How much are we talking to buy an electric guitar?

[Yorick]

The first guitar I bought cost me $6000 AUD (between 2000 - 3000 pounds) but that included an amp thrown in. It was a Jackson, bought in the late 80s when it's sound was "in."

However, years later I bought a cheaper guitar for $600 AUD that looked and sounded better and has gone on just about every record I've done since I bought it. It is the guitar in these photos: http://www.hughwilson.org/pages/2/index.htm

So much better.

I have a Maton acoustic that I paid $1500 AUD for. Amazing guitar. Sounds and plays beautifully.

So here's what to look for:

Forget "dings" and scratches. They will not affect what really matters - how it sounds and how it plays. Dings and scratches can give it character. All my guitars are a little dinged as a result of the gigs and travel. (The maton in particular)

Look for how well the guitar stays in tune. Setting the guitar up properly is important, but sometimes, a cheap guitar will tune up ok, but will play some notes or strings out f tune, further down the fretboard.

Not good.

How does the guitar feel? Some people like a thick neck. Other prefer a thin neck.

How does the guitar sound? If you plug the guitar into an amp - dry, no fx - can you get a decent clean sound or two, and a decent distorted sound? A good guitar will have a number of pickups in it, that give you the sounds. The one closer to the neck will be thicker and 'warmer', the one further away, janglier, more edgy.

It all depends on what you want to do and what style you want to invest in. I personally love fender telecasters, rickenbackers, and Gibson f-hole tyoe guitars....


more later