I would second guitar center, especially their online sales. I have picked up a few decent instruments from them for close to half off full retail. Just be sure to do plenty of research online. Just about anything decent will have plenty of reviews available. Be sure to locate a competent guitar tech or luthier handy to your home. Even the best units will need a little TLC to get the most out of them.
If you like Stratocasters, then a Squier is hard to beat to get started with. If you could find a Mexican made Fender for a bit more money, even better.
We are in the golden age of inexpensive guitars, IMO. Although, like everything else, guitars have gotten a lot more expensive in the last few years. Pretty much all the big makers entry level line of guitars are generally pretty good. And definitely have gotten better in the last several years. Epiphone, Gretch, Ibanez etc. Fender/Squier has always been good generally.
I really like my American Fenders. But my Mexican Fenders are also very nice. My Gibsons, yes, are much nicer than my Epiphones. But they are not 1000 bucks nicer if Im going to be honest. The Epiphones made in the last 10 years or so are pretty nice. Not Gibson nice. But pretty nice.
I've been buying, selling, trading music gear for many years. I always buy/trade used. I haven't bought a new guitar in a long time. Used is usually going to get you more for less. Market Place, Craigslist, GC Used Gear Section. I've had good luck in all those places.
We are in the golden age of inexpensive guitars, IMO. Although, like everything else, guitars have gotten a lot more expensive in the last few years. Pretty much all the big makers entry level line of guitars are generally pretty good. And definitely have gotten better in the last several years. Epiphone, Gretch, Ibanez etc. Fender/Squier has always been good generally.
I really like my American Fenders. But my Mexican Fenders are also very nice. My Gibsons, yes, are much nicer than my Epiphones. But they are not 1000 bucks nicer if Im going to be honest. The Epiphones made in the last 10 years or so are pretty nice. Not Gibson nice. But pretty nice.
I've been buying, selling, trading music gear for many years. I always buy/trade used. I haven't bought a new guitar in a long time. Used is usually going to get you more for less. Market Place, Craigslist, GC Used Gear Section. I've had good luck in all those places.
I honestly like my epiphone as much as my gibson. A nice bonus is I dont have to worry about dragging $3000 around with me
Yeah, man. Epiphone is making some great stuff. My Gibsons stay home. My Fenders and Epis get dragged around and beat up lol. I particularly like Epiphones original designs. Casino, Wildkat, Sheraton.
I know just a little bit about guitars. I had an American Strat a long time ago but I never got past learning a few chords and I let a friend talk me out of it.
I have checked out many of the options mentioned here so far and I've been looking at a slightly used Squier Affinity Stratocaster HSS online that I had just about decided to get but like I said, I am cheap, (tight, frugal, retired, and broke) so I've been looking at some real cheap guitars that seem to have good reviews.
Also I'm going to look into the offer from @GnometownHero on putting together a Telecaster. So stay tuned!
I have checked out many of the options mentioned here so far and I've been looking at a slightly used Squier Affinity Stratocaster HSS online that I had just about decided to get but like I said, I am cheap, (tight, frugal, retired, and broke) so I've been looking at some real cheap guitars that seem to have good reviews.
Also I'm going to look into the offer from @GnometownHero on putting together a Telecaster. So stay tuned!
Guitar has been said to be easy to learn and hard to master. You will have fun with this adventure!
Years ago, if you bought a cheap guitar it would play like a cheap guitar. Today, inexpensive guitars made off-shore can be set up to play really well for most people.
Couple options …
A good music store can be a huge help in picking out what is right for you. If they know what they are doing, they can provide a great set up. If you like how a Fender Strat plays, Fender has Strats in all price ranges. Strats tend to be very versatile tone wise. I have two Strats and they sound nothing like each other. Same with my Telecasters.
My Fenders are good examples … two were gifts from Fender’s Custom Shop and two are off the rack regular American series. The Custom Shop guitars play great and have amazing tone … but so do the American series.
On line companies like Sweetwater can be great. They can provide a PLEK service that will make a good guitar better. Of course you will need to see if an inexpensive guitar + PLEK or a better guitar is the best value for you. My wife bought me a Heritage H530 for my retirement this January. She ordered it from Sweetwater. Perfect out of the box. Did wait two days before opening it to let acclimate to our house.
Get a tuner … such as one that you attach to your peg head. Being in tune will help your enjoyment … and others listening to you.
Some merits to getting an acoustic guitar. Your strings are usually heavy which help you to develop your playing. Won’t need an amp to get great tone. That said, I once sat about ten feet away from the late great John Campbell who opened for Buddy Guy in a small bar in the bowels of Houston. He plugged in an old Gibson acoustic and had amazing tone. You can get a pickup for an acoustic if you want to add more textures to your tone.
You will need an amp if you get an electric guitar. There are a lot of great little amps on the market that are not too expensive. Some years ago, I sold my amps that I would play at venues and moved to smaller amps. Always had tube amps but a few years ago I found a solid state amp called the Blues Cube Hot. Really a great sounding amp. I have a Marshall Class 5 and a Fender Champ (it and one of my Strats was a gift from Fender back in 1988) and I plug the Blues Cube in most of the time (when my left thumb is working). I would recommend an amp with head phone jacks.
Good luck and have fun!
My daughter wanted a Stratocaster for her birthday.
She picked this out.
I fabbed the floating stand.
She picked this out.
I fabbed the floating stand.
Very cool 70’s style headstock and I LOVE the stand. You could sell those.
I hadn't played since 1973 when I had a 1969 Gibson SG Standard. A VERY nice guitar. 2 years ago I went looking and found this combo. The guitar is from IYV. VERY nice setup. Frets all trim and smoothed correctly, nut installed and set at extremely playable height with no buzz anywhere on the neck. Great sound from these pickups. And the amp... it's a Fender champ. Who's not to like that. Got the amp and guitar on Amazon for $279 shipped. An absolute steal.
Last edited:
