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Gibson, Epi, Fender - Best for Beginner?

skipstream
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skipstream
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03/18/2013 2:14 pm
Just started with Guitar Tricks and loving it and have an old acoustic but want to purchase an electric. Not sure what is best for a beginner out of the usual lot!

I know I'll lean towards blues and rock (more to blues probably) - have a budget of around £500/£600 which should equate to around $750 I guesse in US money!

I know there are differences in pickups etc but I am more interested in neck length/thickness/how easy to play etc.

Sorry if this has been asked before (did browse this part of forum and saw a few threads about best guitars etc but.....)

Anyways - thanks in advance for any advice anyone can give as to which is "easiest" to play for beginner!

Thanks
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# 1
Razbo
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Razbo
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03/18/2013 3:08 pm
Leaning toward Blues, I'd suggest maybe MIM (Made in Mexico) Fender Strat (I'd personally go with S-S-S pick up config. H-S-S always looks somehow "wrong" to me :D ). You could go lower priced with a Squire Strat (ie: Vintage Modified line) and still get a decent guitar that you could upgrade parts on later if you desired.

Either way should leave you with a few hundred left for a nice Fender SuperChamp XD or VibroChamp XD amp. These have tube driven OD and modelling effects. I have the VibroChamp XD and would never sell it.
...so ever since then, I always hang on to the buckle.
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# 2
maggior
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maggior
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03/18/2013 3:46 pm
"Easy to play" is a personal thing. I own a strat and a les paul and I personally find my les paul to be easier to play. The neck is shorter and a little narrower. I'm of a smaller stature, so this suits me better. If I were tall with large hands, I'd probably find it restrictive.

Either a MiM strat, an epiphone lp, or a faded gibson lp (they might be les paul juniors now, they don't make the faded studio any more) would do well for you. Blues can be played on either a strat for a lp.

Everybody says the same thing, but it's true...you have to go out to a store and take some time to check out what feels best and most comfortable for you.
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# 3
skipstream
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skipstream
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03/18/2013 6:06 pm
Thanks everyone - off to the store soon! Good to know that both are suitable so it will be down to just how it feels in hands in the end I guess!
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# 4
skipstream
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skipstream
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03/19/2013 3:09 pm
OK, fallen in love with a Gibson 339 but can't afford it :-(

So, maybe the Epiphone version? they didn't have one in so will have to find one to go and play with!

Any thoughts? There is a standard and Pro/Ultra version I see with quite a price difference between the 2 Epiphones. Tough choice now!
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# 5
compart1
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compart1
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03/19/2013 5:20 pm
I'm like the Epiphone ES-339 PRO.. I'm thinking of trying one out myself.. Just will not be for a while.
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# 6
skipstream
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skipstream
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03/19/2013 6:49 pm
Yeah, me too, until I talked to a couple of different shops and it seems that the Epiphone 339 can be hit and miss on the quality etc etc - the last guy tried to talk me into the Gibson LPG for the same money and I have to say I'm tempted with that now!
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# 7
maggior
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maggior
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03/19/2013 6:53 pm
Originally Posted by: skipstreamOK, fallen in love with a Gibson 339 but can't afford it :-(

So, maybe the Epiphone version? they didn't have one in so will have to find one to go and play with!

Any thoughts? There is a standard and Pro/Ultra version I see with quite a price difference between the 2 Epiphones. Tough choice now!



Well that's great that you found a guitar that really excited you, even if you can't afford that particular one. I suspect that you will find an Epiphone model that will suffice.

I've never used an Epiphone, so I can't help you there. I'm sure others here will jump in. I've heard a lot of people say good things about them. What you may find yourself doing is upgrading little things here and there as you get better - tuners, pickup switch, maybe pickups. I've heard that the pickup switches in the Epiphones wear out quickly. Mine did in my Gibson Les Paul Studio too, so going for a Gibson isn't any guarantee either.
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# 8
skipstream
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skipstream
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03/20/2013 9:12 am
thanks for the replies. I am now leaning heavily towards the Gibson LPJ, probably on that chocolate color with me saving up for the next 18 months or so for a 339, who knows how I'll feel as I follow this path!
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# 9
maggior
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maggior
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03/20/2013 1:15 pm
Originally Posted by: skipstreamthanks for the replies. I am now leaning heavily towards the Gibson LPJ, probably on that chocolate color with me saving up for the next 18 months or so for a 339, who knows how I'll feel as I follow this path!


If you get an LPJ, get one that has 2 pickups. I think having one pickup would be too limiting, especially as you advance. I regularly will use one vs. the other. The new LPJs look like what used to be the Faded LP Studios. I have a 2011 LP Faded Studio in cherry and I LOVE it!
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# 10
maggior
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maggior
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03/20/2013 1:20 pm
Be careful when researching because it looks like the LP junior special is available with either humbuckers or P90 (single coil) pickups. To me, a true les paul has humbuckers!

The LP junior special is a really nice looking guitar. It even has a bound neck, which the faded LP series did not. It also has a baked maple neck.

Sometimes they give you too many choices!! :-)
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# 11
maggior
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maggior
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03/20/2013 2:59 pm
Sorry...I'm a gearhead and I was intrigued by the LP Junior trying to see what is different from my LP Faded Studio.

Something else I noticed is that it is a "slab" body rather than a carved top.

Personally, I find the carved top easier to play since it raises the strings up from the body of the guitar in relation to the edges of the guitar. The carved top is highest in the middle and tapers down toward the edges of the guitar.

Just something else to consider and look at when making your decision.
Go here to check out some of my playing
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# 12
skipstream
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skipstream
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03/25/2013 11:34 am
Thanks Maggior for your input - truly appreciated.

here is the one I was looking at:

http://www.dawsons.co.uk/gibson-lpj-electric-guitar-chocolate

It has 409R Humbucker & 498T Humbucker.

Going to go and play one this week at the store.

Thanks again
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# 13
maggior
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maggior
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03/25/2013 12:07 pm
Huh, interesting. This is different from what i've seen available here in the US.

Overall, this is very much like the Faded LP Studio. The only thing missing that you might want to add is a pickguard. The black covers on the pickups and the black tuning knobs are cool.

True to the lp look, it's got a rosewood fingerboard with pearl trapezoid inlays. And it has a carved top.

Nice looking guitar! Hopefully it feels good for you to play.

Compared to this, I like the one you are looking at better:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-les-paul-junior-special-with-humbuckers-electric-guitar

Let us know how it works out for you!
Go here to check out some of my playing
Go here to check out some of my duo's work
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# 14
skipstream
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skipstream
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03/25/2013 8:15 pm
Yeah, I saw that one on MF and tried to use their TAXMAN14 code for 14% off but it didn't work AND they won't ship it to the UK anyway so that kind of defeats the object - plus, duty and tax when it hits the UK would soon add on 20/30% so it's still cheaper to purchase from the UK I think.

I too prefer the one in the UK - weird I can't find that in the US - I'm coming to the US in July and would be tempted to wait until there to pick one up and then pop it in a hard case in the plane hold for the way back but I can't seem to find one like it in the US - which is weird since it's a US guitar! Go figure!

Not sure I can wait until July though - not known as the most patient of people ;-)
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# 15
dr50376272
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dr50376272
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04/04/2013 4:00 pm
I can get japanese made fenders for you if interested
www.madeinjapanguitars.com
David Robertson
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# 16
froggy62
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froggy62
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04/21/2013 3:17 pm
Just to give my imput on the EPI anything watch out for the chinese Epiphone guitars as the quality just is not there and the support you would get from Gibson is not that great for Epi's. long story short been there done that any hollow body for blues that I am aware of from Epiphone is currently Chinese and aat that point I would say go PRS/Gretsch/ not gonna break you, and you'll get the Blues sound. If nothing else reasearch, research research
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# 17
2gross4u
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2gross4u
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04/27/2013 2:40 pm
Originally Posted by: maggiorHuh, interesting. This is different from what i've seen available here in the US.

Overall, this is very much like the Faded LP Studio. The only thing missing that you might want to add is a pickguard. The black covers on the pickups and the black tuning knobs are cool.

True to the lp look, it's got a rosewood fingerboard with pearl trapezoid inlays. And it has a carved top.

Nice looking guitar! Hopefully it feels good for you to play.

Compared to this, I like the one you are looking at better:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-les-paul-junior-special-with-humbuckers-electric-guitar

Let us know how it works out for you!

The Gibson LP-J that he is referring to here is a new model by Gibson for 2013. Gibson makes the Les Paul J which is going for $699 and they are making an SG-J which is going for $599. These come in satin (or worn) finishes and replace the LP Special Faded and the SG Special Faded. I know that the SG-J has 490 and 498 pickups and I was under the impression that the LP-J came with '57 Specials, but I may be mistaken on that. I did buy the SG-J and it does have the 490, 498 combination which is that famous "Gibson Sound" and got it in the Chocolate (and it looks great). The LP-J is available in a rubbed gold finish for an extra $50. Just a FYI. Thanx-Jim
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# 18
2gross4u
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2gross4u
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04/28/2013 10:10 am
The rubbed gold finish on the Gibson LP-J is $150 more. These "J" models, whether LP or SG all have what they are calling a "Rubbed" finish. And I checked the April 2013 "Musician's Friend" catalog and it says the LP-J has "57 specials pups and the SG-J has the 490 and 498 combination.-Jim
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# 19

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