Semi-newb With Cash To Burn, $4000 Options

[Chief Brody]

Yes indeed, yet another "help me decide what to buy" topic!

I hope you more knowledgeable folks will help me out.

Anyhoo, i've got $4000 to burn and primarily i'm interested in putting that towards a new guitar but i'm also willing to throw some of that money towards amp/effects if required.

I'll try to be as informative as possible as to what direction leaning towards. I'm here for guidance and ideas as i understand that ultimately i'm going to need to go out and get a feel for any potential buys first hand (all i lack is direction! ).

I started playing only a few months ago but thanks to GMC and a pretty rigid scehdule i'm progressing nicely. Unfortunately i'm not completely happy with the guitar i have. I was vastly inexperienced and relied on one of the store guys in aiding my purchase and for the price range i was looking for he pointed me in the direction of a Fender Jaguar.

Now i like the guitar don't get me wrong, but i feel i was misguided as i find it to be (IMO) not very newbie friendly as it's rather fiddly. I like playing it but it feels more like an interesting piece for the occassional play and not really what i want in my "primary" guitar.

So after a bit of saving, i'm ready to splash some more cash and set things right.

Here's the situation:

Music style(s) i like and want to play

I'm interested primarily in All forms of Rock, Blues and a little bit of Funk. I'm into metal too but nothing too extreme, just the standard stuff - which is to say shredding isn't really a style i'm going to play and i'm not going to be doing any neoclassical craziness (although i am interested in using exercises/techniques from that genre to improve my overall playing ability).

I'd ideally like a guitar that would be able to handle anything from Tool to John Mayer and everything inbetween, if possible.

Guitars

I really dig Les Pauls, SG's and Stratocasters but i'm open to other quality names too and i'm willing to admit that whilst i want a guitar that sounds great (for the music i wanna play) - i also want some that looks great too.

Examples of guitars i love the look of include SG Diablo's, SG/Les Paul Robot (and that crazy HD.6-X Pro Digital), Les Paul Studio, Pretty much any Stratocaster.

I'm open to all suggestions on this front.

Maintenance/Reliability

Obviously i'm more than willing to get my hands dirty and make some adjustments if need be, i'd really prefer a guitar that is set-up well from the start and won't require me to replace things (other than perhaps the strings). Somethings that's hardy and can take care of itself, although obviously i'm gonna take very good care of it - i'm not exactly gonna be throwing it off any bridges and hoping it still plays well

Misc

I play for personal satisfaction and like nothing more than being able to belt out some great licks and play songs that i initially didn't have a clue how to play. I do like a good bit of volume (as i have no neighbours at all ) but i'm not gonna be doing any gigging and if i do play for people it would only be small scale. Obviously i'd like something that complements the quality of the guitar and can help acheive the sounds i want so once again i'm very open to suggestions on this front (same goes for effects and such).


Phew, I know that's a lot to wade through but i'd rather give you lots of info because my next purchase is going to be the guitar that takes me from eager novice to all the levels above that (of which there are quite a lot!).

I appreciate any and all suggestions and guidance that you all can offer me!

Chief B.

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