Help with First Guitar and Amp

irhut · November 2016

Hello all

I want to start playing the electric guitar, having played a little bit of ukulele and a tiny bit of acoustic guitar. I have around £250 to spend in order to buy a guitar and amp. The music I enjoy is blues and rock. I listen to Pink Floyd, Clapton, Beatles, Mark Knopfler, Buddy Guy, Chris Rea etc.

I have been looking at the following options:

Squier Bullet HSS and Fender Mustang I V.2 about £220 in total

Yamaha Pacifica 012 and Fender Mustang I V.2 - £240

Squier Affinity HSS Series Strat Starter Pack which comes with Squier Affinity HSS and Fender Frontman 15g - £240

This guitar starter pack from a local Bristol shop called Lindo - https://lindoguitars.com/product/lindo-zst-electric-guitar-pack/

I keep going round in circles! Any help or advice would be would be much appreciated. Oh, and by the way, I also have very small hands - not sure if this matters!

Cheers Ian.

mikeyrob73 · November 2016

Have a look at the second hand market for that budget you could be looking at a classic Vibe Telecaster and a Fly amp

allen · November 2016

I could leave lots of comments/analysis, but I would say if you do have small hands you might consider a guitar with a shorter scale.

98% of electric guitars are either 25.5 inch scale or 24.75 inch scale. 'Stratocaster' and 'telecaster' shaped guitars are 25.5 and 'les paul' shapes tend to be 24.75. 24.75 is a tiny bit less of a stretch. Google images for those guitar shapes if you are not familiar.

All of the guitars you list are 25.5

By the way, I have a feeling that a mustang I will be far more satisfying/useful than a fender frontman.

You could go to a shop to try a les paul shaped guitar and then order something like this from thomann

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_sc_450plus_ld_vintage_series.htm

I could say a lot more, but won't as I tend to ramble on!

Good luck!

irhut · November 2016

I must admit I am a bit nervous about buying used as I don't really know what I am doing!

HAL9000 · November 2016

The Pacifica is a great guitar and will be very suitable for the genres you mentioned. However, if you can stretch to it go for the112V rather than the 012 as it has rather better pickups (Alnico-V) and is made from a better wood (alder rather than agathis).

The Mustang is probably as good an amp as any in that price range, although the Blackstar Core 10, Roland Cube 10, and Orange Crush 12 might also be worth taking a squiz at.

irhut · November 2016

Many thanks for the comments so far - so quick! I will take a look at the other amps and guitar suggested.

I have considered the 112v along with the Squire Affinity. Not sure I can manage the 112v but could may be stretch to the Affinity. Would the Affinity be better than the 012?

Bridgehouse · November 2016

Do the Affinity still have the slightly narrower neck? You might find that useful if you have small hands..

HAL9000 · November 2016

Bridgehouse said:

Do the Affinity still have the slightly narrower neck? You might find that useful if you have small hands..

Just spotted the 'small hands' comment in the original post. Yes the Affinity and Pacifica necks are both on the narrow side.

I don't think I've ever played an Affinity Strat, but I used to own an Affinity Tele which was a surprisingly good guitar for the money. @midlifecrisis seems impressed with his too...

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/86511/telecaster-convert/p1

ICBM · November 2016

To be honest given the influences you've listed I would get a standard Strat and not an HSS. I normally like the versatility of having a humbucker in the bridge, but there's just something 'right' about a traditional 3-single-coil Strat and all your influences use them. If you want a fatter more 'rocky' sound you can always use an EQ pedal, if you can't get what you want from the amp.

Go up to a bigger Mustang if you can at all afford it - the I isn't terrible, but the bigger models are much better. If you can't afford it I would still get the Mustang rather than the Frontman, no question. The Frontman isn't absolutely awful, but it's very primitive by modern standards and doesn't have a lot in the sound to keep you satisfied.

BRISTOL86 · November 2016

I was also sceptical about buying used but you'll get so much more for your money used in that price range. I'm really glad I did.

A used Pacifica 112 can be had for as little as £50-60 on Gumtree leaving a sizeable chunk of your budget for a good amp.

Shop carefully and you can find a used Yamaha THR10 amp and a used 112 for £250. I did this and I can't see how you could do much better for the money!

bazxkr · November 2016

As Bristol says if you pair a THR & a 112 that is a great match. The Mustang is probably the best modelling amp for little money out there & should tons of them around.

I am culling a lot of gear at the moment so check out the Peavey AT200 guitar (black) and the Fender G Dec30 amp on youtube and see what you think. They are great for starting to play. AT200 neck is very similar to the strat neck. 42mm at nut and 0.875" at 1st fret. I have small hands too. Hardtail (no tremolo bar)so no faffing around with trems/tuning. Does have the auto tune system if you wanna go there but I've always used it as a standalone guitar. The fender has built in tuner/modelling etc. You can also play backing tracks through it via aux in or the built SD card reader. This has it's own volume control so you can mix backing/guitar to suit. Nice pc of kit. Small footprint too so don't take over the room. I could put a kit together guitar/amp/gigbag/cable/plectrums/strap etc. Everything you need to start playing for within your budget.

Pretty sure you can run it through laptop with fender FUSE software too. Shame you are not local. really good to try gear first so you know it feels right in your hand.

If you think it might interest you drop me a pm, if not your thing no worries good luck with your search

Sassafras · November 2016

ICBM said:

Go up to a bigger Mustang if you can at all afford it - the I isn't terrible, but the bigger models are much better. If you can't afford it I would sti
get the Mustang rather than the Frontman, no question. The Frontman isn't absolutely awful, but it's very primitive by modern standards and doesn't have a lot in the sound to keep you satisfied.

High praise indeed!

ElectroDan · November 2016

Lot's of good advice already. I'd definitely stay away from the starter pack!
It seems like a lot of your influences use Strat's so you're probably looking along the right lines. But just in case you were thinking of a shorter scale length guitar, there is this in the Classifieds:
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/89771/fs-washburn-wi64-idol-series-120#latest
I remember being impressed by them when they came out.
Good luck either way.

irhut · November 2016

Wow so much brilliant feedback - thanks!

Bazxkr - thanks for the offer. I will look into it and give it some thought. But right now I need sleep!

irhut · December 2016

Ok I decided to go with s Pacifica 012 and mustang i amp. I was able to borrow one and have a play and it felt nice to me. I appreciate the advice regarding 2nd hand market, I think that is where my next guitar will come from! For now lots and lots of practice!

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