Hello all,

Recently I have visited my local Fender dealer during lunch breaks in hopes of finding a guitar and amp configuration that can get close to my current style but also give me that Fender versatility for other styles of music.

With that said, I'll describe my insanely elaborate rig. One Les Paul: One Marshall. I play several styles but the one that concerns me in the move is rock / metal. On the rock end I have a sound that resembles bands like Fire Flight and Skillet. The heaviest I have played is probably Trivium (Gunshot to the head of trepidation). I actually want to move away from the Trivium type sounds so I am not too concerned if I can't get that sound anymore.

I know I am at the right place with the right people to lead me in the right direction (or tell me I need to stay where I am and not try to move at all, lol). First, let me give you what I thought might work based on the gear I found in my small local shop.

Amp: Fender Mustang V Halfstack
Guitar: Some Telecaster (I've heard these guitars are being well received by many rock artist)

I have researched the amp and it seems to be absolutely brilliant. The tele seems like the right choice based on user adoption for rock styles but at the same time the tele is a great choice for blues and country which I am interested in.

Any thoughts and/or recommendations will be appreciated tremendously. Oh, and hi! Glad to be on the boards.

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"To this day I don't have a guitar idol. I have people who are my favorites." - Randy Rhoads

Hi CodeBase101,

Sounds like you have done your homework, and made a good decision based on your needs. The best way to pick both amp and guitar, is to play them for yourself and let your ears decide. I shopped for a Tele just in the last year, and after trying several, including Mex and US, I picked the Am Std Tele and it is a fantastic guitar, I am very happy with it. And you are correct, the Tele can handle just about any style including hard rock and blues. I prefer tube amps myself, and have no experience with the Mustang amp, but I take it that you want the built in effects. Personally, I would recommend a Hot Rod Deluxe III, which would cover the blues stuff well, and some rock. Pair the HRDlx with a POD or similar all-in-one effects setup, and you can do it all, just about any sound that you want (and get loud too!). Let us know what you decide, and post some pics when you get your gear.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Welcome, I don't have an answer for your questions but I jealously wondered how you got your avatar to show up. I see you just joined recently. No one can seem to get an avatar to post because they have been disabled for new accounts. Just wondering if you had a trick or just got lucky.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

Thanks for the quick response!

I guess my question would be how the tele stacks up to the strat and why it is more suited for rock? Say, maybe a HSS strat vs a standard tele? You're absolutely right. I just need to spend some extra time trying some combinations out at the store.

I've been through several tube and solid state amps and don't really have a preference. I've never had to turn up so loud that I had an issue with solid states so when I heard that the Mustang V is actually a great sound and valve like "feel", I thought it would be worth trying for what they are asking for it. The price is pretty incredible.

This is the that helped me pick it out of the pack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdwD03ZF5zM

Being a bit on the software side of the world, I do have a natural liking to the digital gear .
I will definitely post the pictures when what ever I end up with arrives.

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"To this day I don't have a guitar idol. I have people who are my favorites." - Randy Rhoads

Hey Drew365,

I think I just got lucky. When I go to the avatar settings this message is displayed above

"Your avatar cannot be displayed because avatars have been disallowed."

The avatar seems to be working fine, however. I'm not sure what the bug is.

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"To this day I don't have a guitar idol. I have people who are my favorites." - Randy Rhoads

I had a feeling that was it. I also enjoy connecting my POD to the laptop and internet, for preset changes, tweaks and updates, very cool....in a geeky kind of way. A lot of the new "software" based effects, like in the Mustang, POD, etc, are pretty darned good, and great compared to the previous type of built in effects that some amps had. I'm gonna have to check out a Mustang, sounds nice.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

i have been with solid state amps before but always come back to a tube combo, Hot Rod Deluxe, a late 50's Magnatone and the sleeper of the bunch, a Champ 600.

The Champ does not distort enough for a true metal sound, but for that quacky country/blues/ rock sound it does deliver.
The Magnatone is just Blues or Rythm and Blues, it just does not lend itself for metal, as clarity in minor arpegio's just does not come thru.
The HRD is really the all around but I must add that the guitar choice is half of the equation.

In your situation I would go for an HSS set up with a coil split for the humbucker, 1 mstr Vol, 1 mstr Tone and the option to use the humbucker in a conventional 5 way strat switch so that you can pair the HB single or dual with the other M and N pups.
This to me would be the most versatile set up.
I love the Tele, Have one on hold coming home next month, but the strat in the above set up is more versatile.
You are going to have to hear feel and play thru a few possibilities to round out what you are looking for.

Digital is great but sampling mods never equates the real set up. There are too many variables on a day to day basis and a lab designed mod is just that.

If it's Memorex, it's not real..

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Welcome to the forum my IT brother.

I would suggest a strat with either HSS or SSS for a real variety. Strats work well with Marshall (btw which Marshall amp do you have?) so you probably can do for a while without another amp. I am not familiar with the bands you listed so my comment above is very general. Teles are very cool guitars too, you can't go wrong with either.