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ATTN: Matty and Muddy

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senco78

senco78

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bought this yesterday
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/fender-se-special-strat-with-squier-sp-10-amp-value-pack

what your thoughts on this as a beginner guitar.
I got it for myself and the boys. Gonna try and learn and get them interested in playing also.
been looking up beginner lessons online and its like reading chinese, so much more to learn and take in then playing drums.
I picked up playing drums pretty quick back when I was just starting. Once I could get all my limbs to think on their own I was on my way....

but guitar seems to be a different beast...

any recommended reading to get started?
 
I will answer first but only to say that Matty is the guy whose opinion you want here. I have been playing the same (acoustic 12 string) guitar since I was 11. The scope of my experience is extremely limited. I don't feel qualified to give advice about acoustics - electrics even less. I have picked up an electric guitar maybe 3 times in my life. I have no expertise.

I will actually be interested to see Matty's answer because I will be wanting to get an electric soon - although I probably don't want something totally beginnerish. There was a thread a long time ago where Matty talked in some detail about electric options but it might be a bit of an ordeal to find it.




In general terms, I'll say this. It's a great thing to do in life, learn guitar. It has brought me a lot of enjoyment. Best way to learn IMO is to find peers who play and jam along with them. That might be easier for your boys than you (although if your boys do get going, you can jam with them and get them to show you what they are learning). I learned to play in a guitar club in my school in grade 6 and I made friends with other players. I don't know if I would have stuck with it just reading or taking formal lessons.

These days, I'm sure there are good tutorials through YouTube and whatnot. That's what I'll probably be looking for when I get my electric as I don't have any peers to lean on (other than Matty who has his own life going on over there).

But I am not really starting from scratch so it shouldn't be too big a struggle (I hope).
 
The guitar is probably decent enough, but that amp is going to produce some sorry sounds.

I would not recommend this.

You should spend the $199 on a Squier or Yamaha guitar alone. The Yamaha will have superior build quality, while the Squier will have more mojo and that classic Fender tone.

http://www.music123.com/Guitars/Ele...eluxe-Electric-Guitar.site7prod519177.product
http://www.music123.com/Guitars/Ele...aster-Electric-Guitar.site7prod510422.product

Now, I understand the appeal of these guitar/amp/tuner/accessories kits, and apparently some of them are quite decent. But you need to spend a bit more to get equipment that you'll actually want to spend time on. The $199 price point is just ridiculously low and I can't see it being reliable enough.

As far as amps go, I recommend the Roland Cube series, at least the 20W model which comes with good built-in effects... don't get the cheaper 15W model... you minimally want a reverb on your amp, which the 15W lacks.

http://www.music123.com/Guitars/Gui...r-Combo-Amp-Black.site7skuH68601000001000.sku

If you can't swing the whole package in one go, just start with a guitar, a cord and a good tuner. You can learn to bang tunes on an unplugged electric just fine.

As far as reading materials go, buy or subscribe to Guitar World - every issue provides lessons and complete transcriptions of famous tunes by modern and classic rock acts. The magazine is geared towards beginners and it's the most fun way of getting started if you ask me.
 
BTW I just realized that you bought the Squier pack thingie already. Like I said, the guitar is probably good enough. The amp can be recycled as a stage monitor down the road. If you keep at it though, you'll want another amp before long.
 
thanks Matty,
just bought this as an entry level to see if it holds my attention, I understand at that price you get what you pay for.
mainly I want to learn a little and get my boys turned onto playing. although that guitar will probally be to big for them right now, but if he shows interest I'll get him a smaller one.

been playing around the last hour on a "First Act" guitar I bought him yrs ago( until the kit gets here next week) with only the top 2 strings left on it :lol: ( E and A I believe.... already learned something)

learned the riff to "smoke on the water" using bar chords, :dance: and "Dock of the Bay" although I think I'm doing that one wrong
 
put the hair in some willie nelson braids ( which the kids gave me hell for) :lol:
and started tuning it... thats as far as I got right now...
I finally tuned my drums to sound right this weekend...
starting a family band in no time
 
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