Guitar Suggestions for beginner

  • Thread starter Thread starter Beyond Black
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Beyond Black

Beyond Black

Well-known member
My niece’s 15 year old friend wants to start playing, and she digs alternatIve/indie rock. Whats a good guitar for that?
 
Whenever I worked at Guitar Center, when kids would come in with their parents to buy them a first guitar, or an upgraded guitar from their first while they were still green on guitar, I'd always recommend a Mexican made Tele or Strat. They're good enough to last for a very long time into someone's playing career, whether it's just in their bedroom or on the stage. With the Strat, you could probably find your pick of the litter whether it's 3 single coils or a HSS setup and depending on how the guitar was treated (if you buy used), you may just need a decent setup from a tech and that guitar is ready to go from either the bedroom or a sold out arena. I've always been impressed by them, plus the aftermarket is huge.
 
Does she listen to music with a lot of distorted-sounding guitars? Some alternative rockers use it and some don't. If you're not familiar with distortion, that is the fuzzy/crunchy sound some guitars have. If she wants to play songs like that then I would suggest getting a guitar with a humbucker in the bridge. The store worker will know what that means. Don't worry too much about the price for a first guitar, but make sure it will stay in tune.
 
Great suggestion Matt, thanks.
I was thinking the same for that music, something with single coils.
 
What shape does she find cool, and how big are her hands? For that style I don’t think scale length is all that important but a wider vs narrower nut is something to consider. Sometimes new players want space to finger cords and others struggle with stretching they’re hands out.
 
Take a look at the Ibanez AZ essentials. Hard to beat for the price and you can get it with single coils or humbuckers.
 
I always suggest a non-trem guitar.
Easier for a beginner to keep in tune and one less thing to discourage them.
 
japetus said:
My main guitar is a 97 MIM strat with a replaced block
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This would have been right around that time.
Went to the local GC and just tried everything they had that wasn't crazy expensive.
Couldn't believe the MIM won over a couple made in USA that were double the price.

Simple 2 tone burst with black plastics and RW board. Loved that sucker!
 
Chubbs said:
What shape does she find cool, and how big are her hands? For that style I don’t think scale length is all that important but a wider vs narrower nut is something to consider. Sometimes new players want space to finger cords and others struggle with stretching they’re hands out.
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It doesn't matter what shape she finds cool or how big her hands are. The only thing that matters is the opinion of fat old dudes like us who wished they could have been on stage like our heroes Yngwie Malmnsteen, Warren DeMartini, Eddie Van Halen, and Nuno Bettencourt. Since we failed, we are going to have to live vicariously through her :ROFLMAO:
 
BDuncan said:
Does she listen to music with a lot of distorted-sounding guitars? If you're not familiar with distortion, that is the fuzzy/crunchy sound some guitars have. If she wants to play songs like that then I would suggest getting a guitar with a humbucker in the bridge. The store worker will know what that means. Don't worry too much about the price for a first guitar, but make sure it will stay in tune.
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LP Freak said:
Price range?
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4-$500
 
Matt300ZXT said:
It doesn't matter what shape she finds cool or how big her hands are. The only thing that matters is the opinion of fat old dudes like us who wished they could have been on stage like our heroes Yngwie Malmnsteen, Warren DeMartini, Eddie Van Halen, and Nuno Bettencourt. Since we failed, we are going to have to live vicariously through her :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...
Hey man, you get enough beers and cocaine, any room with a guitar becomes an arena.
 
Beyond Black said:
My niece’s 15 year old friend wants to start playing, and she digs alternatIve/indie rock. Whats a good guitar for that?
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Squire strat decent epiphobe SG works great for my students playing that and need stsrter stuff
 
Beyond Black said:
Great suggestion Matt, thanks.
I was thinking the same for that music, something with single coils.
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The classic vibe squires are a great value and routed for a humbucker in the bridge should one want to upgrade the bridge
 
Here’s what I’d recommend

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You guys in US are lucky opportunitywise. I guess you can find a used LTD maybe? Or an older mij Jackson?

If it was for me, I would gone with a fixed bridge guitar with a humbucker. At the end of the day, you can get a coil split, if need be.

With new instruments it is a little bit harder. There are some Ibanezs in that range. But nowadays anything below 800 is a lottery. You might want to visit a GC or SW and just choose the best best one without flaws.
 
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