I have a stable of about ten cheap, shitty guitars. From the lightweight and fun but impossible to tune Silvertone, to the "neck will bend as soon as the temperature rises or drops more than 3 degrees" Danelectro copy, to the wholly useless sprakly Brownsville with intonation problems.
I'm looking to spend about $600-800. In my old days I relied heavily on Telecasters and 'metal' guitars (like BC Rich and ESP, which are always pretty reliable but look dumb) but sold those off long ago.
Tone is most important. Remember in Spinal Tap, when Nigel is talking about the guitar you can play a note and 'go out for a bite' and come back and it's still ringing? That's what I want. What kind of guitars did Flower Travelin' Band use? Should I go hollow body? Semi hollow?
I also want a guitar that doesn't have to be tuned between each song.
I'm totally interested in classic Travis Beans (duh) but no way am I paying $2,000 for something that will be bumping around in the back of a van for months at a time.
I alternate between playing heavy fuzz / psych rock and creepster acoustic (but electric) blues. For pedals I use the Holy Grail, Big Muff, A shitty old Boss delay pedal, and a few random metal pedals from time to time. I use an Orange solid state amp (one of those reissues) and will probaly go tube asap. But new guitar is first. I had to borrow one for a gig the other night. That just won't do.
Someone on the I Make Music board has already recommended a Guild Starfire. Checking it out now...
Help if you can.
― God Body Population One, Wednesday, 5 October 2005 03:06 (twenty years ago)
Anything by Gibson will conquer your needs. New low-level is fine. Used SG jrs are fine. Spend and thrill.
― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 04:11 (twenty years ago)
But are Epiphones generally bad news?
If I'm going heavy, should I avoid hollow bodies? I just like the FEEL of hollow bodies - but they don't seem to sustain quite as well as solid bodies (probably due to their acoustic properties).
― Gosh Buddy, Wednesday, 5 October 2005 04:21 (twenty years ago)
I really like my Epiphone Les Paul. The owner before me put some Seymour Duncan pickups in it and it sounds great.
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 04:40 (twenty years ago)
don't get an epiphone, it's only a step up from what you have now i.e.- something that you will surely find faults with and want to upgrade.
hollow bodies in general have dreadful sustain, it's just not their forte. you probably also would want to consider humbuckers.
many many psych-guitar heroes past and present have rocked Gibson SGs. they can be found in your price range, especially the newer 'faded' series which are pretty decent values for the money. alas, both my gibson sg and les paul custom aren't the best on staying in tune.
if you're used to the way telecasters feel and play, and you want something with a heavier sound, may i suggest the tele custom (the one with one or two humbuckers and an LP-style toggle switch).
― tremspeed, Thursday, 6 October 2005 01:10 (twenty years ago)
or a thinline tele. or whatever it's called. the one with an f-hole cutout and is semihollow.
― AaronK (AaronK), Thursday, 6 October 2005 11:41 (twenty years ago)