Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Darth Loo-knee on 19 December 2008, 23:17:49
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I am thinking of buying one.
I have been told that an Epiphone Gibson Style is a nice sounding guitar but not being able to play yet I wouldn't honestly know.
There are several different types in the Gibson Les Paul style by Epiphone so not sure which to pick.
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I am thinking of buying one.
I have been told that an Epiphone Gibson Style is a nice sounding guitar but not being able to play yet I wouldn't honestly know.
There are several different types in the Gibson Les Paul style by Epiphone so not sure which to pick.
lovely plank the Epiphone Les Paul style :y if i had the cash i'd buy meself one and start practicing again 8-)
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John Lennon always played Epiphone guitars, they are a poor mans Gibson, but an excellent choice if you are starting out, get a decent amp.
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John Lennon always played Epiphone guitars, they are a poor mans Gibson, but an excellent choice if you are starting out, get a decent amp.
:o have you seen how much they are??
what sort of amp do you suggest?
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you're talking thousands for a Gibson but Epiphone make a good licensed guitar mate :y
Decent amp i haven't a clue i'm afraid, but the Les Paul is nice to just strum without
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There is one Epiphone Les Paul Custom Black Beauty 3 which has three pick ups what benefit is this if any?
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I am thinking of buying one.
Why?
I have been told that an Epiphone Gibson Style is a nice sounding guitar but not being able to play yet I wouldn't honestly know.
There are several different types in the Gibson Les Paul style by Epiphone so not sure which to pick.
different manufactures have different characteristics, never mind between different ranges.
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If you haven't played before, buy an acoustic. Try to find something with a fairly low action, but change the strings to something fairly light.
As far as an electric guitar is concerned, it depends on what sort of music you want to play. Still best to start with an acoustic, decide on what sort of music you want to play and that will help you make your mind up on a guitar/amp combination. If you want to play rock/blues, a solid body Fender lookalike would be a good start.
I've got an Ibanez hollow body electric like this:
Click (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckub3DQzMDk)
Gitanes Gypsy Jazz acoustic like this:
Click (http://www.manouche-guitars.com/)
And a solid top classical like this:
Click (http://www.chamberlainmusic.com/productdetail.asp?ProductID=BM2147)
I play the electric through a fairly cheap old Laney amp which has some effects on board including a crunch channel and a spring reverb.
The only thing I would add is, once you start playing, one guitar will definately not be enough. :y
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just get a cheepie till u no you like it
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just get a cheepie till u no you like it
I agree ::) ::) ::) Loo-Knee, no good spending money if you can not play, it is hard to learn, I have been leqrning on and off for 30 years. ::)
Remember you will pay extra for pink......... ;D ;D ;D
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Well I know a couple of guys who have offered to give me some lessons so I will take them up on them.
I was just looking through Fleabay and there are tonnes... but I do like the look of these Les Paul Style ones.
As to what music would I play... I aint into rock music really the odd one are ok but that aint me....
Wouldn't mind be able to learn a few Oasis, road to hell I like things like that really :y
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Well I know a couple of guys who have offered to give me some lessons so I will take them up on them.
I was just looking through Fleabay and there are tonnes... but I do like the look of these Les Paul Style ones.
As to what music would I play... I aint into rock music really the odd one are ok but that aint me....
Wouldn't mind be able to learn a few Oasis, road to hell I like things like that really :y
Go with an acoustic then Daz. Electric means that you can only play in the room where the amp is, unless you get a tiny practice amp which won't do a decent instrument justice.
For banging out chords at home, an acoustic is just the job to learn on. If you get serious, you would then know what sort of guitar and amp you need. :)
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Fair comment Martin have to have a look at them then now :y
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Fair comment Martin have to have a look at them then now :y
And if you want a smoooth sound then get a 12 string... :y :y :y
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What about this one got some good reviews
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/ID70/10199199/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+entertainment+and+sat+nav%7C10199181/c_2/2%7Ccat_10199181%7CMusical+instruments%7C10199188/c_3/3%7Ccat_10199188%7CGuitars%7C10199199/r_1/4%7CBrands%7CYamaha%7C1.htm?cmpid=GG05X&kwmid=6472508&kmcid={c
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just get a cheepie till u no you like it
Do we charge newbies by the letter ?
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Fair comment Martin have to have a look at them then now :y
If your leaning towards an acoustic - Yamaha are rated very highly and can be picked up brand new for about 70-80 £
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Fair comment Martin have to have a look at them then now :y
If your leaning towards an acoustic - Yamaha are rated very highly and can be picked up brand new for about 70-80 £
I was looking on fleabay at a Yamaha one so i typed the name and model in Google and Argos came up. Like you say new just under £80 so I will get one of those as the reviews are good to.
My mum has a Yamaha piano and it is a lovely sounding instrument :y
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What about this one got some good reviews
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/ID70/10199199/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+entertainment+and+sat+nav%7C10199181/c_2/2%7Ccat_10199181%7CMusical+instruments%7C10199188/c_3/3%7Ccat_10199188%7CGuitars%7C10199199/r_1/4%7CBrands%7CYamaha%7C1.htm?cmpid=GG05X&kwmid=6472508&kmcid={c
That's pretty similar to the guitar I started with. I bought that and then went to the local college in the evening for group lessons to get me started.
You couldn't do this on that guitar though.
[media]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ4Og9LNJpk&feature=related[/media]
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Looks a load of rubbish to me mate, have a look on Ebay and get a decent second hand acoustic for a couple of hundred quid.
Try and find a solid top guitar
http://www.musicfolk.com/docs/Features/Feature_HowtoBuyaGuitar.htm
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Looks a load of rubbish to me mate, have a look on Ebay and get a decent second hand acoustic for a couple of hundred quid.
Try and find a solid top guitar
http://www.musicfolk.com/docs/Features/Feature_HowtoBuyaGuitar.htm
Sorry- some bloke buying his first guitar will not understand most of the comments in the above link- I've bought a couple of guitars over the last couple of years and some of their suggestions are beyond me
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Hey Daz, have a look at this. A little bit dearer than the one you were looking at but a much better instrument. You wouldn't be disappointed with this one. And it's just up the road from you. :)
Ibanez Electro Acoustic (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ibanez-SX60RCB1202-ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC_W0QQitemZ220331624996QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item220331624996&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1298%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
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What about this one got some good reviews
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/ID70/10199199/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+entertainment+and+sat+nav%7C10199181/c_2/2%7Ccat_10199181%7CMusical+instruments%7C10199188/c_3/3%7Ccat_10199188%7CGuitars%7C10199199/r_1/4%7CBrands%7CYamaha%7C1.htm?cmpid=GG05X&kwmid=6472508&kmcid={c
That's pretty similar to the guitar I started with. I bought that and then went to the local college in the evening for group lessons to get me started.
You couldn't do this on that guitar though.
[media]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ4Og9LNJpk&feature=related[/media]
That bloke looks like he's either straining for a dump or has got he's weener stuck in his zip :o ::) ::) ::) ;D
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just get a cheepie till u no you like it
Do we charge newbies by the letter ?
why use 100 words when a few will do?
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I'm not sure on the acoustic advice, you know. If you're new out acoustics are quite loud and annoying for other's around you, a nice solid body electric played unplugged is perfectly audible to the owner but less annoying to others + then also gives you the flexibility and fun of plugging into an amp and getting a few effects etc. and having more of a laugh. My first guitar was a Strat copy and this worked for me (now have 2 acoustics, 3 electrics and a bass). Also sometimes the necks are smaller on electrics but depends on the size of your hands etc.
I'd also recommend a Yamaha, not that I've got one but they're great value for money and every one that I have seen plays well. I'd avoid anything too cheap as a bad guitar could be harder to play and put you off. One of the more reasonable Pacific's would be a good start.
I also was looking for a Les Paul type a while ago. Looked at the Epiphone but be careful as the build quality is not all that it may seem. It is a cheap version of the Gibson. I bought a Tokai in the end which is a faithful copy for the price of an Epiphone and, in my experience, a much better guitar.
Best to have a strum on a few before you buy even if you can't play just to feel different necks etc.
If you want an amp, can't got wrong with a cheap Marshall for the basics. If you want some more effects etc. for the same money try a Line 6 or a Roland.
Hope you get the right choice for you, anyway. Just for the record, I'm a drummer ::)
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If you want to play rock, I would forget the acoustic route.
Get yourself a proper, rock guitar. These fall in to two fairly different types. The Les Paul type and the Stratocaster type.
Play them both. You need to know which one you are comfortable with.
The Les Paul type has a thick body, generally made of heavy wood. You know about the weight if you gig with one! The neck is generally thicker. The fingerboard is wider with a flatter radius. Better suited to bigger hands and thicker fingers. Bending is slightly easier as the scale length is a bit shorter.
The sound is more suited to 'heavy' rock due to the humbucking pickups, heavy woods and straight through necks.
Jimmy Page mostly plays a Les Paul.
The Stratocaster type guitar has a thinner body made of lighter woods. The body is chamfered for added comfort. The neck is generally thinner with narrow string spacing. It better suits slender fingers. They always have a tremelo (or 'whammy bar') that allows you to de-tune the strings as you hold a note.
Stratocaster guitars usually have single coil pickups which are not as 'heavy' sounding as twin coil (or 'humbucker') pickups.
The sound is much more flexible and can do The Shadows to Deep Purple.
Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd) mostly plays a Stratocaster.
Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple) also plays a Stratocaster.
Both to great effect IMO.
There is a middle ground though. Look up the Epiphone ES335 (http://www.imuso.co.uk/directory/reviews/electric-guitar-reviews/epiphone-es-335-dot.htm). It's a semi acoustic that can be played unplugged for practice but can also punt out a decent rock sound when plugged in. The playing feel (or 'action') is the same as a regular electric.
Mostly jazz and blues players use these. B B King and Chuck Berry used a derivative, the ES355.
Make sure you have a go on all these types before you buy.
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Here is a Strat being used properly..
[media]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JWnapx502uQ&eurl=http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?hl=en&q=comfortably%20numb&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv[/media]
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my first guitar was a squire strat... had horrible fuzz.
anyway if you want to play rock then get something with a humbucker pickup as they're alot better for using with distortion and sound fatter and more powerful, single coils are ok but it depends what your going to play.
also a more expensive amp sounds better than a cheap amp wether your guitars cheap or expensive (i'v played with quite a few amps and i think valve amps sound alot better-expensive though)
and imo line 6 amps are pants, they try and do a bit of everything with all the effects and arnt that good at any, dont sound as nice either.
i'd either go for a randall, marshall or a bigger fender amp tbh
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I know what you mean about 'line 6', wouldn't buy one myself, but if you are a beginner you get a lot of flexibility with no hassle from one of them, even if ultimately the sound wouldn't crack it on a decent recording or with a live band - remember, it's for a beginner.... the pods are OK through 'phones for mucking about too.....
Best amp I've used is a Peavy Delta Blues (full valve), just too expensive for me (especially as a drummer...).
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As said don't shell out until you get any good. I can "play" one of a mates dead pricey ones but it sounds no better then a £125 starter with a practice amp. I've been learning since i can remember & can still only play a few dodgy riffs & string a few chords together.
Someone suggested an accoustic which is a good idea & a chord book will help. I'll be your baby tonight was made famous bt UB40 but was originally Bob Dylans work. You can play & hum this on 4 chords. You start strumming, then you can dress it up a bit as you go.
Lastly, i love rock, you don't, no worries. I don't like country but it's an easy way to learn chord patterns & picking as is basic 12 bar style blues (not screaming Gary Moore terribly sorry old boy, I am a little tired) You have to learn the basics which might not involve your fav toons but you still feel good when you master something. I've got a Yamaha full size accoustic which cost £115 six years ago & it's got a lovely sound, especially when someone else plays it!!!!!!! :y
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I will go to the music shop and have a strum on a few see which feels at home when I hold it.
I had a go of my nephews acoustic and the body of it felt really wide...
I had a Les Paul copy (think it was a Hohner) years ago managed to play wonderful tonight, just got fed up with just playing the same tune so sold it as I didn't use it for a while.
The guy who was showing me couldn't explain the answers to the questions I was trying to ask, which was frustrating..
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An acoustic being used properly...
[media]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=S-jCNySpWiM&feature=related[/media]
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A voice being used properly...
[media]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jVgCtUB_7jQ&feature=related[/media]
How the break did she do that?
Top skills.
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My friends always seemed to go for Fenders or had custom built.
I think one had a Gibson Flying V or a clone of one
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Sorry it's not a video, but this is one of the best examples of 'rhyming guitars' there is. Both Gibsons.
[media]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RmayGJ4D7L8&eurl=http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?hl=en&lr=&pwst=1&resnum=0&q=gone%20shootin&um=1&ie=UTF-8iurl=http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/RmayGJ4D7L8/hqdefault.jpg[/media]
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These chords are being picked, easier to strum them but a good song to lehttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=o7PHHS3Wo08&feature=relatedarn with..+ she's lovely is'nt she?
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http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=o7PHHS3Wo08&feature=related
Sorry, pissed forgot to drop cursor!!!!
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If you get serious about it Daz,I have a very nice U.S Stratocaster I rarely use,might be for sale some time soon. not swapping it for a Thunderace though. ::) ;D
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If you get serious about it Daz,I have a very nice U.S Stratocaster I rarely use,might be for sale some time soon. not swapping it for a Thunderace though. ::) ;D
That was my first thought actually mate :)
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ebuyer.com have mega cheap Strat copies for under £30.00
They'll need a new set of strings and a decent set up, but at £30, if you don't take to it, it won't matter if it ends up on the wall as an ornament.
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ebuyer.com have mega cheap Strat copies for under £30.00
They'll need a new set of strings and a decent set up, but at £30, if you don't take to it, it won't matter if it ends up on the wall as an ornament.
Sorry Turk, but unless you want an ornament I would not buy a £30 guitar.
My first guitar was bought in 1979. For £120 and it was cheap then.
I now have a proper Les Paul Custom which I got fairly good with. I've had various others, including a Jackson.
I probably couldn't play 50% of our set on the cheap guitar I started with. Leave aside the poor sound quality.
If someone is keen on learning guitar and wants to budget for something that won't limit their playing, £250-£300 is about right.
Mexican Fenders. Epiphone Gibsons. Korean Jacksons are all there. They would all need a proper setup, but wouldn't embarass the greats if they had to gig with one, for playability or sound quality.
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Been reading through the replies, seems to be a fair bit of different opinion on this one. So heres mine.
I've been playing guitar for over 40 years now and the guitars that my mates & I started on back in the 60's were real "Dogs" compared to what you can get as a beginners or budget instument nowadays.
My first electric was a Watkins Rapier 33 & I seem to recall it cost 33gns from Bell music in Surrey. Fenders & Gibsons were available but of course they were much to highly priced for Mum & Dad to buy.
To me back then the Rapier it was fantastic , it wasn't until much later I realised that the thing was almost unplayble.
I would suggest you visit a fairly large music shop & see what is available, try a few out & see what suits you & your budget.
Cannot agree with the opinions that cheap guitars are no good though.For a beginner they are the only way to go.
Have a look on E-bay just tap in ALBA on E bay searh for . Friends of mine have brought 10 or more of these strat copies for £28 .00 each + shipping £16.00 from Germany and these are really unbelievable for the money & much better than the Chinese Squires that are over a £100 The secret with "Strat" style guitars though is -they do need a proper set up to suit you & your string gauge
Good Luck, regards Al 8-) 8-) 8-)
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I've been playing on and off for about ten years or so. I'm still a beginner - but then I aspire to play like the big names so I'll probably never get there, but I have had great fun trying. I've got a range of guitars - acoustics, semi-acoustics, electro-acoustics, steel, and solid body's (still waiting for the next one to be built). I started on a battered acoustic (and I mean battered - it was recovered from a plane crash and the neck was split and the body had a hole in). I learned to bash the chords out of that. I got a really bad imitation strat after that and a really cheap amp. That was detrimental to my playing, I'm sure. The amp buzzed constantly, the guitar just wouldn't stay in tune, frets buzzed and the fret board wasn't accurate enough (so things genuinely sounded out of tune).
If I was starting again I'd spend around £150 and get something that's decent enough quality to sound 'ok' and hold it's tune. Tanglewood, Westfield, Epiphone, Fender, Yamaha - they all make guitars in that price range. Play it. Play it a lot. Find someone else who's just starting out too. Play together. I learned really fast when I was living with someone who was also learning and it just became a competition to get better, learn more complicated stuff, learn the latest oasis number, etc. It made a massive difference.
For £150 you'll get a guitar that you could reasonably learn with and not feel that you're battling against the instrument to produce a decent sound. If you stay with it then you'll begin to realise which direction you want to go in - strat / les paul / classical / cut-away acoustic etc.
I've played on some of the more expensive acoustics and electrics (american custom strats & teles, breedlove acoustics, taylors). They were easier to play. They sounded better (mostly, although I would argue that some of the really expensive stuff doesn't sound *that* much different if at all to something half it's cost), but, the only reason they sounded better is because I had a vague idea of where to stick my great podgey fingers. Learn on a £30 guitar, learn on a £3000 guitar - you'll still hit bum notes, bugger chords up, mistime picks, and feel lost to start with.
Whatever you choose - have great fun :y :y, stick with it and consider getting the instrument set up professionally. Stuff coming straight out the factory is rarely set up well (so the strings are a mile high off the fretboard making it harder to hit chords and notes cleanly).
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Been reading through the replies, seems to be a fair bit of different opinion on this one. So heres mine.
I've been playing guitar for over 40 years now and the guitars that my mates & I started on back in the 60's were real "Dogs" compared to what you can get as a beginners or budget instument nowadays.
My first electric was a Watkins Rapier 33 & I seem to recall it cost 33gns from Bell music in Surrey. Fenders & Gibsons were available but of course they were much to highly priced for Mum & Dad to buy.
To me back then the Rapier it was fantastic , it wasn't until much later I realised that the thing was almost unplayble.
I would suggest you visit a fairly large music shop & see what is available, try a few out & see what suits you & your budget.
Cannot agree with the opinions that cheap guitars are no good though.For a beginner they are the only way to go.
Have a look on E-bay just tap in ALBA on E bay searh for . Friends of mine have brought 10 or more of these strat copies for £28 .00 each + shipping £16.00 from Germany and these are really unbelievable for the money & much better than the Chinese Squires that are over a £100 The secret with "Strat" style guitars though is -they do need a proper set up to suit you & your string gauge
Good Luck, regards Al 8-) 8-) 8-)
That's worth searching for - nice pictures :y
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ive got 11 guitars, including a customised les paul and a completely custom fender stratocaster.
if you're starting out then i would recommend a fender strat copy. the strat is the most popular guitar ever made for a number of reasons; the versatility of tone is second to none, the weight and shape of the guitar mean that the thin neck makes it easier to play than many other guitars, and also the price is good due to mass production and wood type.
the les paul guitar (not including studio versions) is more expensive due to the quality of the workmanship and the sheer quality of the components used. its as though an entire oak tree has been used to fashion each one! that said, the neck is a lot wider and is heavier on your wrists and fingers than a strat, thus making it more difficult to play.
a world of effects units and outboard gear are at your disposal to mould your own sounds, however, the key is to determine what it is you want to play and then get your guitar based on that; the strat has single coil pickups whereas the les paul has humbuckers. these are very very different and depending on what you want to play may cause you a disability; hence me having one of each in my collection.
as a guide, les pauls are a heavier rockier / metal sound and also provide rich deep jazz tones on clean. think slash, frampton, zeppelin. the strat is a lighter poppier tone but also capable of good rock sounds. think clapton, gilmour, hendrix.
hope that's of some help... :y
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Yes Bandit, you are right but I'm thinking £150 is a lot to pay if one is buying to see if they take to it.
I have a Warwick Streamer bass as my main instrument and a Peavey Raptor (Telecaster copy) but that's only used on a few No's.
Actually the Peavey is quite a nice guitar for the £150 I paid about 8 years ago.
Oddest bass I've had was a JayDee with a short horn Alembic body...and a Kahler trem. To reach the machine heads whilst wearing it I'd have needed arms like a gibbon. When it was upright on it's stand it was a danger to low flying aircraft.
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also if you're interested in some sound comparisons check my stuff out here:
listen to 'perfect lovesong' and 'one eye open' for strat sounds
listen to 'overdrawn' or 'beautiful' for les paul sounds
http://www.myspace.com/audiojustice
further info here:
http://www.audiojustice.com
(http://www.audiojustice.com/images/audiojustice-overdrawn.jpg)
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That's good sh*t there mate :y
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That's good sh*t there mate :y
thanks for the positive feedback! the album is out now on itunes if you're interested in downloading it:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=251482353&s=143444
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I have read all your post Guys and thanks for them all :y
To be honest I ain't sure which guitar will suit me best, I like songs that use both Gibson Les Paul's or Strat's....
I am thinking of this one http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5400674/Trail/searchtext%3EGUITAR.htm
because it aint to much to spend if I can't get a tune out of it within a few weeks.
the reviews look pretty good for it too..
What do you guys think?
Daz :y
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How about trying a bass, mate?
You could be the next Lemmy. ;D ;D
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What like a big vertical Violin ???? ;D ;D ;D
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What like a big vertical Violin ???? ;D ;D ;D
Bass guitar you plonker. ;D
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Lemmings aren't they little rat things in the artic?? :P ::) ;D
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you might get lucky.... good starter guitar
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Squier-Stratocaster-Blue-Japan-MIJ_W0QQitemZ270319735187