Electric Guitar Advice

[DanMac]

Hi everyone, I am looking for some advice on buying an electric guitar. I have several acoustic guitars and have been playing them for nearly 40 years and have now decided it's time for an electric. I know little about electric guitars (I used to play electric bass in the 60's) but I think that due to the styles of music I play, I need something versatile. I like to play classic rock; country rock; country; folk; and blues. I am more of a rythm player than lead, but I am learning some new lead licks, and I like to finger pick. I am thinking a Gibson Les Paul is the best bet for me, but I would sure like some input from you guys that know your electrics. Is there another guitar on the market that would give me the versatility and sound of a Gibson LP? I am anxious to hear what you folks have to say. Thanks for reading.

[Spud1950]

Ask 20 different people,you'll get 20 different opinions. Considering the vast amount of different electric guitars available these days, with different sounding pickups which effect the tone,different neck profiles which effects playability,etc., the best thing you can do is to visit some well stocked music stores and play and compare different models to find the one that suits you the best. In my personal opinion, tone wise,the Stratocater is more versatile then a Les Paul, but you really need to play a lot of different guitars and compare. Also keep in mind that the amplifier and the amp settings are also going to play a major role in shaping the tone, not to mention all the effects pedals available. So, in the end it's your ears and your fingers that determine what's best for you.

[johnnyb]

[cheepaxes]

I agree with the others - I think you should try some stuff out, and I suspect the Les Paul won't be any better suited for your needs than a lot of other guitars. Plus they're heavy and, if you're looking at an actual Gibson model, very expensive. I would think someting like a Stratocaster or Telecaster would work for you. If you're looking for bargains then consider something from the Squier line or a Made-in-Mexico model. Maybe some time down the road you can look into Les Pauls as an upgrade. FWIW, I own a Les Paul and I like it but I play my Squier Strat more often.

Really though, any good electric guitar could do any of the things you mentioned. Your success will depend more on you than the instrument. If you live in a reasonably large city there are probably a half-dozen instruments in today's Craigslist that could work well for you. If you know anyone who knows about electric guitars they might be able to look at candidates with you and give you an idea about how good a guitar is, how good it could be with a little work, and how good a bargain it appears to be.

Good luck,
-Scott