So, I walked out with a guitar, a crappy little mini amp, a gig bag, and a handful of guitar picks. My wife has been bugging me to collect things for my X-mas list, so I chose to leave an actual useful amp for that. This one is enough to hear the notes, and for the immediate future, that's good enough for me. I do need to pick up a stand...
The instrument - an Epiphone Les Paul 100. Black.
[sblock]
View attachment 63973[/sblock]
So, gents, shall we turn the conversation to care and feeding of electric guitars?
Solid first guitar! No pun intended (rare for me, I know). A classic. LP-style guitars are one of the cornerstone designs of R&R.
Get yourself a GOOD, wide and possibly even padded strap. I know they can cost a lot- some more than what you paid for the guitar, but you needn't spend that much- $50-80 will get you something good from Levy's or Planet Wave, or Fender or some such. Invest in it because a quality strap will last damn near forever AND will distribute the guitar's weight over a broader area of your shoulders. That equals comfort, which, as noted increases inclination to play. A good strap will also minimize "neck dive": the tendency of some guitars' necks to head floorward when you're not holding them. Not usually a problem with LP style guitars, but it can happen.
If/when you get a better guitar, most serious players- myself NOT included- modify their guitars with strap locks to prevent the strap from coming off and falling to the ground. This
can happen, especially if you're a vigorous player or have an energetic stage presence or do lots of tricks...but it's not really needed for your starter axe.
Strings WILL break. Get a winding tool- they'll save you hand cramps and minutes of time when replacing them and getting them initially returned to pitch. Also, buy extras to have on hand.
Note: for the most part, changing individual string's gauge (size) +/- won't have a big effect, but increasing/decreasing them all can affect the amount of force applied to the neck and cause a lack of tension (string floppiness), fret buzz or, in
extreme cases, neck warping or even a broken headstock. Those tiny increases in mass under tension DO add up. This is an advanced thing, but you should be aware of it. Just ask the guy who sold you the guitar what kind of set is on it now, and keep buying the same kind of set and it won't be an issue at all.
Keep your dirty hands off the guitar! Clean hands only, followed by a quick, post-play wipedown with a handtowel will keep your fretboard looking good and maximize string longevity. Especially if you have sweaty hands.
Every once in a while, you may still need to clean the fretboard. How to do this depends on what kind of wood the fretboard is made of. Ask your salesman.