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I’m looking for a recommendation regarding what electric guitar to buy.
I started playing guitar in my teens, I kept it up for a good few years and got to a half decent standard. Then I went off to college and my interests shifted to other things. Cut to ten years later and I’ve gotten the love back big time. I’ve been getting lessons on my acoustic for the past few months, I am progressing nicely and I’ve started looking at buying an electric.
Back in my late teens I was a die-hard Metallica and bought a LTD KH-202. I still have it but my musical tastes have move on somewhat so it doesn’t really suit what I’m into playing now. I’m into a lot more blues/rock music now….Rory Gallagher, Zeppelin, Floyd, Hendrix etc.
I’ve a budget of about €1,000 which could be stretched a little. Ideally I’d love a Les Paul Standard, I just love their tone, however with pending nuptials and a house build in the next year I can’t spend that kind of cash. So far, a second had US Strat seems to be top of the list. I like how they play and sound however my dislikes are that they can sound a bit ‘quacky’ at times and the tremolo, for which I have no want or need. I really dislike the look of the Tele so I’ve discounted them.
I’m in no way hung up on having one of the big brands. Primarily I’m looking for a good quality guitar (without a tremolo) that feels and sounds good. I will be using a Bassbreaker 15 Combo.
With that in mind, I’d love to hear your suggestions!
Cheers
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Comments
“Theory is something that is written down after the music has been made so we can explain it to others”– Levi Clay
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/170324309244001--squier-bullet-stratocaster-black-hss-hardtail
Good way to rule something out at the very least and the bullet strats seem to get good reviews.
£1,000 is a healthy budget to play with, and you should easily be able to get a decent guitar for that. As @Sparky has suggested, a PRS SE would be well worth considering and well within budget.
You say you don't want a trem; remember that Hendrix used a whammy bar quite heavily, and it's really required for a lot of Floyd stuff. It might be worth getting a guitar with a trem and, if you find you really can't get on with it, blocking it.
Finally, for the artists you've mentioned it's worth budgeting for a few effects if not already sorted on this front; wah, fuzz, phaser, delay and reverb for starters.
https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/0170177300/solid-body-electric-guitars/fender-70s-hardtail-american-vintage-strat-in-3-tone-sunburst
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-USA-Hardtail-Stratocaster-Limited-Edition-10-for-15-/172861296756?hash=item283f561074:g:7EEAAOSwX7pZtree
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-USA-2015-Hardtail-Stratocaster-Limited-Edition-10-for-15-/182787462192?hash=item2a8efb5430:g:K7EAAOSw0K5ZyMg1
Was billed as AVRI but wasn't an accurate repro of a 70's strat. Forum consensus stated it was a essentially a hardtail American Special.
Failing that have a look online at Andertons YouTube channel. The 'Sound like x without busting the bank' videos always throw up some interesting suggestions. Here's a couple to get you started:
A Strat is always the right choice.
You can always block off the trem if you dislike it.
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/14052616460938--fender-robert-cray-stratocaster-rw-3-colour-sunburst?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxonYmq_H1gIVQ7ftCh3gxQReEAQYASABEgL7q_D_BwE
Personally, I'd probably go down the route of blocking or not using the trem. Some here will disagree, but IMHO part of the Strat sound comes from the trem springs. Having seen Robert Cray live last year I'd say that his Strat has more 'punch' to it than a regular Strat.
And I'd echo the "don't sweat the trem" comments. A lot of us have regular term-equipped strats but don't use them. It's perfectly valid