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Post by yavin4 on Dec 23, 2021 12:31:39 GMT -5
Hello all. New guy here. 47 years old. I’ve played off and on over the years. Never “really learned,” but I’ve had fun. Jammed with some people here and there. I haven’t owned a guitar in a while and am looking to get back into it. I went to a local shop yesterday and played almost every guitar they had. There are winners and turds at every price point. I could tell the difference for sure though in the upper range guitars, no surprise of course. My problem is that while there were nice Squiers and Player series guitars for sure, I knew that the upper end Fenders felt better and that I would be more inclined and inspired to play and improve, but how do I justify to myself spending $1500 on a guitar when I don’t think I’m good enough for said guitar? Thanks in advance.
Y4
Particularly of interest was the Strat American Pro II.
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Post by Leftee on Dec 23, 2021 12:46:02 GMT -5
Hi and welcome!
If you can afford it, you deserve it.
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sirWheat
Wholenote
For a better future, play Stevie Wonder for your children.
Posts: 321
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Post by sirWheat on Dec 23, 2021 13:21:58 GMT -5
Ditto to the above.
That said, you can always go with a used guitar. American strats and teles go for seven to nine bills around here, though they don't come up all that often.
I still hold to my curmudgeonly notion that no guitar with a bolt-on neck is worth more than 1K (I did break my own rule once, for a MicroFrets Spacetone), but 1.5K doesn't seem so bad for a new strat these days.
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Post by Duke on Dec 23, 2021 13:49:02 GMT -5
Hello all. New guy here. 47 years old. I’ve played off and on over the years. Never “really learned,” but I’ve had fun. Jammed with some people here and there. I haven’t owned a guitar in a while and am looking to get back into it. I went to a local shop yesterday and played almost every guitar they had. There are winners and turds at every price point. I could tell the difference for sure though in the upper range guitars, no surprise of course. My problem is that while there were nice Squiers and Player series guitars for sure, I knew that the upper end Fenders felt better and that I would be more inclined and inspired to play and improve, but how do I justify to myself spending $1500 on a guitar when I don’t think I’m good enough for said guitar? Thanks in advance. Y4 Particularly of interest was the Strat American Pro II. Welcome, I agree with buying used. |
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Post by Vibroluxer on Dec 23, 2021 13:56:44 GMT -5
Welcome!!
Yep, your money will go a lot farther if you buy used.
Now, what are you going to do for an amp?
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Post by Leftee on Dec 23, 2021 16:16:16 GMT -5
Ditto the “buy used” if the right one comes up.
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Post by reverendrob on Dec 23, 2021 17:09:50 GMT -5
I have four Gibsons that will play "better" than I ever will.
There ain't nobody who sounds like me though, and those amazing tools help me get there.
If it inspires, that's enough!
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Post by rdr on Dec 23, 2021 17:14:27 GMT -5
Two questions:
1. Do you want it?
2. Can you afford it?
If both yes, get it. Life's short.
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Post by cedarchoper58 on Dec 23, 2021 17:34:09 GMT -5
I would justify the high end by the fact that You only live once and dont want any regretts. I learned that the hard way with gear. go for it
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Post by LTB on Dec 23, 2021 23:56:27 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum!
If you can afford it go for the good one that speaks the loudest to you.
I can tell you from experience going cheap for Squiers others When I got them I ended up spending 2-3 times what I paid for the guitar or bass in mod's consisting of pickups, Bridge, tuners etc. trying to make it sound and feel the way I wanted but in the end I had a bunch of money invest in a guitar that was maybe going to sell for what I paid for it stock. They typically don't care about all the nice upgraded Plus I I had spent $200-300 more I would have a joy to play in terms of feel, tone and more value.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Dec 24, 2021 8:36:46 GMT -5
If you had a chance to play a bunch and that is the one you like, go for it.
The guitar in the higher price point isn't always the one that suits us best and if you asked the same question but with the preface "I've been looking at these guitars online..." then there'd be a bit more work to be done to break down your options. This tends to apply more past the $1500 price point, as the things that raise price become specialized and not necessarily the things everyone wants (aging, inlays, rarer/more expensive hardwoods, bells and/or whistles, etc.); in other words, those things will be worth while to SOME people, but they aren't objectively better. But, if the $1500 is the one you liked playing the most and didn't want to put down, then that solves it.
Ditto on what LTB says about lower price points. The "great for the money" Squiers and so on seem ideal for people who have a guitar collection and want something to add - not people looking for a primary instrument. For example, someone has a pile of Strats, Les Pauls and other things, but he doesn't have a Tele. He's not a big Tele fan, but he wants to have something to reach to from time to time - maybe just a song or two with his band, or just to get it out of his system. A Squier classic vibe does it perfectly, without being a hefty investment. A big Tele fanatic is going to want something nicer, and likely going to get an itch to keep tweaking it because it isn't QUITE there for them.
If you're still on the fence on your decisions, remember that things like action, fret ends, strings and so on can affect how nice a guitar feels to you, and it might not be apples to apples. If a nice guitar seems good but feels awful and has blackened strings, ask if it can be restrung/tweaked so you can appreciate it a bit more.
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Post by reverendrob on Dec 24, 2021 11:09:29 GMT -5
Interestingly, the two things I play the most are a stock (save speed knobs and an added guitar synth pickup, because, well - nothing comes stock with them I Want!) Squier Bass VI and a stock Gibson Les Paul High Performance.
One looks radically nicer, one has everything I could want, and the Squier while it looks like a piece of driftwood on the burst...plays and handles well above its weight class and intonates properly for a guitar synth pickup.
No complaintss!
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Post by theprofessor on Dec 25, 2021 9:36:36 GMT -5
Hello and welcome!
I’ve always considered the 2000-2008 Fender American series to be a high water mark for playability and features.
Worth checking out if you get the opportunity.
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Post by Blacksunshine on Dec 28, 2021 10:29:56 GMT -5
Where's Lesterstrat with his "you deserve" speech when we need it?
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Post by oldnjplayer on Dec 28, 2021 14:53:34 GMT -5
gotta agree; if can afford it and you want it go for it. That price point isn't cheap, but there other guitars that make 1500 seem almost cheapo. The next question of course is which amp... It can be a slippery slope, but it used to be that finding the equipment was half the fun. Whatever you decide new or used, enjoy.
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Post by yavin4 on Dec 28, 2021 16:02:18 GMT -5
Wow, thanks for all the replies and encouragement. I still have not committed to a choice. As far as amps go, I haven’t even began that process!
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Post by LTB on Dec 30, 2021 0:34:18 GMT -5
Wow, thanks for all the replies and encouragement. I still have not committed to a choice. As far as amps go, I haven’t even began that process! Let us know what guitar and amp you decide to go with. Enjoy the hunt. Do what puts peace in your heart! |
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Post by larryguitar54 on Dec 30, 2021 15:06:05 GMT -5
Two questions: 1. Do you want it? 2. Can you afford it? If both yes, get it. Life's short. Yup. Concur 100%. I have a bunch of guitars. I never regret buying quality. I think $1500 for a good Strat or Tele is not too much and you can go used for less and be fine. If I really want it I will pay more for new simply because I want a guitar no other grimy hands have touched. The problem is sometimes you have to buy a couple guitars before you find out what you really want. Also you taste is bound to change. I think a guy in your situation should start with a regular American Standard Strat or Telecaster as the starter guitar. Those are the standards by which everything else is compared. You can't go wrong no matter what your taste or goals. After you play it for awhile then take it in for a setup. They come from the factory set up a particular way but you really want a good tech to change it to suit your touch. |
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Post by larryguitar54 on Dec 30, 2021 15:08:47 GMT -5
Oh and for amps I would go with a regular Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue. That and an Am Std Tele and a Boss DD7 and Ibanez Tube Screamer and you can live out a full and complete life with nothing more than the regular delivery of food and beer to your house.
Here is YT of my DRRI with just a Tele and DD7 and Tube Screamer. The volume is not crazy. Probably around 4.5.
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Post by larryguitar54 on Dec 30, 2021 15:20:09 GMT -5
The DRRI goes for about $1200 new. But for half the price you can pick up a Blues Jr. and get a really nice amp. Here is a sample of that:
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Post by cedarchoper58 on Dec 30, 2021 18:59:00 GMT -5
Delux Revverb Tone Master is what i would buy for a amp
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Post by hushnel on Jan 3, 2022 12:37:16 GMT -5
Welcome, good recommendations here, and from experienced players.
At this point in my life I have moved towards acoustics, with a shifting towards classical\nylon stringed acoustics. I have kept one Telecaster, and a few acoustics that I’m thinking of selling.
Since I got the Cordoba C9 Parlor I haven’t played any of the other 6 strings I own. I’m primarily a bass player, but I find the bass a bit awkward sitting in the shade of an old Oak on a quiet sunny day, or around a camp fire with friends, playing bass lines that I can barely hear “o) Other than in the hands of Victor Wooten, the bass is an accompanying/support instrument.
I play the guitar because I love to make music, I like the acoustic because is not dependent nor tethered to any other support hardware, and functions wonderfully, independently.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Jan 3, 2022 14:25:18 GMT -5
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Post by yavin4 on Jan 3, 2022 16:04:36 GMT -5
Again, thanks for all the advice. I ended up ordering a Player series Tele in black. And I’m glad I did when I did as I see Fender has made their first $50 price increase of the year. I remember when the Player series was called the Standard series and they were $350 new. I get inflation and what not, but I’d really like to know how Fender justifies increasing the price $50 every 6-12 months.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Jan 3, 2022 17:25:00 GMT -5
Because people pay it.
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Post by yavin4 on Jan 3, 2022 17:58:39 GMT -5
Had I waited until today to buy and it was now $850, I would have went with another brand. The whole idea makes me want return it and do that anyway.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Jan 3, 2022 19:39:42 GMT -5
Oh, I understand. By the way, welcome to the club.
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Post by Leftee on Jan 3, 2022 20:52:09 GMT -5
Inflation is a much wider picture that Fender guitars. Just sayin’
Fwiw - I build my “Fenders” or buy G&L. 😜
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Post by rickyguitar on Jan 4, 2022 23:48:39 GMT -5
I am a little late to the party but, my. 02 is some guitars feel better. That is a big deal. My system is buy the nicest of the "feel goods" I can afford. And deluxes are kinda hard to beat.
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Post by reverendrob on Jan 5, 2022 11:09:43 GMT -5
The "feel" is the thing that sells me.
When I was able to get a guitar again after having to liquidate when I moved across the country and lost my pre-CBS babies, I went to every damn shop within eight hours in the middle of relative nowhere.
Played EVERYTHING electric, no preconceptions, ignoring color choice.
I could splurge, I'd just gotten a few stock options vested, but limited myself to one since I wasn't sure after a year off despite the itch if I'd keep at it honestly - I wasn't going to be playing live any more etc.
I ended up with a MIM Squier Strat (when the wood was all still cut in the US to boot, the only thing Ensenada did was finishing work and paint) - I've played a few since and they're solid beasts to a one (and punch well above their pay grade - those first '98s really had something to prove and it's obvious that Fender had hands-on instructors watching everything HARD at that point).
It played better than any of the Americans I touched, and all the Gibsons available (not many, mind you, rural nowhere), but...I still have that Strat. I've never needed to change or upgrade a thing, and hate the color as much as the day it was new. I *hate* Oly White, yet I have two Oly White guitars (one that, one a P Bass I won in a giveaway, and technically a third, a Jazzmaster, that used to be but I had it refinned to royal purple!)
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