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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ On A Little Budget, Need Help With Guitar.
Posted by: Tjchep Oct 18 2007, 10:36 AM
Hey guys, I'm new, and this site is frigging amazing.
So if you want all the details, read below. Heres the question. What guitar do you guys recommend for a good all around guitar for under or around $350? Heres what I want in it, (stock obviously) H-H or S-S-H or H-S-H, and It has to have a tremelo system, I have little experience with floyd's, and was trying to avoid them just was not a fan of them really. I'd rather just a vintage style bridge.
I really like the Neo-classical, blues metal kind of stuff, and then jazz, I'm mainly focusing this guitar on, straight up leads, my other one does rhythm fine but versatility is not bad either. I want a fast neck, and a wood that provides a good sound, I will be going to guitar center to try out (most) hopefully all of your guys recommendations.
I tend to ramble so sorry, I hope you understood was I'm trying to ask for. Just ask questions and I'll be more than happy to answer them.
And what is your take on the OLP petrucci and steve lukather models, the music man models kick ass big time.
I have an ok guitar right now and a decent amp setup..
Its a Schecter C1+ going into a TS9DX Tube screamer (Serving as a distiortion boost) then finally into a Peavey Windsor with 2x Celestions GT75 speakers. (Note : I'll edit for spelling later).
Im pretty pleased with the sound I get. But for x-mas I was thinking about asking my family for A new guitar, and tweaking it a bit. ( I know in your head your probably saying why don't you mod your Schecter, just keep reading)
Im doing this for the obvious two reasons really. I want a better sound( Clearer more defined notes) And I want a better feeling faster guitar. My guitar is just so clunky and I hate the F-space that it has.
While not getting into why I don't love my current guitar, lets talk about what I would like some advice on.
I was thinking to get either a John Pettruci OLP or A Steve Lukather OLP. Today I played the real Steve Lukather Music man, and I LOVED the feel..
This primarily is going to be my main guitar for now, so what Mods should I do to the guitar that I choose, I was thinking basic, maybe a new tremlo new pickups, new tuners and probably a brass nut or something.
I know I've said want like 300 times but..
Thanks for reading and helping me out..
-Tj
Posted by: dogman Oct 18 2007, 10:58 AM
You will be surprised at what you can get for $300.00 if you're patient and shop around.
Try going to guitarcenter.com and click on used equipment. after you click on guitar put $300.00 in the highest price and you will see every used guitar for $300.00 and under at every Guitar Center in the country.
I just saw alot of nice stuff at decent prices that fall into what you're looking for.
And you can talk them down as if you're in the store with them when you call too. Better than Ebay... 
Good luck 
Posted by: Tjchep Oct 18 2007, 11:03 AM
Thanks!
Posted by: MickeM Oct 18 2007, 04:45 PM
Instead of having two guitars you're not 100% satisified with why not go for one killer guitar?
Just an idea, put the Schecter on eBay. Get the 24 fret Petrucci model for christmas, get a set of pickups for what you get from the schecter. A set of AirNorton and D-Sonic and put on your new Petrucci model.
My guess is that soundwise that guitar will be totaly right!
...I didn't get what you mean about not liking F-spaced pickups. It's just a Fender sized measure used, you get it in a lot of guitars.
Posted by: Scott Gentzen Oct 18 2007, 10:29 PM
Try going to guitarcenter.com and click on used equipment. after you click on guitar put $300.00 in the highest price and you will see every used guitar for $300.00 and under at every Guitar Center in the country.
I just saw alot of nice stuff at decent prices that fall into what you're looking for.
And you can talk them down as if you're in the store with them when you call too. Better than Ebay...
Good luck
I agree with the above. I also like poking around pawn shops and Craigslist. You gotta be more careful to be sure you're getting what you think you are though.
Some of the folks here swear by Mexican Strats for bang for the buck and they're in your range new. Used ones are a bit cheaper. I think a lot of folks prefer swapping out the pickups though.
I've been looking into Ibanez guitars from the 80's myself lately. I saw a late (87 or 88, I think) Satriani series go on eBay for around $350 last week. Most of them have Floyd licensed bridges on them but sometimes you'll come across one with a hardtail or a Strat-style bridge.
Posted by: Tjchep Oct 19 2007, 04:27 AM
Just an idea, put the Schecter on eBay. Get the 24 fret Petrucci model for christmas, get a set of pickups for what you get from the schecter. A set of AirNorton and D-Sonic and put on your new Petrucci model.
My guess is that soundwise that guitar will be totaly right!
...I didn't get what you mean about not liking F-spaced pickups. It's just a Fender sized measure used, you get it in a lot of guitars.
I mean. Mabye its just myn or somthing, its just that little bit that the strings are spaced, its only like 4 mm or like . 333 mm more between each string, but that was SO hard getting used to for me, mabye its just how the scheters bridge is that I dont like, its just hard to explain, it takes alot more effort to play that guitar over-all.
And are you saying the music man petrucci? And I was thinking about Air norton for the neck and Steves special for the bridge. But you obviously seem to know more about all that than me. But from my understanding a steves special has very clear and defined notes, and thats what I'm really looking for.
If you mean the OLP I can prolly barter with my parents a bit, and get the olp petrucci model then ask for the pickups from my brothers and sisters, so I wont need to sell the Schecter.
And I always liked having a guitar just to do stupid stuff with, like scallop the frets (not necessarily stupid) learn how to put pickups in, do a paint job ect.
Thanks :-P
Posted by: MickeM Oct 19 2007, 02:20 PM
And are you saying the music man petrucci? And I was thinking about Air norton for the neck and Steves special for the bridge. But you obviously seem to know more about all that than me. But from my understanding a steves special has very clear and defined notes, and thats what I'm really looking for.
If you mean the OLP I can prolly barter with my parents a bit, and get the olp petrucci model then ask for the pickups from my brothers and sisters, so I wont need to sell the Schecter.
And I always liked having a guitar just to do stupid stuff with, like scallop the frets (not necessarily stupid) learn how to put pickups in, do a paint job ect.
Thanks :-P
Yeah I was talking about the affordable Petrucci model. Air Norton and Steves will do great, good choise. He's on Dsonic now and used to play Steves pickup. So either way it will be Petrucci like.
Posted by: Goliath Oct 19 2007, 10:34 PM
The bridge you're talking about is likely the string-thru body type that most schecters have (like on my gryphon). It's pretty standard. I don't like the neck profile on my schecter. I much prefer the necks on Jackson/Ibanez guitars.
You want a "tremolo" system but not a FR? FR's are about as good as they get, unless you go with the Fender system which isn't a true floating system and can go out of tune easy if you don't have locking tuners or install a locking nut. A FR bridge is probably the way you should go. As for worrying about upgrading, it's typically cheaper just to spring for a better guitar with better components. It cost me close to $200 US (parts and labor) to upgrade the pickups on my S470. For $200 higher than what an S470 runs, I could have gotten a prestige model with stock pick ups that would be much hotter.
I would scrape together some cash on your own working odd jobs and getting a guitar you REALLY want as to one that will be "ok". Don't buy a guitar you expect to upgrade, by one you're happy with and want to keep for a long time.
Posted by: Tjchep Oct 20 2007, 03:42 AM
You want a "tremolo" system but not a FR? FR's are about as good as they get, unless you go with the Fender system which isn't a true floating system and can go out of tune easy if you don't have locking tuners or install a locking nut. A FR bridge is probably the way you should go. As for worrying about upgrading, it's typically cheaper just to spring for a better guitar with better components. It cost me close to $200 US (parts and labor) to upgrade the pickups on my S470. For $200 higher than what an S470 runs, I could have gotten a prestige model with stock pick ups that would be much hotter.
I would scrape together some cash on your own working odd jobs and getting a guitar you REALLY want as to one that will be "ok". Don't buy a guitar you expect to upgrade, by one you're happy with and want to keep for a long time.
The main reason I said I didnt want a FR was because.. on the cheaper guitars typically, they suck, and would just cause me more grief. But I was thinking about what you said, about how I should just buy the guitar that I want. I'm only 15 years old right now, and I spend all my money from my past jobs, but I could always just get a real petrucci model, for liek 1000 on ebay.. saw one witha buy it now for 850.. And then do an I O U with my parents.
Mabye even just get an ibanez prestige off ebay.. or a js1000 or somthing..
Everythings still up in the air.. I could just wait till May of 08' to get a job.. but I feel that would hurt my progress alot..
But I think im just wining to much and should just wait it out a bit and get a really good guitar and just start looking now and ask my whole family for an ibanez RG2550e for a chrismas and birthday present..
But What do you guys think about the ibanez rg2550e, I'm going to go to guitar center and try one out if they have it. It not ill ask them to order it if you guys think its worth it to try it out..
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