Good "Package"?

[GuitarHunter]

Hey,SOFT!!!!!!!!LONG TIME NO C!!!
Omg,so tomorrow I'm going to be able to get some gear to finally start my guitar-playing journey.Been actually researching for a long time.Making use of threads here and there.

So,this is what I'm gonna get(tomorrow have to go around the whole of Singapore):
-Rally Les Paul GL-400 WH (SO NICE-LOOKING,RIGHT!?) - $420
-Zoom G2.1U Multi Effects Processor (MULTI-EFFECTS PEDAL WITH WAH,PITCH SHIFT HARMONIZER,etc. TO TINGLE MY CREATIVE BONES!) - $212
-Sound Drive SG-15 (AFFORDABLE AMP WITH NICE CLEANS) - $145
(Can't get the SD SG-10 T_T.Called SV say they no more stock!)
-ToneDrive 10FT Cables - $15

I'll probably also get a gigbag,strap,some picks from SV!:mrgreen:

Does this $800+ package sound reasonable to you guys??I play mostly rock stuff(Green Day,Muse,Radiohead,Bon Jovi?) btw!

 

[Godspeed64]

It seems that you're quite set on the gear you WANT. But is it the optimum gear in achieving those tones you require?

Let's face it step by step.
Guitar: Rally GL-400 Les Paul. You gave the comment that it looks nice? Looks is only secondary, what's important is whether the guitar can DELIVER. Are the pickups too sterile? Is it well-built? If it is not, is the sustain lacking (especially an LP clone which should have more sustain). As a beginner who is just starting guitar, I highly recommend you take a look at Smash or Swing guitars. Nothing inspires more than a good instrument to play on. Best thing is to try both and see your preference on tone/feel/build rather than looks.

Effects: Zoom G2.1U. I bought the exact same product when I was just starting out guitar. My observations are as such; while the Zoom does indeed have several effects/patches on board, I find that it is more of a learning tool than a jack of all trades in the tonal department. It took me 6 months before I realized I didn't like the tones I was getting at all, especially in the drive section that sounded dreadfully sterile. The modulations aren't half bad (nor was it half good either). Do note that an mfx such as this seriously colours tone. Plug it in to a bedroom amp or a studio amp and the results yielded will be pretty much the same. While it maintains a level of consistency, it removes the thrill of experimenting with different amps. At the end of the day, my Zoom was simply a $220 tool for learning then a definite tonal palette for sculpturing my tones.

Amplifier: Sound Drive SG-15. Not a bad beginners amp but make sure you try around first. Other amps to look at are the Vox AD series, Randall RG series and the Roland Cube series. Try out and decide what you want. I prefer bigger amps that can play at louder volumes as they sound more in your face.

My suggestion however is to get a decent amp with built in effects such as the Vox AD or Roland Cube, and invest the remaining money into a good gain pedal to cover Muse, Radiohead, Green Day, Bon Jovi, etc. Probably a fuzz for Muse/Radiohead and a Distortion pedal for portable Green Day and Bon Jovi songs (the AD's inbuilt drive section can nail this). If you're on a budget, consider Danelectro's excellent Cool Cat series!

Phew. I seriously think I should rewrite my Amateur's Gear Guide to Metal to A Beginner's Guide to Starting Guitar?
http://soft.com.sg/forum/gear-guitar/88549-amateurs-gear-guide-metal.html
Here's a glimpse. Some of the comments there can be learning points for the aspiring musician.