What Guitar Should I Get???

JC 2K3

Hi I've been playing guitar for over 3 years now, the first 2 and a half years of playing I had a nylon string spanish accoustic and while I loved it(and I still do) I decided that I needed an electric guitar, so I went out and bought a second hand Epiphone Special for €150(I also got an amp for €120). The guitar, which I am still playing now, always had a few niggles. The most obvious of these was that one of the pickups had a screw missing and so was slanted into the guitar(which I never fixed) and the tone knob was slightly damaged. So nearly everytime I went to play it I wouldn't sound perfect.

Anyway, now I feel it is time to get a new guitar and this time I think I should spend a bit more(around €400-€650). The only problem is I know nothing about buying a guitar(The Epiphone Special was recommended to me by the shop assistant). I have researched it a bit and decided that I would like a Gibson Les Paul, but seeing as they are well over €1000 put me off the idea. Then I looked into Epiphone Les Pauls which are much more affordable, but I can't decide which is best, there's the Les Paul Custom, Classic, Classic Plus, Standard, Standard Plus..... all are around the same price but what are the differences beetween them and what is the best one to get??

Advice would be very much appreciated, should I even be thinking about buying an Epiphone Les Paul or is there a similarly priced better alternative?

PeadarofAodh

I'm not claiming to be an electric guitar expert but I really wouldn't recommend the Epiphone Les Paul. I've heard so many bad reports about it but I really liked the look so I asked around and found that the Vintage Les Paul is better and also less expensive (You're paying a bit extra for the Epiphone name)

JC 2K3

PeadarofAodh wrote:

I'm not claiming to be an electric guitar expert but I really wouldn't recommend the Epiphone Les Paul. I've heard so many bad reports about it but I really liked the look so I asked around and found that the Vintage Les Paul is better and also less expensive (You're paying a bit extra for the Epiphone name)

hmm....

There's reviews for the Vintage Les Paul Gold Top at Harmony Central, generally good comments, but it's only around €200-€250. Now I'm not someone who would buy something based on how much it costs, but I'm willing to spend more than that on a guitar(if I got better quality of course)

greglo23

have a look here !!! http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/gruppe-GIGE-2.html?iwid=6
these guys only charge 22 Euro shipping to ireland and their aftersale service is brilliant !!

PeadarofAodh

JC 2K3 wrote:

hmm....

There's reviews for the Vintage Les Paul Gold Top at Harmony Central, generally good comments, but it's only around €200-€250. Now I'm not someone who would buy something based on how much it costs, but I'm willing to spend more than that on a guitar(if I got better quality of course)

I was just saying that if he wants a les paul its a pretty decent guitar and worth more than its pricetag.
iv had a look at thomann and the prices are all really good etc but they really have 2 work on organising their catalogue...jesus that site can really get on my nerves sometimes :eek:

JC 2K3

greglo23 wrote:

have a look here !!! http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/gruppe-GIGE-2.html?iwid=6
these guys only charge 22 Euro shipping to ireland and their aftersale service is brilliant !!

Thank you for that site!

However I am still in doubt as to which guitar to get

ferdi

man if your willing to pay up to 650 for a guitar stop messing around with epiphones, you can get a far more serious machine for that money:

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-153251.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-169311.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-156584.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-172564.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-160094.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_ibanez_axs32drf_egitarre_prodinfo.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_jackson_dk2fs_dinkypro_egitarre_prodinfo.html

any of these would be far superior to epiphone

as for advice about buying guitars - DONT BUY IN IRELAND!!!!

JC 2K3

ferdi wrote:

man if your willing to pay up to 650 for a guitar stop messing around with epiphones, you can get a far more serious machine for that money:

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-153251.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-169311.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-156584.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-172564.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_artikel-160094.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_ibanez_axs32drf_egitarre_prodinfo.html

http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_jackson_dk2fs_dinkypro_egitarre_prodinfo.html

any of these would be far superior to epiphone

as for advice about buying guitars - DONT BUY IN IRELAND!!!!

You don't know how grateful I am for all those links, I know you get ripped off in Ireland but I intend to try out the guitars in a guitar shop and then buy them online

NotMe

Hey I was in a similar position just a few weeks ago. I had an Epiphone Special (even had a missing screw in the neck pickup - I had cellotape holding it up) and I was looking for a new guitar. I ended up getting the Epiphone G400.. I just love SG's If I had the money I probably would have bought a Les Paul SG but the Epi G400 is a nice guitar for ?425.

ferdi

no problem, but seriously dont by epiphone or similar crap made of low grade wood with sheit electronics if you can afford to pay 650...also, before you buy, ask in this forum, chances are you'll get some good straight talking advice. you wont be able to try most of the guitars in those links as ireland has a bollix selection but you could safely buy any of those guitars from the internet and chances are they'd be very very good and you'd have no probs...and if you do - send it back!!

RicardoSmith

Try before you buy. A Les Paul is heavy and a weird shape. Really only comfy standing up. Epiphone or Vintage aren't great. Personally I couldn't a guitar that I didn't try before I bought. Seems really weird that someone would buy one over the web.

JC 2K3

ferdi wrote:

no problem, but seriously dont by epiphone or similar crap made of low grade wood with sheit electronics if you can afford to pay 650...also, before you buy, ask in this forum, chances are you'll get some good straight talking advice. you wont be able to try most of the guitars in those links as ireland has a bollix selection but you could safely buy any of those guitars from the internet and chances are they'd be very very good and you'd have no probs...and if you do - send it back!!

Thanks a mil, you obviously know what you're talking about, I'll look into those guitars and ask before my final descision.

Now all I have to do is hope I get good Junior Cert Results and my parents will buy me the guitar

JC 2K3

RicardoSmith wrote:

Try before you buy. A Les Paul is heavy and a weird shape. Really only comfy standing up. Epiphone or Vintage aren't great. Personally I couldn't a guitar that I didn't try before I bought. Seems really weird that someone would buy one over the web.

fair point but you get ripped off in guitar shops, besides I can always try them out in the shop and then order over the web

RicardoSmith

JC 2K3 wrote:

fair point but you get ripped off in guitar shops, besides I can always try them out in the shop and then order over the web

I fnd that if I tried 10 identical quitars in a shop there'd be some I'd like and some I'd hate. They are never all the same, either in feel, build or sound/tone. That said if I was saving a lot, I'd order either a Jackson or Ibanez or even a ESP as they are usually much better made than other quitars. But they do tend to have thinner and flatter necks than other makes. Thats something you either love or hate. But they generally sound great. To get a good Fender or Gibson you'd have to pay a lot more.