ernest828 Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 As a producer/songwriter/performer, I`m looking for a guitar I could use as a studio tool, as a writing tool and as a performing ax. So far I have been looking at the Fender Strats and the Gibson Les Pauls. Even though I have heard the Strats are the best all around guitars for all styles, I much prefer to play a Gibson. I suppose this because the Gibson has a wider neck and feels more like an acoustic than a Fender. Maybe I haven`t had the right Fender in my hand? I don`t know but would like to know mnre about the subject and really would like to hear from all you guitarists about what would be the best guitar for me. My chops are so so... I play chords and simple rhythm guitar. My budget is $800 max. Thanks ahead of time for your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 I think there was a thread like this before, something about the most versatile guitar. The popular choices were a Tele or a 335. I'm partial to my ES-345, but you'll probably get more for your money with a Tele. On an $800 budget, I'd suggest a Fender Deluxe Nashville Power Tele. All the goodness of a Telecaster, with 3 pickups like a Strat, plus a Fishman Power Bridge piezo transducer for an "acoustic" vibe. Sells for around $700. (Hmmm...why don't I have one yet?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboDog Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 Well, I think you can get some Gibson tones from a Fender, but not the other way around. (If the Fender is set up S/S/H). I think a guitar with 2 single pickups and a humbucker at the bridge offers a wide variety of tones. Bucker for leads and some rythym, singles for Fendery cleans and rythym. Personally, I never liked Gibson necks. Give me a neck with little or no paint/sealer/clear coat and I'm happy. (Yes, I know these things help keep the neck from warping, yadayadayada). My most versatile guitar has a hot bucker in the bridge and vintage singles. Gibson had a guitar, the Blueshawk, 2 humbuckers with switch and a 6 way switch that did all kinds of stuff. There was a dummy coil inside the guitar. You could get like 18 tones from that thing. I think they quit making it, but you may could find a used one for $800. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted March 14, 2002 Share Posted March 14, 2002 For $800 you can get a Carvin hand made to your specs. Check out Carvin.com . It will be better than a Fender in the same price range. The reason it's cheaper is that it's sold direct. The Bolt is their version of a Strat and you can get it with your choice of bridge, pickups, woods etc. You can also get a Fishman bridge. A DC135 is like a cross between a fender and a Gibson (it has a 25") scale length. It is avialable with the same options. The DC200 has active electronics. They all start at around $500-$700. One of these would totally do the job. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wewus432 Posted March 15, 2002 Share Posted March 15, 2002 Have you looked at the Parkers. They have the built in peizo for acoustic sounds, you can get a wide variety of electric sounds, blend the two and it has the best action of any guitar out there. I have a Fly Deluxe which is the best guitar I've ever owned. The Fly is rather pricey but they have a model in your price range. Highly recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted March 15, 2002 Share Posted March 15, 2002 parkers are cool, they are real comfortable to play and have a nice neck. i tried a nitefly out and if i remember correctly it had a wide neck. godins also have the solidac and lg series which have piezo bridges. and as previously stated the fender deluxe nashville has the strat pickup setup and a piezo. i think the godin lg and the parker nitefly are reasonably priced. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrave Posted March 15, 2002 Share Posted March 15, 2002 For versatility in the studio I just bought a Brian Moore iGuitar 88.13. Dual pickups plus piezo and MIDI ready. I picked up the Roland guitar synth (GR-33) and have so many possibilities for the studio that it's a bit over whelming. Price on this ax is just a bit more than what you say you want to spend and the synth to go with it will probably put into the $1300-$1500 range. But what a combination!!! Check out : i88.13 Guitar =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ME: "Nobody knows the troubles I've seen!" Unknown Voice: "The Shadow do!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggs Posted March 16, 2002 Share Posted March 16, 2002 I would agree that the Carvin Bolt is probably the best Strat type guitar for the money out there. For ultimate versatility, I would be sure to look at the Carvin AE185. Also check out the jamroom at www.carvin.com/jamroom to hear the bolt with single coils and also twinblade humbuckers. It also has short samples of the AE185 in 6 and 12 string versions. I would also go to the main page at www.carvin.com and look for Angelo Jannotti's demo of the AE185. You will soon see what I mean about the amazing versatility of this guitar. Boggs Check out my Rock Beach Guitars page showing guitars I have built and repaired... http://www.rockbeachguitars.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickerman Posted March 16, 2002 Share Posted March 16, 2002 Carvins are great. Mostly due to your ability to customize it to be exactly what you want. Brian Moore's are amazingly versatile but don't have the best feel I've ever played. I really didn't like the Parker P-40 I played. It didn't feel or sound very good. I personally think a Carvin TL60 with a Fishman equipped Wilkinson vibrato and active electronics is one of the most versatile guitars you can get. If you get a TL60 w/ acoustic Wilkinson trem and active pickups it runs about $900 which is over your price range but just about the best guitar you can get. Or, you could get it without the active elecs and Fishman and it'd only be $630 and it'd still be a VERY versatile guitar. Then you'd also be able to afford a specialized finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernest828 Posted March 19, 2002 Author Share Posted March 19, 2002 Hey Everyone, Thanks for responding. I just have this obsession with Fenders. As a child I always wanted one and I grew up drawing pictures of it. So yesturday I went out and finally got the one I saw as a kid and now all I`m trying to do is learn how to play something cool on it. Any recommendation? By the way, I bought a Mexican Strat, whick is a 60`s remake. Sunburst, 3 single pick ups. Man its beautiful. I compared it to several guitars before the decision, all Fenders... an American Strat which i wasn`t crazy about the neck and a 70`s remake Strat with a wide neck. The one I got is exaclty what I wanted. It really does offer alot of sounds right out of the bag which is what I was looking for. Another question... What do you guys recommend for a DI Box? (I`m looking at the POD stuff.) Peace, Ernest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Congrats on your new purchase. The nice thing about Strats is that even the cheap ones sound good. The POD is a good inexpensive DI. What are you recording into? If you have a computer recording setup, get a Line 6 Guitar Port which is both cheaper and more powerful than a POD (or anything else like it for that matter). Are you using an amp? "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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