getting new guitar, need help

[jtsang2501]

Hi all, I'm pretty new here and yes, I have read all the threads from previously regarding the guitars that I'm after.

Right now I'm looking for a new electric guitar worth around 2k plus(No I'm not another rich kid with nothing better to do with his money)

Currently I'm looking at
1. Ernie ball super sport axis
2. parker guit
3. Gibson Sg special

Sustain is the most important to me but that doesn't mean the guitar must sutain forever like that new fernandes i heard about. oh yea, and I play mainly rock and Christian stuff.

For one, I don't know where i can try any of the abovementioned guits besides the gib. I'm taking my time to decide what really is the best for me. In the mean time, does anyone know where i can try the EBMM or the parker? or if you guys think that there's a guitar out there that fits my criteria and it's better than all the rest please voice out.

BTW, to me the EBMM is the most tempting to me right now.

Thanks in advance for the help

 

[ShredCow]

Sorry, whats your criteria?

1. Around 2k plus
2. Sustains well
3. Used for Rock or Christian music

Those points encompass too many guitars. I mean, almost every guitar that is well setup will sustain well. Lots of guitars @ the 2k mark. Lots of guitars can play rock or Christian music.

You have to be more specific. What kind of tones you looking at? Name some bands/guitarist. You want a fixed bridge or a trem equipped axe? Versatility is key? Piezos a must?

 

[jtsang2501]

You have to be more specific. What kind of tones you looking at? Name some bands/guitarist. You want a fixed bridge or a trem equipped axe? Versatility is key? Piezos a must?

I'm not a shredder so thin neck is not that important, and a fixed bridge will be fine. Piezos are a big plus for me because I would like to alternate my guitar sound very quickly. Trem not important, but i dun mind one either...

and yes,, versatility is key.

as for what i listen to. I listen to many many different kinds of music. The range is very wide. the sound I'm really after is a very modern and of course with a long sustain. at least longer than the average single coil. So yes, that means no fenders either.

 

[ShredCow]

The Parker will do that if you are getting the one with Piezos plus it has a trem if you want to use 1.

Problem with the Parker is that the pups for it have to be shorter than normal... so yeah. Take note of that.

Its got good sustain too. And they are pretty smooth players.

If the pups issue put you off.. consider this.

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/products/eg/page/SA320X_MBK_a_e_u.html

Ibanez SA320X.

OR since you got the dough... heh...
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/products/eg/page/RG1820X_GK_a_e_u.html

I know of a guy selling his RG2120X for a good price. If you are not fussy with 2nd hand goods, PM me and I will hook you up with him.

 

[xklusivly4u]

second hand Gibson LPs?

 

[ShredCow]

Actually... a single coil will sustain as long as a humbucker. And usually it sustains even longer because a single coil is usually (usually ah..) lower output = less magnetic pull = strings vibrate longer.

 

[thor666]

Currently I'm looking at
1. Ernie ball super sport axis
2. parker guit
3. Gibson Sg special

For one, I don't know where i can try any of the abovementioned guits besides the gib. I'm taking my time to decide what really is the best for me. In the mean time, does anyone know where i can try the EBMM or the parker? or if you guys think that there's a guitar out there that fits my criteria and it's better than all the rest please voice out.

BTW, to me the EBMM is the most tempting to me right now.

Thanks in advance for the help

Parker guitars are pretty out of reach in Singapore. If you want one, it's far better to order online off another country. There is a distro here, but the prices are way too high in comparision to what you see online.

ShredCow - I think the newer Parkers (those P36, 38, 40 which i think he's looking at for the price range) don't have pickup spacing problem anymore... Parker listened to complaints of players and made changes. Can check via the Parker forum on the Parker website.

Ernie Ball - I don't know much about the guitars... some of the forummers with the EB guitars would answer this better.

You should consider Fenders actually... since you mention that you play a wide range of music. Fender strats do have SSH, HH, HSH models.. some even with Floyd Rose should you need one. Just take into account of upgrading your guitar with piezos if you want (drop over to Maestro guitars and ask about the Graphtech saddles /w piezos.)

 

[ItAcHi]

well..i think ibanez SZ320 is a pretty good guitar to try out...

 

[jtsang2501]

hey all,

thanks for the input so far. well, ibanez never came to mind for me. I guess i associate them too much with metal, shred and the like, stuff that i might be interested in, but to a lesser extent then everything else.

about the fender. currently the guitar that i play is a fender. it's actually not mine, but been borrowed for a few years already. that's one reason why i wanna get another guit. so that i dun have to rely on someone else for electric guit. the fender i use is a HSS set up, what i don't like about it is the lack of the sustain. even a cheaper godin electric had better sound and sustain than my current fender.

oh, and the fender is not a squier, but it mim.

 

[jtsang2501]

i WILL look into ibanez guitars anyway. Only because everyone here seems to swear by it.

only i wish they didn't have to be so common. i think half the electric guitar playing population in singapore are using an ibanez

 

[ShredCow]

They are good guitars them ibanez.

Consider the SA series, these are not geared towards shred/metal as much as an RG in terms of looks. An RG can handle lots of genres but it looks metal-ish.

If you want to generalise things then everybody plays Fender and Gibson in the world.

 

[thor666]

have u tried changing the pickups on the strat? that's strange, cos I have 2 strats (3 soon?) 1 MIA, 1 MIM. Both guitars don't seem to lack sustain.

My guess is that either the guitar needs a set up/refret, depending on the condition, or you need to swap pickups. Some people do feel that low output pickups sound less "sustaining".

You can also try adjusting the pickup height for now first... Put them too close, will kill sustain; put them too far from the strings, too little output and hence perceived lack of sustain as well.

 

[Lifehouse]

Get a Ibanez RG2120X. Second hand $900. One of the best buy you can get. I'm not in favour of parker's neck, having owned one. I had wrist fatigue after playing one for long. The upper horn also digs into my chest.

SG Special, good, but nothing spectacular as far as SG goes by. IMO, the standard and 61' RI are much better. You're paying alot for the Gibson name. I'm quoting with my own experience.

EBMM, never tried before. But I've heard alot of good things about it. But they are expensive.

I would suggest Ibanez RGs and S series, as well as the Godins. Also by buying 2nd hand, you would say save 30 to 50% compared to buying new.

All IMO only. So no offense. :smt001

 

[Phil]

What's so good about the Prestige 2120? Can anyone tell me more about it, as I am looking for an Ibanez too.
Apologies for my lack of knowledge. :lol:

 

[ShredCow]

Its Prestiege, means very high quality. Its got 24 frets. Its got one of the best locking trems around. Its got a piezo. Its got a quilted maple top. Its got... Damn... its just good lah.

 

[Lifehouse]

Actually no maple. I wont pay top dollars for maple. But having a piezo on a two amp setup is really nice. Throw in some chorus and delay and watch them fly. 8)

 

[xklusivly4u]

Actually no maple. I wont pay top dollars for maple. But having a piezo on a two amp setup is really nice. Throw in some chorus and delay and watch them fly. 8)

just out of curiousity, why not maple?

 

[ShredCow]

yeap. hehe. No maple top for me too.. costs way too much extra.

 

[jtsang2501]

have u tried changing the pickups on the strat? that's strange, cos I have 2 strats (3 soon?) 1 MIA, 1 MIM. Both guitars don't seem to lack sustain.

Hmm, I didn't want to do anything to the strat because, after all, it's not mine. The strats really very old, when my friend lent it to me there was rust here and there. But I've since done it up well. I sent it for maintenence once at the guitar gallery, they didn't highlight any particular problem with the strat. I have had problems with the intonation for the guit tho.

 

[thor666]

does sound like it needs a proper setup... especially when you mention intonation problems.

do give Fenders a tryout. It can sound both vintage and modern, and have good sustain on a good guitar. And it's one of the most versatile guitars around.

i do get the feeling the lack of sustain perhaps might be your musical preference - a Fender does sound vintagey when compared to a Ibanez with distortion and high output pickups on it... a good Ibanez RG if well set up, can tap and sustain effortlessly. if such is the case, go for more modern-type (24 fret, HSH, floyd-rose equipped etc) guitars.