Guitar heads: shopping for a gift

Dannyalcatraz · Jul 6, 2012

OK, my personal take on the situation at this point:

On the acoustic front- Seagull is my go-to brand for affordable quality acoustics. I have been told there are good Taylors to be had in that price range as well (the 210?).

On the semihollow front- Ibanez Artcores, Gretsch and Reverend all deliver good value in this price range. I've been told Epiphone's Casino, Dot, and 355 are worth a look. On the higher end, I know Jon Kammerer offers a Strat-shaped semihollow as one of his standard designs for $995- I have one, and it kicks ass, but that would leave no budget (at this point) for an amp and accessories.

On the Strat/Tele front- I know MIA is the gold standard, and MIMs are the next best in Fender's line. Some have told me one of the HSS Strats would be the way to go. I know jack all about Teles. What are good options in the $500-1000 range? Quality non-Fender Strats, SuperStrats and Teles in this price range are also acceptable! Tell me about them.

And of course, other suggestions are also welcome.

Also, AFAIK, he does not have an amp. I've kept that in mind if she decides to go electric instead of acoustic, and I know of some nice low-wattage but quality tube amps to suggest in the sub-$300 range. (He will be living in close quarters, after all...)

(BTW, thanks, y'all!)

TarionzCousin · Jul 6, 2012

What about setting someone up who sold his electric, amp, etc., years ago and has only had an acoustic and classical guitar for years.

I would want a good rock/funk guitar setup, but don't need a big amp. For starters, I am thinking decent guitar, multi-FX rig, and small amp. Maybe a wa-wa pedal. Can all this be had for under $1000?

Dannyalcatraz · Jul 6, 2012

Hijack MY thread, will you?!?!?!

You can get a small sub-20w tube amp for under $500 from makers like Blackstar, Carvin, Ibanez, VHT and Vox, and a bunch more. Solid-state amps are generally cheaper per wattage, but tube amps are louder. A 15w tube amp will be louder than a 30w solid state amp. And a 40w like my HRD is LOUD! I tried out a used 6w VHT like this one and it was loud enough I didn't feel like going past halfway.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/VHT-Spe...ired-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp-H73575-i1884886.gc

Teles & Strats are classic rock guitars, and they're pretty common in funk, too. They range from $499-799, cheaper if you go with Squier. Not only that, but other manufacturers make their own versions of Stras & Teles. For instance, Godin (a VERY reputable manufacturer out pf Canada) has this one:

http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/7770/Godin-Session-Electric-Guitar-Vintage-Burst/

You can also get good results going with some of semihollows I mentioned upthread.

MultiFX pedals run $120-500, and DigiTech's entry level one isn't bad
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RP255/

On the higher end are things like DigiTech's iBP-10 (which requires you use an iPad)
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/iPB10

And then there's stuff that falls in between, like DigiTech's iStomp, the "Ultra Boy" of multiFX pedals.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/iStomp/

So that rig could be had for under $1000...barely. However, there's loopholes.

MultiFX pedals are solid state devices, and I'm not sure how they sound going through a tube amp. Instead, you might be able to get a solid-state modeling amp and not bother with the MultiFX pedal.

And honestly, I don't know that you need all that much in the way of pedals for mainstream rock/funk. A good analog Wah, Tremolo, and distortion/OD pedal probably get you most of what you need!

And, of course, you can do even better if you go used.

So here's a sample rig like you described:
Godin "Strat" for $500
+
6w VHT amp for $380
+
DigiTech mFX pedal $120
_____________

$1000

Dannyalcatraz · Jul 6, 2012

Dude!

Just found THIS: Buy Godin Limited Edition Session Electric Guitar Coral Blue | Godin Electric Guitars | The Music Zoo | 12304244

That coral blue is sweet and adds a nice vibe to a quality guitar.

Herschel · Jul 6, 2012

Also with both single and double coil pickups. I'm not very familiar with Godin but that seems to be a nice guitar if the electronics/hardware is up to the task.

Janx · Jul 6, 2012

Dannyalcatraz said:
MultiFX pedals are solid state devices, and I'm not sure how they sound going through a tube amp. Instead, you might be able to get a solid-state modeling amp and not bother with the MultiFX pedal.

And honestly, I don't know that you need all that much in the way of pedals for mainstream rock/funk. A good analog Wah, Tremolo, and distortion/OD pedal probably get you most of what you need!

I'm not aware of any pedals that aren't solid state. I don't think there's any with tubes in them. And folks feed them into tube amps all the time.

But he should be able to get an amp with some FX built-in (distorion/OD is almost standard on all amps, forex). That would forgo getting any pedals for a time.

on prices, a Line6 Spyder IV 15 can be had new for $100. Line6 Spyders are coming chock full of FX now. I'm not entirely a fan of that, but it makes it reduces equipment for a bedroom player.

that leaves plenty of room for a guitar in the budget. A solitary Wah should be affordable, or get the expression pedal for the spyder amp and use it as a wah (if it enables that).

I like Line6 pedals, because they hook into PC/Mac with USB and a handy app for configuring them. Smoothest interface I've seen because the UI looks like the actual pedals you're modelling.

their floor Pod plus is running at $199 now (I paid $300 for my Pod XT Live which was its precursor a few generations back).

This stuff is getting more affordable.

If you hit the used section at the music store, you can shave some more bucks off on price. Amps are pretty rugged, so those are less likely to have problems. I got my used Spyder II 75 for $100 at GuitarCentaur when it was still being sold for $300 new.

Janx · Jul 6, 2012

Herschel said:
Also with both single and double coil pickups. I'm not very familiar with Godin but that seems to be a nice guitar if the electronics/hardware is up to the task.

I've heard good things about them.

But the best way to know for sure is for Danny to buy it and play it for 6 months, then give it to the kid

Herschel · Jul 6, 2012

My son is the guitarist so my knowledge is getting dated as he has a Gibson V and a Tele and we haven't shopped for a while. I buy most of my gear used so I can get pro gear for intermediate prices. Of course that also often takes a lot of patience. I waited for five years before I found my second china cymbal at a price I wanted to pay that was still in perfect shape. Admittedly it's as much cosmetic as practical though 'cause now I have chinas high on each side for visuals as well as sound.

Dannyalcatraz · Jul 6, 2012

Came up with a plan that will help narrow things down: she is going to talk to him about how I donated a guitar to a charity auction last year, and that she'd like to do likewise...but she'd like his help.

I proposed this to her, and she's going to try this out the next time she sees him.

I'm not aware of any pedals that aren't solid state.

There are some good ones out there from brands like Visual Sound, T Rex, Red Witch and so forth. They tend to be pricey, but they're gooooood. (Yes, speaking from experience.)

However, you're basically right, and I was using incorrect terminology. What I meant to say is that mFX pedals vary in quality greatly depending on their software, whereas the single pedals are defined entirely by their dedicated hardware.

I have a few devices with modeling capabilities from Korg and Tascam, and sometimes, those models are AWFUL!. Korg's simulated version of Uli Jon Roth's "sky guitar" is simply horrendous, for example, and sounds little like him.

OTOH, their models for Angus Young and Robin Trower are pretty good.

Janx · Jul 6, 2012

Dannyalcatraz said:
Came up with a plan that will help narrow things down: she is going to talk to him about how I donated a guitar to a charity auction last year, and that she'd like to do likewise...but she'd like his help.

I proposed this to her, and she's going to try this out the next time she sees him.

I like this plan. it has deviousness. The best presents have a bit of cleverness involved.