[Help] How to buy a guitar w/o knowing how to play one?

Strats have floating bridges , which can be harder handle in terms of tuning compared to fixed bridges.

Fixed bridge

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floating bridge

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The strat bridge is termed "floating" as it is mounted to springs in the backplate as shown in the second picture while the fixed bridge is mounted onto the guitar body itself.

Hence, the strat is more tricky in terms of tuning. when you tune one string the string gets tigher n creates tension on the spring, which in turn affect the tuning of the other strings. It would also be harder to play alternative tunings and also if you decide to change your string gauge to say a thicker type of string you will have to resetup the guitar again due to the bridge having a different tension in the string.

It may be good if u decide to get a strat guitar as it can also develop your luthier skills but if you want a smooth start to learning guitar maybe you should consider a fixed bridge guitar for a start.

Having said that, sooner or later u would want to play something with a floating bridge as it allows to do you much more than a fixed bridge like dive bombs n stuff.

For beginner fixed bridges kinda guitar you can consider epiphone packages from swee lee or the ltd packages at davis. You can even look on the second hand market as fixed bridges are easy to maintain, even for a second hand guitar where there is some wear n tear. If you wanna get a strat i think you should get one with a humbucker pickup in a S-S-H configuration as it will enable you to play more types of music(rock, hard rock n even metal)

I hope this helped you , just my 2c :mrgreen:
 
Hm. Yeah I'll definitely try the guitars by holding them. Hopefully the shop won't be crowded tomorrow though, I'd look weird when I just hold the guitar and not do anything. By 'playing it' do you mean just strumming randomly on open strings? Cause that's probably all I can do at the moment.

I've heard good stuff about Timbre and Smash, so I've shortlisted these two.

My budget is about $400 for both guitar and amp. Recommendations will be nice. :D

I went to get a Smash S2 at the start of last month.
Perhaps you can persuade mike to sell you the SoundDrive MG15DFX @ SGD139.
I have to admit.
I'm the same as you when getting my guitar.
I was sitting there, blur like sotong :mrgreen:
Luckily, mike is one good fella.
Here is a review of Smash S2 from subversion lest you haven't seen it yet.
Subversion's Smash S2 review
 
I am definitely open to all kinds of guitars, but I have to admit that I'm slanting towards the Strat still.

Will probably pop by SV tonight if I'm free. Even if I can't decide tonight, I think it'll be very helpful to just hold and look at the guitar in real life.
 
Didn't manage to head over to SV today. :/

Where can I try out Axl guitars? I went to their site and they look mighty fine, but price-wise they seem more expensive than Timbre and Smash.
 
Just go to any guitar shop and just anyhow play..
i follow my frend buy Epihone Les paul i just pick up a guitar and play anyhow like im in some Grindcore band.
 
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