Would you recommend...

[Colin]

My belief is 'Buy right the first time'. If your goal is to play and play well then why not have an insrument that will help you not hinder you. Of course should you decide to give up (not that's gonna happen right?) your guitar will have a higher resale value than an elcheapo. Look at Steve Morse and his number one still plays better than ever, so will yours in 20 years. Hopefully in 20 years you will too.

Colin

 

[koogie2k]

What a decision you have to make. For what it is worth, I pretty much echo what most here have said. I would find an axe that is comfortable and playable to you. Obviously, we are EBMM all the way. There is a reason for that. These guitars are comfortable and playable. There are several avenues you can go. E-bay is one of them. Others on here sell. I would recommend a used guitar. One, they are still top quality with a price reduction that you cannot find at any music store. Two, you have tried out a Pet and liked it. No need to spend the $$$ on a new one, a used one is just as great. You may have to come away with a color you may not want, but, it is all in the playability. I have yet to see a color I did not like though. Get yourself in a store (if available to you) and try out all the models there. Pick the model you like and then go hunting. Many many forum members here have found awesome used EBMM's and they were ecstatic with the purchase.

Amp....many different ways to go about those. I would never recommend a high end amp at this stage. Kbaim gave what I think is one of the best suggestions. The Roland Micro-cube is the best amps for the buck. I had the pleasure of listening to him and playing through his when I was in Cali. Those amps are simply fantastic. You get all kinds of great effects (saves money in pedals) and it is portable and built very well. I think you already know you want an EBMM. I also think that a used one will be in the budget along with the Roland micro-cube.

My 2 pennies......and good luck.

 

[John C]

fogman - you are in a different category from a raw beginner. I'll echo everyone else's recommendation and get a guitar that you really want. I did the same thing - put mine aside while I was newly married and in grad school, and didn't really touch it for 6 years. When I got back into playing in 1992 I got a PRS CE maple-top. I had tried a bunch of Fenders, and at that time the PRS was only $150 more than a Strat Plus Deluxe. I felt that, as a rusty almost-intermediate player with limited time, I would rather have a guitar I really liked for those times when I could really get it out and enjoy it.

I almost went with an EVH but wound up with the PRS. It wasn't the most expensive guitar you could get, but it wasn't the cheapest either; I kept it for 6 years and got almost every penny I paid for it out of it. I now am a confirmed EBMM player - they are the perfect neck for me - so get what will make you happy and want to keep playing.

 

[francric]

I think you guys are way off on this. I know plenty of people who started on low end guitars and then purchased or traded for a good one a couple of years later once they were sure they wanted to continue playing. A more expensive guitar does not necessarily encourage playing. You either want to or you don't. I know some people who have expensive guitars and it's just a conversational piece. I'm not saying buy a $50 guitar but you need to look at your budget, consider your spouse (if you have one) and buy something you like. I do agree with buying used. Then again, you can say FRIG IT and buy what you want.

 

[fogman]

Thank you all for your opinions and comments! As a quick response I will say that I agree that I should "invest" in good equipment and I'm bound to play more.
There's no doubt in my mind that I will. I was feeling pretty good about all the responses but wanted to wait until today to share this strange epiphany(spelling?) that happened.
I spent to occasional few minutes yesterday reading your posts.
In the process, I was warding off my one year old son (right now actually too) from pressing the reset button on my computer. Naturally giving him toys to keep him occupied. While I tried reading the posts.
I looked down only to see this. I'm not into "signs" or anything, but this is kinda funny weird! I immediately took some pictures and brought them to get developed (no digital camera yet ).
Study the picture. The writing's on the walls!

Needless to say this confirms my question! Thanks for all the help.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Buy It, Feed The Addiction, Be Happy, Buy More!

 

[Raz]

I wouldn't recommend anything expensive to someone starting out. Most people are not going to continue it beyond the novelty stage. Unless, of course, they have money to burn and don't care. Maybe start them out with a Sub? Fairly cheap, and a pretty decent guitar by all accounts.

I don't like what you said You're making it sound like a cheap Asian built entry level F^%$#r, when actually it rivals a lot of American built guitars priced higher than the Sub 1...shall I refer to the Ernie Ball news article...yes perhaps I shall:

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (January 29, 2004) - Music Man proudly unveils its new SUB 1 Guitar, a mid- priced American-made guitar manufactured at the company's San Luis Obispo, CA factory. At just $595-$695, it's affordable to abroad-range of consumers, and features the same quality and performance synonymous with Music Man instruments. Just introduced at the NAMM show in January, the guitar starts shipping to retailers nationwide Spring/Summer'04.

"The SUB 1 gives us the ability to reach a more cost-conscious demographic
with a very high quality Music Man product. This broadens our reach in the market and gives our dealers a product that will easily sell itself," said Sterling Ball, president of the company. "The SUB 1 features the same quality and attention to detail as our other instruments, whether the innovative Bongo or the historic Sting Ray. It's a more basic model of theSilhouette Special," he explained.

The company recently introduced the SUB and SUB 5 basses, which have been
extremely well-received. The SUB 1 allows Music Man to capitalize on this success of affordable, reputable instruments in the guitar market. The SUB 1 comes in a one or two humbucker version in a choice of seven textured colors - blue, graphite, cinnamon, teal, red, white and black.

Sorry BlackSpy, I just get sensitive when the Sub 1 gets treated with anything less than what it deserves...I agree with someone starting out to purchase the SUB1, and I guarantee they will be flying in no time...

 

[Norrin Radd]

I think you guys are way off on this. I know plenty of people who started on low end guitars and then purchased or traded for a good one a couple of years later once they were sure they wanted to continue playing. A more expensive guitar does not necessarily encourage playing. You either want to or you don't.

That may be true, but a sorry piece of crap will discourage one from wanting to play. A first guitar should be easy to play and not fight you like crazy. Price point should be irrelevant (to a degree - especially in this case where he is not really a beginner). Find whatever feels the most comfortable for you to play (whether it's EBMM or not) and buy that one. You will be happy. Your fingers, hands, shoulders and back will all be happy. JMHO

As for an amp, what kind of range are you talking about? Is that your Marshall in the picture? Do you want lots of effects? Want one or two good solid tones? Give us some more info on this one.

 

[fogman]

Yes, it's a Marshall MG30dfx. It's a solid state. I bought it on a whim last year at a midnight madness sale last year at my friend's store. I wish I didn't but that's OK. My daughter can use it. After I get the guitar, I'll be shopping for a tube amp.

 

[MN246]

Fogman,

It sounds like you are on the right track to me. Playing guitar is like any other hobby, when you do it well you enjoy it more. Buying a good guitar that is easy to play will give you more of those days where you're happy with your playing and less of the ones that are frustrating. That alone will encourage you to continue with your playing.

I've been playing for a long time and I still have moments where I wonder how I could make some of the mistakes I do at rehearsal or during a performance. Do not be discourged if during your playing you seem to get in a rut for awhile. It happens to all of us. Just keep playing and you'll come through it. I wish you lots of luck finding a great guitar and with the musical journey you are beginning.

 

[kbaim]

Do not be discourged if during your playing you seem to get in a rut for awhile. It happens to all of us. Just keep playing and you'll come through it.

Except if you play A LOT! Then try the exact opposite. Put the guitar down for 3 or 4 days. Really makes playing fresh again. Almost like magic.

 

[phatduckk]

well ... a few years ago i was shopping for a new bass and ended up buying some Ibanez for $650 or so. a couple months later i got a Sterling and the Ibanez sat in my room for a couple years till some sucker baught it.

in that experience i remember thinking ... f**c i shoulda just got the Sterling to begin with. it is a couple hundered bucks more expensive ... but ive owned and loved that sterling for 4 years now and the price difference put into a 4 year perspective is pretty negligable. in the grand scheme of things whats a couple hundered bucks over 4 years?

IMHO if you think youre gonna stick with it then do it right ... as long as you dont misbudget and screw the family over.

 

[blackspy]

I don't like what you said You're making it sound like a cheap Asian built entry level F^%$#r, when actually it rivals a lot of American built guitars priced higher than the Sub 1...shall I refer to the Ernie Ball news article...yes perhaps I shall:



Sorry BlackSpy, I just get sensitive when the Sub 1 gets treated with anything less than what it deserves...I agree with someone starting out to purchase the SUB1, and I guarantee they will be flying in no time...

Chill out... All I meant was if they're a newbie, and they're determined to play an Ernie Ball, rather than shell out 2K on a JP or Axis or something, try a Sub, then if they give it up, they're not hit as hard in the wallet. I agree they're far superior then the entry level F guitars.

 

[SteveB]

I played crap guitars for the first 23 years of my playing...
just got a Music Man last year.