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Post subject: Looking for a shove in the right direction.
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:16 pm
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Hey, I'm sure you guys get a lot of these post. After sifting through much of the forums, and yes I used the search function ;) I still have a few unanswered questions...

I've been playing the piano for as long as I can remember, so music isn't new to me, though guitars are. After doing as much research as I can, I have decided go the route of a Strat (don't ask why, "just because" is good enough for me.). But that itself is still a big world. I've tried to look up the differences between models on the Fender site, and I really could not find what I was looking for. Sadly, Wikipedia has been the source of most of my information. Which leads to my first question: Is there (are there) any sites out there that actually explain what differences between models exist? Or even a site that explains components, ie HSS? I mean is there a giant SOAK on guitars out there?

Being an central Florida resident, I have a few major cities within a short driving distance, so music stores are plenty. But my overall ability to "play" (more like aimlessly strum) is lacking, so my second question: How does someone with barely any guitar knowledge go into a music store to test out a guitar? I have a friend who plays a few Ibanezes, but from what I've read here (and almost everywhere else), the guitar has to sound right to me.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Like I said, a shove, more than a gentle guiding hand, in the right direction would be great. :)

Thanks guys,

Drew


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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:37 pm
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You could start at the top of this page...under products...and compare the looks, specs, etc... on each.

Another good source might be Google. Good luck !

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:44 pm
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Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 1:22 am
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As a newbie i would recomend the Mexican Classic Series because they're
fine guitars on a budget.
As a starter it's difficult judging guitars, my advice is to ask a friend to help
you.
Does it feel right, do you like the look of it and how is it playing ?
Keep watching the forum, some good advice is given sometimes.

Good luck,

Peter


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:29 pm
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Check out Harmony Central, www.harmonycentral.com, under User Reviews/Guitars/Fender, and you'll find user reviews on lots of different strats. In fact, there is probably more information than you need, but you can compare prices, see what the users think, etc.

Then go into the shop, pick one off the wall, and start to strum it ...

You could even go into the shop first, find a few strat models within your price range, then check out those models in the user reviews. It'll save you time. In fact, this last shopping order is the one I would use, now that I think about it.

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Post subject: Re: Looking for a shove in the right direction.
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:44 pm
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cyrus561 wrote:
Hey, I'm sure you guys get a lot of these post. After sifting through much of the forums, and yes I used the search function ;) I still have a few unanswered questions...

I've been playing the piano for as long as I can remember, so music isn't new to me, though guitars are. After doing as much research as I can, I have decided go the route of a Strat (don't ask why, "just because" is good enough for me.). But that itself is still a big world. I've tried to look up the differences between models on the Fender site, and I really could not find what I was looking for. Sadly, Wikipedia has been the source of most of my information. Which leads to my first question: Is there (are there) any sites out there that actually explain what differences between models exist? Or even a site that explains components, ie HSS? I mean is there a giant SOAK on guitars out there?

Being an central Florida resident, I have a few major cities within a short driving distance, so music stores are plenty. But my overall ability to "play" (more like aimlessly strum) is lacking, so my second question: How does someone with barely any guitar knowledge go into a music store to test out a guitar? I have a friend who plays a few Ibanezes, but from what I've read here (and almost everywhere else), the guitar has to sound right to me.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Like I said, a shove, more than a gentle guiding hand, in the right direction would be great. :)

Thanks guys,

Drew



I, too, am a piano player. Had my first lesson in 1958. I was in the same boat as far as going to a store and trying to select a good instrument. What I did was buy a chord chart and picked a couple of chords and learned them. G, C, and E were pretty easy. I went to the music store and tried out several with just those simple chords. It didn't seem to matter to the store personnel, at all. The one I chose was a MIM Standard in Arctic White. It just seemed like the one. That was just 3 weeks ago and I couldn't be happier. I read as much as I could and determined that, for my purposes, this one was a good value/quality balance. Best of luck in your selection.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:36 pm
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Thanks for all the replies :) pianoman54, that's a great idea, I'll have to try that!

I was driving past a name brand store on my way home from work and I thought to myself "Screw it, might as well go in and look." The older salesmen weren't much help, but I found a younger guy which looked in his early twenties, and I figured he'd be able to relate since he was closer to my age. He turned me on to a website: www.guitarsite.com and said its one of the best sites to answer almost any question.
Though to my dismay I think I might have fallen for something a little out of my "just-graduated-college" price range: the American Series Strat (the most simple of all, from what I saw, and simple is good.)

I guess that was my foreshadowing for my next question: At this level (my level) does American made really matter over Mexican? I mean I could always justify paying the bit more if it really did. And I always read arguments over the differences. But starting off, does it? Or if I can get a used American (keyword: IF ;) ) for the same price of a new Mexican?

It's a shame that the salesman worked for such a cooperate enterprise, I really was looking forward to going to a Mom and Pops to really buy.

I think I will start to document and write all my findings, that way you guys can just tell the future Newbies, "Hey, just go read this thread that Drew posted, it will leave you in a lot better shape than you're in now." :)

Thanks again for your patience and guidance.


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