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Post subject: So many choices...
Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 12:49 pm
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Hi everyone, I'm looking at buying an electric in the near future now that I am getting decent with my acoustic and I am pretty set on a Stratocaster for my first electric. Just to set the stage a little bit:

I want to be able to play a lot of different stuff, but I am most looking forward to learning how to play Mayer songs (esp Trio) as well as Clapton, SRV, and really dig deeper into the blues (will probably buy a blues course down the road). Probably won't ever play much metal or super high distortion stuff. Ideally, I would like to spend around 1k +/- a couple hundred. I'm a big believer in buying certain things quality so that you can grow with it and will never feel like you have to upgrade. At the end of the day, I want a guitar that will keep me excited to play it!

I am going to try and play all of these, but may not be possible so I was hoping to get some opinions on some of these guitars. Also worried that while I may be getting better, I won't be able to put the guitar through all the paces that some of you more experienced players can. Here are some of the guitars I have seen/played/read about and my concerns, would love some advice:

Deluxe Roadhouse – Haven't heard great thing about onboard electronics

Classic Player’s 60s – Would love to hear some feedback on the ’69 coils? Is this not made as well as the American guitars?

American Performer – Haven’t seen anything good or bad about the pickups. Don’t love the 70s headstock but that’s minor.

Used/Discounted American Professional – I have smallish hands, is the Deep C too chunky?

New/Used Eric Clapton Strat – Everything I have read seems very positive on this guitar, only downside would seem to be the midboost being active all time, especially if I want to play songs/get tones of players who done use a lot of mids ( i.e. my understanding is Mayer plays guitars with low/regular mids and he uses pedals to boost mids and get a different mid-sound)

Also looking at if I can get a quality American Elite or like new american standard from past couple years. Also might have found a 60th annivesary commemorative edition that looks intruiging.


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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:58 pm
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I have two Clapton’s, and love both. They sound amazing, and seem to be a good fit for what you’re looking to play.


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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:59 pm
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Your title says it all, go play a bunch on the amplifier you plan on using...and eliminate the ones you don't immediately like the feel or tone of. And don't let other people's opinion skew your own feeling.
My base suggestion would be a used American Standard w/ Fat 50's 5-way switching original spaced strings 6 screw bridge w/ a 9 1/2" or 12" radius neck. NO extra push-pull, S1 or any other creative electronics.
And take notes over a month or two of your demo's...before you choose your path.


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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 4:04 pm
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sfceric64 wrote:
Your title says it all, go play a bunch on the amplifier you plan on using...and eliminate the ones you don't immediately like the feel or tone of. And don't let other people's opinion skew your own feeling.
My base suggestion would be a used American Standard w/ Fat 50's 5-way switching original spaced strings 6 screw bridge w/ a 9 1/2" or 12" radius neck. NO extra push-pull, S1 or any other creative electronics.
And take notes over a month or two of your demo's...before you choose your path.


+100%

Assuming you get a good legitimate second hand MiA you will have great value for your money and give you more to spend on a good amp.

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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 3:23 am
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Agreeing with the previous. Better to get a guitar now than spend a lot of time circling the selection.
BTW, a basic second hand MIM will keep its value just as well as a MIA.
And with a first guitar, I'd keep it simple (no actives etc; and paired with a quality simple amp), too. Maybe even go with a tremless Tele - you will end up buying one later, anyway. :wink:
One important thing: whichever guitar you choose, set it up properly - DIY if you know how, otherwise by a good pro.


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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 4:46 am
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jmattis wrote:
Agreeing with the previous. Better to get a guitar now than spend a lot of time circling the selection.
BTW, a basic second hand MIM will keep its value just as well as a MIA.
And with a first guitar, I'd keep it simple (no actives etc; and paired with a quality simple amp), too. Maybe even go with a tremless Tele - you will end up buying one later, anyway. :wink:
One important thing: whichever guitar you choose, set it up properly - DIY if you know how, otherwise by a good pro.


Also 100% sound advice (even including the Tele).

While there is the "Buy cheap, buy twice" adage this doesn't really apply with a proper Fender (particularly if you buy second hand) as resale shouldn't be a problem. Also, some times, it is good to experience a lower specification of what ever so that you then appreciate why you spend the extra for a high specification.

If you bowled in and bought an EC as your first Strat, aside hearsay, you would have no comprehension why it was so good and worth the money. If, in a few years, your buy an EC once you understand what makes it special you will enjoy and cherish it so much more.

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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:25 am
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Thanks for all the advice. I think I'm definitely leaning towards going with some thing relatively basic with no extra electronics like a used/like new Am. Standard. I can certainly see how a lower level strat might make me appreciate the Am. made more, I think I will still appreciate it. Considering I have a wedding and (most) likely a move coming in the next 2-4 years, might be a while before I'm able to buy another guitar, so I might just go all in on the American made more since my window is open with the future wife.

I'm planning on getting a Yamaha THR10C to start because I live in an apartment in the city and need the headphone ability. If a move to a home in the county looks like it will happen within the next 2 years rather than 4, I'll probably hold off on a tube amp until after a move. If it looks longer, I'll probably buy a hot-rodded blues jr (tweed and cannibis rex models look awesome) or a princeton in 1-2 years.


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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 8:27 am
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I have a THR5 and it is an absolutely great bit of kit but I wouldn't want it as my only amp. I love shoving in some batteries and sitting out on the terrace with some phones on in the sunshine with a beverage or two on hand.

The THR sounds fine and can go pretty loud (for home use) unplugged but the small speakers are so small that they don't move the air in the same way a larger speaker does. My Bugera V5 is a much more enjoyable experience just because it feels much nicer even at low volume. The new Fender Mustangs are also meant to be extremely good and have headphone sockets if needed

They do say you don't have to play loud amps loud but a 50W valve amp would certainly need something for home use to get it sounding half decent. My JCM900 never gets used these days as, although you can sort of get it to work at low volume, it doesn't sound great at all :-(. I keep saying I'm going to get an attenuator for it, there seems to be a lot more options out there now and some also have headphone sockets.

If you are going to be hampered by wearing headphones you might just as well get a Focusrite interface and load Bias FX onto your computer - cheap (relatively) and incredibly flexible with a vast library of sounds at your disposal.

One assumes you might want to play your guitar to someone at some point, or play along with other musicians and the THR isn't really going to do you any favours in those situations. It is a really, really good noodling in front of the TV amp or sitting at you desk for a 5 minute twiddle but otherwise perhaps not so much. And the Boss Katana Mini (which I also have) isn't far behind it and is a great deal better value. You could buy two and have a mini stereo rig for the price of a THR10.

Blackstar have a new range of home amps at similar to THR money which might also be worth a look.

I've just had a look at prices and, for the same money as a THR10, you would get a lot more flexibility from a Boss Katana 100 1x12 combo. Unlike a valve amp it doesn't care if the volume is on 1 or 11 and still has a headphone socket. It should do quiet and also allow you to play with a drummer when the time comes.

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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 1:16 pm
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That's fair. My thought process was the Yamaha would give me the home practice/headphone option for now as I am learning and will come much more in handy earlier, then I can go and buy one of the Fender Amps either when I need more power because I want to jam with others or if I just want something that moves some air.

The only hesitation with a bigger Katana type modeling amp is I don't want to buy it then feel like I shouldn't buy a tube amp in a couple years because I already have a pretty great solid-state amp. I feel like the Yamaha would satisfy me for now and also give me a super portable option, but then I can get a tube amp when I feel like its time to go bigger.

Another option I have seen is the Peavey Classic 20 Mini-head, which is another step up in price, but is a tube amp with a headphone jack. Then again, if I'm spending that kind of money seems like I should just buy a PRRI or something like that and then an even cheaper headphone amp than the yamaha.


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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 2:23 pm
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At this point (just getting started) I don't know how important it is to be spending big money on a tube amp until you've gathered some experience and learn more about the pros and cons of amp types.
JM is known for using Two Rock amps but he has also used amps by Fender and Dumble.
Stevie Ray primarily used Fender amps but could also be seen with a Marshall half stack on stage.
Clapton has used amps by Fender, Marshall, Vox and Soldano.
Maybe for right now it might be wise to gain experience and get an ear for them before laying out big chunks of cash.
I think it might be a good idea to rent a different amp each month so you really get to know them.
Trying them in the store is an okay strategy but it's not nearly the same as taking one home with you and spending time with it.
It could get awfully expensive learning about amps buy purchasing them all and then losing money selling off the non-keepers.

Oh, one more thing.
Somewhere on these pages I posted a link about the tone differences between playing in a live setting and practicing at home.
You may want to read that and absorb it for later reference while evaluating amplifiers.

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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 7:43 pm
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This looks like an interesting 1st amplifier for practice @ home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMr7SSuF3AY


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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 3:16 am
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I had one of these for Christmas to replace the Kata Mini as my lounge amp ( the speaker was a bit small on the Mini when it wasn't directly by me). For the money it is a no brainer and it sounds pretty damn good at all volumes. I am having to sit on my hands to stop me getting a second one for a stereo rig. You do need to add a Reverb pedal to the price though.

https://youtu.be/4MJSkkJvwR4

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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 4:03 am
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Even a 1 watt tube amp will be too loud for apartment use, the Super will be knocking on your door.

THR's are expensive for their size and use.. but you're not going to be 'rocking out' in an apartment either.


but it's small and travel size. I practice a lot in my car and van. and a battery amp is handy for that too.

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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 11:27 am
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John Sims wrote:
I had one of these for Christmas to replace the Kata Mini as my lounge amp ( the speaker was a bit small on the Mini when it wasn't directly by me). For the money it is a no brainer and it sounds pretty damn good at all volumes. I am having to sit on my hands to stop me getting a second one for a stereo rig. You do need to add a Reverb pedal to the price though.

https://youtu.be/4MJSkkJvwR4


That looks great, but shipping to the US is like $120 or $130.

I'll check out the blackstar for sure too. I have a few home amps I will try out, just seems the Yamaha is more widely praised then some of the others.


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Post subject: Re: So many choices...
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 8:34 pm
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Eracer_Team wrote:
Even a 1 watt tube amp will be too loud for apartment use, the Super will be knocking on your door.

This.
I can only think of two things that run tubes AND work at true "bedroom" levels.

1 - A circuit that got from a guy who went by "LXH2" probably 20 years ago that I dubbed the "Micro-Thang"
It actually used a pair of EL84s (many other low-power experiments of the time used 12AX7 as power amp tubes), but was only driven with a +12v B+ level, so it had NO headroom. I built one into a box not much larger than the Fender Mini Twin-Amp with a couple of cheap speakers and the sound was as expected... but plugged into my homebrew with 4 Carvin VL10 drivers, it actually sounded decent, at conversational volumes... and I mean you could carry on a comfortable conversation while playing.
But... It was a 1-trick pony. The ONLY thing it did was crunchy breakup... nay... medium-gain Marshall distortion.
https://imgur.com/UdcANQi
IIRC, the preamp IC was a 4-gang 741 Op-Amp
No tone stack, no volume control... the thing was supposed to be about 35mw. Ya, an acoustic guitar is louder than this thing was. I need to find mine.

2 - Bugera G5 Infinium.
5w/1w/0.1w outputs with a headphone out and cabinet emulator. The head is around $250 if you have a cabinet. They do make a 1x12 combo, or you can buy a 1x12 cabinet for it if you want the flexibility to use it with a larger cabinet. I have no experience with them, but the reviews seem solid, and they are flexible in having both "British" and "California" tones, with the ability to blend the two, so it's not like the Egnater where it's all "Marshall" or all "Fender"
But it is a single-ended Class-A amp, not a push-pull... that may or may not be what your ear is looking for.

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