Subject
I've been wondering when I should buy a better guitar for some time now, and I figured it'd be smart to ask the online community on fender.com.

About me
I've been playing piano since I was 7, and recently started (half a year ago) playing guitar, and I really like it. I'm really not advanced or anything, but I can play Stairway to Heaven (entire song) and Texas Flood to near perfection using tab. I also know how to read notes from playing the piano.
ATM I play on a 250$ Squire guitar, and although I'm (again) not very advanced, I can clearly hear the difference between the sound quality of my Squire, and the Music School's standard Fender, which I play when I'm taking lessons once a week.

What I'm looking for
I'm of rather conservative nature, and since I've only played Fender electrics, and I like them very much, I'm looking for a Fender guitar (at first in any case). I saw the Standard Fender from 900-1100$ here on the site, sad to say the price is whooping 25% more expensive here in Scandinavia. Therefor I'm interested in buying it online, although I should try various types of guitars in the local music store first off-all. My savings from working the past year are roughly 1500$,


Boiled down, I'm planning on buying a new guitar in some months.
As I'm still learning, I'm not going to hurry buying one, I've looked up some advice online and from my teacher. I've also taken slight looks at the guitars my town has to offer, but the prices are much higher than online. Can anyone give me some advice as to when I "ought" to buy a more expensive guitar? I'm not going to buy one, if it's too early to invest. Also I'd like to know whether or not it's smart to buy a 2000$ star-series guitar, or if I should stay to standard guitars

Hi And welcome to the forums.
Some would suggest that you should buy all of the guitar your money will buy...

Im my opinion, you should go to a music store and try a bunch of them. You already have a great background, and a couple classics under your belt. So just play until you find the one that really feels, and sounds good to you.

Good luck in your search... thats half the fun anyway

Bill

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

I agree, try out as many as you can to get a feel of the differences of styles of guitar. Also, check out great used guitars, they are some good ones out there and for a lot less than new. But, take your time.

Good hunting.

When your playing skills have developed beyond the limitations of your present instrument and your ears are capable of discerning the nuances of improved tone that a superior guitar is capable of, then and only then should you consider upgrading.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Most U.S. and Canadian music retailers will ship internationally.There is a company in Japan that sells only top quality used and even new made in U.S. and Japan Fenders as well as other brands.A buddy of mine has bought a couple of guitars from them at very,very reasonable prices and got exceptional quality guitars.You can see for yourself here: www.guitarsjapan.com.
It's best to buy a better quality guitar to learn on and since you seem to be determined to stick to it you'd probably be better off buying the top quality you can afford as the better the guitar you have to learn the easier it will be.It's not like in the old days when I learned on a guitar with action 1/2" high and strings like suspension bridge cables.

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'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.

Yep, try out everything you can. Back when I bought my first guitar, all of my friends were telling me to buy an Ibanez. When I got to the store I tried out a bunch of guitars. I liked the Ibanez guitars, the salesman was trying really hard to sell me on a PRS which I really did like. But then I ran into a Strat Plus Deluxe, played it, and knew right away that was the guitar I wanted. The salesman thought I was crazy. I didn't care what he thought at that point.

I couldn't even afford it. It took me 3-months to pay it off. But I still have it.

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HaleAmano- House Of Sharks (Now On iTunes)
http://www.reverbnation.com/haleamano
http://www.haleamano.com

Always buy the best guitar you can reasonably afford. Be willing to drop serious money if you are going to maintain interest and plan on playing all your life. I think the American Special and Highway One series guitars are a sweet deal. If you can save or spend around $800 on a guitar and another $400 or so on an amp, you will be set for some time! Before purchase, play as many guitars as you can, and even several of the same model to find the one that feels and sounds right to you. There's nothing wrong with breaking out the credit card to buy good, quality gear. Buy a more expensive guitar when your current guitar isn't providing you with the tone or playability you need, or better yet, just when you WANT to

Thanks for all the replies! I sure can tell the fender community ain't bad! I'll look for a guitar once I get time, and try as many places as possible. Maybe I'll ship it, or buy it when I go on vacation sometime. But most important of all, is learning to play well in the first place.