Jump to content

Newbie First Humbucker Guitar?


GunDealer

Newbie First Humbucker Guitar?  

6 members have voted

  1. 1. Newbie First Humbucker Guitar?

    • Epiphone Les Paul Standard PlusTop Pro
      1
    • Agile AL-3100
      0
    • Epiphone ES-335 Pro
      3
    • Xaviere XV-900
      0
    • Gretsch Streamliner 2622
      0
    • Other
      2


Recommended Posts

  • Members

Hey everyone, I've decided to get serious about learning electric guitar and I've already enrolled in lessons through the local college university but they won't start until later this month. I've been playing acoustic for fun for several years and just know the basic "cowboy chords", but I want to get serious with electric. I already have a MIM Fender Strat and a Squier Classic Vibe Tele. I'm looking for something with humbuckers now to kind of "round out" my collection. I'm looking at the LP style and the 335 style guitars and I like both styles. I have small hands and fat fingers, so a thin neck profile is really more comfortable to me. The neck on my MIM Strat is fairly chunky to me. My budget is about $400 to $600. I'm looking for a good instrument that I can grow into in terms of my playing. I guess I don't want to buy something super cheap first that I'll want to sell for something better once I get better in terms of playing.

 

In terms of LP guitars, I have played and really like the neck and playability of the Epiphone Standard PlusTop Pro. The neck is nice and thin and feels great and sounds good to me. I don't know much about the Epiphone brand though and $600 seems a lot to spend on an Epiphone. That's what I paid for my MIM Fender. The other option I've been reading about, but haven't been able to try is the Agile AL-3100 from Rondo Music. It seems like they get a lot of good reviews and the price is definitely nice at $400 instead of the $600 for the Epiphone. I just don't know what their quality is like.

 

As for 335 style guitars, I've also played the Epiphone ES-335 Pro and I really like that too. The neck was thin like the LP and felt good and played well for me. The big body feels comfortable for me since I'm used to playing the acoustic. The price is also pretty good at $460 I think it was. The other option I'm looking at is the Xaviere XV-900 from Guitar Fetish. I can't find a lot of recent information on the XV-900, just a few things from several years ago. And GFS seems to be either a love em or hate em type thing with people, so I don't really know. For the price of $280, it seems like it's too good to be true or else the instrument is just going to be a complete POS. I really hate to take a gamble like that without having more information.

 

So there's my options currently and I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions on any of those options or anything else that would fit in my budget of $400-$600 for a new guitar playing with small hands and chubby fingers. Thanks everyone!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For me, it would be either one of the two Epiphones. Like you, I have smaller hands (short "snasuage fingers") and I am really picky about neck dimensions. If a neck feels great, then the guitar is one I'll consider... if not, I'm going to struggle with it, which means I won't be happy with the guitar long-term. I have a mid-90s Epiphone Les Paul (a limited edition with a flame top - similar to the current model that you're considering) and it's been an excellent guitar for me. I also have a '01 Epiphone Casino, which is one of my absolute favorite guitars - and I get to try out a lot of guitars! It's similar to the 335 you're considering, but fully hollow, so it does tend to feed back more than a 335 would - and a 335 will feed back easier than a Les Paul will, all other things being equal.

 

As far as Les Paul vs 335, it's a tough call. What types of music do you enjoy listening to the most? That might give you (and us) a clue as to which one might suit you better.

 

Oh, and welcome to HC. :wave:

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Thanks the suggestions. Seems like we both might be similar in neck needs.

 

Music I enjoy playing is mostly country (I live in the country and play acoustic so it's kind of a requirement). I'd also like to learn some blues. I enjoy listening to a lot of 90s grunge and alt rock.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Music I enjoy playing is mostly country (I live in the country and play acoustic so it's kind of a requirement). I'd also like to learn some blues. I enjoy listening to a lot of 90s grunge and alt rock.

 

Well, you've already got the Tele, so your hard core country needs are taken care of. For blues, either the Les Paul or 335 would be suitable, although for the heavier grunge and alt rock stuff, you may find the Les Paul is slightly better suited, although again, either that or the 335 would work fine for alt-rock... but for the heavier grungier stuff, I personally would rather have a LP for that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
I voted for the 335.

I have the XV 900 and it's a good guitar but it took some work to get it right.The Epiphone should be good to go with a string change and standard set up

 

Thanks. I have a guy that does a good standard setup for $30, but I don't really have anyone who can get into more in-depth work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Hi Gun and welcome to HCEG. I'm an old acoustic player who has only been playing electrics for a couple of years. I build guitars so I have a slightly different perspective than some others here - for instance I can make any size neck I want on any guitar so that is not an issue for me. However I think that is important and the only way you are going to know for sure is to play each guitar.

 

I currently have two electrics - a LP clone and an L5 clone. I have built a couple of 335's and they are somewhere in between. Obviously the big difference between any two electric guitars will be influenced mainly by the pickups and there are very big differences between humbuckers (another reason to play anything you are considering thru the amp that you will be using). However I have built a 335 with the same pups as my LP so I can sort of comment on the differences.

 

The LP of course is a solid hunk of mahogany, the 335 is semi hollow (or semi solid depending on your reference). The 335 seems to have a little more complexity in its sound, certainly the air volume adds overtones. I tend to think of the LP in terms of classic blues - Allman, Betts, Bloomfield,- where the 335 to me is a little more jazz oriented. However of course either guitar can play any genre - thats in the hands of the player.

 

One thing to remember is that the 335 is a much bigger body than a LP (altho it tends to be lighter). It just feels like a big guitar when I play it - here is a bit of a comparison

 

My last comment is that I am particularly impressed by current Epiphones - more so than the equivalent Gibsons. Gretsch is making some nice guitar - I've worked on several different ones that I thought were OK - if you want a vibrato I would consider a Gretsch with a Bigsby. The others in your list I have no experience with

 

[ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","title":"IMG_3413-2.jpg","data-attachmentid":32131904}[/ATTACH]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Had the Gretsch, great guitar. Played the 335 Pro from Epiphone, another great guitars. But I tend to buy used, and here's why:

1) More bang for the buck. For the 600 spent on an Epiphone, you can find Gibson Faded for about the same price. (Better guitar, with a better resale value.)

2) No new guitar issues. You know, those little things a guitars does as it's "settling in". Neck adjustments, intonation, action, all that should have been done and handled before.

3) Economics. Save a few bucks, whine and complain about the tiny nick in the finish, or that slightly loose knobs, and save some cash for either upgrades, or a new amp/pedal/case, whatever floats your boat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Had the Gretsch, great guitar. Played the 335 Pro from Epiphone, another great guitars. But I tend to buy used, and here's why:...

.

 

Buying used is great IF its the guitar you want AND it doesn't have any issues that you (or your tech) can't fix. There is usually a reason the PO is selling - figure that out.

 

 

Thanks. I have a guy that does a good standard setup for $30, but I don't really have anyone who can get into more in-depth work.

 

I must be charging way too much. In my book a "standard setup" involves checking everything structurally, checking, cleaning and a quick fret polish (any other fret work is outside of "standard"), checking and adjusting relief, action at the first and 12th frets, intonation and pickups. Clean the f/b and guitar, tighten tuner bushings, new strings. I usually charge $60 to 90 depending on how bad the frets and nut is.

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I must be charging way too much. In my book a "standard setup" involves checking everything structurally, checking, cleaning and a quick fret polish (any other fret work is outside of "standard"), checking and adjusting relief, action at the first and 12th frets, intonation and pickups. Clean the f/b and guitar, tighten tuner bushings, new strings. I usually charge $60 to 90 depending on how bad the frets and nut is.

 

That's exactly what my guy does too. $30 and I usually give him $5-$10 for a tip also.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I'll second badpenguin's suggestion to buy used, with the caveat that you look it over carefully. I bought my Schecter from a pawn shop for about 1/3 of what it cost new. Yes, it needed some TLC for that price but it's still a solid guitar and meets my modest needs. Regarding setups, I do them for free for friends and I do just about everything Freeman mentioned, including new strings, except I don't mess with the nut unless it's pretty high. If I had to charge it would probably be about what your friend charges.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

For LP check out PRS SE models Hamer Echotone is a nice 335 clone buy either of these guitars used and save$$$.These are other manufacturer other than the ones you already listed. A used Studio LP can also be had for around your budget.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Not to muddy waters too much, but you might consider the Epi 339 (I think that is the number). Like a smaller bodied 335. I go for a semi hollow whatever you want, as you already have two solid bodies. Solids are nice an all that, but having some air in the body adds so much

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Epiphone necks aren't exactly slim. Dots for example aren't chunky but they are wide and slower to get around on compared to an Gibson ES335 which has a slimmer neck. The Gibson ES335 blows the doors off Epiphone for quality and of course that's reflected in the cost which is more then many LP's.

 

If you can afford a Gibson over Epiphone I'd advise going that route even if you wind up with a solid body. Gibson makes several excellent guitars including LP's in your dollar range and they are much better wood tone, electronics and playability compared to the Epiphone line.

 

If you're thinking about a semi hollow body, You might do better with one of the Ibanez Artcore models. I had a friend who bought one and found both the build quality and tone quite excellent for the price. Much better in quality then similarly priced Epiphone's. The necks should be much more to your liking too. If course most Ibanez are noted for their thinner necks and fact action as are Jacksons. Body shapes target mostly young players however. They do make some more traditional types however.

 

Alternatives to an LP. PRS has some lower end versions on sale. You definitely want to check those out. This SE Standard is a wonderful buy and the necks are fantastic on their guitars, even the lower end versions. https://www.zzounds.com/item--PAU18SESTD24?siid=233038

These Budget Firebirds might do the job too. They were used by Johnny Winter who played both modern and traditional blues. Of course his had the mini buckers for that narrow field tone but even one with full sized is worth having. Not a fan of the color, just the instrument. https://www.zzounds.com/item--GIBDSFZ17

 

A step up is the reverse body version. https://www.zzounds.com/item--GIBDSFS17?siid=189839

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

The Epi LP Standard PlusTop Pro and the ES-335 Pro both have what I would consider a very thin neck. It's very close to my Squier CV Tele neck. I also tried the Ibanez Artcore AS73 and it kind of felt cheaper to me in terms of build quality. Also the neck was much chunkier than the Epi. I eliminated the Artcore pretty quickly after I played it for a few minutes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...