wtb: low price electric for beginner

[DaxT1138]

getting someone their first electric for christmas, thinking MIM strat/tele (i've seen them go way cheap here) ibanez artcore/gsa kind of range. samicks maybe? parts-o-casters welcome. 300 and below range (lower is better) since i have to be getting other people things too. no floyds please

[seeker]

I'd definitely throw Dillions into the ring, especially used. One's like this: PRS Copy.

[blackfbiv]

If I can find new bottom of the line Epi's and Fender Squires for around $99.00 Cdn, you 'Mericans shud be able to beat that price in a heartbeat.

I wouldn't spend alot more on a total beginner. 8 out of 10 don't ever learn to play the thing...

Dion

[anotherfreak2]

I wouldn't spend alot more on a total beginner. 8 out of 10 don't ever learn to play the thing...

and when you spend that much($100) on a guitar you are almost guaranteeing that he won't!

This argument kills me, I've been teaching for 16 years now, and the most frustrating thing I have to deal with is some kid who is really excited about playing guitar, but has a guitar that cannot be set up to play well. So yes, this myth is going on and on, "don't spend a lot 'cause he might not really do anything with it" They don't know that it is the guitars fault that it dosen't feel/sound/play very well, they just think "it's not for me" and they are done!

for one, $300 is a great starting place, beceause there you are getting something built a little better, one that can probably be set up pretty well, And even IF he doesn't, you can get more of your money back out of it. The most important thing for them is to have give them a chance with an instrument thet they can have fun with.

....give 'em a chance........

rant off.....

[killerteddybear]

+1 on anotherfreak's rant. Spend the money and get a playable instrument.

If you spend $100 on guitar (new or used) you'll likely never recoup anything on resale. Whereas, if you spend $300-500 on a good used instrument then you'll likely recoup the bulk of that outlay.

More likely, the student will keep the guitar for many many years and get their money's worth from it.

Look at it this way: spend $100 on a throwaway guitar, or spend $400 on a decent instrument and sell it later for $300. Either way you lose $100 - which guitar would you rather play on?

[Jimbilly]

You can find Mexi Strats for well under $200. I bought 3 in the last year for: $160, $129, and $79, and they're really cool guitars (none of them Squires). Some of the earlier MIJ Ibanez guitars are pretty cool too, and can be found for cheap. If you're near Seattle, I've got a spare MIM Strat and a MIJ Ibanez I could easily live w/out. There are very playable guitars out there for $150, then you'd have enough budget left to add a Roland micro cube.

[killerteddybear]

What about this one?

red strat parts guitar

[jujisque]

Or this one. Great guitar.

quality epiphone

[mr coffee]

I have a nice mexi strat in vintage white with rosewood board/gig bag for 300$ shipped..sounds great and has upgraded tuners to the american standard type

[guitarzandstuff]

I have an early Hamer Slammer Series archtop in black with creme binding for $200...

One of the original with Slammer Series under the logo...

Great guitar for the price.

[black magic]

May I reccomend either an Ibanez RG421, made in Japan, 2 hums and a hardtail, smokin value on the used market between $200-300. They are a discontinued model, but you can buy a new Korean version of it called the RG321. They play like butter and sound great. 25.5 scale and 24 Jumbo frets, Wizard 2 neck, a little thicker than the Wizard neck. I have a Blue RG421 myself and really love it!! Jack.