Conference napalm::guitar

    I've played both and, to me at least, the major differences are
    1) tone... subtle but they do sound different 2) price... Gibson
    is considerably pricier.
    
    I bought my Ibanez Artist from a shop that was going out of business
    and got it new for a used price.  The Gibson and Ibanez are both
    very well made.  If you can find an Ibanez used then it will be
    MUCH cheaper than the Gibson.
    
    Bottom line is whether or not the sound of one axe compells you
    to buy it rgardless of cost.
    
    ps.. If you can find a used "Lee Ritenour" model ( same as the
    Artist but with different pickups ) at a reasonable price ( ie
    less than $450-500 ) buy it.  In my opinion it is at least the
    equal of the Gibson.
    
    						Regards
    						Doug Dickerson
    

    Just noticed note 211 above.  Did you try getting in touch with
    this guy?  Price is pretty reasonable.
    
    					Doug D....
    

    
    re.2 and .1 yes i did check that out briefly.  do you still own
    your Artist?  how much of a difference is there, sound wise/feel
    wise? compared to the ES335?  i hear the ibanez is made of plywood?
    
    is the 335 a deeper sound?...
    
    paul
    

    What can you afford?  Its quite possible that you can afford a 335
    though you may not think so.  I've seen them recently for as low as $300
    w/ the case (that is, used, & anyway your better off w/ an older one
    than a new one).  If your looking for a deeper sound you may want
    to consider an 175.  Their harder to find but depending upon the
    seller you may be able to obtain one for $250 or less.  I think
    you'll probably find ES330's to be as common if not more so than
    the 335 so you may want to be on the lookout for those as well.
    Good Luck!
    
    Joel
    

    I have a Gibson ES345SV. This is very similar to an ES335, except
    that it is wired in stereo, and has a varitone switch (6 position
    switch with a capacitor network inside. I love the sound and action
    of this instrument. The neck is about the most comfortable neck
    I have ever tried and allows easy access to all 24 frets. One word
    of caution though, ES's are known for neck problems. Some of them
    twist while others crack just below the headstock. If you plan to
    buy an ES guitar be sure to use light gauge strings (.010 E or smaller)
    to avoid to much tension on the neck. 
    
    I paid $525.oo for my 345, used of course. I would imagine you could
    pick up a nice 335 for around 500.oo as well. 
    
    I have nothing against Ibinez, but if resale value is important
    to you the Gibson will hold its value almost indefinately, while
    Japanese intruments don't hold their value as well.
    
    As far as the ES330 is concerned, I had one years ago and it was
    a real dog. It has the short neck which doesn't allow easy access
    for playing leads. Also the single coil pickups don't sound very
    hot. 
    
    If you do decide to by an ES, look for one with a stock trapeze
    tailpiece. Stay away from one with a Bigsby tremelo tailpiece.
    
    

    
    re .4  ES175?  that's the fat one, with single cutaway right?
    it's not possible to find one of those for 250 is it?...  that
    sound outrageously cheap!
    
    paul
    

    I would like some advice, I have been thinking of taking up the
    guitar.  I would like to know what to look for and what are some
    brand that are good, but not to expensive.  I don't want to invest
    to much money at this time, but I don't want to get something that
    will discourage me.   Thanks for the help.

    
    Check the directory of this notesfile, there are some other notes
    on choosing guitars.
    
    Some general questions:
    
    What type of guitar, acoustic or electric?
    
    If acoustic, classical (nylon-string) or steel-string?
    
    If electric, what kind of music do you plan on playing?
    
    Also, what is your budget?
    
    
        
    Also, where are you located, so we could suggest some dealers?
    
    

RE:< Note 218.8 by AQUA::ROST "Nervous on the Road" >
                                -< Be Specific >-

    
   > Check the directory of this notesfile, there are some other notes
   > on choosing guitars.
    
   

	Ummmm... I did a DIR /TITLE=HELP and found this note, so I assume it's 
a good place to post my "help" request.



	I've been playing on and off for 20 years+.  Started out as a beginner 
and wound up almost 20 years later as a novice.... just never "stuck with" the 
practice schedule or played regularly enough.  Been through (and sold, cos I 
never used them more nice guitars than I care to mention, 66 mustang, 77 
custom, 74 guild d25... <sigh>).  Anyway for the past year I've been taking 
lessons every week and I'm feeling like I'm finally ready to make a commitment 
each day to playing.  When I was a kid, I played three chord rock and roll and 
now I like so much different stuff that I find myself switching from acoustic 
to electric every 20 minutes or so.... but my budget can barely afford one 
good instrument (unless they make one guitar nowadays that can sound like my 
mustang did and then with a "flick of a switch" sound like my guild <grin>).  
I'd like to choose an acoustic (but it depends on what time of day that I ask 
myself) instead of electric guitar.  I'd like to spend 500-700 (actually, I'd 
like to spend nothing... but that doesn't work).


What I like to play:


	Blues (ZZ variety)
	Tom Rush 
	Some country (Merl Haggard, mostly... but amazing grace gets me going)
	Beatles (White album)
	Neil Young
	Chuck Berry (move chuck to the top on Sundays)
	Joni Mitchell (some of it)


My skill level:

	I can read music (about a note a minute)... read TAB but only the 
simple stuff (put your finger here, Steve, now pull it off).  I can play 
chords easily with some bass notes.  I can stumble through basic rock scales 
but never as fast as I'd like and never as tasty... beginning to understand 
how passing tones and bends ought to work.  I can get through Blackbird pretty 
easily, picking with three fingers, almost got Mood for a Day (How does Steve 
do that?)... struggling with D tuning (at least I think it's D) on Rockport 
Sunday (really haven't got a clue on this one) and Joni's Circle game.  
Rockport Sunday and understanding alternate tunings are where I'm at right 
now.


What I've got:


1 really cheap electric guitar... can't remember the brand 
1 Epiphone with a neck going south fast


What I want:

	An instrument that doesn't intrinsically limit me (I need all the help 
I can get right now)  Low fast action.  Steel strings.  Lots of volume.  
Machines that are accurate and don't "poing" me out of tune like my present 
ones do.  And lastly a way to resolve the issue of what ONE guitar allows me 
to play Jesus just Left Chicago and then Blackbird without switching guitars.  
I've tried out some Martins (used) but to be honest, I felt that they had 
great volume, but that the action buzzed a lot when adjusted... and they are 
expensive as heck.  Tried Alvarez and wasn't impressed a bit (even with the 
spruce and ebony model)  Guilds don't seem to have the volume I'd like (or 
maybe my hearing's going)....




	HELP!!!  Please...



Steve