guitar players, what kind of ax would you buy right now

[mopinko]

if money was no object? new or vintage.

since i started seriously studying music i find myself wanting to learn alllll the instruments. i mean, i dont rly get someone who has cracked the code, but only wants to play one thing.

i bought myself some used instruments for xmas, a drum kit, a couple horns and a cheap violin. but the star was a 70's gibson banjo.
i dont know how many of them i'll learn, but at least it is something i can pass down to my kids that they will actually want.
and a fine instrument is always a good invesment, imho.

but when i comes to buying a guitar, i just dont know. i sorta had my eye on a clapton signature strat, but, well, i got schooled about him as a person lately.
so, now i'm at square one.

my 1st hubs had a 56 les paul that he never played. wish i had it now.

money is no object, rly. i mean, in reality, i dont want to spend a fortune, but like i said- it's an investment to me.

tell me about your dream ax.

[paranoid floyd]

1. You've got a good start

I’m a guitar player and bass player. For guitar, I would have a Les Paul (which has such great tone for rock and roll) and a Stratocaster for all styles (a 5 position pickup switch gives you lots of choices). And speaking of Les Pauls, a 56 Les Paul? Wow! That is the ultimate, a shame it got away.

For bass, I’d get a 5 string Dingwall. Beautiful tone from lows to highs. If it’s good enough for Leland Sklar, it’s good enough for me.

[mopinko]

4. the shame was he never played it. never took it out of the case.

it was black, and so pretty. he used to write songs. i suppose he blames me for tanking his 'music career'. but, in the 4 yrs i knew him, he never played a note.

[mopinko]

5. lol. so i just went over to ebay and found this-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Custom-Shop-1959-Les-Paul-Standard-AIR-GUITAR/224257858016?hash=item3436cf59e0:g:LOsAAOSw1rJfxQxn

[OneBlueDotBama]

8. 59 Burst LP....

They run in the hundreds of 1000's.... note "air guitar".

How's you back, les pauls are heavy, great tone, personally I'd go with Suhr with bridge humbucker & 2 single coils, or HSS. Toss in a good old tube amp, some effects, Bob's your uncle

[mopinko]

9. yeah, i was shocked when i picked up that banjo.

now i know why the banjo player is always the only guy in the band sittin down. esp the old guys.

[OneBlueDotBama]

10. My late 60's Les Paul...

The weight was affecting my back, bought a much lighter Tele thinline deluxe, it played, sorta OK, just could never get it "right, traded the LP for a bud's ST Suhr, which works well with my aging body, tone wise & back wise.

[overleft]

6. Take it from a retired music store owner, gibson, taylor, and most american makers are

pretty crappy companies, whose quality is nowhere near their overrated names, only want to cater to corporate interests. PRS is a good product as well as anything Yamaha builds is solidly built with at least decent tone. The best way is to play an instrument and see what fits your hands and sounds good to your ears. Some of the so called lessor brands may surprise you. And by the way, buy local if at all possible.

[mopinko]

7. my first stop will be the pawn shops.

cuz, i love things that have stories attached to them. since i prolly wont get the story, that means i can make one up.

but i'm thinkin the shop in the old town school of music would be a good place to start.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Sound wise, a '52 telecaster or 60's vintage Rickenbacker 360 12 string

But my hands are very particular about the feel of the neck, so even if I had the money, if the neck didn’t feel right (more of a concern on the tele than the Ric), it wouldn’t buy it.

[sweetloukillbot]

3. I've got a lot of dream basses

Sunburst Rickenbacker Doubleneck.
Yellow Musicman Stingray
Silver Gibson Victory Bass (First bass I played back in high school jazz ensemble)

But right now, I really want a 60s Fender Bass VI in Lake Placid Blue - Nigel Tufnel's guitar that couldn't be touched, played or looked at.

[world wide wally]

11. Whatever you decide on, I would recommend getting an older model.

The two best guitars I ever owned were a 1962 Stratocaster (black with a white pick guard and a maple neck) and a 1975 Les Paul (Gold top)
Both of them were just "sweet".

[mopinko]

12. likely what i will do.

pawn shops 1st. just trying to get a grip on what is good about which.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Be Careful At Pawn Shops, Mo

First, almost all of them know which guitars actually have value.
Second, they get them cheap, so the sunk capital isn't a lot to them.
As a result, they'll sit on them trying to get a price beyond what the ax is really worth.
I'm a Stratocaster & Super Strat guy.
There is nothing as versatile as a Strat.
But, Strats have higher string tension than Gibsons like a Led Paul, because the scale is 0.75" longer. So, they're a little more work to play, and tougher still to get used to.
I've got 2 Strats. Both have different wood for the body, one has a maple fingerboard the other rosewood, and they have different kind of pickups. 2 Strats, but they sound very different.
My main guitar is a high end Ibanez super Strat. Really tricked out with their best floating bridge and really good tappable humbuckers.
I've got 2 collectables, but I don't play them much. They lack versatility.
If all that flexibility isn't needed, I'd highly recommend a Telecaster.
Broad range of tones (unless you're planning on playing a lot of Megadeath) and pretty much bullet proof.
Take it out, hit a dozen baseballs with it, tune it up & start playing.
And, worst case, something bad happens, any good tech can restore it to pretty much like new for $300 tops.
I've got a red American Standard.
You said money no option.
I'd buy a fully loaded Paul Reed Smith Private Stock SE Series.
Or a Les Paul. I could get used to the 24.75" scale quick enough.

[mopinko]

21. yeah, i know my way around a pawn shop.

i would take a look, walk out and check ebay.
there are some decent ones around here. i can deal w them.

thx for the feedback.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. It's Even More So With Guitars

I know one musician ever that got a good instrument for less than they could have gotten it elsewhere.
Out of a couple dozen.

[mopinko]

24. w guitar center in bankruptcy,

i'm thinkin a deal is to be had.

[ProfessorGAC]

25. That's Where I'd Look!

[mopinko]

26. i liked 'em on fb and bought a couple small things,

a book, then a few drum stands, like that.
now i get daily emails. when i decide, i'll start watching. but i have a feeling that if i braved the crowds, i can get what i want at the right price.

the only thing about a pawn shop is that i do have a weakness for used instruments.
goes double if it has a story.
maybe craigs list, where i can get a story.

[BlueTexasMan]

13. Old player here

Good on you for trying multiple instruments! Over the years I have played piano, violin, clarinet, sax, coronet, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, acoustic bass and electric bass. In the guitar family, I own and play a Martin acoustic (all wood), Martin acoustic electric, Martin acoustic electric 12 string, a Dean, acoustic (guitar style) bass, an ESP,LTD electric bass, a Morrell 6 string lap steel, an Allison custom 8 string lap steel, two Regal resonator guitars (Dobro type) and one Gretch resonator. I also have a couple of hand saws that sing pretty good. As far as the guitars, I started on an old pawn shop Stella then a Harmony, in college I played a J50 Gibson, then a Fender Squire until I settled on a Gibson 125 with P-90s. Played that through a rock phase and got married and had kids. Retired from playing 8 years building houses and returned to playing when the economy tanked and work was scarce. Decided I wanted that Fender sound and after much experimenting I bought a used G&L Legacy. Wonderful guitar!
Now how I picked these guitars was, I played them and listened to the sound and how the neck felt. Even ones of the same brand and model are different sounding. For an amp, try one of the Vox hybrid models. Very versatile and cheap (mine was under $400). Fenders are good also, I had four different ones before I went with Vox. If your hands stop working, switch to slide.

[mopinko]

14. i have a little peavy amp. guy at guitar center rec'd the mustang.

i may grab and acoustic to learn on, and get to know my way around then go big on an electric.

seems like guitar players are the worst about playing one instrument. i guess they teach you in music school to master one thing. but how does playing others NOT add to your understanding about music?

[Eko]

16. The mustand LT25 is a great little amp for less than $150.

Lots of great vintage and modern tones. Been thinking about getting one for my living room just to have fun with and I have analog pedals on my pedal board that cost as much or more than that. Playing all kinds of instrument absolutely adds to your understanding of music. Ive been working in the music industry for 30 years and went to music school so feel free to ask me any questions!
Eko.

[mopinko]

19. thanks much.

i knew someone here would have good advise for me.

[Eko]

15. If you want a Strat

Get the Eric johnson strat. Best strat I have played in a long time that is not vintage. https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-guitars/stratocaster/eric-johnson-stratocaster-maple/0117702806.html
For Les Pauls the 58 or 59 are great.
Dont listen to anyone telling you the new fenders and gibsons are not good, they are better than they have ever been.

[Eko]

17. And as for what I would buy it would be this.

Santa Cruz Professional model.

[cemaphonic]

18. One of the classic Martin dreads

From the little bit that I've tooled around on them, I think I like the D-18 better than the D-28.

Glad you're enjoying the banjo - I picked one up as a side project, and now probably play it more than the guitar.

[mopinko]

22. where is the model #?