Noobie on Elec guitar

[MackSonne]

Dun even talk about playing one, I've not even touched one. Was in Plaza Singapura the other day and saw the yamaha music centre. That was real eye candy, you might say.

I am addicted to the elec guitar, and would like to know about the different terms relating to the guitar... Is it really that easy as to plug the guitar into the amp and off you go? I understand there is much more but am at a loss... Someone introduce me to the elec guitar?

 

[mikemann]

Your avatar looks like a playing a Stratocaster. My reccomendations, get one of these. There are very cheap copy brands out there which is very good for beginners, about $200 (yamaha ones are under $400).

Standard features: 3 Single Pickups (those in the middle of the body), 5 way switch, 1 master volume and 2 tone controls, 21 frets neck, vintage tremolo bridge.

Don't worry if the names of the parts sound foreign, this is a very versatile electric guitar, is built to fit your hands snugly, standing or sitting.

Don't concern too much about fancy looking guitars, this may look basic, but millions of professional performers are using this kind of guitar world wide. It's priced so reasonably, you can keep it as a spare next time you upgrade to a different one.

Hope you can find one suitable one to start your new hobby. You can also come to my studio and check out 2nd hand ones. Cheap and good, new strings.

Regards,
Mike
Mikemann Music Studio
97337161

 

[penta-tonic]

welcome to de wonderful world of guitar n de broke guitarists!!

 

[subversion]

welcome aboard.. 8)

do you have any guitar playing capacity? if you do, get the electric guitar ASAP because it helps you play better. i would differ from the rest here who would advise you to get an accoustic guitar first before moving on to the electric- IMO, the electric is much easier to play.

 

[Cloudsky]

yup, coz the neck of a acoustic guitar is wider 8)

If you want a really budget electric guitar + amp u can go to Parklane(basement I think) there's a musical instrument shop over there, they are selling a behringer electric guilt + amp for about 198 bucks, pretty decent for beginners 8)

 

[angeldogleslie]

haha try not to get the behringer though its cheap hahaha i dun like its feel. Subversion tink you'll noe why in my oother post hahaha HMMMMM playing an instrument be it a bass or guit is fun yet expensive(sadx) hahaha

 

[Hideo]

try this shop at bras basah complex near sweelee, called ranking if i aint wrong, got some beginner guitars there. Plus the strings r cheaper than some other places.

 

[ChanMin]

i would advise getting a normal takamine G series (indonesian) acoustic... about 200 bucks... plays well... sounds good. and it wont die on you.
learn how to strum a few songs... play some simple lead before investing in an electric...
at the end of a day.. you probably will want an acoustic lying around... dont buy a low end electric guitar and amp.. just so you can sell it off at 1/4 the price , when you improve... play with the acoustic for abit... will strengthen your fingers... improve your rythm playing and finally save up to get a DECENT AXE. and amp....
this is not only benificial to your guitar playing... it is also a smarter move financially...

 

[penta-tonic]

wat id recommend is diff frm wat others would tell u. i suggest u set aside a buget to get a guitar which is gd meaning abt 500. if u get a lousy guitar it may cause u to lose interest in playing de guitar. guess this hobby is kinda expensive but if u get a gd guitar trust me u wont regret.

 

[y2k]

wat id recommend is diff frm wat others would tell u. i suggest u set aside a buget to get a guitar which is gd meaning abt 500. if u get a lousy guitar it may cause u to lose interest in playing de guitar. guess this hobby is kinda expensive but if u get a gd guitar trust me u wont regret.

Actually, i agree with penta-tonic. I recalled my 1st guitar was a 50 bucks cheapo bought in NTUC. I literally cut my fingers on that guitar, cuz the action was so high and the intonation was very bad.

I moved up to a 80 bucks Congress after only 2 months, and after like 6 months, i had to get an electric, cuz soloing on an acoustic just didn't cut it. I still remember my first electric, a Peavey strat-copy. pretty versatile guitar, but i upgraded to a Gibson LP Studio one year later, cuz i needed the chunky sound of a humbucker, hehe, and partially because i was way into Slash at that time..... whats the difference btw a 300 guitar and a 1000+ one? plenty. sustain, playability, intonation, feel...

So, my advice is, get a mid-range guitar to start with. If you've got the passion and determination to play better, you'll not regret the investment. Rather than, start off with a lousy guitar and have to struggle with the high action and bad intonation...

 

[MackSonne]

Action is the distance from the fretboard is it?

I see people talking about pick ups, and it seems o me that the elec guitar depends on this pickup... Which is it upgradeable? And all these pedals and effects... It really reminds me of playing Magic, where the way it goes, it demands a bomb just to build a reasonable deck.

Anyway I digress.

Seriously, I'm on a low budget. Going to NS next month, but even then wud'nt be able to afford much... a $300 plus plus perhaps after 5 months!

Another worry is that I might not be able to play at home, in a HDB flat... Has anyone played at home before? Is it too loud or wat? If it's gonna make the whole neighbourhood scream then I might want to get an acoustic guitar first.

 

[y2k]

Action is the distance from the fretboard is it?

I see people talking about pick ups, and it seems o me that the elec guitar depends on this pickup... Which is it upgradeable? And all these pedals and effects... It really reminds me of playing Magic, where the way it goes, it demands a bomb just to build a reasonable deck.

Anyway I digress.

Seriously, I'm on a low budget. Going to NS next month, but even then wud'nt be able to afford much... a $300 plus plus perhaps after 5 months!

Another worry is that I might not be able to play at home, in a HDB flat... Has anyone played at home before? Is it too loud or wat? If it's gonna make the whole neighbourhood scream then I might want to get an acoustic guitar first.

Yes. Action is the distance between the strings and the fretboard...

Pickups are definitely changable. So many brands to choose from, in fact. Get a decent guitar, so you won't have to change the pickups, as they are not cheap. (one pickup is 100~, labor cost is typically 40 per pup)

No worries. I've been playing in HDB for over 10 years. Just keep the volume low. depends on your neighbours too, actually...Get a small amp. something like a 10 to 15 watt one will do, for a beginner.

 

[angeldogleslie]

or you can pop by davis n get their cheap samick guitars for $150 not bad thought. Or can go yamaha or ibanez get some decent 200 to 300 plus guitars. Or even better get a starter kit by yamaha,ibanez or fender. They offer pretty gd beginner guitars n small amps which would suit your needs, elecric tuners definitely need. Yep they cost from 300 too 500 dependin on brands larhahaha

 

[penta-tonic]

haha. dun worry abt disturbing. when u start to bug urself abt de level of sound den ull noe when its too loud n use curfew like not playing after say 12. i jam at home usually playing at moderate levels. i oso haf a drumset n my band jams regularly. so far so gd no complaints. i recommend an electric guitar. hell its fun. n btw i live in a hdb flat.

 

[hofner]

Get an electric ASAP like Subervsion said...not sure what he have in mind but here is how i feel

Although it is true getting an acoustic gets yr fingers working and stuff but no use if u have low cash now like lets say $400...and than u buy an acoustic for $200....play play strum strum ouch ouch awhile but cannot solo because of the amount of frets...u can solo but very constricted and yr guitar body must be cut so that reaching for the higher frets is easier. If u get electric , u get "full fuctions" to start out , like strumming , low easy actions , soloing , volume , tone knobs etc. You also get to learn more technical stuff like pickups , type of wood , neck compensation , string gauges.

I know how you feel...1 year ago i was so interested in guitars after seeing Edge of U2 play les pauls and strats. So interested..knew about pickups and strumming but i NEVER touched a guitar. So it was like , " Hey marcus you know alot about guitars right? Come play a song" and i would go like , " I know alot but i dunno how to play guitar". It was only 8 months ago my brother teached me the 1st chord....the A chord.

 

[marshall_law]

Get the best within your budget means cause you gonna stuck to the guitar for at least 2 years before moving on to a better one. I also recommend a acoustic 1st. Know how a guitar feels like 1st before actually touching a electric. Electric IMO is far more easier to play than a acoustic, so build strenght in your fingers then move on.

I actually borrow a guitar from my friend and after 1 year, i buy my 1st congress crappy acoustic guitar. But it lets me build up my fundamentals 1st and i thank my congress for that.

 

[BF109E]

As a guitarist, we try to be adept at both an acoustic and an electric.

Essentially playing an acoustic and an electric involves slight;y different techniques in playing, although there are some that are common to both.

With acoustic guitar, you use more open chords (chords in their first position) and seldom play beyond the 8th fret. You do a lot of rhythm playing as well as fingerpicking. To solo with an acoustic, you need one with a cutaway design that allows you access to higher frets. Acoustic playing is suited to folk, country, blues and unplgged versions of rock songs but not limited to these alone. Sound-wise acoustic guitars covers both bass and treble quite evenly.

An electric guitar, on the other hand, involves a different set of techniques because of its amplication factor. They are made for rhythm or lead playing with an array of pickup combinations for different tonality.

Whichever one you start with, eventually you should learn to play with both because you'll derive greater satisfaction from playing the guitar.

When I started, I was using a 3/4 size made-in-China guitar that costs $25 from those local stationary shops. The strings were killers but I learn my chords from there and develop my finger strength etc. Then, I moved on to a cheap $60 Aria classical guitar. So much easier to play with the nylon strings but it just didn't sound right with the folk, blues and pop songs that I was learning at that time. Finally I graduated to a $125 Ibanez acoustic and never touched my classical ever again for the next 20 years. In between those times, I also switched to electric guitar and bass for variety. I had to adjust to electric guitar playing because there are a lot more playing positions to learn, and solo playing technqiues as well as scales to master. And I am still learning today.

In short, start right away with either the acoustic or electric and let the passion and momentum carry you through. At your budget, there are plenty of choices. Go to a reputable shop and get one that you like. Soon, you'll realise you can't stop at one or two or three or eight or.......

8)

 

[mikemann]

Just jump into it brother!!! Guitar is cheap, just save up for 2weeks and you can get one shiny new one at Davis.

:lol: :lol:

 

[hofner]

Macksonne for your info about cutaway bodies

this is cutaway body...

this doesn't have cutaway body

 

[MackSonne]

I've seen those cutaway ones and have always been wondering why the elec guitars are so oddly shaped... Now I know.

Well to tell you guys the truth, budget should not be a problem as i'm going into ns next year... My pop has promised me to get an acoustic for me(he's been promising me that for 6 months) after my A's... And I'll go on to elec once I have the money.

I always feared that my interest was going to be short-lived... especially having had it since last year when I heard Hide play on the Art of Life. But talking to you guys made me sure that this is not so. Thank you all