money :slight_smile:, and my strat with active EMGs used to send the occasional Les Paul running for the master volume to cut through the mix. Depends on what you have as elec-tee-ron-icks. Good advice on the hands, though. Fenders give a little more “fight” than a Gibson, that’s why I like 'em. Also, good advice on buying a geetar…find one that is comfortable and feels right :slight_smile:.

Agreed, but again, after-market pups are almost mandatory. I used to have a mid-80s Japanese tele that had excellent build quality but sounded thin and weedy until I loaded it with a velvet hammer in the bridge and a Lindy Fralin in the neck. Twang heaven and far, far better in every way than an American standard tele I had at the same time which cost three times as much!
But I think you’ll have a long search to get one for 14K. They’re a good bit pricier than the Mexicans.
To the original poster: Go for a Mexican Fender if you want the “name” – don’t go for a Squire (made in Indonesia I believe), as they really are entry-level instruments and you’ll quickly grow tired of it.
I’d still suggest that you try the Dano, although maybe it would be better as a second guitar. Forget the tone – they’re finished in sparkly metal flake! If you have a silver glittering git what more do you need? :wink:
How about one of those “Rocknroller” Rickenbacker copies? They’re pretty cheap and I bet they’d be good for “alternative” rock. Do alternative rockers dig chime and jangle?

Also, don’t forget that at least 60% of your tone comes from your hands and the strings – get used to playing with nothing lighter than .012 or even .013 on your top E and as high an action as you can stand (most stores and factories string their instruments with .009s and too-low action – makes them easier to handle). That’ll improve your tone like you wouldn’t believe.
I used to do a fair bit of tech work for friends and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve received a perfectly good guitar that just sounded like shite until I raised the action and swapped out the dental floss for proper strings.

I agree with Sandman. However, I always need at least one guitar with dental floss and a real low bridge. I get into speed every now and then and need thin strings and a lightning fast action to get into it. Never played Malmsteen with fat strings. Wait… I am pretty quick on the bass though, but that’s like apples and oranges really.

Ah but see? You’re getting into actual guitar-playing areas now. My playing’s so ham-fisted that it doesn’t matter what kind of strings I’m playing on, I aint ever going to be a Vai or a Satriani or even a bighair Swedish poseur :wink:
As a general rule though, fat strings/high action=better tone.

[quote=“sandman”]Also, don’t forget that at least 60% of your tone comes from your hands and the strings – get used to playing with nothing lighter than .012 or even .013 on your top E and as high an action as you can stand (most stores and factories string their instruments with .009s and too-low action – makes them easier to handle). That’ll improve your tone like you wouldn’t believe.
I used to do a fair bit of tech work for friends and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve received a perfectly good guitar that just sounded like shite until I raised the action and swapped out the dental floss for proper strings.[/quote]

Uhhh, I agree to a point…I always played 0.011 to 0.052s and was considered having hands of steel. If you are going to bend strings, don’t go over a 0.011, the damage to your hands isn’t worth it (the ONLY bender who I can recall who played 0.012 or 0.013 was Stevie Ray Vaughan, but his hands were VERY strong and Rene Martin started swapping down to a 0.011 late in his career without telling him because he was ripping his calouses off and doing damage to his tendons). As one who has ripped off callouses live on 0.011s, I can assure you that finishing a gig with either the callous superglued in place or bleeding because you forgot to put the super glue in your bag is NO fun).

To each his own, I guess. I like 12 through 56 and do plenty of heavy bending but that’s on the shorter-scale Ibanez. I guess the tele was set up a bit lighter but I can’t really recall. I never had bleeding fingers though – I’d remember that all right!

That’s probably it, the shorter scale makes all the difference in the world, I remember playing a friends LP with 0.010s, they felt like human hairs, no resistance :slight_smile:.

Anyway, none of this is really of much help to Owl, who just wants a not-too-fancy guitar. :wink:
Owl, just ignore us old geezers sitting on the virtual porch reminiscing, but do let us know how you get on in your search and don’t hesitate to fire off any other questions you might have. You can be assured of several differing answers to whatever you care to ask! :mrgreen:

Take a friend (one whose not easily bored!), spend a lot of time in shops, play as many guitars as you can (in ALL price brackets and in as many brands and styles as you can find) using the same amp each time if possible, and wait till you find an instrument that speaks to you more seductively than the others. You definitely will find such a beast, but you need the friend with you for objectivity, as you will by that time be anything but objective.