I wasn't sure if I should start a new thread about this, but I'm thinking about trying to convince my parents to get me a guitar for Christmas. I'm not very good at guitar yet, but I'm learning, and I need something to learn on.

So how much should I be looking to pay for a really low quality electric guitar/amp?
Also, what brands would you recommend?

Avoid Fender Squiers.

I'll say what I said in the other thread, I have an Ibanez RG321MH, you can get cheaper electrics but its not exactly touching mid range and it sounds awesome.

Amp... I have a bog standard 15w Marshall and it sounds fine.

As I suggested the other guy (forgot his name ), a beginners pack is the way to go. $300ish you get guitar, amp (depending on brand, anywhere from a 4" to 8"), cables and soft case. The guitars aren't the best (IE: kinda lame tone), but tht doesn't matter while you're learning. Get where you can play, then get a better axe later on. Another alternative is take them to a music shop, and buy some used gear. I found a used LP for just short of $200 (paintjob was chipped, I think the nut was starting to fall off). I didn't buy it cause I was dead broke at the time, serious bbummer.

No, beginners "packs" aren't worth it. Not only is the actual equipment poorly made and lowsy, but getting made fun of for having a cheap Squire isn't too great either. Not only would it hurt his self esteem in terms of playing in front of others ( especially if they point it out), but he could also blame his troubles with learning the instrument on the cheap guitar itself. Why have a crappy little amp like that? He won't be at the level where really any amplification is necessary. He isn't playing in front of a group, nor is he going to be advanced enough to need to fool around with effects.

If you really want an electric, find a better quality no-name brand, or older guitars. Companies like Kramer, Harmony and Dillon made pretty good instruments back in the day, and you can still find them around for really cheap. Hell, one of my friends picked up a Kramer as his first guitar, for $200 or less, great condition, and is at the performing level now and it's still his main electric. Great action and tone, just not as a flashy name as Fender or Ibanez. Go into a local guitar shop, they should have some lesser known brand guitars around, only so many shops carry Gibson or Fender.

Your first guitar should be a well made one. It's not like it's going to really get banged up or anything if you take care of it. You aren't going to mess it up in any way by playing it. I'm not saying you should go pay anything in excess of $300 though, there are quality things out there for cheap.

Honestly I think you should just get an acoustic(or acoustic/electric). You can get the amplification you need without an amp, at a reasonable price, and real quality( and beautiful tone!).

I'd go for a $300 electric (Fender Squier, Epiphone, Ibanez), and just get a $40 Marshall mini-amp if you're not planning on playing with anybody. Save the money on the amp and get yourself a better axe to learn on.

for the guitar... liek some said you really can't beat a used guitar when looking for something to learn on... you can get a really good instrument fairly cheap that way

for the amp (if you go electric) i recommend this amp i've messed around with one for a while once and liked what i heard

Absolutely avoid Squier, they are cheap and have crappy tone. I suggest you go for a cheaper model Ibanez Artcore ($240 - 350), my uncle says they're pretty nice.

i got my electric acoustic tanglewood for £200, although it was worth £350, but the shop was selling it cheap cos it was closing down.

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

Hmm. I think I'll start looking around for used electrics. I think I'd rather have a guitar that will work even when I get to performing level. I'm not that bad, and I've already been learning on a borrowed guitar for a while.

Thanks for all the advice, but I haven't been able to pick up from this thread how much I should be looking to pay for a small practice amp. Any ideas?

The thing about guitars, most of the time you get more the more money you spend, in my experiance atleast. I compared my $300 Samick Interceptor to my friends $140 Squier, and mine was better ten fold. All I can say is stay away from Squiers, because first off you'll get teased, number two, you're going to have to get a new guitar if you plan on ever doing shows anyways, and number three.. they just don't sound good. But you can find some high quality off brand stuff for alot cheaper then a well known competitors equal model.. so don't get me wrong on that..

My Squier is pretty decent. Of course, it's been modified a ton, too.

I liked my Squire.

Never got made fun of.

If you can find a Jay Turser dealer near you, try them out. I swear these guitars play better than the 'big names' in MOST cases. My guitar teacher has a tele and I would take that thing over a Fender tele any day. His SG rivals a Gibson in looks, playability, and even tone, though it isn't a perfect match, the quality is as great. I personally play a semi hollow LP style body, and I love it absolutely to death. They have such a range and such quality for such a low price that they are hard not to consider.



That's mine, I have a straight black with cream trim though.

The JT-30[/ur] is supposed to be pretty good, but try to play any guitar you get to see if it works for you. Even if you just run your fingers over the fretboard and can't play yet, get your hands on it if possible.

The [url=http://www.jayturser.com/jt_electric2.htm]JT-LT is the other low price range. You don't really NEED an amplifier at first, I personally only play with an amp when I want to get a song down pat sound for sound. If you are learning to play that is not neccesary.

You may also want to go the acoustic route, in which case I will again reccomend Jay Turser, but this time, the Jay Jr. line. Despite being a 'cheaper line' these guitars have great tone and sustain and are well made and easy to play.

That's just my input. These guitars are great to start out with, and can take you far too.

and how much did that company pay you to post on this thread? :p

+1 for Jay Turser. GREAT buys. I have only had a chance to play a couple acoustics, but from what I played, fantastic guitars. Great tone, and usually look fantastic as well. This one I was fiddling around with had a vine inlay on the fretboard, really nice. Usually under $300 as well. One of my grandfather's good friends owns a guitar shop in NM( where I tried them out), he's a real collector of vintage acoustics. Actually just got an original Gibson (LG-00)? I think it is, it's the exact same series, make, model, etc, of Robert Johnson's guitar, a real find. But anyway, I was talking to him, and he said out of all the guitars he's played and owns, the Jay Turner ones rival most of his in tone/sound.

I have to also reccomend Jay Turser, nice guitars.