Wow, great link nikininja.

So, upon asking about some pick ups on the "pick up" forum here, someone who seems pretty knowledgeable (pcheng) recommended a '57 AVRI after he listened to some of the music I like and tonalities I would be trying to go for most of the time. Just wanted to ask what you guys thought of that idea.

I contacted my guy down at the GCPro here, and got quotes for all the new 2009/10 guitars I am interested in, and the quotes are so good, I am happy. Basically alot less expensive than I thought.

He also said he has most of what I am interested in there now for me to come down and try out (with a friend who knows how to play - lol) and what he didn't have I have him getting it.

I will be trying a:

Deluxe
Eric Clapton
'57 AVRI
and a
'70's AVRI (for the hell of it cause I really like 70's music so I figured, why not ?)

I will report back what I decide to go with thanks to everyones help here.

Please feel free to chime in and tell me to not try one of those if it would just be a waste of time.

Hi Infa Red sorry for the tardy reply but according to the 2010 Vintage Guitar Mag. Price Guide a 50th Ann. Strat Deluxe in mint condition is valued at $1050 to 1250 and the 50th Ann. 54 Strat with case candy and certificate is worth $3000-3200.So according to these estimates the guy is way off on his asking price.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Get an American Standard, and you'll have all your guitar needs covered.
Or any strat for that matter.




I'm sorry, I don't understand why would you need DVD's or any friend to show you how to play guitar? You are not a beginner. I mean, if you play keyboards, all you need to do is get to know the guitar fretboard, the position of the notes on the fretboard. So, if you know what notes create a C chord for example, or any other chord and interval, then you don't need books to learn how to play that chord on guitar.
I don't mean any disrespect, so please don't take it that way.
I play both piano and guitar, so I know that all you need to do is reflect your knowledge of playing piano, and all you know about piano keyboard to guitar fretboard (or any other instrument). Because music theory, so harmony included, is the same, regardless of the instrument you play (technique may be different). In other words, if you understand harmony and notes, on any instrument, you can just as easily play another instrument simply by getting used to the position of the notes on the instrument(s) you want to learn. I'm not trying to show off or anything, just trying to give you some friendly advice.
Just use what you already know about music and reflect your playing style to guitar. It's kind of "self teaching". I am not talking about playing with others in general, but about not depending on others, and not waiting for your teacher in order to learn things. You can easily make progress by yourself only by using what you already know. As I have already said, reading your post, you're not a beginner.

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to e-mail me.
I am happy to help if I can. English is not my mother tongue, but I think we can understand each other. So, if you want to learn more about music theory, I can try to explain it in English.

Have a nice day!

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

Wow, yea he is way off. I decided to leave that dude alone once I seen some going on eBay for about that price range you are talking about now from that magazine. Thanks for the follow up, cause now I know for sure.

How funny, I am going to google and find that article and take a snap shot of it and send it to that dude, just so he knows he is insane.





Yea, I have now gathered that the "get any strat" theory is going to be good advice for me. I'll just be trying them all out now.



No disrespect taken at all. That is a very good post and thanks for chiming in and posting it !

Dude, you made me feel better too, as in, maybe there is hope for me !! lol. Yes I do know music theory and the whole nine, etc... so I see your point. I guess I just need to learn whats what on a guitar and then apply what I know to that.

Thanks for the offer on email questions, I may take you up on it.

Exactly!



Any time, man! Any time!

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

Ok, I have a update..

I went to the GC a couple weeks ago and tried out 3 Strats. Out of the ones I wanted to try out, the only ones they did not have at the time was the 57 AVRI, 70's AVRI and a Deluxe. So I am going back to try the deluxe out once they get one in. The reissues I will have to find another way cause they said they don't stock them... (any suggestions ? I'm in S.F., CA, USA)

But I tried a Standard, a John Mayer (only at the suggestion of the dude there) and a Eric Clapton... To my hands, feel and stuff I liked the Standard the least, the John Mayer next, and BOY, the Eric Clapton was just perfect feeling to me. Easy to hold, easy to grab the neck, and easy to move my fingers on. Plus it sounded like a tonal factory compared to the other 2.

I know this is just my opinion, but man, so far the Eric Clapton felt the best to me from a first impression. So I now need to compare the Eric Clapton to a Deluxe and the 2 Reissues I am interested in to see what wins then.

So that is my update... that frickin Clapton is AWESOME !! Somehow it feels smaller than the others, which is real good for me cause I have such small hands. But then I looked at them all together, and they really are all the same size !! So how does that EC feel like that ? So weird, but I like it.

The other update is I borrowed my friends acoustic guitar to start learning while I decide on which guitar to get. And to be honest, I am real frustrated. I am wondering if guitar playing is for me ? I have this chord chart, and its like so hard for me to even do a simple C chord !! My finger tips are numb, and I just can't see how someone changes from one chord to another... its absurd ! It takes me like 30 seconds almost to correctly get to another chord from one. And I just don't see how people do a F chord and a B chord and a B minor... them are like carpal tunnel chords man !! WTF ?

Plus I can't seem to do single note picking around to make a cool sounding lead lics (like eddie van halen does but of coarse way dumbed down)... I can't even do anything it seems.

Also, I have to press so hard and perfectly on the strings to keep them from sounding bad (vibrating wrong, bumping into my other fingers, etc..) that there is no way I can get from one chord to the next on beat. It seems impossible. Plus it hurts.

Am I just lame or not cut out for this ? Or is this suppose to be like this at first ?

Hi Infa! Well, first, Eric Clapton strat has V shape neck if I'm not mistaken. Most of other production models have a modern C shape, which fits me. So, I guess you need to try out other strats with V shape necks. I think 57RI is a V neck too. I like C shape personally.

Secondly, don't get frustrated! It has to be that way. You need to get used to the instrument. It's alright! Just the way it needs to be. You'll get over it soon. Wait to get your strat, and you'll be singing a whole different song. Ask anyone here!

Goran

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com