Hi,
I have play the acoustic guitar for about 6 months now and I want to get an electric guitar. I am a beginner and I would like to spend less than $700.

What suggestions do you have?


thanks
Reed

Either a Standard Stratocaster or Telecaster.

They generally retail for $499 bucks and they're excellent guitars.

cool thanks!

Hi, an american standard stratocaster is good option.

What style of music would you like to play?

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riley

Get a nice MIM standard and put the rest towards a good amp (maybe a 5watt tube, like the Bugera V5) and you should have a great combo that will last many many years. Just my opinion of course.

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

Check this out....
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... p?t=716336
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... =346128016
http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN2331100

Now you've got a cool strat and a tube amp all under budget!!

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

+1 on the Super Champ XD amp.

I have one and love it. My only complaint is that I don't get to use it enough. But, that ain't the amps fault now is it ?!?

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

I want to get that cv cheap guitar but all reveiws i hear say theyre awesome.

That's my thinking too. Your amp has as much to do with your tone as your guitar does. And MIM Standard Fenders are very nice guitars that should last you forever. Squiers are nice too, but if you have the money then I'd suggest you go ahead with a Fender. They're still a little better quality. That said my main guitar is my Squier Affinity Strat, and I love it. But it has had some major modifications over the years, and my MIM Fender just feels like a more solid guitar. The Classic Vibe series bridges the gap between Standard and Affinity series Squiers and MIM Fenders.

The bottom line is that you need to pick what you want though. If you can, head out to the nearest guitar store and play some electric guitars. Telecasters, Strats, Squiers, Fenders, and see which you like best.

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Ok...these are as always, just my own personal opinions. Please take them as such...

If you've only been playing for 6 months and this is going to be your first electric guitar, personally I would suggest getting a nicer Squier such as a Standard or CV or something and as others have suggested, get yourself a decent amp. I'm a big Bugera fan myself but personally I'd recommend the 22 watt V22 over the little 5 watt model. Yes, that little 5 watt model should have a very lovely tone and it's certainly great for the bedroom or perhaps even recording but if you -ever- have any intentions of working with other musicians or being in "a band", you -will- need more power than a little 5 watt amp can provide.

For someone who has a little experience on guitar and is buying their first electric, many of the Squiers are simply outstanding instruments...I've been playing for close to 30 years now and back in 2008 instead of buying another MIM or something else I bought a brand new Squier Standard...she plays wonderful and she has one of the loveliest finishes I've ever seen on any guitar! One of these days I'll find the right pickups for her and get a decent trem block and she -will- be ready for the stage! And those Classic Vibe instruments...those are just wonderful hands down.

You're always going to have some pinhead that's going to tell you to just by an American Standard right off the bat but here's the thing... First and foremost as this is going to be your first electric, chances are you're not really going to appreciate the differences between an American Standard and a Squier Standard (or CV) even if you play them side by side. Most of the differences are pretty subtle to begin with and most newer players don't always even notice things like the "hand rolled fretboard" and such...it's a Strat and either feels good to them or it doesn't. What's more is I've had 2 Squire Standards as well as 2 MIM Standards and as far as quality goes, they are -very- comparable...both series could use a little work (mainly bridge and pickups) but over all they are both excellent instruments for the money. That said what this really comes down to is that if you're going to play electric guitar, you -are- going to need an amp. It goes with the territory.

Now I know that some guys (and/or gals) are perfectly content playing in their bedroom or basement just jamming along with their favorite mp3's (or Youtube videos) and that's fine. If that's all a person really wants to do then yes, a "little practice amp" is absolutely perfect and then you spend the rest on a nicer guitar. I will certainly say that a good practice amp certainly has it's place as well. At this point I not only have my main amps that I use for band practice and gigs but I certainly do have a couple of smaller amps around the house...one down in my studio control room for personal practice and I often keep one in my living room just so I can jam with mp3's on my stereo! LOL!!! Again however if you have any intentions at all of working with other musicians or being in a band, a little practice amp just does NOT cut it (unless said band already has a decent PA system that you can mic that little amp through). I'm not saying that you need to go out and get a Marshall or even a Twin right away (although if you can swing it, go for it!) but you could even look at getting a decent used solid state...some of the older Peavey were really very nice and I know I still see older Lab series from time to time for $300 - $400...if ya like Twins, you'll like a Lab L5

I wanted to mention that because I've seen a lot of younger players (even if they're not really "younger") who will go out and buy something like a Line 6 Spider or something (if nothing else for all those juicy effects) and it's really great for in the bedroom but then they do end up getting in to a band and they either can't hear themselves or their tone sounds like crap or whatever and they end up going out and buying another amp right away...assuming they have the money. Ask some of the older guys like myself around here...I'm sure there's at least a few folks around here who have ran in to people who play guitar and want to be in a band "but dude...I don't have the money for a new amp" (kind of like "drummers" who don't actually own a drum kit!). I generally try not to speak for others but I suspect there's more than a few of us who have ran in to that.

Another thing on the amp issue to consider is that...and again, just my opinion here but...any guitar is only going to sound as good as the amp it's being played through. A decent amp will make even an inexpensive Strat such as an Affinity sound half way decent (depending on who's playing it of course! LOL) but even a $4000 Custom Shop Strat build to your exacting specifications is going to sound "cheap" through a cheap amp. Personally I would plan to spend -at least- half my budget on the amp and then use what's left to get the nicest Squier I could afford (ya also may wish to leave just a bit extra for an effects pedal or two...something like a good distortion or a flange or delay pedal is always nice to play around with). This will give you a rig that you can literally use for a good many years until you really are ready to "upgrade". Once you've been playing for a few years, then I would look at going with an MIM or an American Standard. That way you'll not only have a better idea of what you're looking for, you'll be able to actually appreciate the difference.

Just my $.02 worth,
Jim

Twelvebar's $0.02:

we need more info.

what are your motivations for getting an electric? By this I mean, what do you intend to do with it? are you playing with other people, or alone. Do you intend to play with other people in the foreseeable future?

These are important questions because if you don't already have part of the set Electric Guitar really means electric Guitar plus amplifier(and maybe effects.)

like some have said above, i firmly believe that your tone is at least 50% amp, probably more really. so depending on your immediate plans you should have different equipment goals. no matter which tack you take i would suggest half your budget on guitar, half on amp roughly.

A better Squier or a made in Mexico model are great starting points guitar wise.

the amp is probably where your options will be governed by what you plan to do. if you see yourself playing with other people, jamming or a band, you are going to need to be heard, so like Jim says 5 watts probably ain't gonna cut it, unless you are going to play like a wine bar brunch thing in a small room with not much volume competition. you might want to look into used gear here.

if however you are going to stay in the bedroom, forever, or even for quite a while, you might want to look into a smaller amp with more features. be prepared for a cash outlay if you ever decide to expand your horizons.

As a home player(maybe even especially as a beginner,) something like G-dec with built in effects and backing tracks could be an ideal purchase.
great flexibility, and useful extra features that can help you learn and practice.

Personally where I live right now i can't use any of my old stage gear, I have a couple 5 watt amps. they sound great here, because that is what they are suited for. So right tool for the right job kind of thing.

so you need to define a direction, and then we can more easily help point you in the right direction.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.