Buying a guitar (electric)

[DCJ311]

I'm looking to spend like $500-700 on the guitar and $300-400 on an amp. Maybe some accessories too, any suggestions?

[soon2b]

Pay an extra 100 or so and pick up a fender strat(american made, could find one used too for cheap), and a fender blues junior. really nice simple setup, great tone. Thats if youre into a very clean sound. If youre into metal [censored], doesnt matter what you get, just grab a distortion pedal, cheap amp, cheap guitar. the shittier it is, the better it is for metal.

[dizong]

[ QUOTE ]
Pay an extra 100 or so and pick up a fender strat(american made, could find one used too for cheap), and a fender blues junior. really nice simple setup, great tone. Thats if youre into a very clean sound. If youre into metal [censored], doesnt matter what you get, just grab a distortion pedal, cheap amp, cheap guitar. the shittier it is, the better it is for metal.

[/ QUOTE ]

what he said...
blues junior is a great value for a bedroom amp, also get an ibanez tube screamer pedal if you have extra cash

[mrcoughman]

Ya go for the american strat...or as a side option and as a matter of taste you could get an epiphone. In that price range you could get a nice les paul, or for a tad more you could get a sweet hollow body E-series

[nath]

I just get a friend of mine who knows his [censored] inside and out to look on ebay and tell me when something is a good deal

I've bought 3 guitars in the last 6 months like this

[Chicago]

I recently bought a Schecter Electric/Accoustic guitar with a custom fit hard case and an amp. Then I realized that I have absolutely no music talent at all. So if anyone is looking for a guitar I paid $600 for all of it and the amp is still in original package. Anyways its beautiful I just don't have the time for it that I thought and well.... I suck. Holla

Chicago

Any offers? I'm in Chicago burbs as well

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
Pay an extra 100 or so and pick up a fender strat(american made, could find one used too for cheap),

[/ QUOTE ]

Doesn't have to be american made. He could get a knock off(mexican version) and it'd sound decent enough to use. I have the mexican version and it works just fine.

A strat would give him lots of versatility soundwise. It's also very versatile as you can use it in many styles of music. So if he ever wants to branch out, it's easier to try new things on it.

Iirc, american mades tend to hold their value. Used ones weren't that much cheaper than the new ones. At least not when I was looking for one.

b

[ICallHimGamblor]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm looking to spend like $500-700 on the guitar and $300-400 on an amp. Maybe some accessories too, any suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

Anyone who gives you an answer without asking what kind of music you want to play is an idiot. Guitars for blues are different than guitars for rock are different than guitars for country.

Sooooo... what kind of music are you trying to play.

[DCJ311]

rock mainly. I'd prefer something with a hard, driving sound similar to Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains for example.

[ICallHimGamblor]

[ QUOTE ]
rock mainly. I'd prefer something with a hard, driving sound similar to Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains for example.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jerry used G&L guitars and Marshall amps on the first album. Both might be a little out of your price range.

Personally, I would buy a higher-level Ibanez or Schecter that is in your price range (make sure they have a humbucker pickup in the bridge position). Any good Gibson would be well beyond it. Do NOT buy a Strat for your musical style.

For an amp, I would find a used 5150 amp. You can probably find one in that range, and they have a surprisingly good tone. Otherwise, I would get the largest Line 6 combo amp you can afford. They have decent amp-modeling capabilities and decent speakers. Then you won't need any other effects or pedals.

Good luck. If you have specific questions, you can PM me.