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Post subject: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:54 pm
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Hello peeps :)

I'm a complete newb when it comes to guitar and playing it, so I did a ton of research based on my budget and guitar quality.

I settled for a Squire Bullet strat. Now from here I have a few questions:

1)Since I am mostly into rock and metal, which setup should I get? Right now I can only find SSS and HSS.

2) I've heard that there is some buzzing / humming that becomes annoying after a while. Now I know that I get what I pay for, but is there any way to get rid of it? Which amp/s can I use to resolve this?

About the guitar: Firstly, I live in Sydney, so everything is expensive really. I wanted to get a new guitar from a store so I know there is a warranty and if something happens I can get it fixed.
Now, the guitar itself is ranging from $170 to $190 (I KNOW :| ). So the amp has to fit the budget (~$250 or so). I could get a better guitar for this price like a Fender or Epi, but they naturally cost more.

So now you understand my situation. :cry:

Now who's willing to help this miserable boy out? :P


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:47 am
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OK, here's my 2c's worth:

Don't do this alone - you most likely know someone who plays guitar so ask for help. Even better if you know someone who also mods, sets up, repairs his/her guitars.
If not, keep reading the local guitar forums to find out which stores in your area you can trust to help you in choosing.

New guitars come with warranty. Second hand guitars don't - on the other hand, if you have help it's no biggie to find one that's already proven its worth.
The Bullets are low cost series guitars. Playable, but often in need of a setup & some fixes. IMHO, for the same money you can get a second hand guitar that's a) better quality series to start with, and b) already been setup.

On the amp: there are many real cheap & real versatile practice amps - Fender Mustangs, Vox Minis, Yamaha THR's and of course Roland MicroCubes - mentioning just a few I've liked. Although they lack the traditional clean & bluesy tones a good tube amp does, they all give good rock & metal sounds.

The SSS/HSS variation doesn't mean much to me (there's plenty of rock/metal recorded with single coils through the ages...).

Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide - play loud.

retrotoons wrote:
I live in Sydney, so everything is expensive really.

You got Bondi Beach and all the blondies, so Karma makes you pay more for guitars & gear. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 3:50 am
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jmattis wrote:
OK, here's my 2c's worth:

Don't do this alone - you most likely know someone who plays guitar so ask for help. Even better if you know someone who also mods, sets up, repairs his/her guitars.
If not, keep reading the local guitar forums to find out which stores in your area you can trust to help you in choosing.

I do have 2 or 3 friends, it's just a matter of their availability ... since they're university/working students. But, I hope I can convince them to come along!
As for the stores, there are 4 I can trust because they've been in business for a while. But it all comes down to budget really. I am sticking with Fenders and squiers because they make great beginner's guitars and well, they're awesome (that's why I'm here).

jmattis wrote:
New guitars come with warranty. Second hand guitars don't - on the other hand, if you have help it's no biggie to find one that's already proven its worth.
The Bullets are low cost series guitars. Playable, but often in need of a setup & some fixes. IMHO, for the same money you can get a second hand guitar that's a) better quality series to start with, and b) already been setup.

I did find some good fenders/squiers on gumtree.com.au, some even relatively new or barely used, but that's all it was mentioned. :| They say they're new / well kept, but it doesn't really fill me up with confidence you know?

I'll post a few links in my next post, you'll see what I mean. :)

jmattis wrote:
On the amp: there are many real cheap & real versatile practice amps - Fender Mustangs, Vox Minis, Yamaha THR's and of course Roland MicroCubes - mentioning just a few I've liked. Although they lack the traditional clean & bluesy tones a good tube amp does, they all give good rock & metal sounds.

So they all get rid of the humming do they?

jmattis wrote:
The SSS/HSS variation doesn't mean much to me (there's plenty of rock/metal recorded with single coils through the ages...).

So it doesn't matter in the end?

jmattis wrote:
You got Bondi Beach and all the blondies, so Karma makes you pay more for guitars & gear. :wink:

... The girls are expensive too


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:40 am
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Here ya go:

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sans-sou ... 1042203538
(lives very far away, can't take my friend there)

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/surry-hi ... 1039974702
Doesn't say which Squier Strat model it is

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/croydon- ... 1042394681
Again, bullet strat

All of the above links have guitar+accessories
And that's all within my budget and location :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 8:35 am
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Note that for all the links I've posted, I've asked the people selling the guitars questions like:
How old is it / when did you buy it,
does it need any work, setup etc
what's the amp model,
have you had any work done on it


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 12:33 am
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On the humming issue: Single coil pickups are by nature noisier than humbuckers. The cheaper the guitar is built, the less can be spent on shielding - and the quality of wires, pots, caps must also be considered...
Still, a very large majority of players have no significant problems with humming.

On the HSS/SSS issue: IMHO, it really doesn't matter. Like I said, a Stratocaster has been used in every kind of music.
BTW: I must confess I do prefer single coils to humbuckers (heck, I'd rather mod a Strat with a P90 than a humbucker).
BTW2: Don't expect to sound exactly like (add a name of any of your idols here) on Qantas arena when you're playing with a small practice amp, regardless of what pickups you have.

On that "which guitar should I get" issue: Nope, I'm still not going to make the final decision for you. Don't rush it, keep searching till you find the guitar that feels right for you.


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 1:20 am
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Alright, no worries on the single coil problem.

No worries on the HSS/SSS problem either, I just wanted to know for reference. :)

There are still 2 shops I have yet to visit. I know what guitar I want. Squier. The model depends on my budget and the deal I get 8) I wanted a brand new Bullet but as the poster before you said: Bullets require frequent work and care, it's better to find a better make (2nd hand) for the same budget.
So, I will look for second hand guitars too. No luck though ...


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 1:48 am
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While guitars are expensive here in Oz, I'd suggest looking a bit further up the food chain. It will last you longer. A Squier Std Strat or Tele is worth looking at, they're not a great deal more.

A Bucker option would work better for metal, but if you get a Fender Mustang amp ($150-ish), which simulates a lot of different amps and fx, you can get single coil to chug and screech. I have a Mustang, they are decent kit for beginners and will still be useful when you're a more competent player.

Single coils can buzz - it's not the amp. I had a $200 Tele that was pretty bad til I shielded the pick up cavity with copper tape. It's something you can do yourself, google it. Additional grounding wire work is not necessary, though some do that too.

Cheap guitars don't inherently require fixes and extra care. They just might not have good build tolerances, so not set up well for easier playing. Set up mean the height of the strings from the fretboard. Lower is generally better for beginners, to help fret chords.

That said, I picked up a Squier Affinity the other day and plugged it into a (damn good, but expensive) amp, and it sounded and played great. So, I'd advise not skimping on an amp. The Mustangs are decent.

As for the ads, I'd avoid the one with the Digitec Fx station. They are a PITA to use, and sound crap, IMO. No point in asking someone if a guitar's been set up, it will have been set up to their preference. New or used, you'll have to play a while and see if it works for you.

I would also suggest making your playing expectations realistic, and learn the basics - chords, fretting and strumming. You will not be spitting out the lead solo to Sweet Child o mine, in 6 months no matter how much you spend on gear. Find a good teacher or follow a good course. Justinguitar.com is excellent. A Tassie now in London, and one of the best teachers on the net IMO. His stuff is all free, and the instruction is highly professional.


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 3:46 am
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I totally understand. In fact, I have considered that quite a bit during my research.
After looking at the shops' websites, I found out that the Squier standard Strats are like $335, $396 and $359. That's quite a bit over my budget sadly. I mean I can afford it, but this price for a beginner? I have a few recommendations for amps too but I will post them later.

I'll have to look for the differences in Squiers and Teles now.

As for the ads, I suspect the $300 one is also a bullet! Bleh. The poster of the ad told me it's a Squier.

I know justinguitar.com and a few other places (torrents) so there's no issue there. I won't expect to play GnR any time soon, so I dont have to worry, heh.

For now I will keep my budget in mind. If it turns out by a miracle that it's a Squier standard, then I will buy it and have it set up. If not, then eh ... I'll keep looking.


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 4:16 am
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retrotoons wrote:
II found out that the Squier standard Strats are like $335, $396 and $359. That's quite a bit over my budget sadly. I mean I can afford it, but this price for a beginner?


Absolutely. Your first guitar won't be your last, but you should budget for something that will feel and sound good, that you won't grow out of in 2 years.

I don't subscribe to the idea 'I'm a total beginner, so any old guitar will do…' You have to enjoy picking it up and playing it. If you don't, you're less likely to stick with it. Keep an open mind and try any guitars you can afford.


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 5:28 am
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Phoa. I'll see what I can dish out! If I end up enjoying playing guitar as much as I imagine playing it (I'm a daydreamer) then the guitar will be a keeper.

So, you reckon Squier Standard Strat is good for beginner looking into rock and metal?


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 5:37 am
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retrotoons wrote:
Phoa. I'll see what I can dish out! If I end up enjoying playing guitar as much as I imagine playing it (I'm a daydreamer) then the guitar will be a keeper.

So, you reckon Squier Standard Strat is good for beginner looking into rock and metal?


A Strat is a good, versatile guitar. I again recommend the Mustang amp - THAT is what will provide the range of sounds you'll need. The main thing at this stage is finding a guitar you like the feel and sound of.

But, tbh, if you follow a course like Justin's and focus on the basics, You'll spend months on clean settings with no distortion, learning chords, how to strum, keep time and tempo. Rock and metal uses a lot of power chords, which can be easier to learn - one shape moves up and down the neck to give different chords. But it's a very one-dimensional and limiting way to learn.


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 5:41 am
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Alright, I'll visit the shops tomorrow and ask them firstly if they have a second hand Squier Standard Strat. If not, then try and find a good deal for a new one.

I'll look for versatile and cost effective amps.


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 6:02 pm
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retrotoons wrote:
Here ya go:

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sans-sou ... 1042203538
(lives very far away, can't take my friend there):

So it turns out that this is a standard squire strat! Bargain I tell ya!


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Post subject: Re: Bullet Strat for a newbie
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 10:07 pm
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Change of plan guys. When I asked the standard strat's poster for the serial number he didn't reply. So I went to a guitar shop instead. (I found his lack of response dubious) and there I found this guitar!

Squier classic vibe '50's stratocaster.
395 bucks, second hand, although made in China
Sn: CGS1006446

It is 3-4 years old, it has been setup, there is no warranty but if there's anything they will fix it, and as they say there is no need of repairs or new parts.

Now I have 2 questions :
1) is this a good deal?
2) is this a good guitar for a beginner like me who likes rock and metal?

I have felt it in my hands and it feels good and comfy enough, so I like it. I will also take my friend to test it out.


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