Behringer El Toro

Squirrel

My parents are getting me this for Christmas http://www.behringer.com/EL-TORO-GUITAR-PACK/index.cfm?lang=ENG. I've been using an acoustic for the last while so they're getting me this to start off on electric. Two of my friends have differing opinions, one says it's grand for starting and a good price too (170) while the other says it'll just break straight away I should buy a 4 or 5 hundred quid guitar instead which I think is a bit strange.

What think ye of it?

ferdi

the guitar is going to suck and if you've already been playing acoustic for a while, you will be growing out of this guitar very quickly. but at 170 for everything you need, i guess you cant complain.

here are the guitar starter sets from thomann: http://www.thomann.de/ie/guitar_sets.html you might find something a bit nicer in here, behringer have a bad rep for their budget items

Stompbox

Yeah,you should defo follow your second friends advice. Don't go budget.

feylya

Think of it this way - Behringer are known for making cheap electronics, not guitars...

What's you budget? If you could stretch to €300 or €350, you could get a MicroCube, a Pacifica and strap/cable/tuner/etc.

TelePaul

Here's some advice. You get what you pay for when it comes to musical instruments. I tend to disagree with the others opinions; I don't think it'll sound ****, because everything is relevant. It'll sound like a guitar and amp costing €170. There aren't really any bargains to be had when buying a musical instrument, you will get back what you put in.

As an introduction to electric guitar, that pack isn't so bad. My first guitar and amp package cost the same...it didn't sound amazing, but it got me into music in a way that I still can't believe! And this will teach you alot about what constitutes an electric guitar set-up, which is a far cry from acoustic playing. For one, an electric guitar is the most tonally diverse instrument there is. The amp has variable EQ and an introduction to amp modelling, and between them and the guitar you'll probably be able to experiment with a variety of tones.

As I said, the package will sound like a package that costs €170. If you want pro tones, buy an American made Strat for €1300. If you want an economical introduction to electric guitar, buy that package. And hey, be thnakful to the folks, it's cool they take an interest in your music aspirations. As a matter of interest, what does your doubtful friend play?

TelePaul

Sweet wrote:

Yeah,you should defo follow your second friends advice. Don't go budget.

If only it were that easy!! :rolleyes:

Karl Hungus

Squirrel wrote:

My parents are getting me this for Christmas http://www.behringer.com/EL-TORO-GUITAR-PACK/index.cfm?lang=ENG. I've been using an acoustic for the last while so they're getting me this to start off on electric. Two of my friends have differing opinions, one says it's grand for starting and a good price too (170) while the other says it'll just break straight away I should buy a 4 or 5 hundred quid guitar instead which I think is a bit strange.

What think ye of it?

I think if you've already been playing guitar, (I assume you've learned a few things already on the acoustic) that getting a beginner pack doesn't really make a whole lot of sense if you're already past being an absolute beginner.

I'd say you'd be much better of looking for something intermediate (And that should last you a hell of a lot longer) like the aforementioned Yamaha Pacifica, or if you can afford it, an Ibanez RG321, which is an insanely good guitar for the price. Couple either guitar with a Roland Microcube, get a few extras like a strap, cable and picks, and you'll be absolutely sorted.

A beginner guitar is something you'd outgrow extremely fast, so I think it's a pointless venture going for the Behringer pack.

Squirrel

Karl Hungus wrote:

I think if you've already been playing guitar, (I assume you've learned a few things already on the acoustic) that getting a beginner pack doesn't really make a whole lot of sense if you're already past being an absolute beginner.

I'd say you'd be much better of looking for something intermediate (And that should last you a hell of a lot longer) like the aforementioned Yamaha Pacifica, or if you can afford it, an Ibanez RG321, which is an insanely good guitar for the price. Couple either guitar with a Roland Microcube, get a few extras like a strap, cable and picks, and you'll be absolutely sorted.

A beginner guitar is something you'd outgrow extremely fast, so I think it's a pointless venture going for the Behringer pack.

I've been fitting it in around other stuff, such as study and training so I'm still very much so an absolute beginner I reckon.

I'm not to worried that it won't sound amazing, you do get what you pay for. But I'm hoping it won't be really brutal and won't just break. I intend on moving onto something nicer (have to have aspirations) but just want to get an introduction to electric

And TeleMan, my friend plays a Gibson Les Paul Custom as his main guitar, my other friend plays a Vintage Advance VB100 (I think that's it) Les Paul. The one with the Vintage I think has a nicer sound, bt that could be down to him or general set up

Cheers for the advice

TelePaul

Squirrel wrote:

I'm not to worried that it won't sound amazing, you do get what you pay for. But I'm hoping it won't be really brutal and won't just break.

Cool thing about guitars is how serviceable they are...you probably will run into a few hiccups down the road but it's nothing you won't be able to sort yourself.

Squirrel wrote:

And TeleMan, my friend plays a Gibson Les Paul Custom as his main guitar, my other friend plays a Vintage Advance VB100 (I think that's it) Les Paul. The one with the Vintage I think has a nicer sound, bt that could be down to him or general set up

If its a genuine Gibson Les Paul, I really hope it's gonna sound better than your Behringer! Otherwise there'd be something wrong. Of course, comparing his guitar to yours is like comparing apples to oranges, so don't worry. Now make me a moderator already!!!

jimi_t

I'd probably buy your stuff separately to be honest. Get yourself a microcube and a Yamaha Pacifica if you can stretch to it. It's a great set-up that's as versatile and sounds as good as you could possibly get for the budget ranges.

My main point is that I've never had experience with that particular Behringer guitar, but I doubt it's much good given their area of expertise - and I'd hate if you got a guitar that would put you off further playing.

ogy

what kind of music are you interested in learning?
i think you should get a guitar that roughly fits your taste, like theres no point buying an ibanez if your an oasis fan:)
id stay clear of the behringer tbh, if you can even get into the €200-300 mark things will be way better. i know a lot of great guitarists that started off with a fender squier strat, i always thought they were great guitars for the money, but thats probably because i love fender guitars in general. under €300 quid theres probably not a huge amount of difference between instrument quality so try and by something by a reasonably reputable company (fender/epiphone/jackson), something that suits the kind of music you wanna play, and something you think looks cool!:)

"ah yeh man, i play a behringer..."

Squirrel

ogy wrote:

what kind of music are you interested in learning?
i think you should get a guitar that roughly fits your taste, like theres no point buying an ibanez if your an oasis fan:)
id stay clear of the behringer tbh, if you can even get into the €200-300 mark things will be way better. i know a lot of great guitarists that started off with a fender squier strat, i always thought they were great guitars for the money, but thats probably because i love fender guitars in general. under €300 quid theres probably not a huge amount of difference between instrument quality so try and by something by a reasonably reputable company (fender/epiphone/jackson), something that suits the kind of music you wanna play, and something you think looks cool!:)

"ah yeh man, i play a behringer..."

I actually like most stuff, I listen to HIM (sorry), but then I also listen to Feeder, Clapton, George Harrison etc so it's fairly varied.

Well it's my parents who are getting (I think now got) for me for christmas. I wouldn't be able to afford to stretch to anything until after my leaving as I'm already in a bit of debt to some friends.

What's with the humbucker by the bridge? Is that normal on a Strat shaped guitar?

Don1

Not "normal" per say, but definately not abnormal if you get my drift. Standard strat doesn't have it but some (not sure which) are Fat Strats (humbuckers at the bridge). It'll just mean a little more grunt at the bridge position, while stil having the sweet clarity of the single coils everywhere else.

TelePaul

Don1 wrote:

Not "normal" per say, but definately not abnormal if you get my drift. Standard strat doesn't have it but some (not sure which) are Fat Strats (humbuckers at the bridge). It'll just mean a little more grunt at the bridge position, while stil having the sweet clarity of the single coils everywhere else.

Well the thing I like most about 'buckers is that the coils are wound both ways which cancel single coil hum. It doesn't matter how good your guitar is, a single coil will produce an audible hum. Strat style pick-ups can be put out of phase in the second position (neck and middle pickups) which also kills hum.

Paladin

feylya wrote:

Think of it this way - Behringer are known for making cheap electronics, not guitars...

What's you budget? If you could stretch to €300 or €350, you could get a MicroCube, a Pacifica and strap/cable/tuner/etc.

Thats exactly what Id say.

**** the amp if you cant afford it (borrow one, get a cheap 2nd hand one, whatever), but get a goddamn playable guitar!
Yamaha Pacifica is the best value guitar Ive ever played.

Squirrel

Cheers for all the comments. It looks like they've bought it as there's a box shaped like it covered in wrapping paper where they hide the presents, and the fact they told my brother but they think it's that model.

I have no problem with it not being a good guitar, as I really hope to get an Epiphone SG G400 in a few months after I work over the summer so I can live with a fairly crap one once I get to play it and it won't break on me to get used to

feylya

Do not get the Epiphone. Go to Ishibashi, seriously! For the price of a new Epiphone LP, I got a second hand Edwards Les Paul is mint condition with Seymour Duncans that looks like this:



Remember now, http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box

Squirrel

That looks sweet. If a little further down the line, but I'll definately remember that for the future.

Patricide

Go for a pacifica and micro cube, i dont think theres anything out there that beast the pacifica for the beginner guitar and the micro cube is handy compact and has great tone and its handy if your going up to college or if your parents are split like mine and you gotta go from one house to the other.

Squirrel

Patricide wrote:

Go for a pacifica and micro cube, i dont think theres anything out there that beast the pacifica for the beginner guitar and the micro cube is handy compact and has great tone and its handy if your going up to college or if your parents are split like mine and you gotta go from one house to the other.

I would but they've got the Behringer already and sure I'll see how it goes. I doubt much of the stuff would be taken out of my attic or conservatory so weight isn't that much of an issue for me

Paladin

Buddy of mine bought an Epiphone SG Standard. I swear to god, its the worst guitar I have ever played. In fact it is unplayable. I am not overstating this.
You put it in tune, play one chord and its out of tune. The setup was awful. All the strings rattle. The pickups are loose. The fretboard is just disgusting. And this was the 2nd one he got, after he brought the 1st back to the shop cause the pickup wiring was loose!

Anyway, Im just saying that experience of my friends completely turned me off the Epiphone SG. Id say listen to Feylya. Ishibashi.