Prog Electric Guitar Models

Storm-Crow wrote: Thank you so much for all the suggestions!  They have been most helpful in my goal of purchasing a guitar. It seems the majority of people are swaying towards recommending the Fender Strat.  I was checking out some of the local music shops, and this guitar seems to be priced around 800 for the american-made version and 500 for the mexican ones.  I was also checking about some of the usual online-buying suspects (ebay, etc.)  and discovered that the Maxican-made strats drop in price significantly once they've been used for a year or two.  I would likely be able to purchase one from a reliable seller for around $250 or so.  Would this be a good idea? Also, we here in Vancouver are lucky enough to have a Tom Lee music store which seems to offer the best prices in the area.  They currently have what i believe to be an amazing deal on an Ibanez RG170R-- which ive looked up and seems to usually sell around $300-350.  However, they currently have it on sale for $230 Canadian (190ish US)  The problem is that even i know this model is built for metal-heads.  Yet would it be a good option for a beginner like me?

Hey, just go down to Seattle and buy one minus the GST!  I lived in Seattle for 7 years a while back, and there were lots of music stores.  Unfortunately, it was long enough ago that I wouldn't be willing to make recommendations.  There was this cool little place on NE 65th St though, just a half block from 15th Ave NE.  I'm still kicking myself for not buying a Chapman Stick I saw there once, but I didn't have the >$1000 (I was in grad school).

Anyway, you can bring one back over the border, and if it's used just claim that you were down with some buddies.

Heptade wrote: Good idea. Seattle has come cool places, including one of those fancy Guitar Centers.

Watch those GC guys though--in my experience, awfully slimey salesmen (with exceptions, obviously).  In fact, guitar store salesmen aren't exactly the most honest folks in the world--similar to car salesmen!  [sorry if any of you are reading this, but you know it's true! ]

In general, I always know what the fair price is with musical gear, and I never settle for the ticket price.  Research pays!  If nothing else, I'll pull the old "well, a little expensive for me.  Just out of my range" routine.  Remember that pricing in music stores, especially those that sell mostly new gear, is set to get early teen's parents to cough up substantially more than the gear is worth.  I also always get them to throw in a cord to finish the deal: "tell you what, throw in that 20' cord and we'll do it."  ALmost all of my support gear was gained this way (guitar stand, mic stand, cords, etc)

Think about two guys haggling in a middle-eastern souk. 

It appears as if the mexi-made strats are right in my ideal price range... how would they stack up to the American-made strats?  Would it be a better bet to go with the Ibanez RG170R for $230 Canadian?

If I were you, I'd go for a Yamaha Pacifica without doubt. The best guitar under £300 in England so it should easily be in your price range. Looks and plays like a Strat and is far better built than the Fender Squier Strats. It would do well until you can afford a more advanced model. The Epiphone Les Paul is a good alternative with a more chunky, less "singy" sound. One of the guitarists in my son's band plays one and it's a very fine guitar. The other guitarist in the band has a Ibanez and hates it (but Ibanez basses are fine since my son has a BTB 6 string so this may be personal prejudice). I know other guitarists who swear by Ibanez.

Mexican Fenders are excellent quality since Fender's QC is legendary - it really isn't worth paying a premium for the American models except for snob value - so a second hand Mex Strat might be a possibility.

Good luck!

I'm sixteen and have been playing guitar for about four years now. Being a prog-fan I've naturally tried to get my hands on the guitars of my heroes or similar models. I'll throw some at you.

Both Kerry Livgren and Richard Williams from Kansas use Dean Hardtails (Which I also own)

Kerry, seen here, is playing a Dean. I bought mine here at Zzounds.com at the cheapest price (nearly a steal for a great sounding guitar as it is.) It's sleek and it's extremely flexible towards tone. I've thrown out squealing blues, roaring metal, delicate harmonics, and even pop-esque tunes with it.

Another, common, option for more laid back players is an archtop of sorts. Steve Howe, of Yes, plays a Gibson L-5 and a Gibson ES-175 (Which I'd kill to get my hands on). He even has a Signature Archtop Gibson ES-175 for a whopping 3k.

Howe, seen here, has been defining classic prog rock for years. A place that was recently put in the back of Guitar Player magazine has excellent archtops for unbelievable prices is Phillips Guitars, I'm actually going to get a job next summer just to buy the Nouveau 17. I suggest getting one of these!

There's thousands of other players out there who all play different things. Petrucci, of *gasp* Dream Theatre, plays Ibanez guitars which are stylized more towards shredding and hard-rock. The members of Glass Hammer play Ibanez, Guild, and Gibson Les Paul guitars. I heard once from a teacher of mine that the guitar equals only about 30% of the actual sound, the rest is the amp. I believe this, so if you're planning on electric, be prepared to try out many amps before you find one with a tone you like.

Some good sites to go to are Musiciansfriend.com and Zzounds.com. Both, have great deals and excellent service.

If you want to buy the guitar of the internet, then I suggest you go to a local music store and play the models you see on the net and are interested in.

When choosing your guitar, it can be very overwhelming your first time. Try this link before you buy one.

Alright, hope this all helps you. Good luck!


Edited by CalamityDaemon

CalamityDaemon wrote: There's thousands of other players out there who all play different things. Petrucci, of *gasp* Dream Theatre, plays Ibanez guitars which are stylized more towards shredding and hard-rock. The members of Glass Hammer play Ibanez, Guild, and Gibson Les Paul guitars. I heard once from a teacher of mine that the guitar equals only about 30% of the actual sound, the rest is the amp. I believe this, so if you're planning on electric, be prepared to try out many amps before you find one with a tone you like.

Petrucci used to play Ibanez guitars, he now plays Music Man guitars exclusively. They're extraordinary - and also extraordinarely expensive.

Storm-Crow: If you - for some reason - don't want to try the Variax, I recommend the Pacifica. There may be many models, but as you are a beginner, it doesn't matter much which one you choose. If possible, you should choose a H-S-H guitar (Humbucker - Single Coil - Humbucker).

Storm-Crow wrote: I never knew yamaha made guitars (i guess they make pretty much everything these days tho.)

Yamaha have been producing quality guitars for years. Carlos Santana is the only famous artist I know offhand who uses them. I actually went in to buy a yamaha sg back in the 70s when it was on a special deal, but by the time I got there, the recording studio around the corner had beat me to it- had to settle for a les paul custom, which I was lucky to get. Back then it was very diffucult for a lefty to find them in store.

MikeEnRegalia wrote: CalamityDaemon wrote: There's thousands of other players out there who all play different things. Petrucci, of *gasp* Dream Theatre, plays Ibanez guitars which are stylized more towards shredding and hard-rock. The members of Glass Hammer play Ibanez, Guild, and Gibson Les Paul guitars. I heard once from a teacher of mine that the guitar equals only about 30% of the actual sound, the rest is the amp. I believe this, so if you're planning on electric, be prepared to try out many amps before you find one with a tone you like. Petrucci used to play Ibanez guitars, he now plays Music Man guitars exclusively. They're extraordinary - and also extraordinarely expensive. Storm-Crow: If you - for some reason - don't want to try the Variax, I recommend the Pacifica. There may be many models, but as you are a beginner, it doesn't matter much which one you choose. If possible, you should choose a H-S-H guitar (Humbucker - Single Coil - Humbucker).

Musicman are great but so expensive. me i have an olp version it kicks A*** and with a v-amp i could get it so sing.
HSH guitars are very cool and Ibanez sells a cheap one for $225 but the pickups are horrible

He's right. You will not get a Fender sound from a Dean, but it really depends on what you're after. Fenders have an extremely flexible sound, they can be blues, punk, sleek, prog, whatever. The only problem I ever had with a Fender is that everyone and their little brother has one. They're cheap, they're good guitars, but they're as common as weeds.

The Hardtail is a little more off the wall. I certainly love mine, which is the same model you're looking at. The pickups arn't bad either.

But, personally, I'm dying to get my hands on one of the Phillips Guitar models. It's your call really. The Dean is at a good price, likewise is the Phillips. Fenders will always be cheaper, and extremely durable (Just look at SRV's guitar!), but once I saw Fender brand shoes I never wanted to even look at a Fender again.


Fight the power, eh!?
 

Edited by CalamityDaemon