New guitar questions

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » November 1, 2005 8:42 pm

I am going to buy an electric guitar and teach myself how to play. I am hoping other people out here can help me out. I was at the Guitar Center and was told that a Fender Telecaster was a good one to start out on. If you do play, what did you start out on and who taught you how to play?

This is a picture of the guitar that the guy from the Guitar Center said I should buy:

Lightning Bolt · Post by **Lightning Bolt** » November 1, 2005 9:45 pm

A Fender "Telly" is a truly great guitar....

but I think that salesman is selling you a little too much guitar.
A great starter guitar with nearly identical look and feel is the Fender Squire Telecaster which should cost about 1/3 of the full body Fender Telecaster
(about $300, rather than $800-$1000)

just a suggestion since you're starting out. Good luck!

Crazy Navy Flyer · Post by **Crazy Navy Flyer** » November 1, 2005 10:19 pm

There is something called a "Strat Pack" at the local Guitar center, pretty good deal, Fender Squire with small pratice amp, picks, strap, tuner, $289 here in the Atlanta area. The action is good, a very nice starter guitar, wish I'd had one that nice when I started. It looks like the Strat but it's an inexpensive version. My recommendation.

Your pic is a red X.

The Lost Manatee · Post by **The Lost Manatee** » November 1, 2005 10:25 pm

I started out on a used Gibson SG that I picked up cheap at a pawnshop. I agree with CaptainJoe that the salesman is trying to push you into something you don't need at this point. I would suggest checking out an independent guitar shop that handles new and used equipment and trying to find a deal that way. I picked up my BC Rich Fretless Eagle Bass that way. Slightly used, no dings or dents and my out of pocket cost, including new strings, was just over $500.00. New it was selling for about $1500.00.

Also try picking up and holding various guitars. Find one that feels comfortable for your hand to wrap around the neck and reach across the fingerboard. You want something that the action isn't too stiff for your fingers and yet you want it up high enough to keep the strings off the frets.

Whatever you do, don't let anyone pressure you into buying something that doesn't feel good to you. Looks aren't as important as tonal quality and how the guitar feels to you.

Have fun