Questions for Guitar players

[Brodirt]

I have an opportunity to pick up what I am told is a very good inexpensive guitar from someone I am told is a good guitar player.

Does anyone have experience or opinions with SX electric guitars? It retails for about $169 and I am getting it for $50. Its obviously a no-brainer at that price and the word on the internets is that its a good instrument from China at a very good price and perfect for a hack like myself. This particular model is a Les Paul clone.

Also...any experience with CD lessons for Mac and running the guitar into a Mac?

Thanks in advance.

[wundergussy]

From many years of personal experience: if you have any inkling that you will continue to play guitar more than once or twice a week, you will eventually buy a more expensive instrument. Not because of AD, but because with a guitar (or bass, or drums, or what have you) there is a huge playability difference between a 100-200 dollar instrument, and a 400-500 dollar instrument. Now, I am not suggesting you don't buy this guitar; in fact, for 50 bucks, you probably can't do better. But, when you decide to upgrade (not IF), I suggest you make the leap a few notches up the ladder, rather than one notch at a time (I spent about three grand total on various 300-dollar mid-level guitars before I spent one grand on my current instrument).

As for garageband, if you want to record, go for it. If you are using it in place of an amp at first, I'd say the cheapest 5 watt tube amp will give you more enjoyment than the fanciest computer program you could buy.

Good luck! And please feel free to post any questions that accumulate as you embark on a hobby that will make shaving seem cheap as all get out.

[Brodirt]

From many years of personal experience: if you have any inkling that you will continue to play guitar more than once or twice a week, you will eventually buy a more expensive instrument. Not because of AD, but because with a guitar (or bass, or drums, or what have you) there is a huge playability difference between a 100-200 dollar instrument, and a 400-500 dollar instrument. Now, I am not suggesting you don't buy this guitar; in fact, for 50 bucks, you probably can't do better. But, when you decide to upgrade (not IF), I suggest you make the leap a few notches up the ladder, rather than one notch at a time (I spent about three grand total on various 300-dollar mid-level guitars before I spent one grand on my current instrument).

As for garageband, if you want to record, go for it. If you are using it in place of an amp at first, I'd say the cheapest 5 watt tube amp will give you more enjoyment than the fanciest computer program you could buy.

Good luck! And please feel free to post any questions that accumulate as you embark on a hobby that will make shaving seem cheap as all get out.

Thanks...I have an old Crate 60 watt solid state amp from when I used to play years ago. Back then I had a Hamer and/then a Jackson. Both were heavily used guitars, but from my hack perspective, were more than I would ever need. I am no stranger to instrument acquisition disorder though...for many, many years (3rd grade through college in fact) I was a woodwind player and I still have a large collection of alto saxes, b-flat clarinets and even an oboe. I will try to avoid this...bicycles are my all time expensive hobby. I have 9.

[thunderball]

My one stop for music gear user reviews:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...+Standard/10/1

I'm not sure the exact SX Les Paul model you're considering but this should give you at least some idea. Rock on!

[ClubmanRob]

I absolutely do not buy into the notion of "all serious players eventually buy expensive equipment" myth. I've had the same guitar I've had since I was 12. It was a budget Tele clone, and I still use it. I don't own a guitar that ran me over 300.00, and that was a custom built Carlo Robelli semi-hollow.

My best friend, who has played with me for years in various groups that went nowhere, has the same crappy Westone guitar he started out with when he was a kid. Everyone marvels at how well it plays and how beefy the one- singlecoil-at-the-bridge setup sounds. I think if anything, you may acquire an Guitar Acquisition Disorder, but a 60.00 pawn shop special may leave you happier than a 600.00 "name" guitar.

I have about ten guitars. Some are great, some are spectacular. None of them are "name brand" guitars with the exception of a Danelectro. (I do own some Peavey and Squire bass guitars as well). By all means, so long as the neck isn't warped and it has all its frets and at least one pick up, spend the fifty dollars and get a guitar that may last you the rest of your life. You don't need a "real" Les Paul to play guitar, just a guitar.

*The above rant regarding cheap instruments applies only to the instruments themselves. I do not condone the purchase of cheap amplifiers, as they do not produce a sound that pleases my ears or compliment my (possible lack of) skill. I would settle for a used "name" amp before I would a brand-spanking new Fujikama Kronan pawn-shop special.

[Brodirt]

SX Callisto in gold top.


they don't have the model review at the Harmony Central web site but it is comparable (only a different cutout shape) to the GG1 model, with these reviews:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...Paul+Copy/10/1

seems to be consistent with what the seller had to say.

[crocto]

i have an SX model that has the natural wood top. its very nice. the neck is excellent. the pickups however suck.

i've been playing since i was 16 (i'm 25 now) so i can tell you for $50 its a good price. a great guitar to start with. what you can do is (this is what i did) change out the pickups and electronics. so now my cheap $175 guitar now has the pickups and electronics of a $700 guitar. all it cost was about $150 for the parts and labor.

i think you should go for it. because if you don't enjoy playing it you're only out $50.

[porterhaus]

Look for the common wear and tear on the frets, nut, saddle, electronics, neck relief, truss rod adjustment, tuner wear, etc. If you need to, have a knowledgeable friend look also. If it is determined to be in good playing shape then 50 bucks sounds very reasonable.

[otherstar]

*The above rant regarding cheap instruments applies only to the instruments themselves. I do not condone the purchase of cheap amplifiers, as they do not produce a sound that pleases my ears or compliment my (possible lack of) skill. I would settle for a used "name" amp before I would a brand-spanking new Fujikama Kronan pawn-shop special.

I agree entirely! (though I do own an American Made Strat I gave myself as a HS grad present in 1989) I think, with electric guitars, the amp makes the most difference (which is probably why I have 3 tube amps) and pedals can help out too.

The band I'm in played our first gig a few weeks ago and I was playing a Samick semi-hollow through a Hot Rod Deluxe, and I got more compliments on that setup than I expected (videos at http://possumattack.com).

[ZZTop]

I have an SX Fretless 5 string bass because I needed a fretless to play in a one-off orchestra gig. What can I say, it works. It isn't an amazing instrument (the pick-ups are cheap and noisy, the bridge needed an adjustment right out of the box, etc.) but for the price I got it for ($110 brand new, if I recall) it's just fine.

Know that "you get what you pay for" often holds true for musical instruments, but there are exceptions and they're mostly based on luck. With a $100 guitar, it's usually a coin toss on whether it's good or not. I've seen a $60 Samick that plays just as well as a $700 Epiphone. However, with a quality instrument your odds are much better.

Basically, since you have the opportunity to check this thing out (a luxury that you don't always have when it comes to deals like this), bring a friend that knows guitars. They can tell you whether it's a dud or not. You might get lucky and get a great deal on a good guitar.

[Cutter]

i have an SX model that has the natural wood top. its very nice. the neck is excellent. the pickups however suck.

i've been playing since i was 16 (i'm 25 now) so i can tell you for $50 its a good price. a great guitar to start with. what you can do is (this is what i did) change out the pickups and electronics. so now my cheap $175 guitar now has the pickups and electronics of a $700 guitar. all it cost was about $150 for the parts and labor.

i think you should go for it. because if you don't enjoy playing it you're only out $50.

+1 on changing the pickups. Also, sometimes the cheaper guitars are not as heavy which can make a big difference when standing on stage for hours on end.

[otherstar]

+1 on changing the pickups. Also, sometimes the cheaper guitars are not as heavy which can make a big difference when standing on stage for hours on end.

+1 That's the main reason I got rid of my Epiphone Les Paul...the tone was decent, but my shoulders and back couldn't handle the weight any more.

[Brodirt]

+1 on changing the pickups. Also, sometimes the cheaper guitars are not as heavy which can make a big difference when standing on stage for hours on end.

While that is not likely to happen, one of the more pervasive comments that I have seen on this instrument is its great weight through quality construction and choice of wood.

Some comments recommend changing pickups, some like the stock units. We will see...when I played years ago I recall really liking the sound of my Hamer which had 2 very high quality humbuckers wired out of phase, so you never know

[strat1117]

While that is not likely to happen, one of the more pervasive comments that I have seen on this instrument is its great weight through quality construction and choice of wood.

Some comments recommend changing pickups, some like the stock units. We will see...when I played years ago I recall really liking the sound of my Hamer which had 2 very high quality humbuckers wired out of phase, so you never know

I've been trying to avoid sticking my nose in here, because I'm afraid my advice is not what you would want to hear, but you need to keep in mind that weight in a guitar is NOT always a good thing. Personally, I like the more resonant qualities of a lighter guitar.

Mostly, I have to say I agree with Gus and disagree with Rob. No doubt this guitar will be worth what you pay for it, but, if you can afford it, there is a lot more pleasure to be had from a top line guitar. It all depends upon what you want to use it for and what you want to get out of it. Everything from the clear coating on the guitar to the pickups to the finishing of the frets and the radius and feel of the neck can improve as you move up, and all of it affects the way the guitar feels in your hand and, perforce, your enjoyment. The more you enjoy it, the more you will play it, and the more you play it, the more proficient you will become.

That doesn't mean that there aren't cheap guitars that play great (how many songs did Jimmy Page record with that Danelectro?), but the cheaper the guitar the greater the variance in QC, which means that there is no way to guarantee that my $150 guitar from Company X will be the same as your $150 guitar from Company X (I think that holds true for $5,000 guitars as well, the differences are just more subtle).

Anyway, there is only one way to know if you like a guitar and that is to play it (that is, the EXACT one you are going to buy -- not just a different example of the same model). If you buy it and you like it -- then it was $50 well spent. If not, well, then you only have $50 invested in it, and you will probably be able to get most of that back in trade toward your new Custom Shop Strat!

Enjoy!

[wundergussy]

I was wondering when you were gonna chime in Neil! +1 to your whole post, I completely agree.

[strat1117]

I was wondering when you were gonna chime in Neil! +1 to your whole post, I completely agree.

Sorry -- I've been crazy busy at work the last couple of days -- I've only checked in periodically, and just noticed this thread for the first time now.