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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

1392.0. "Help Me Please, novice in distress!" by SUBURB::COLEJ () Fri Jul 21 1989 13:11

    Hello, AS some one new to notes, and guitar playing in general,
    I was wondering if I could have some advice on buying a guitar.
    
    I am left handed, been playing about a year and want to graduate
    to a decent guitar, not like my current one that gives electric
    shocks, mile high action, pickups that turn themselves on / off
    as and when they feel like. Also one to stay in tune and have an
    element of sustain would be nice.
    
    I was thinking of a Strat, but friends tell me they are not much
    cop compared to some of the latest Jap super strats.
    
    I will be buying mail order as I am too embarassed to pick up a
    guitar and play in a shop,(as I am not very good,I just enjoy it)
    so it is important I get the "right one".
    
     I am looking to spend about 3/400 pounds.
    
    Does anyone have sugestions, they would be very welcome indeed.
    
    juju
    xxxx
    
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1392.1try out as many as you can...RAVEN1::DANDREAwhoever dies w/most toys, winsFri Jul 21 1989 15:0119
    Very tough question to answer....
    * how many american $ is 3/400 pounds?
    * what kind of tone do you want?
    * what style guitar do you like? (shape/color/etc.)
    * what kind of amp/effects will you be using?
    * do you plan to keep the axe "forever" or resale and move "up" later
      on?                                            
    
    
    My humble opinion is, if you can afford one, buy a Gibson Les Paul.
    I don't think there is a better all round axe....
    
    You can find thousands of other people that will tell you to buy
    any number of other guitars.  Don't be afraid to demo guitars in
    stores. You MUST be happy with the feel and sound of your purchase,
    and mail order might be high risk.  Try out your friends' guitars,
    find out what YOU like...and good luck!
    
    Steve
1392.2LARVAE::BRIGGSThey use computers don't they?Fri Jul 21 1989 17:1525
1392.3more on imitations...RAVEN1::DANDREAwhoever dies w/most toys, winsFri Jul 21 1989 17:2812
    More on Strats....the "jap strat" is priced at $279 in South Carolina
    American standard Strat is $579.  These prices are "list" and can
    be haggled.  I know someone with a Jap strat that he has modified
    with DiMarzio pickups and is very happy with a great sound and low
    investment.
    
    Since Gibson purchased Epiphone, Epiphone is producing "jap" versions
    of all the popular Gibson models.  They are priced about half of
    the Gibson counterpart. An Epiphone Les Paul Std is about $450.
    I have only seen brochures, but there's a note in this conference
    from some folks with experience...they seem to like them.
    
1392.4Pick and chooseSALEM::DWATKINSI'm headin'down to the crossroadsFri Jul 21 1989 17:3530
    I have a Squier Strat and it plays great.  The new ones aren't quite
    as good (the hardware isn't as good) but, then again the Japanese
    strats arn't as good either.  It seems that in the last 4-5 months
    lots of changes have taken place.  The Japanese strats I looked
    at last month looked worse than the Squiers!  It was almost like
    they were cosmetic seconds!  The only thing I don't like about my
    Squier is the pickups are kinda noisey but not too bad.  The neck
    is super thin and it plays well (IMO).  I like it much more than
    my Les Paul but, everybody has different taste.  I still consider
    sometimes selling the Les Paul to buy some nice pick-ups for the
    Strat.
    
    I wouldn't buy a guitar mail order though, Fender guitars don't
    seem to be like the most of the Japanese guitars, everyone of them
    seem different, again, my opinion.  Guitars really should be "tried
    for fit" before you get one.  Cost has something to do with it but,
    my Les Paul is worth more than my Strat but, I wouldn't get rid
    of my Strat for anything.  It fits my hand like it was made for
    me.  If you are worried about trying on eout in front of people,
    don't.  Just go sometime when the store doen't have than many people
    in it or go to one that isn't close to where you live (take a little
    drive).  You would be surprised how many people walking around in
    music stores can't play a thing!
    
    Try the Japanese strats and the Squier strats.  I wouldn't buy a
    Squier bullet though, they only have one tone pot, the plug goes
    into the pick guard and it has only 20 frets instead of 21.
    
    
    Don
1392.5give Tokai a tryRICKS::CALCAGNIFri Jul 21 1989 18:1813
    This has been mentioned before in this notesfile but is worth
    repeating.  There are a couple of other Japanese companies that
    make some very fine Strat copies.  Tokai in particular impresses
    me as making outstanding "vintage" copies; better than anything
    Fender has ever done in this category.  The Japanese for some reason
    are more hip to what makes a Strat good.  Quality does vary, so
    I agree wholeheartedly with "play before you buy".  They sell for
    around $300 in the States; at that price, you can even afford to
    think about upgrades to pickups, etc.  If you find a good one,
    and get past not having the Fender name on the headstock, these
    can't be beat.

    /rick
1392.6Good luck from another leftyAQUA::OCONNORBuddy, can ya spare $1.2 mill for a Ferrari F-40?Mon Jul 24 1989 15:5115
    Hi,
    
    I can relate to the problems of being a Lefty since I have been
    playing lefty for quite a while now.  Regarding your abilities and
    being embarassed in stores I would suggest not worrying.  Many people
    go into stores just to show off their latest chops.  I bought some
    of my older axes mailorder.  I would get frustrated when I went
    into a store found an axe I liked but couldn't find it in a lefty
    model.  But my last couple of axes were 'impulse' buys.  I found
    them hangin' in the store and it just clicked.  Also if you can't
    find a lefty of what you want in a store but can get it mail-order
    play test it righty.  
    
    Good Luck
    Joe O'Connor-another-lefty-who-has-been-there
1392.7switch to right handedAZTECH::MADDUXno title yet bluesTue Jul 25 1989 14:587
    	If you've not been playing very long I'd encourage you to play
    right handed.  Steve Morse (another famous lefty) plays right handed,
    I do, and many lefties do, without problems.  When just starting out
    it ALL feels odd, so doesn't make any difference, but can sure ease
    the road in later years.
    			[Mike_M]
    
1392.8MARKER::BUCKLEYWicked rad guitar soundTue Jul 25 1989 15:209
    I suggest NOT to switch to playinhg righty.  I have students who are
    lefties, and they progressed quicker as laefties than they did trying
    to switch.
    
    Tokai and ESP make lefty strats, and Ibanez and Gibson have been
    putting out lefty models as well lately.  You should be able to find
    the sound you want in a left-handed axe.
    
    Buck 
1392.9nitsnitsnitsBTOVT::BEST_GCommunion with the SunTue Jul 25 1989 16:3914
    
    Well, it's kind of hard to test this idea of which way they learn the 
    quickest.  If a person has already learned something left handed, they
    might be able to then learn to do it "righty" much faster, because they
    already have the concepts in mind.  The experiment becomes "contaminat-
    ed".  You just can't do a memory dump and try it the other way.  Also,
    if the left brain - right brain stuff is correct, one way might be
    inherently faster because the side receiving the most stimulation
    might be getting more "neural exercise", and develop a more direct and
    comfortable path to the learning center for that type of activity....
    Just an idea.
    
    
    Guy
1392.10Check Squire Strats, if you like FendersCSC32::G_HOUSENo silver bullets please!Tue Jul 25 1989 18:235
    I don't remember if anyone mentioned them, but I've seen several lefty
    Squire Strats around lately.  I noticed them because they were very
    pretty.  These models are relatively inexpensive.
    
    Greg 
1392.11why add to your troublesAZTECH::MADDUXno title yet bluesTue Jul 25 1989 22:2317
    >>I suggest NOT to switch to playinhg righty.  I have students who are
    >>lefties, and they progressed quicker as laefties than they did trying
    >>to switch.
    
    	If you're just beginning it's not much of a switch.  You'll have
    a lot more trouble in later years with being a left handed player than
    you ever would from playing right - handed.  This decision will lock
    you into never borrowing someone else's axe on a moments notice, never
    reading chord diagrams correctly etc...
    	There's a left handed flatpicker out of Denver that plays pretty
    well, but I certainly don't notice that he has any advantage over 
    those of us that learned right handed. (and that includes speed,
    tone, touch, timing, taste, and tuning).
    	This is always going to be a personal decision.  I made mine
    years ago, and I encourage my students the same way.  
    
    
1392.12Only lefties are in their right mindDREGS::BLICKSTEINConliberativeWed Jul 26 1989 12:5720
    I believe you make your left-vs-right decision based on what feels
    the most comfortable to you, not on the equipment that's available.
    
    I write left handed, but play a right handed guitar.  There's a large
    faction of people who think that the people have the handedness of
    guitar playing backwards.  That is, that right handed people should
    play what is normally regarded to be a left-handed guitar and vice
    versa.
    
    That opinion (which has been discussed in here before) is based on
    several observations about efficiency (most of the coordination
    in "right handed playing" is in the fingers of the LEFT handed -
    the right hand does very little) and the observation that the
    percentage of virtuoso guitar players who play "right handed guitars"
    is significantly higher than the percentage of left handed people.
    
    I once read an incredible book on left-handedness - I'll see if I can
    find it in the library in case anyone would like to read about it.
    
    	db
1392.13thanks so far chaps!SUBURB::COLEJWed Jul 26 1989 15:0538
    
    
    It is juju the one who asked for help, and I seem to have opened
    up a left V right argument.
    
    Basically when I have ever tried my guitar upside down, my wrist
    in my left hand (fretting) has the most extreme difficulty in laying
    a finger over the strings for a barre chord and just tends to lock
    up at an awkward angle. I cannot even get my hand around the neck
    properly to apply pressure and if I can barre a chord, the main
    finger is at an angle to the fret of about 45 degrees.
    
    To sum up, I have difficulty even holding a guitar the right handed
    way and certainly feel I could not play without breaking my wrist.
    Is this unusual in itself. Even at the ageof 5 immitating with a
    tennis raquet, I was left handed, and could now not even think of
    a right hand guitar and learning that way.
    
    What are the differences between single coils and humbuckers. Having
    tried out a few guitars recently, all I noticed, apart from the
    tone, was that I could hear more squeaks and mistakes on my friends
    washburn les paul copy than on another friends stratocaster.
    Would a strat be wiser? I play mostly chords, just stringing them
    together or very limited picking type play, rather than going in
    for soloing sort of lead style.
    
    I am not bothered particulaly about the tone, except that I do not
    want a thin, clangy tone as in my present guitar.
    
    Finally, thanks for the help so far...
    
    Do keep sugestions rolling in... they are helping to clarify what
    I want out of the guitar, and being helpful to my odd require ments
    that magazines ect seem to miss out.
    
    juju
    xxxx
    
1392.14Righty is really lefty...CCYLON::ANDERSONIf winning isn't important... Why keep score?Wed Jul 26 1989 15:409
    I made my decision based on the fact that I wanted my most dexterous
    hand (left) to finger the strings. if I were a right handed person
    I probobally would have learned to play "lefty".  But I consider
    that most of the guitar players in the world play lefty as the more
    complicated part of playing is done with their left hand. So who
    is really playing "lefyt".
    
    Jim
     
1392.15At last, splashed out the dosh!SUBURB::COLEJPsychoCandy.....My Psychocandy.....Mon Nov 06 1989 11:0122
1392.16What's money for anyway?CSC32::G_HOUSENo. 24, the naughty bitsMon Nov 06 1989 15:295
    Congratulations!  I doubt that you'll regret your decision.  The only
    guitars I've ever felt bad about getting were the less then top quality
    ones. 
    
    Greg
1392.17CHEFS::DALLISONScreaming blues-o-maniaTue Nov 07 1989 06:498
    
    Funny that,
    
    I paid bugger all for my Vantage guitar, and it plays fantasticly.
    I couldn't part with the thing for no amount of money and its not
    a particuly popular or old guitar. Its just gorgeous.
                                                         
    -Tony
1392.18SUBURB::COLEJPsychoCandy.....My Psychocandy.....Tue Nov 07 1989 07:3512
    
    But Tony, find me a stunning range of used LEFT Handed guitars to
    choose from, and I will follow you blindly. In my chase for a second
    hand guitar, took me from Brighton to Doncaster. Finally I decided
    that I was not going to find what I wanted second hand. Did vantage
    guitars make many left handers? I seem to remember that you stated
    somewhere that they are hard enough to find anyway. Lefthandidness
    really does ristrict the choice unless you buy without seeing first.
    
    juju
    (is this revenge for the MRS reports)
    
1392.19LH shop in UKFERNEY::KEHILYTue Nov 07 1989 09:2110
   <<< Note 1392.18 by SUBURB::COLEJ "PsychoCandy.....My Psychocandy....." >>>

>    But Tony, find me a stunning range of used LEFT Handed guitars to
>    choose from, and I will follow you blindly.

    At the Guitarist magazine show in London yesterday I noticed a shop
    called ... 'Lefties' ... with only l.h. guitars. I imagine they
    probably advertise in the mag.
    
    Graham
1392.20Where is it ?SUBURB::COLEJPsychoCandy.....My Psychocandy.....Tue Nov 07 1989 10:358
    Never seen it in Guitarist before, but do I get an address here
    anyway, even if it is a bit late !
    
    Thanks.
    
    juju
    xxxx
    
1392.21LefttiesUSCTR1::EDEGAGNERip &amp; Tear!Tue Nov 07 1989 12:2013
    
    RE:  Lefty Guitars
    
    People, you've got to remember, just about ALL guitar manufacturers
    make left hand guitars, not too many don't make them.  It's just
    that the music stores don't stock them because there isn't much
    demand for them, so they have to be ordered.  Maybe a shop like
    "Lefties" might be better if you absolutely need to see and play
    the lefty before buying it.  I would imagine that you could just
    try out a regular guitar stringed lefty to see if you like it, then
    order the left hand model of that guitar.
    
    Mr. Ed...that Kubucki Factor Bass looks better and better everyday!
1392.22lefties can be strung up!CHEFS::DALLISONScreaming blues-o-maniaTue Nov 07 1989 15:058
    
    Juju...
    
    As the Vantage I have is the shape of an SG, you could have re-strung
    it backwards! All you would have to deal with it the different
    positions in the pots.
                        
    Na na nana na !! 8^)
1392.23Some general thoughtsCSC32::MOLLERNightmare on Sesame StreetTue Nov 07 1989 15:1226
>>  I would imagine that you could just
>>  try out a regular guitar stringed lefty to see if you like it, then
>>  order the left hand model of that guitar.
    
	I always want to play any guitar before I buy it. There tends to
	be major variations from one guitar to the next. Some sustain
	better, some necks feel different, etc.  In general, most companies
	who make guitars for lefties shut down thier normal right handed 
	model production line for a week of so & make left handed models,
	then restart the right handed production line. So ordering one
	may result in a wait of a year or more. Also, the people making the
	guitars tend to set them up poorly because they tend to be used
	to making right handed instruments. Also, there is a tendancy for
	poorer Quality Control on the left handed models, simply because
	they don't do it that often. So in general, if you can find one
	in a shop some place, and try it, you are much better off than
	ordering one. The necks may be cut differently on a right handed
	guitar than a left handed one, so restringing to test the feel
	may not accomplish anything.

	As a side note, Stewart Mcdonalds now sells left handed Strat/Tele
	bodies (About $80.00 US), as well as left handed necks (about $90.00
	US), so you might want to look into this as an option & consider
	building your own guitar.

							Jens
1392.24SUBURB::COLEJWHO sent me to BASINGSTOKE then?Tue Nov 07 1989 15:244
    
    Tony, I was always under the impression that bridgrs and top nuts
    were built/cut differently and that upside down guitars will suffer
    duff intonation ect. 
1392.25CHEFS::DALLISONScreaming blues-o-maniaWed Nov 08 1989 11:499
    
    Well, you'd have to re-assemble the bridge (easy) and if the strings
    didn't fit the nut properly you'd hav to get that done too (not
    much to get a new nut fitted).
    
    If you really like a guitar, why not take the trouble ?
                                                 
    -Tony (who was disgusted to see Yngwie Malmsteen play a left handed
    strat, strung for a righty whilst playing a Hendrix tune - bleck!)
1392.26FWIWCSC32::G_HOUSENo. 24, the naughty bitsWed Nov 08 1989 17:464
    There are some guitars that have the bridge placed at an angle, these
    wouldn't work out flipping it over.
    
    Greg
1392.27with a lot $$$CHEFS::DALLISONScreaming blues-o-maniaThu Nov 09 1989 10:102
    
    Anythings possible if you love the instrument.