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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 2:37 pm
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For a beginner you have great taste. If you're sure you want a Strat then buy the best Strat you can afford. Don't mess with cheap imitations. If you are looking for a used Strat take someone with you who can put it thru its motions and advise you honestly.


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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 6:16 pm
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Why not get one from a retailer that offers a 45-day return. That way, if you don't like it or dicide to take up tiddlewinks instead of guitar, you're not out the $300 or so?


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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 8:09 am
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Visit several shops, ask their assistance and see which ones give you friendly, helpful, unpatronising advice. They should take you through some options, show you what the differences are, and, if they have any sense, steer you towards the right instrument for you at a reasonable price. They'd be dumb to try to reach deeply into your pocket at this stage: judge them on that.

Then you'll have learnt some stuff, bought the right guitar, and found a good shop you can go back to later and with whom you can establish an ongoing relationship. A major asset.

Then get some lessons. The self-taught musician (most of us) had a very ignorant teacher.


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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 10:01 am
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Ceri wrote:
Visit several shops, ask their assistance and see which ones give you friendly, helpful, unpatronising advice. They should take you through some options, show you what the differences are, and, if they have any sense, steer you towards the right instrument for you at a reasonable price. They'd be dumb to try to reach deeply into your pocket at this stage: judge them on that.


So what you're saying is stay away from Guitar Center? :D


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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 10:05 am
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If you are set on a Strat, go play each one at a guitar store within your budget. Some of the lower-end models can really be hit or miss, so make sure you play them all.

If you are looking to spend a little more, you could probably find a used American Strat for $600-$700 on eBay or Craigslist.


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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 12:31 pm
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23Fender wrote:
If your looking for your first guitar, you might want to buy a squier pack. After that, once you detect small flaws in the guitar you don't like, that means it's time to get a better guitar, that suits you personally. 8)



he's exactly right. once you can determine why you need to get a new guitar then it's time for one. squier is a great guitar at the beginner level.


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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 1:08 pm
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For the beginner level, I'd echo the folks suggesting a Squier Strat Pack. You'll get everything you need to start out for a good price. Eventually, you'll probably upgrade that to a MIM or American Standard, but that's assuming you stick with it. Once you know you're in for the long haul and you can tell what's wrong with the squier, it's time for the upgrade.


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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 12:35 pm
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atolleter wrote:
Look into a Mexican Strat, you can find them between $200-350. What's your budget?


They've gone up in price, I bought one recently for $421 (the tax WAS added in there).


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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:24 pm
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fhopkins wrote:
I would get the best American I could afford and save 35 to 40 dollars to have a good tech do a steup, you won't be sorry and will probably stay intrested in playing the guitar a lot longer than to buy the cheapest you can . This my opinion only! Don't want to rile anyone (gj) up . Good luck and enjoy!!


Good advise but man, I want to know where you can get a tech to do a good setup for $35 to $40?

The arguement for the American is that you'll have a guitar that sounds and plays better and, for these reasons, the learning experience will be much more enjoyable. Also, if you decide that the electric guitar is not for you, you can always sell it and recover your inventment as the American strat will hold its' value better than the MIM strat.


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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 7:46 am
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I'm gonna say buy a crate strat knock off

that was my first guitar

then when i got a real guitar it was so nice, because i started with something crappy and worked up to something great

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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:20 pm
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what are the differences between a mexican and american standard strat?

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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:24 pm
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What's the matter with you guys. You're recommending him to professional a guitar. He should probably start out with a Squire. He may not even like or stick with the instrument. American? Come on (laughs). No beginner even with expectations of continuing the instrument who may get discussted and quit after several attemps should be starting on something this caliber.

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Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:06 am
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CAFeathers wrote:
Welcome to the forum!

The best advice I can give you is to go to a music store or two and play every guitar in your price range. Pick the one YOU like the best.


+1

Biggy :wink: :wink:

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Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:48 am
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abombaci wrote:
What's the matter with you guys. You're recommending him to professional a guitar. He should probably start out with a Squire. He may not even like or stick with the instrument. American? Come on (laughs). No beginner even with expectations of continuing the instrument who may get discussted and quit after several attemps should be starting on something this caliber.


I don't completely agree with you. When I was in college, I picked up a cheapo epiphone to try to learn... no matter how hard I tried, it sounded bad... really bad. I gave my dream of learning after a few months of headaches, and gave the guitar away. A couple hundred bucks wasted.

Fast forward to about 6 months ago... I was at a pawn shop looking for a circular saw, when a neglected strat caught my eye. I walked out of the shop without a saw... but I did have a 1993 MIA strat, covered in grease and grime... for $150. I cleaned her up, had her set up... and now I am truly enjoying playing. Not a day goes by that I don't play for at least a little while. AND... if I decide now that I don't want to play (Highly unlikely) I can easily sell my guitar for more than I paid for it.

Soooooo... after all that... I say, buy the best that you can afford. If you are unsure if you really want to learn, find a teacher, and ask if they have a "loaner" guitar that you can take a lesson or 2 with.

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Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:07 am
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about a year ago I decided to pick up a guitar and teach myself to play and I was in the same predicament. I've always wanted a strat and i fell in love with the look of the electron blue with rosewood fretboard.

I was determined to get the closest I could to that with a Squier. So I went down to the nearest GC in Allentown to try out a couple different guitars.

As luck would have it, right as I walk in the door there's a 2006 MIM electron blue with rosewood on sale for $250. I couldn't pass up that deal and walked out with the strat I fell in love with and couldn't have been happier (and the 12 month financing helped too). It was meant to be, I don't think I can ever part with this guitar.

My point is: you'll know your guitar when you see it and play it. You never know what you might find when you walk in that door.


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