so, i want to learn to play guitar.

_sparkie_

hi everybody. i have been playing the drums for about 6 years now and i want to give guitar a shot. i honestly have no idea where to start when buying an electric guitar, any advice? also should i start on an acoustic and move onto an electric later or the other way around? my next door neighbour is a great player and teacher so i think i will start lessons with him.

i know this thread is kinda vague but i just need somebody to point me in the right direction.

thanks!

rcaz

What sorta stuff do you want to learn? That would help define everything.

_sparkie_

nothing classical. mostly rock/pop like blink-182, rilo kiley,smashing pumpkins,tegan and sara, death cab for cutie, that kind of stuff.

Demeyes

I think with influences like that you should start with an electric and a small amp. There are plenty of starter guitars you can get that will do the job fine to start your playing. I like to recommend the yamaha pacifica models as they are well built and have a humbucker in the bridge position which is good for getting a big rock sound. However, the Squier stuff is great for people starting out too.

_sparkie_

would it not be a better idea to buy something of better quality second hand? i know with drums and cymbals you can find great deal on great equipment which costs the same as buying starter stuff from the high street. i would prefer to spend a little more and get some good second hand gear.
but thanks for the advice.

NoQuarter

_sparkie_ wrote: »

would it not be a better idea to buy something of better quality second hand? i know with drums and cymbals you can find great deal on great equipment which costs the same as buying starter stuff from the high street. i would prefer to spend a little more and get some good second hand gear.
but thanks for the advice.

Yes it would wthin reason, but a yamaha pacifica are supposedly good guitars for beginners. The reason you should probably buy a cheaper guitar to learn the bsics with is most people play for about 2 weeks and then give up!

Whats your budget?

_sparkie_

dont worry about me quitting, i love playing music. its just with college i am finding it harder and harder to play my drums because i am getting home later and working. i just need something to play!

as for my budget, about 300/400 for a guitar and amp.

Stephentlig

get yourself a classical guitar, they are the best to learn on as they have a wide fretboard and help stretch the fingers, so when you move to an acoustic or electric it will be as easy as pie.

rcaz

Stephentlig wrote: »

get yourself a classical guitar, they are the best to learn on as they have a wide fretboard and help stretch the fingers, so when you move to an acoustic or electric it will be as easy as pie.

Er, did you read the thread before posting? The guy's a Smashing Pumpkins fan, learning Cherub Rock on nylon strings is hardly going to get anyone thinking "Wow, this is so cool, I love playing guitar!"

OP isn't a first-time musician - 6 years of drumming should mean he/she knows what they want and what they're getting themselves into. I started on a classical, then steel acoustic, then electric, and I know a few people who started on electric, and it didn't hinder them at all.

I've been playing for eight years, and I say throw yourself in the deep end - if you've been drumming for six years, like you said yourself, you're not gonna throw it away after two weeks. That kinda contradicts my first point, but there's a difference between persevering and getting excited.

As for what kind of guitar to get, you could make that choice based on the bands you like. Billy Corgan has a signature strat, which has humbuckers in it, and Tom Delonge also had a sig strat with humbuckers, so maybe you could find a second-hand strat with humbuckers?

I dunno about amps - I use lots of pedals, so if I was looking for an amp I'd just want something loud and clean with valves. I think amps are a bit more personal.

_sparkie_

thanks el pron! i know both the tom delonge and BC strats, i was looking at both of them before i wanted to start playing guitar. i think i know the most about fender (my friend and guitarist has been playing them for years now) so i might just stick with them.

how much would a second hand mex strat or tele run for these days?

NoQuarter

Well a 1st hand mexican strat or tele would be around 500 so second hand should be a bit cheaper!

Check adverts.ie, always good stuff coming up there!

By the way i got a mexican tele and i absolutly LOVE it and id been playing about 7 years at that stage!

rcaz

king-stew wrote: »

Well a 1st hand mexican strat or tele would be around 500 so second hand should be a bit cheaper!

Check adverts.ie, always good stuff coming up there!

By the way i got a mexican tele and i absolutly LOVE it and id been playing about 7 years at that stage!

Haha, snap! I have a Mex Tele (it's lying across my lap as I type!) and I think it's brilliant - although I want to stick a humbucker in the bridge

I got mine second hand on Adverts for €350, which I think was a great deal.

NoQuarter

El Pr0n wrote: »

Haha, snap! I have a Mex Tele (it's lying across my lap as I type!) and I think it's brilliant - although I want to stick a humbucker in the bridge

I got mine second hand on Adverts for €350, which I think was a great deal.

Funny you should say that becuase i think the neck pickup is just gorgeous but the bridge was a little weak, im kind of used to it now tho but it would be worth changing! Wouldnt use a humbucker though!!:eek:

Thats it, im pickin mine up...

rcaz

king-stew wrote: »

Wouldnt use a humbucker though!!:eek

Usually I'm not a humbucker guy (when I think humbucker, I think rawk and 'riffs' and other sorts of wankery), but I got a Tele because I'm a big Jonny Greenwood fan, and he uses a Tele Plus, which has a Lace Sensor Dually Red/Red Humbucker in the bridge. If it's good enough for Jonny Greenwood... :pac:

_sparkie_

sorry to ruin your little convention:p but if you see a mex tele up for sale in the next few weeks please send me a link. is there any book you would recommend for an absolute noob?

rcaz

_sparkie_ wrote: »

sorry to ruin your little convention:p but if you see a mex tele up for sale in the next few weeks please send me a link. is there any book you would recommend for an absolute noob?

Well, er, I'm not gonna look out for them, you can do that yourself Adverts would be the best site to keep an eye on I think. Ebay seems too messy for me. I was just going through it to kill time looking at Teles when I found my one. Just do a quick search every day.

I wouldn't recommend any books. Try getting a few lessons with a teacher to start you off. I think there's a stage where you can confidently teach yourself, but it's best to have someone help you out with the basics, and there's nothing like one-on-one interaction.

yorlecm3

I have a Mexican Telecaster for sale Sparkie. In great condition, comes with padded Fender gig bag. Never gigged, just moderate home use. Want to change to a Strat, hence sale of Tele. Black body, white scratch plate, maple neck. Nice action, I use a chunky type string, I expect action would be finer with a lighter gauge. €385 if interested, no offers as fair price.

_sparkie_

thanks for the offer but i bought a 72 telecaster custom on sunday.

yorlecm3

Congrats on your purchase, that is a nice guitar. All the best.