You really can't go wrong asking for advice on this forum. Everyone who says find a guitar that feels right for YOU is absolutely right. Two cases in point: when I bought my MIM Tele, I tried every one they had at the music store I went to. Other than the colors, they were all identical. There was just "something" about the sunburst one that caught me. As soon as I plugged it in, I knew it was mine. Same with my MIM Strat. There were 3 at the local shop, a red SSS, a metallic blue HSS, and the sunburst SSS. While I wondered whether I wanted another sunburst guitar, the minute I played it, I knew.
Find one that feels good and right to YOU. You will know. Think of it like a multiple choice test: your first guess is usually the right one.
Welcome, and good luck.

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2007 MIM Sunburst Standard Tele
2000 MIM Sunburst Standard Strat
1978 Fender SF Twin Reverb
1978 Ibanez PT-909 phaser
2011 Digitech DigiDelay
2011 Digitech Screamin' Blues OD

As someone above said, don't concern yourself with all the maple-vs-rosewood nonsense (I personally prefer the feel of ebony, but few electric makers offer it). Buy a guitar that feels great, sounds great, and be sure to get a good amplifier. The amp is much, much more important than the guitar. Fender Blues Jr.s are good, as are the Champs. Really, you want a small tube amp.

Have fun!

my opinion is to check out several guitars. Wich feels good to you in handling, wich sounds good to you etc. we can say this or that model is good and so on and could help a bit to get an overview but not more.
each other has another tastes of sound etc.

if you have the chance to lend the guitar for maybe 2-3 days from your guitar store check over your own gear and also in your band (if you do so).
so you will get an overview if these or that guitar is better for recording or exercising at home and the other for playing in a band (frequences fits better in the band context)

goodl luck and cheers

+1 I couldnt agree more. I just sold a Jackson dinky with the emg 81,85 Zack wylde set up and had no trouble at all coaxing blues tones out that beast of a shredder.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Close your eyes when you play em. when you 'feel it' - that "oh yeah" feeling on a particular guitar, you will know it. And if you aren't sure don't pressure yourself. You will find the one for you. Don't worry about the neck material. I have a rosewood and 2 maple strats and I play blues/ classic rock 95% of the time. If you found a guitar behind a dumpster that smells like rotten eggs and spinach with the right neck that your hands like you wont ever put it down and you wont care what it looks like. (well you get the idea)

The Blues Jr is a good amp too. I have played them several times, but the misses doesn't think my Blues Deluxe needs a little brother so they have to stay at the store. I wouldn't go bigger than the Jr. My Deluxe with 2 x 12's can disturb neighbors and rock the block but the downside is it doesn't sound like a great Fender tube amp at lower volumes like the JR does.

that's my two cents worth.








schmintan, not to hijack the thread, but could you expand more on your ibanez. I just started a thread looking for input on a humbucker for the neck.