What kind of guitar should I buy?
January 18, 2021 8:03 AM Subscribe
What kind of guitar should I buy? I'm a semi-beginner who just likes to play around, and occasionally make some crunchy noises.
My company gave me a €150 gift card for Thomann in Germany. I'd like to use it to buy a guitar. I haven't had a guitar in a few years, and I really miss having one. I've never been particularly good, but I like to mess around. I'd like to actually learn to play and sing at the same time. I mostly record with synths, but I'd love to add some guitar work in.
My last guitar was an acoustic that was good enough for me to play around on. My only issue with it really was the bulk.
At one point in life, I had an electric guitar. I loved thrashing power chords, and having fun with electrified harmonics.
I've seen electric acoustics. Is there one that will give me the satisfaction of playing around on an acoustic, that will also let me get the sound of an electric?
I'm not planning on getting an amp. I'll be plugging directly into my Focusrite Scarlett, and using software effects.
Am I asking for too much? Thanks
My company gave me a €150 gift card for Thomann in Germany. I'd like to use it to buy a guitar. I haven't had a guitar in a few years, and I really miss having one. I've never been particularly good, but I like to mess around. I'd like to actually learn to play and sing at the same time. I mostly record with synths, but I'd love to add some guitar work in.
My last guitar was an acoustic that was good enough for me to play around on. My only issue with it really was the bulk.
At one point in life, I had an electric guitar. I loved thrashing power chords, and having fun with electrified harmonics.
I've seen electric acoustics. Is there one that will give me the satisfaction of playing around on an acoustic, that will also let me get the sound of an electric?
I'm not planning on getting an amp. I'll be plugging directly into my Focusrite Scarlett, and using software effects.
Am I asking for too much? Thanks
Caveat: I'm assuming you are fine with it not sounding 'traditional' if you are not buying an amp. If you want traditional, then I'd recommend buying an amp and my guitar suggestion might be different.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:39 AM on January 18, 2021
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:39 AM on January 18, 2021
You're asking for a lot, to be sure. €150 doesn't buy you a lot of (new) guitar, and electrics/acoustics are fundamentally different enough that you'll be hard pushed to find a guitar at any price level that can closely approximate both what an acoustic guitar does and what an electric guitar does. Here are your options:
posted by spielzebub at 8:39 AM on January 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
- Buy the best electro-acoustic that you can for your money. An electro-acoustic guitar is a steel-string acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup, so you can amplify it. If it's acoustic, it'll have bronze-wound strings that are higher tension and thicker than electric strings, which are usually steel-wound. It'll be harder on your fingers, and you'll be limited if you want to do electric-guitar style techniques like wide vibrato or bends. When you put it through distortion FX, it will sound fairly close to a distorted electric guitar sound, but not exactly the same, because the pickups and preamps in electro-acoustics are designed to amplify the acoustic sound as cleanly as possible, so they have different tonal qualities. That said, with a bit of effort in your setup, you can get a great sound out of an electro-acoustic.
- Buy a cheap electric guitar and use an acoustic simulator effect. You'll get more bang for your limited buck with an electric guitar - you're on a very tight budget, and acoustics around that price point (never mind electro-acoustics) may be very cheaply made and not very nice to play. With an electric, there's not as much material or construction cost, as it's mechanically much simpler (essentially just a block of wood). You'll still be able to hear it (quietly) if you're playing unplugged, and acoustic simulator effects can make it sound eerily like an acoustic guitar. It'll be lighter, more durable, and more transportable. I've only used actual physical acoustic simulator pedals, but I'm sure that someone does a decent software one.
- The closest to something that actually does both jobs is the new Fender Acoustasonic range, which they're pushing quite hard right now with ads featuring people like Nile Rodgers. This is maybe a bit gimmicky, and way outside your price range, but it'll definitely give you a lot of options to play with, and it'll be well made and set up and fun to play.
posted by spielzebub at 8:39 AM on January 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
You can make a plug-in acoustic guitar sound like anything given digital effects.
I respectfully disagree. I'd suggest a real electric, as it sounds like what you loved about your electric was the very specifically electric guitar-ey aspects of it (big thrashy distortion, harmonics). An acoustic w/ pickups will respond really, really differently, even with a cool stack of digital effects that mimic your favorite big amps, cabinets, pedals, etc. (Short story: I had a band and some super-classic electric guitars for years. I sold them all, quit music for 8 years, came back to it, tried to use my acoustic to sound like an electric by using digital effects, and quickly bought myself one of these.)
I'd say pick your poison on the cheapest version of one of the classic electric guitars. Want to sound like an indie rock god? Go Fender. Kinda into metal and want to shred? Maybe something like this Ibanez. Want something that does everything pretty well? Maybe a Les Paul.
Another note: at that price range, any acoustic you buy is going to be pretty rough in terms of its acoustic sound, so if playing in the room doesn't matter, that's another reason to go electric.
So yeah, in short, pick the style guitar you're into (or that some of your favorite guitar players use), find the cheapo version of it, and proceed to SHRED!!!
posted by nosila at 8:50 AM on January 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
I respectfully disagree. I'd suggest a real electric, as it sounds like what you loved about your electric was the very specifically electric guitar-ey aspects of it (big thrashy distortion, harmonics). An acoustic w/ pickups will respond really, really differently, even with a cool stack of digital effects that mimic your favorite big amps, cabinets, pedals, etc. (Short story: I had a band and some super-classic electric guitars for years. I sold them all, quit music for 8 years, came back to it, tried to use my acoustic to sound like an electric by using digital effects, and quickly bought myself one of these.)
I'd say pick your poison on the cheapest version of one of the classic electric guitars. Want to sound like an indie rock god? Go Fender. Kinda into metal and want to shred? Maybe something like this Ibanez. Want something that does everything pretty well? Maybe a Les Paul.
Another note: at that price range, any acoustic you buy is going to be pretty rough in terms of its acoustic sound, so if playing in the room doesn't matter, that's another reason to go electric.
So yeah, in short, pick the style guitar you're into (or that some of your favorite guitar players use), find the cheapo version of it, and proceed to SHRED!!!
posted by nosila at 8:50 AM on January 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
The best guitar is whichever one is gonna get you excited to play! I've gotten a ton of satisfying mileage in recent years buying cheap pawnshop guitars- you can bonk 'em around, put stickers on 'em, take 'em apart and modify 'em, etc. I picked up a red Yamaha EG112C a couple months ago for $80 and have had a ball with it. Yamaha's are cheap but they really don't make bad instruments (pianos, trumpets, motorcycles, etc.).
I would 2nd nosila in saying don't get an acoustic if what you really like is electric sounds.
posted by stinkfoot at 9:48 AM on January 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
I would 2nd nosila in saying don't get an acoustic if what you really like is electric sounds.
posted by stinkfoot at 9:48 AM on January 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
I agree with nosila. An acoustic guitar with effects is never going to sound like an electric.
Also, I currently only have a Strat, but when I've had other guitars, I never spent more time tuning the Strat than any of the other fixed-bridge guitars.
As far as what to spend your €150 on. Fender's Squier line has gotten really good in the last decade. Even the cheapest of cheap guitars (like Glarry) seem to get decent reviews in YouTube videos. Thomann carries Harley Benton, and those are worth checking out.
Unless you're buying something intended for kids, you're probably going to be fine with whatever you get.
posted by jonathanhughes at 9:54 AM on January 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
Also, I currently only have a Strat, but when I've had other guitars, I never spent more time tuning the Strat than any of the other fixed-bridge guitars.
As far as what to spend your €150 on. Fender's Squier line has gotten really good in the last decade. Even the cheapest of cheap guitars (like Glarry) seem to get decent reviews in YouTube videos. Thomann carries Harley Benton, and those are worth checking out.
Unless you're buying something intended for kids, you're probably going to be fine with whatever you get.
posted by jonathanhughes at 9:54 AM on January 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
Thomann's house brand, Harley Benton, seems to have a pretty decent reputation these days for value and quality. And plenty well within your price range. I personally own four HB guitars (two electrics and two acoustic, all within your range, though all oddball models) and find them pretty good. I wouldn't hesitate to get another. And there are plenty of there to tempt me. And, of course, they sell many other brands.
Is there one that will give you the satisfaction of playing around on an acoustic, that will also let you get the sound of an electric? Not really, IMO. Your experience may vary. Most acoustics with built in pickups had a great deal of effort put into making them sound unlike an electric guitar. But with modern digital modeling, who knows?
posted by 2N2222 at 9:55 AM on January 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
Is there one that will give you the satisfaction of playing around on an acoustic, that will also let you get the sound of an electric? Not really, IMO. Your experience may vary. Most acoustics with built in pickups had a great deal of effort put into making them sound unlike an electric guitar. But with modern digital modeling, who knows?
posted by 2N2222 at 9:55 AM on January 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
I asked the resident guitar botherer in my life to respond:
Mr MMDP here.
I would definitely concur with the electric guitar camp. It appears that your taste is more inclined that way. You might be able to get close to electric guitar sounds with an electro and digital effects but an (electro)acoustic will never play like an electric. The action is usually a bit higher and the neck usually thicker and wider.
You don't say whether the €150 Thomann voucher is all you have to spend, but if you have a bit more cash to top it up, I would recommend spending as much as you can afford. I agree that Thomann's Harley Benton range does get a lot of respect, so I don't think you can go far wrong there.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 10:51 AM on January 18, 2021
Mr MMDP here.
I would definitely concur with the electric guitar camp. It appears that your taste is more inclined that way. You might be able to get close to electric guitar sounds with an electro and digital effects but an (electro)acoustic will never play like an electric. The action is usually a bit higher and the neck usually thicker and wider.
You don't say whether the €150 Thomann voucher is all you have to spend, but if you have a bit more cash to top it up, I would recommend spending as much as you can afford. I agree that Thomann's Harley Benton range does get a lot of respect, so I don't think you can go far wrong there.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 10:51 AM on January 18, 2021
I was going to mention Harley Benton as well. If anyone can recommend a local luthier/repair person who can set it up and get it to play as nicely as possible, definitely do that - there may be minor glitchery that they could sort out for you, but from all I've heard the fundamental instrument will be sound. The ultimate basic guitar is the telecaster, IMO, so perhaps their TE 52.
posted by Grangousier at 11:06 AM on January 18, 2021
posted by Grangousier at 11:06 AM on January 18, 2021
Oh, and even plugging into the Scarlett, I think it works better if you've got something to match the guitar to the input. My experience of using plug-in amp emulators as opposed to something hardware (even something as cheap and cheerful as a Behringer pedal) is that there's something a bit standoffish about the plugin. Partly latency, partly something I don't quite understand to do with impedances.
posted by Grangousier at 11:26 AM on January 18, 2021
posted by Grangousier at 11:26 AM on January 18, 2021
Adding my voice to the chorus of “don’t get an acoustic expecting it to sound like an electric”s. I read a description somewhere talking about how electric and acoustic guitars are really two different instruments that happen to be shaped the same way, and it’s helped me to think of them that way. Playing styles are different, the response of the guitar to your fingers and pick is different, etc. I’m guessing eventually maybe you’d like both, but in the short term I would suggest just an electric. I don’t personally think the extra effort of tuning a Strat or whatever is significant in a studio/at-home situation. Maybe on stage where time matters.
I have an electric acoustic and honestly, I don’t like the sound of it for recording. Miking an acoustic is both cheaper and will produce better results, in my opinion. The pickups are really more useful for live performance.
Don’t know if you already have decided on your amp sim, but I like Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig and have friends who are big fans of BIAS. (Sometimes I do struggle with latency and will end up recording parts while listening to the unplugged guitar in the room instead of the ampsim output. ASIO drivers mostly solved this but it can be an issue with lots of tracks in my DAW. You might consider picking up a little practice amp, maybe with some onboard modeling effects, just to deal with this when practicing.)
posted by music for skeletons at 1:03 PM on January 18, 2021
I have an electric acoustic and honestly, I don’t like the sound of it for recording. Miking an acoustic is both cheaper and will produce better results, in my opinion. The pickups are really more useful for live performance.
Don’t know if you already have decided on your amp sim, but I like Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig and have friends who are big fans of BIAS. (Sometimes I do struggle with latency and will end up recording parts while listening to the unplugged guitar in the room instead of the ampsim output. ASIO drivers mostly solved this but it can be an issue with lots of tracks in my DAW. You might consider picking up a little practice amp, maybe with some onboard modeling effects, just to deal with this when practicing.)
posted by music for skeletons at 1:03 PM on January 18, 2021
I would recommend spending as much as you can afford.
x1000
I've been playing for 35 years. that's the advice i commonly give.
why do beginners quit?
a) it won't stay in tune.
b) it's too hard to play (physically difficult to manipulate the strings, bad action)
try to spend enough to resolve those. a crap guitar will only crush your enthusiasm and confidence.
guitars are like boats -
q) how much does a good one cost?
a) how much you got?
set the target at 'playable and stays in tune' a $400-$500US electric will last for years. by then, you'll either bail or develop more specific preferences.
posted by j_curiouser at 1:15 PM on January 18, 2021
x1000
I've been playing for 35 years. that's the advice i commonly give.
why do beginners quit?
a) it won't stay in tune.
b) it's too hard to play (physically difficult to manipulate the strings, bad action)
try to spend enough to resolve those. a crap guitar will only crush your enthusiasm and confidence.
guitars are like boats -
q) how much does a good one cost?
a) how much you got?
set the target at 'playable and stays in tune' a $400-$500US electric will last for years. by then, you'll either bail or develop more specific preferences.
posted by j_curiouser at 1:15 PM on January 18, 2021
Squier Classic Vibes are well regarded. As are the Yamaha Pacifica guitars.
Not sure how much they are in Germany, though.
posted by backwards guitar at 1:24 PM on January 18, 2021
Not sure how much they are in Germany, though.
posted by backwards guitar at 1:24 PM on January 18, 2021
As I understand it, a HB is in the same price range as a Squier Affinity, and in that particular shootout the HB wins.
Not that I'm a Harley Benton booster - I've not played one - but I've seen this particular conversation played out a number of times.
(Classic Vibes are, by all accounts, excellent for the money, but that money is about £300 rather than £150. Looking at the Thomann website.)
posted by Grangousier at 3:31 PM on January 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
Not that I'm a Harley Benton booster - I've not played one - but I've seen this particular conversation played out a number of times.
(Classic Vibes are, by all accounts, excellent for the money, but that money is about £300 rather than £150. Looking at the Thomann website.)
posted by Grangousier at 3:31 PM on January 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
Note: these days you absolutely do not need to spend $400-$500 in order to get a playable instrument that will stay in tune. Thomann has multiple options at the OP's price point that will meet that standard easily, or they'll take it back.
A few decades ago that may not have been true; modern manufacturing is amazing.
The one thing I worry about a bit is that if you're new to guitar (or to electric guitar, anyway), and if something isn't quite right (maybe there's a little excessive fret buzz or something), you may not be able to tell if the problem is the guitar, or your technique, or just some simple adjustment. If it were me, I'd budget another €50 or so to take it to a guitar tech and have them check it over, give it a basic setup if necessary, and make sure it's OK.
You can learn to do all that yourself, but it might be nice to have it done by a pro the first time just to make sure you've got a good baseline for what a guitar is supposed to feel like.
posted by bfields at 5:34 AM on January 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
A few decades ago that may not have been true; modern manufacturing is amazing.
The one thing I worry about a bit is that if you're new to guitar (or to electric guitar, anyway), and if something isn't quite right (maybe there's a little excessive fret buzz or something), you may not be able to tell if the problem is the guitar, or your technique, or just some simple adjustment. If it were me, I'd budget another €50 or so to take it to a guitar tech and have them check it over, give it a basic setup if necessary, and make sure it's OK.
You can learn to do all that yourself, but it might be nice to have it done by a pro the first time just to make sure you've got a good baseline for what a guitar is supposed to feel like.
posted by bfields at 5:34 AM on January 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: What a great response! As usually, MeFites nail it. I'm feeling more drawn to the electric route, so I'll keep moving in that direction. Maybe I'll get an acoustic someday.
I'm willing to go an extra €100 for the right piece of hardware. The HBs look nice. I'm liking the Les Pauls as well.
I'm not concerned about tuning - it's the one guitar-related thing I've always been really good at. Fixed bridge or not - either is fine.
I think I will get an amp after all. This way, I don't have to fire up my recording rig just to play around. Thomann seems to have some good package deals in the €200ish range.
spielzebub: that acoustic simulator sounds awesome. I'm going to keep that in mind.
posted by Bucket o' Heads at 8:02 AM on January 19, 2021
I'm willing to go an extra €100 for the right piece of hardware. The HBs look nice. I'm liking the Les Pauls as well.
I'm not concerned about tuning - it's the one guitar-related thing I've always been really good at. Fixed bridge or not - either is fine.
I think I will get an amp after all. This way, I don't have to fire up my recording rig just to play around. Thomann seems to have some good package deals in the €200ish range.
spielzebub: that acoustic simulator sounds awesome. I'm going to keep that in mind.
posted by Bucket o' Heads at 8:02 AM on January 19, 2021
Response by poster: After reading reviews, and listening to demos, I've settled on the Epiphone Les Paul Special II. Thomann has a package deal for the guitar, an amp (Epiphone Elektar 10), bag, strap for €222. It will be here Friday. I'm so excited! Thanks everyone!
posted by Bucket o' Heads at 10:46 AM on January 19, 2021
posted by Bucket o' Heads at 10:46 AM on January 19, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also buy a tuner! You will sound 1000X times better if you are always in tune.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:37 AM on January 18, 2021