Guitar Advice

CrashBandicoot Girl

I have a squier fender strat guitar and a very basic amp at home and I would like to upgrade my equipment but I don't know what to get. I can't afford crazy prices of Fender or Les Paul (yet ) so what sort of electric guitar (and amp) is sort of inbetween the two.

Thanks

Celly Smunt

CrashBandicoot Girl wrote: »

I have a squier fender strat guitar and a very basic amp at home and I would like to upgrade my equipment but I don't know what to get. I can't afford crazy prices of Fender or Les Paul (yet ) so what sort of electric guitar (and amp) is sort of inbetween the two.

Thanks

how much do you have for both,roughly.

CrashBandicoot Girl

I guess I could go up to around 500 if I spread out when I buy them, would like one for Christmas anyway

slavetothegrind

i would spend 40 - 50 on a pro setup of the strat, they are a decent enough guitar ( presuming your not a metal player :-) )

if it is in any way off the difference can be night and day after a setup

amp choice depends on your taste really, what do you play?

there are some excellent modelling amps out there now which would give you great bang for your buck, equally you could get a nice valve combo for that kind of money really is a case of what you want.

i would browse adverts, great bargains in there on used equipment

you could pick up a used pod x3 live for 250 which would give you any tone you could wish for.

* above sentance could start a major arguement

CrashBandicoot Girl

I mainly play blues and rock if that helps. What is a pro setup and where would have that?

slavetothegrind

a setup involves adjusting action(string height) and intonation and eliminating fret buzz and basically ensuring the guitar is in as good a playable condition as possible

post up your general location/county and someone will advise a luthier close enough

Are you getting lessons?

if so your teacher might be best placed to advise

I started on a really cheap guitar and gave up too easily because it was hard to play it, i know now that had it been set up correctly it would have been much easier to play

erkifino

Personally, I'd go for one or the other. Adverts is the way to go. I'd try and get a good valve amp as they hold their value better than solid state amps (when you inevitably want to upgrade again, it's addictive :P). As for what type of guitar/amp to go for you'll have to go nuts on google. Who's style do you like, who's sound do ya like, who do ya like etc. It's a personal choice when all is said and done. I never really liked Gibson Les Pauls until I played a Custom... Don't be afraid of trying stuff out in music shops. And if you do go down the adverts route, don't be afraid to try before you buy and don't feel obligated to make the purchase. It helps to bring a friend or someone who knows a thing or two.
As for a set up DIY http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/instruments/7-steps-to-setting-up-your-guitar/
But there are professionals out there that can sort you out.

The other alternative is just to stay saving but you don't need great gear to express yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnsQRpgYmaE

martinedwards

Thats not a guitar, its a didley bow!!

the squier is not a bad guitar.

somewhere on youtube there is a vid of Satriani playing a squier in someone's garage, and apart from not having a floyd trem ststem, it sounds pretty good!

steveone

500 will have you well sorted... the setup on the squier might be costly but you'll have to do it on most / any guitar - especially if you want it to stay reasonably in tune (nut bridge and tuner change maybe). If les pauls are you're thing then there's a good thread here somewhere on copies.
.get yourself a good amp secondhand, marshall fender vox or whatever.. then you'll be sorted!

steveone

CrashBandicoot Girl wrote: »

I mainly play blues and rock if that helps. What is a pro setup and where would have that?

guitarfix in exchequer st dublin..if thats where you're based, otherwise go to your local instrument shop and see what they say..

Celly Smunt

I don't know how savvy you are with guitars,but i'd advise against having someone else doing a set up for you.You might as well start learning and save yourself 40 on somebody tightening a nut and spraying a little polish on there for you.