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Post subject: Help Please! First Guitar
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:41 pm
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Hey guys I'm looking to buy my first guitar and I'm looking for some opinions on what I should buy. I've never played a guitar ever so I'm completely a beginner. I've narrowed it down to two choices so if you guys could give me your opinions on these two and their pros and cons and stuff that would be awesome.

Fender Starcaster Strat Pack
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00193WLZO/ref=s9_csds_c2_t3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=00T6GXWQ8JFSH226B9QB&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938811&pf_rd_i=507846

Fender Stop Dreaming Start Playing SE Special Strat Pack With Squier SP-10 Amp
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Stop-Dreaming-Start-Playing-SE-Special-Strat-Pack-With-Squier-SP-10-Amp-104486238-i1177837.gc

I know a lot of people say don't buy these starter kits but I've never touched a guitar before so I don't need anything great and they're both around my budget. If I get good and like it I'm definitely going to upgrade but this is just going to be for now.

Which amp and other accessories are better as well? Thanks


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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:01 pm
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Get an acoustic, and build your fret hand strength. So that way if you can play anything fairly good on an acoustic it will be even better on an electric.


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Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:14 pm
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Hmm, out of those two... i'd go with the squier.

I haven't played the starcaster myself. but i have heard some questionable things. like crappy pickups, and tuning issues.

I started with one of the squier "stop dreaming, start playing" kits, I had the affinity series HSS with the Bullet 150 amp, and it is a great sounding guitar, and was well worth the 200$ i think i payed for it.

I cant say for that squier, but i would highly reccomend them over the starcasters.

Yeah, i've been playing for some years now, and i still have that squier. still a great guitar.

Go with the squier man, find the one with the bullet 150 amp if you can...
Its a great little guitar to start on, and will last you a while.


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Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:24 pm
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I still say you start the old fashion way.


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Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:51 pm
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I say go for the squire. but either is a good starter guitar.

i respectfully disagree that yiu need to start on an acoustic. i think you need to play whichever style of guitar you think is the most fun.

there is merit to the idea of an acoustic because it is always clean, and harder to hide sloppy play, and the building finger strength thing because of the generally higher action, and heavier strings, but I feel all that is outweighed by the fun factor. if playing electric is what draws you toward playing, then go for it. Nothing will stop you from buying an acoustic later, if you are so inclined. i own a few of each kind myself.

my first ever guitar was acoustic, but the first one i started to seriously learn on and play was electric. been over 20 years of joy now.

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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:31 am
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Look into a used MIM on your local craigslist.


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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:39 am
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I started with the Starcaster pack and was very pleased. I do not regret it at all.

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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:06 am
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My friend bought an SE pack a while back. It's not a bad package. Amp sounds good, guitar plays nice, but I'd look at an Affinity kit.

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:48 am
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atolleter wrote:
Look into a used MIM on your local craigslist.


I agree - a used guitar for the same price is going to be a much better instrument. A starter guitar from Shopco, Target, etc is usually in a sealed box - for some reason they don't seem to want people to be able to check them out closely or try to play them. If you DO find an open box, take it out & try a few chords(if you don't know any - fake it). Run your hands up & down the neck. Then go to your local pawn shop or music store. Try a few used ones in the same price range. Even if you've never played before you will notice the better quality. One of the reasons why some people give up the guitar after a few weeks is that their fingers hurt. Even most good guitars hurt the fingers till you build up calluses but the cheap starter guitars are the worst. I saw a Starcaster at the pawnshop last month and picked it up just for the heck of it - I've got over 30 years worth of calluses and didn't make it through one song. It just wasn't worth it. If it was my first guitar and I still had "fresh" fingers, I never would have put the hours of practice into it that you need to do to learn. Shredding isn't supposed to mean tearing the flesh off your fingers.
You might not get a free amp with used guitar but you will get a better guitar and that is more important. You can always play without one while you save up. Cheap amps are easy to find - most pawn shops(around here anyway) have a bunch for less than $30.

A used Affinity model Squier should cost less than the starter kit and if you luck out your local pawn shop might even have a cheap amp that together could add up to less than your starter kit. Not that the Affinity model is that great, but it is a big improvement. Easier on the fingers, better pickups and bridge. And you don't have to retune it every other song.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:42 am
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Quote:
A used Affinity model Squier should cost less than the starter kit and if you luck out your local pawn shop might even have a cheap amp that together could add up to less than your starter kit. Not that the Affinity model is that great, but it is a big improvement. Easier on the fingers, better pickups and bridge. And you don't have to retune it every other song.


That's also true. I've seen Affinity Strats on craigslist going for $50.

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-Classic 50's Strat.
-Std. Telecaster.
-Mike Dirnt P-bass.
-Custody of SE Strat.
-Peavey Predator/Dean Evo/Epiphone DR150/Gibson Slide (much older than me).

Rellik Productions Inc.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:06 pm
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I think you should but the Squier set because squier guitars are much better quality than starcaster ones. Or buy an acoustic and start of on that then move to electric


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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:08 pm
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It's been two weeks so you've probably pulled the trigger by now, but I fall into the 'buy a used guitar' camp. You'll get more for the money, better resale value and have less worry about it changing after it's been played a while. Most importantly, practice and enjou!


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:05 pm
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randyland wrote:
It's been two weeks so you've probably pulled the trigger by now, but I fall into the 'buy a used guitar' camp. You'll get more for the money, better resale value and have less worry about it changing after it's been played a while. Most importantly, practice and enjou!


And you have a better platform for modding later.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:20 pm
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I would go for the squier..


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:48 pm
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darwintheband wrote:
Get an acoustic, and build your fret hand strength. So that way if you can play anything fairly good on an acoustic it will be even better on an electric.

Would you believe I sometimes use my acoustic-electric 12-string as a "work-out" before jamming on my electrics? By the time I get done jamming on the 12, the electrics feel "lightning fast." :)

Matt

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