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Post subject: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pack ?
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:59 pm
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Hello, I'm new here.
So I've been playing the harp for about 10 years now and have always wanted to learn the guitar. Im honestly torn between which one to start with since I love BB King, John Lee Hooker, Otis Rush and many others who have played Gibson and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Clapton and many others who have played strats..

I found a Epiphone Les Paul Special II Players Pack with Epiphone's Studio 10 amplifier, and all the accessories you need to get started playing guitar. This is a powerful sounding guitar with the feel you only get from a Les Paul. The excellent Special II is built with an Alder/Mahogany body, 2 open-coil humbucking pickups, a Mahogany neck with a Rosewood fretboard, and chrome hardware. The Studio 10 amp has a 3-band EQ and gain controls, and a handy built-in prop stand.

Includes Les Paul Special II electric guitar, Studio 10 amplifier, Gig bag, Pitchpipe, Strap, Picks, Instrument cable, Instructional video/book for $169 with free shipping.

The Squier Affinity Strat Special pack includes, Fender Frontman Amp 15G Guitar Amplifier, Stereo Headphones, Instructional DVD, Chromatic Tuner, Gig Bag, Cable, Guitar Strap, Pick Sampler for $229.99 with free shipping
or
Affinity Fat Strat HSS Electric Guitar Package with G-DEC
This set features a Squier Affinity Strat HSS guitar with a humbucking bridge pickup; plug it right into the included 15-watt G-DEC Junior amp with loads of amp types, effects, backing loops, auxiliary input, headphone jack and many other Accessories include a guitar strap, gig bag, guitar cable and pick sampler for $349.99 with free shipping.

Any suggestions, opinions or advice would be appreciated, thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:23 am
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Hmmm, those player packs are usually not the best way to go. Most people either outgrow the guitar or the amp very soon. I've got a Gibson Les Paul Studio, and a 1996 Epi Les Paul Goldtop. Trust me, there is a HUGE difference between what you are looking at and a real Les Paul. My Epi is excellent, but it is not as good as the Gibson is. Even though it came with Gibson pickups in it. There is a reason that guitars cost more. And it is usually the quality of the wood and the workmanship that goes into it.

last month I was out and stopped into GC to buy a gift card for my friends son. While I was there I saw a STANDARD series (Much better quality than an Affinity series) HSS Strat used in excellent condition. I got it for $99.00. After X-mas my friend his son and I went to GC to get him a new guitar, and I saw a Fender Mustang 1 amp, used for $50.00. I picked that up to use with Bose headphones. (I already have a Champ 600 and a GDEC 30.)

Guitar... $99.00
Amp......$50.00

Add in 6 foot monster cable for $35.00 and a pack of picks for a few bucks and you are good to go.

By looking at different brands and by looking at used gear also, you can put together a better package for less or just a little more money.

Look around and see what feels best in YOUR hands. And if you must have either of these players packs, wait until early Feb. Then check Craigslist or the Guitar Center used dept. That is about the time that people discover that it is a lot more work to play a real guitar then a video game, and they are selling them like crazy.

Good luck and remember what they say in Italy. Free advice is worthless once it leaves the lips. Oh and I sold a MIM Strat when I bought my CV Strat. Because to me the CV was a much better guitar. And I'm the only one I have to impress!


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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:05 am
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Good advise. Be patient and watch Craigslist. When I got back into guitars a year ago, I purchased a Epi Special II package for $100. The lady bought it for her husband and said he took it out of the case once. I do like the playability and quality of the Epi more than I do Squires. The affinity series have thin nut widths that I don't like, and I would go for a MIM for little more than a regular Squire. Squire's higher end models are nice but are in the same price range (new/used) as MIM. It's really what you decide you want, they're all OK and will make you happy.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:03 am
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Thanks for the ideas.

I know Epi isn't the same quality as a Gibson but I like the look. I'm only into blues so I just want to get the best set up for playing blues and obviously for the lowest price. I probably will keep checking craigslist and put together my own package for less, the problem is I have NO idea what is good to get the sound I want.
By the way what's a MIM ? Sorry I know NOTHING about guitars and only the harp so I still have to learn everything from scratch.

Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 4:08 am
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Into the Blues? Here is what I would look at. A used standard series Telecaster, or Stratocaster, and a used Fender GDEC 15. The GDEC has some pre programmed blues effects right into it. And it also has an acoustic effect, which is decent. It will save you some cash. You could get a Line 6 Pod, but just starting out, I would go with the GDEC. I've seen the amps go for as little as $75.00 and the guitars go for 100.00-$125.00 depending on condition.

Then try a Mel Bay book about playing the blues. But a good teacher can teach you more than how to play the notes...

Here's some good advice about playing the blues...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAulhFccKqs


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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 12:10 pm
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all very good advice, but whaever you do, take someone along with you who plays and knows what they are talking about, its ok standing there holding a guitar but if you dont know how it should feel when it plays you could be buying a pile of fire wood. and always be cheeky even if you see a second hand guitar and amp in a shop dont be shy to ask if they will do you a deal if you combine them, even if they throw in a cheap strap/pack of picks/instrument lead, if you dont ask you dont get.

MIM = made in mexico (normally lower spec fenders)
MIA = made in america (higher spec fenders)
MIJ = japan........... etc, etc

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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:54 pm
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My advice is to go into any of your local music shops, and play these guitars. I assume you're working on a budget, so also try a bunch of guitars that are in that budget as well, as well as a few different amps as well. And used gear will save you a lot of money. My last 2 guitars (a black 2003 Squier Affinity Strat and 2010 Epi SG G400 LE) were both used, and I love them both to death; no regrets on either of them.

Out of the three choices you listed, though, I would personally go with 3rd option. With that pack, you get the versatility of single coils and humbuckers, and the G-Dec amps lets you experiment with different kinds of sounds. It'll save you a little money in the beginning and let you find a sound you really like.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:16 am
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It looks like the other posters covered most of the basics but there are a couple of things they didn't mention.
The Les Paul is equipped with a pick up called a double humbucker. that would be the twin pickup you see in pictures. This produces a different tone than the single coil pick up you see on the Strat. The best of both worlds would be to find a guitar that comes with a "coil tap". The tap will make half of that double humbucker shut down making it sound like a single coil. that way you can get both the Les Paul and Strat tones.
A lot of different guitar makers have this feature on some of their middle of the line instruments. If you check with the guitar store they will know or can find out if the guitar you are looking at has it.
Another issue is the tremelo bridge. it is a standard feature on most strats. I have seen Les Pauls with them but it's not normal and not on any budget guitars. For blues its not used as much as in rock or metal but it's still used.
If it were me, I would cruise craigslist and find the cheapest electric guitar you can find (regardless of brand) and start plunking away. The name of the game is learning to play.
Most of those Player packs are designed to do one thing. Attract younger and first time players. Mom and Dad give Jr a player pack for Christmas cause he wants to be a rock star. In a couple of months it's sitting in the corner collecting dust. (then it goes on Craigslist for $150 or so.)

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Squire II Stratocaster MIK 89?
ESP LTD MH-100QM
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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:40 am
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BLUELOU74 wrote:
Hello, I'm new here.
So I've been playing the harp for about 10 years now and have always wanted to how learn to play guitar. Im honestly torn between which one to start with since I love BB King, John Lee Hooker, Otis Rush and many others who have played Gibson and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Clapton and many others who have played strats..

I found a Epiphone Les Paul Special II Players Pack with Epiphone's Studio 10 amplifier, and all the accessories you need to get started playing guitar. This is a powerful sounding guitar with the feel you only get from a Les Paul. The excellent Special II is built with an Alder/Mahogany body, 2 open-coil humbucking pickups, a Mahogany neck with a Rosewood fretboard, and chrome hardware. The Studio 10 amp has a 3-band EQ and gain controls, and a handy built-in prop stand.

Includes Les Paul Special II electric guitar, Studio 10 amplifier, Gig bag, Pitchpipe, Strap, Picks, Instrument cable, Instructional video/book for $169 with free shipping.

The Squier Affinity Strat Special pack includes, Fender Frontman Amp 15G Guitar Amplifier, Stereo Headphones, Instructional DVD, Chromatic Tuner, Gig Bag, Cable, Guitar Strap, Pick Sampler for $229.99 with free shipping
or
Affinity Fat Strat HSS Electric Guitar Package with G-DEC
This set features a Squier Affinity Strat HSS guitar with a humbucking bridge pickup; plug it right into the included 15-watt G-DEC Junior amp with loads of amp types, effects, backing loops, auxiliary input, headphone jack and many other Accessories include a guitar strap, gig bag, guitar cable and pick sampler for $349.99 with free shipping.

Any suggestions, opinions or advice would be appreciated, thanks.

Good thing you wanted to learn to play guitar. I am with tvr1979 here. I like Epis more than Squier. But that maybe different on your own preference so yeah.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:52 pm
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Location: Just South of the North Pole in a land full of hairy men and scary women.......
JerL231 wrote:
Look around and see what feels best in YOUR hands.


That is the ONLY advice anyone looking for a guitar needs!!!!! :wink:

Forget brands, forget styles, forget scale length.........try as many as you can. Some 'nicer' guitars have the name but stink!!! Others are 'stinker' brands but feel great!!!

ANother option.....wait for it....I will run after I suggest this...........try cheap acoustics........ :shock:
One of the reasons I make this suggestion is the fact that if you learn on an acoustic, electric will seem sooooo much easier to play.............

Now I am going to run and hide!!! :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 1:21 pm
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pappawookee wrote:
JerL231 wrote:
Look around and see what feels best in YOUR hands.


That is the ONLY advice anyone looking for a guitar needs!!!!! :wink:

Forget brands, forget styles, forget scale length.........try as many as you can. Some 'nicer' guitars have the name but stink!!! Others are 'stinker' brands but feel great!!!

ANother option.....wait for it....I will run after I suggest this...........try cheap acoustics........ :shock:
One of the reasons I make this suggestion is the fact that if you learn on an acoustic, electric will seem sooooo much easier to play.............

Now I am going to run and hide!!! :wink:

no need to hide. great advise. sometimes the simplest answer is the best.

_________________
TOO MANY GUITARS, TOO LITTLE TIME!

Current Stable:
Fender Stratocaster MIM 07
Squire II Stratocaster MIK 89?
ESP LTD MH-100QM
Jackson KE3 Kelly MIJ


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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:21 pm
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I bought the Affinity Strat Pack last Dec. I love the Strat, good body, true neck, great finish. I saved money by not buying separately. But i got very tired of the practice amp very quickly. I would buy separately. Two weeks ago I picked up a Mustang II amp. and I amazed with different tone , sounds presets and it's programmable from your computer.
If you want a new Guitar, see who has online deals with shipping and see your local dealer and see if he will match or better the prices.
Best of luck


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Post subject: Re: Squier Affinity pack/Epiphone Les Paul Special player pa
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:29 pm
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I strongly recommend making your own starter pack!

I've played Strats from starter packs and a Les Paul from Epiphone that's a model used in their starter packs. Out of the box, the Epiphone was abundantly more playable. For an absolute beginner, I'd strongly suggest an Epiphone Les Paul. The Epiphone is humongously easier to setup and was highly playable and thoroughly inspiring to me as compared to the Strats. The strats were nothing but a source of frustration, one short-coming after the next to the point of some Strats being utterly unplayable due to substantial defects and extremely cheap hardware.

You can get a cheap, used Fender Mustang I amp for $50, $60 that will be extremely playable as compared to all starter amps, which are junk.

You can get the rest cheaply...tuner, strap, strings, picks, etc.

You can get all that for less than a starter pack to if you shop around!

Once your son learns a few songs and does his own research on guitars, he'll figure out what works for him! Meanwhile, he'll be able to play the Epiphone and Mustang 1 out of the box without much fuss so he can figure out whether or not he wants to continue on!

A cool starter pack would be a new or used Epiphone Les Paul and a new or used Fender Mustang I. This what I would buy my son if he expressed an interest in playing the guitar when he was younger!

I'd go to a place like Guitar Center so you can return items he dosen't like or are defective (you're taking a huge risk buying used where there's no return policy unless you are very experienced at doing so).

Good luck!


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