Hey all, I'm thinking of buying an electric guitar, and I'm looking for advice on what kind to get. I know nothing about playing guitar, and it would be something I'd do just for fun. My budget right now for guitar is about $200, I dunno about an amp. Your help is much appreciated!

It doesnt matter how good your guitar is, if you don't have a good amp, it sounds like crap. I made the mistake of getting a 400 dollar guitar and just using the free amp. I bought a 150 dollar amp, and its much better, but not too great. Don't get an amp with effects to start off with. It really drives up the price. A good small amp would probably be a fender frontman. Get a good guitar, one you like, but don't forget just how important the amp is too.

this is the most.. well the name says it.. BUT its really cool.. I th i nk. daisyrock.com/ (http://daisyrock.com/)

musiciansfriend.com has some GOOD beginner packages that include amps. most fit within your budget, others are a bit more expensive. you can look here (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040226152336024205047148553048/g=home/search/d=tn/st=aux3_special/it=HIUH1). of the bunch, this one (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040226152336024205047148553048/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/518677/) looks really nice for how cheap it is.

i'd go with these type of starter deals. if you have a Guitar Center near you, i beileve they have similar deals (if you don't wish to order over the internet).

Wow. That link the Hollie provided you with is SUCH a good deal. You should seriously consider that one.

ebay also has some great deals on good guitars.... i play acoustic, but ive been looking for a good guitar for a long while... my dream electric would be the line 6 electric... and the vetta II amp... the set wouold cost like over 2000.. but believe me - it would be so worth it... take a look at www.line6.com . ebay usually has good package prices..

Yeah, I would say if you're a beginner, working with anything by name brand (Fender, Epiphone) is good for a start. What ever you do don't go with Ibanez, B.C. frickin' Rich, or ESP. These guitars are designed specifically for looks, and are not going to improve your skill, they only cover up your innability to play. But don't worry about anything really big unless you're going to move up and you're willing to spend the money. Whatever your price bracket is, make tone number one. PLUG IN to EVERY guitar you look at. Play it, see if you like the tone, whatever makes you go, "WHOA!" But don't make a decision without playing everything. Look into the feel and the play-ability, and everything that makes your mouth water. This will make your experience far less regretable! ;D

ebay also has some great deals on good guitars.... i play acoustic, but ive been looking for a good guitar for a long while... my dream electric would be the line 6 electric... and the vetta II amp... the set wouold cost like over 2000.. but believe me - it would be so worth it... take a look at www.line6.com . ebay usually has good package prices..


Don't listen to this guy! This is a dangerous place to be unless you've heard tube amplification! Line 6 equipment is good, but nothing compares to true all-tube amplification.

P.S. Sorry relentlessone, but I couldn't let this dude wander in the darkness.

musiciansfriend.com has some GOOD beginner packages that include amps. most fit within your budget, others are a bit more expensive. you can look here (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040226152336024205047148553048/g=home/search/d=tn/st=aux3_special/it=HIUH1). of the bunch, this one (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040226152336024205047148553048/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/518677/) looks really nice for how cheap it is.

i'd go with these type of starter deals. if you have a Guitar Center near you, i beileve they have similar deals (if you don't wish to order over the internet).


i agree. good suggestions. ;)

Hey thanks guys! I have a friend that plays guitar, we might have to go shopping sumtime soon... :D

Don't listen to this guy! This is a dangerous place to be unless you've heard tube amplification! Line 6 equipment is good, but nothing compares to true all-tube amplification.

P.S. Sorry relentlessone, but I couldn't let this dude wander in the darkness.


tube amplification? mind expanding a bit on that definition?
p.s. - no apologies needed... but fyi ... i be a girl not a guy ;D

Whatever your price bracket is, make tone number one. PLUG IN to EVERY guitar you look at. Play it, see if you like the tone, whatever makes you go, "WHOA!" But don't make a decision without playing everything. Look into the feel and the play-ability, and everything that makes your mouth water. This will make your experience far less regretable! ;D

but what if you don't even know how to play a chord? when i was a beginner, i couldn't tell you the difference between guitars and tones because i couldn't play.

you may want to look into PRS 's student edition guitars, some of them are as low as $500 brand new, so if you find one used it may be real inexpensive. I play a Paul Reed Smith Santana SE....it is an excellent guitar (i've been playing for 6 years, this is my second guitar and i love it) So, you may be able to get a real good one for a real low price (the reason being is that they're made in korea)

PRS (http://www.prsguitars.com/)

PRS SE EG (http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/SEEG-TREM-BLUE.htm)

This is almost exactly like mine (http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/SSEII-TREM-SS.htm)

also note that what they are saying about amps is very true...dont go for the cheapest one you can buy

aaaaand........you may want to forget all of this and go for one of those beginner sets they've been talking about ;D

and about about_worth's comment...yeah, is there anyone you can shop around with that knows guitars well?

not real well, but a heck of a lot better than I do.

don't buy a classical acoustic!

LOL perhaps you didnt read the original post. I'm only interested in electric, no need to worry about me buying an acoustic...

tube amplification? mind expanding a bit on that definition?
p.s. - no apologies needed... but fyi ... i be a girl not a guy ;D

Sorry about that. A tube works a lot like a capacitor, it's what draws the power from your outlet, and in essence amplifies your sound. There are two stages to your amplification, the pre-amp and the power stage. The pre-amp tubes form your sound, (highs, lows, mids, gain). The power stage is what makes your amplifier really loud. Line 6 has done a really good job at mimicking this tone that is produced by tubes, but you're talking about spending probably just about as much money as on like a little hot rod Fender amp, not to mention the tone just doesn't match up to the real thing. There are harmonics that are lost with Line 6 equipment that you can only get from real tube amplification.
I'm a nerd! :-X

There are harmonics that are lost with Line 6 equipment that you can only get from real tube amplification.

yeah, that's what i've heard. when i was looking into getting an amp, i looked at a line6 but figured it'd wouldn't sound as good as the real deal. so i didn't get it after all.

I have an electric gutiar but its my dads old one and it doesnt have an amp but it has the coard for it and it is really old but it works and i am happy with it i just wish i could play more than two notes on it.....