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Post by roscoepcoltrane on Aug 28, 2006 0:00:57 GMT -5
I am a novice in electric playing,all acoustic man here,,but recently I have made the decision to get an electric. I was thinking Tele or Strat...can you comment on the Mexican built guitars,,upgrades,required upgrades..any info will be great ,,Thanks
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Post by sumgai on Aug 28, 2006 12:41:39 GMT -5
Sheriff,
The MIM instruments from Fender can be every bit as good as any of their higher-priced stuff. The trick is, you've got to pick the right one out of the crowd, and that takes a fair amount of patience as you show off for the nice folks at your local GuitarCenter, plucking out Stairway To Heaven just one more time.......... "oh, can I try this one too, just one more time? Please?"
Trial and error is the name of the game today. I don't know what the ratio is, but it's somewhere between 5 to 1 and 20 to 1 that you'll have to wade through before you land on "your" gem of a keeper. But by shopping around, it's likely you will find a very nice instrument that won't break your piggy-bank.
Just be aware that others here will attempt to subvert you to the Dark Side, and weasel their way into your path with offers of something like "This is even better than a Fender, it's got whachu call phat humbuckers!", and other meaningless drivel like that. Just stay the course, and all will go well for you, my son. ;D
HTH
sumgai
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Post by UnklMickey on Aug 28, 2006 13:36:59 GMT -5
... plucking out Stairway To Heaven just one more time... ...Just be aware that others here will attempt to subvert you to the Dark Side, and weasel their way into your path with offers of something like "This is even better than a Fender.... ya mean like a Gibson? (LSH....)
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Post by RJB on Aug 28, 2006 15:26:18 GMT -5
The "Standard" MIM are as Sumgai stated pretty hit of miss. However the "Deluxe" series of MIMs are usually better quality and setup. They run a little bit more, but IMHO worth it. My #1 is a MIM Deluxe Nashvile Telecaster (3 pickups like a strat)
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Post by wolf on Aug 28, 2006 15:49:21 GMT -5
I do not know about the finer points of the MIM teles vs the deluxe MIM teles, etc. However, I'd agree with RJB about getting a 3 single coil guitar. (Standard telecasters only have two). If you decide to go the "humbucker" route I'd recommend 2 but make sure the coils are exposed. Why? Here's why. www.1728.com/guitar1a.htm (Scroll down about 2/3 of the page until you get to the sentence that says "However, if you have one of those 'sealed-for-eternity', 'epoxy-filled' "bricks", ................ etc" Also, there are a lot of "no name" guitars that are quite well-made and are often cheaper than the MIM teles. (They are usually made in Korea or China but are really good). See? Already you are becoming more learned in the ways of the Force.
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Post by ChrisK on Aug 28, 2006 18:07:17 GMT -5
The PRS SE series are great value for the money. These are mahogany guitars with a darker tone than most Strats. I have a MIM Nash Power Tele. It's a good guitar, but it ain't a formal Tele (no bridge+neck combo). With a switch for neck+bridge, it gets Tele'ier, but it does have Mexas Special pickups. 'Course mine got out of hand real quick. The TeleToggleCaster If yer just starting out, a Strat is probably the best. Take someone with you that knows guitars. DO NOT rely on the salesperson for meaningful info. Buy at Guitar Center (the WALL MART of guitars), they have a 30 day return policy. Buy with a credit card, if you use cash or check, your refund may well be in store credit (you get to loan THEM money). Play MANY guitars first. Neck feel and unplugged tone are most important. Also, buy a good starter amp (it's an integral part of your tone).
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Post by UnklMickey on Aug 28, 2006 18:25:08 GMT -5
... but it does have Mexas Special pickups.... a typo? or does that mean something "special"? ...Also, buy a good starter amp (it's an integral part of your tone). i agree. are you thinking $139.99 is about the right price for a starter amp? unk
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Post by ChrisK on Aug 28, 2006 18:49:42 GMT -5
Sorry, it's a form of Tex-Mex Specials. I's bein' cute.
Well, I'd go to $230 (what I paid fer the G-DEC). It does make practice much more interesting.
One can pickup a VOX AD30VT fer about $230.
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