I have been playing acoustic for a few years now and have really enjoyed it, but I’m looking into expanding to an electric as well. I have been researching a little bit and really like the sound/reviews for the Epiphone Les Paul standard plus top. It seems like a decent guitar without the price tag of the Gibsons. Does anyone in the mighty lavender room have any experience/ suggestions for me? Thanks! (yes, another guitar post this week… sorry)
It’s an ok guitar but in my opinion, still overpriced. My opinion, and I own one, get one of the Gibson Studio Vintage Mahagony. You either love or hate the dark, non painted finish. However, that guitar screams! Burstbucker Pro pickups and electronics same as the higher priced Gibbys. You can get that guitar on sale for just a little more than the Epi. YMMV
Like acoustics, electrics have distinct sounds so what you get should depend on what you like and what you’re going to play.
Plus, don’t forget the guitar is only part of the equation, you’ll need to consider amps too.
I’m more of a fender guy personally.
I’m with you there also. For a first guitar, I’d go Stratocaster over the Gibby. But, I’m a Strat and Tele guy anyway.
Thanks for the responses. I agree that I don’t have enough first hand electric experience. Could you explain why you would put a stratocaster over the gibson or epiphone?(playability, sound, price?) Im really looking to spend around 600 or less with the best bang for my buck.
If you’re thinking of going Epiphone, don’t. For the same money, just go on your local craigslist (or better yet, find a guitar forum) and buy a used Gibson Studio. There are screaming deals out there right now on used guitars.
First though, I’d go to your local sam ash or guitar center and play a couple fender guitars, and a couple gibson guitars… as well as any of the other 5000 brands out there. Go on feel… what feels best to play? I love Gibsons and cant bond with Fenders. The other guitarist in my band is the opposite.
BUT 90% of your tone comes from your amp. You should generally match your amp choice to the style of music you like to play.
I love classic rock (and sadly, being 31, the music from my youth is now classic rock) I have a small tube amp (Vox) for practicing at home and a bigger tube amp (fender deville) for playing live. If you like that type of music, and, I’d recommend getting a small wattage tube amp. You absolutely can’t beat the tone.
What music do you like? What’s your budget? I can make specific recommendations.
Im not playing in a band and don’t plan on being in one any time soon. I was hoping to get all that i needed to play for under 800. I am going to a local guitar center in the next couple weeks. As for what I want to play, really anything but hardcore metal. I really like things like the eagles, but would hope to play some stuff thats more bluesy. I know im not helping much there. Ive really grown to like the band dispatch and their guitar too though. Thanks for the help guys… I appreciate it.
Editing because I just saw your answer.
First the differences between fender and gibson. With Fender, the first thing to know is where it was built. USA, Mexico, China, Korea, Japan. New ones are built in USA, Mexico, and China. The ones in the USA made of real wood (ash, alder… ) Mexican and Chinese ones are a crap shoot. The finishes on ALL of them are some type of poly resin (almost like plastic). This is basically a plastic coating over the wood. It really nullifies any acoustic qualities the wood may have. It’s much faster and cheaper to mass produce guitats this way.
Some of the Mexican and Chinese guitars play and sound fantastic! Almost as good as the Made in USA models. Best bang for the buck would be a used Mexican Fender strat. I see them all over for $200ish.
Gibsons are made of mahogany (back and neck). Les Pauls have a maple cap. All gibsons are made in the USA. All gibson are finished with nitrocellulose. Nitro allows the guitar to resinate and it allows the guitar to age. All those iconic guitar heroes still have their famous guitar with them… It’s all beat up and looks amazing… nitro finish. Fender used to use this in the 50s and 60s (look up how much these go for!)
The major difference is going to be in the electronics though. Gibsons generally all have humbuckers and Fenders generally use single coil pickups. Both kinds of pickups can sound great.
With $600… I’d go with a used mexican strat (or even better, a older used Japanese strat) and a used tube amp. Crate makes some very under appreciated small tube amps… and you can find them all day for less than $300. I even think that with enough patience, you could score a digitech bad monkey distortion pedal too… all under 6 bills.
$800. same deal. Ideally, used Japanese strat from the 80s or 90s ($400), a professional set up ($60), a used small (15watts max) tube amp ($200), distortion or overdrive pedal ($60) 2 guitar cables, tuner, picks (medium or hard), extra set of strings.
I play blues and classic rock. The Strat is a pretty versitle guitar. You can really cover all types of music with it…Jazz, blues, rock, etc. I just like the punch and snap of the single coils better. I love the “in betwee” sounds of the strat. If you don’t know what that means, you have to to the GC and play one. It’s the sound when you choose the selections 2 and 4 (either both the neck and middle, or middle and bridge pickups). I like the way the Strat feels better when standing and playing. You have to play each and decide.
(yes, another guitar post this week… sorry)
IMO, the worst guitar/music/movie thread is better than the best religion/politics/union thread. Other than that, nothing to add, solid advice already given.
So from all these comments it looks like a strat is they way to go. Ill go to guitar center and play away next week. Thanks for the suggestions
If you have the money, the above advice is solid. You might prefer Gibson/ Epi necks over Fender necks. I think my old Fender played faster than anything I have touched since. I am looking around for a broken one I can fix to replace it.
That said, to ease me back into playing, my wife picked up a screaming deal on Black Friday a few years ago. Ephiphone SG. Yes, it is bargain basement. I swapped out the pickups inside a month. The stock ones had no sustain. And the tuners aren’t great. BUT- everyone who has played it likes it. I like it. I still want a Strat or Tele, too. I have a buddy who hates single coils. For whatever reason, he is a twin humbucker guy. Always has been. Just likes the tone. It helps that he plays mostly heavy stuff. I did find the Fender lacking on anything heavier than Black Sabbath.
I am a big believer in amp quality. The thing that came with the SG is okay for practicing. If I could spring it, I would have a VOX tube amp sitting here. If I get my wrist and hand mobility back all the way, I will pick one up. I would prefer a very mediocre guitar and a great amp any day over a great axe on a crappy amp.
Another advantage to a Strat is used guitars and cheap to replace parts are all over the place. Gibson projects don’t seem to run cheap. The humbuckers I dropped in my Epi were $120 all told. And that was finding them on sale cheap. Some of the more vintage p’ups are $$$ You can get some HOT pickups for a Strat for $60.
So from all these comments it looks like a strat is they way to go. Ill go to guitar center and play away next week. Thanks for the suggestions
If you are going to GC, don’t rule out Godins. Perhaps it’s my proximity to Canada and NH, but my next guitar will be one of theirs (I already own an acoustic from them). Their used guitars depreciate significantly more than Fenders or Gibsons, most likely due to name recognition, but are made in the US which is a selling point for me. I only get to go to GC when I’m on vacation, but I’m kicking myself for not buying this for just north of $500 on my last vacation (it is a Summit CT Flame):
Oooohhh… pretty! With Seymour Duncan!
Yes, Godin makes GREAT guitars. All of their lines are fantastic (Art & Lutherie, Seagull, Godin… maybe others that I dont know about). But the electrics are expensive and I dont know if they depreciate enough to really get into the OP’s price range… maybe with some luck. Godins are an interesting make (from the standpoint of fender vs gibson crowd). They are right in the middle.
and I cant stress enough how important the amp is. OP, Search ebay for the Bugera V5 or the Blackheart BH5112. Both are 5W tube amps made by top notch amp makers that would fit into your budget.
I dont know if they depreciate enough to really get into the OP’s price range… maybe with some luck. Godins are an interesting make (from the standpoint of fender vs gibson crowd).
Luck, or patience. Posted the link below (the URL was crazy long). They just don’t get a ton of bids usually. A couple of nice ones up now, but I’d try them (the brand) before buying.
AUCTION ENDED
BTE (“Best Thread Ever”)!
BTE (“Best Thread Ever”)!
In fact, yes. But in theory, a better thread would be about carbon clincher electric guitars.
Why are you “going electric?”
Does your acoustic have a pickup in it?
If not, have you considered adding one instead of buying a new guitar?
BTE (“Best Thread Ever”)!
In fact, yes. But in theory, a better thread would be about carbon clincher electric guitars.
Fixed it for you.
