Hello All,

Yeah, I just purchased a new electric guitar yesterday 3/19/2010. The American Deluxe Stratocaster (2010) 3 tone, etc. It's awesome. It was recommended to me by the Sales Specialists.
I always wanted a electrical guitar especially one to begin as a beginner and to keep as I progress to a more intermediate level.

I know NOTHING about guitars. lol YES! NADA!

But I'm a avid reader and I'm doing my research NOW on how to care for it and play it! I haven't even picked at the string yet (not until I read and become familar with the Beginners Guitar Guide, DVDs, Manuals, etc).
I understand that there's lots of people here (Fender.com) who are familar with guitars. Any advice or comments or recomendations is GREATLY appreciated!
I'm from the Campbell City, CA area. Hence, if there's anybody that can provide some one-on-one advice or lessons or form a band..lol...I'm all for it! Thanks !

Sincerely,
Purepechafender

Hi! Welcome to the Fender Forum. You might consider taking a few guitar lessons. Find a friend who plays and get some tips...... I have taught a lot of beginners, some advance very quickly and others take some time. Also get a good guitar tuner so you can make sure it is in tune...

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

You have purchased a fine instrument. There is a momentum out there of people wanting to make "mods". Often, in my opinion, mods are made only for the sake of making the mods. Keep it stock. Also, making mods also in many cases hurts the guitar's value, not increases it. So, when someone says, "You should add a ..." or "You should put in a ...", your reply should be, "No, I shouldn't."

Congrats.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Good choice on your first guitar. Its a solid instrument that will serve you well. Like someone posted above, lessons in my opinion are a must at least for a little while to get some theory under your belt. Some guys are totally self taught but that takes more work in my opinion. There are lots of good lessons on line as well. Some teachers are awesome and some drag it out so find one that keeps you progressing and you will be ripping it up in no time!

HI, and welcome to the forums.
Great choice of guitar. If you are totally new to this, I would take some lessons, to get off to the right start. It may be frustrating for you in the beginning, but practice everyday, and soon things will make sense.

Good Luck
Bill

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

Yes, that's how it works!

You are starting a new fun trip, man!

Do you have any friends or coworkers that play guitar? Such a mentor could be a great help: in finding an amp, teaching you a few things to play, showing you how to adjust your guitar ...

Do you know what kind of music you want to play?

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Here's a really great teaching aid for any newbie...
http://www.lulu.com/content/digital-vid ... vd/7902337

That DVD will keep your interest level high by getting you to play a few songs quickly after you learn a couple basic chords. Then you should really consider committing yourself to a 30min weekly guitar lesson with a qualified instructor. They will keep you moving in the right direction for your goals..whatever they might be.

It won't be easy. But if you hang in there, it will be one of those life's decisions you'll be happy you made later on down the road.

BTW I'm drooling over the new 2010 over-hauled American Deluxe Stratocaster. Can't seem to find them out there anywhere yet. Where did you get yours? If it's a new version it should have a compound radius neck. The neck will be slightly wider where it's attached to the body and get more narrow as it goes up towards the head (where the strings are attached to the tuning pegs). Is that the way yours is built?

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An object at rest tends to stay at rest...
and an object in motion tends to stay in motion

Purepechafender,

First, let me welcome you to the Forum. Congrats on the new guitar. The American Deluxe is a great Fender model. Let me address some statements, please do not get offended, but I am trying to help you here. By the way, what kind of amp did you get?



I think the service advisor took you for a ride to get the most commission. Don't get me wrong, it is a great guitar and can be used all the way up to Professional level. You could have started with a more budget friendly guitar like the Fender Standard or a Squier Standard. Although, if I could have afforded an American Deluxe when I started out, I'd done it too.



As I mentioned above, as long as you take care of that guitar, it will serve you to a professional level if and when you get there.



Do not be afraid to touch your guitar. It is your guitar, read the Fender instruction manual and start playing. Go to youtube for on-line lessons, just type in a song you want to learn and something should come up to get you started. Since you have bought yourself an excellant guitar, treat yourself to lessons. Buy the books the instructor teaches. Also buy some chord books and scale diagrams. Practice, practice, practice.

If I lived in the Cambell City, Ca area I would be more than happy to get together, but I am too far away for that to be feasable. Again, welcome to the forum and I hope you have fun.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

My advice? Play that stick til the neck catches fire!

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

i was thinking the same thing..... as he said you should have gone with a more budget friendly guitar in case you dont stick with it.... also, that guitar will serve you WELL past intermediate level..... if im not mistaken, that is actually a rather high end fender. and find someone to take lessons from..... it will be very boring at first, learning the absolute basics, but it gets fun quickly

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Try this site: http://justinguitar.com/

For absolute beginners, I have yet to see something better than this guy's lessons online and it's 100% free, no bull. If you follow his beginners course stage by stage, you simply cannot go wrong.

Also, I own an America Deluxe Strat. It's simply the finest Guitar I've ever owned and it's 100% stock with no mods whatsoever. If you can, resist the temptation to go changing anything but the strings.

+1 on justinguitars site! not only is he a good teacher, he's also a top shelf humanitarian! He donates a large part of the proceedes from his site to better the lifes of orphans in Africa. Top bloke for sure!

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

torresfan wrote

"Also, I own an America Deluxe Strat. It's simply the finest Guitar I've ever owned and it's 100% stock with no mods whatsoever. If you can, resist the temptation to go changing anything but the strings."

+ 1

Just leave it stock apart from simple things like string changes and maybe blocking the trem if you feel the need.

Real nice guitar got a 2007 ish version. As for it being a bit high end, hmmmm it wont do you any harm other than yer wallet if it doesnt pan out but hey were a long time dead so who cares!!

An Am. Deluxe for your first guitar? Wow, I wish I would have done that, would have saved me a lot of hassle and money on lesser instruments <_<

Things that would have also saved me a lot of hassle:

The book Pumping Nylon by Scott Tenant. A lot of useful exercises on finger independence, balancing your hand on the fretboard, and how to fingerpick (if you're interested.) Really helped me transition from beginner to intermediate.

Also if this is your first instrument, I'd suggest The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory. It breaks theory down so idiots like me can understand it, and if I can understand it so can you

As for how to take care of it, here's my method: After I'm done playing, I put a towel under the strings and spray the strings with Finger-Ease guitar string lubricant and wipe the strings down. That way none of the stuff gets on my fretboard ^^ Then I use guitar polish, Fender's stuff is fine, and wipe off all the dirt and grime. Lastly every 2-4 months I clean the fretboard. If it's a maple fretboard I use Murphy's Oil Soap (heavily diluted, it's used for floors usually >_>) and just put a little bit on a towel and wipe it down. If it's rosewood or any unfinished fretboard, I prefer Fret Doctor, but I'll use whatever fretboard conditioner I have on hand and give it a good cleaning. Anyhow, best of luck, enjoy your new instrument ^^

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

Like my father told me when I first picked up his guitar, "Music is good for the soul."
Just keep at it.