KVR Audio

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:51 am

Ok, so I'm just doing some research. I currently have an electric guitar which I do like, but it's not perfect. It's a Danelectro DC3. So for the sake of seeing what is out there, I figured I'd ask. Here is what I'm needing.

Ok, first, something not too expensive. I don't know exactly what price range that is yet, so maybe I'll just say "bang for the buck" and leave it at that for now.

I don't need something that thrashes heavy metal licks and knocks pictures off my neighbors walls, but I would like a guitar that I can get a decent variety of tones from. But mostly I want good clean warm tones and when it comes to heavier tones, I do pop/rock style stuff. Top 40 style, if you will.

Anyways, I'm VERY confused about all the brands that are out there. I don't know the quality differences between brands and their "budget" brands. Like the Fender Squier, or the Gibson Epiphone, etc. When I look at guitars online, I see all these "custom" and "special" and "SE" and all these terms that I have no idea what they mean in the guitar world. I also don't know enough about pickup types to REALLY know what I'm looking for.

So anyone want to give me a crash course on these subjects? Recommend some good budget guitars that sound good? I'll ask questions as people answer, as I'm sure I'll have plenty.

I was talking to somebody through PM about other things, but decided to make a thread about this to see what different people think, and to not bother any one person too much.

I greatly appreciate the help. Thanks!

Brent

o'malley · Post by **o'malley** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:55 am

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:06 am

Haha! Funny man. Actually, I saw some guitars shaped like a flower. Maybe those would fit perfectly? My wife would LOVE it!

I have a guitar I would like an opinion on. Just picking this out becaues it seems to have two pickup types for a variety of tones(am I right on that?) and the description seems nice to me:

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem. ... earch=true

Now, keep in mind that I will probably go to my local shop to try any guitars that I put on my list if I were to buy one. So I'm just trying to get an idea of what to go in there looking for so I don't get "sold" something I don't want.

Brent

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:13 am

o'malley wrote:

meet my daughter

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:18 am

Yeah, it's just not quite "me".

Anyone have any REAL suggestions?

Brent

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:23 am

actually Lauren's Hello Kitty isn't a half bad guitar

...you can get all kind of opinions here Brent, but the truth is you're in an enviable position. You have yet to reach the "hung up on names" stage. As generic as this sounds head out to the music store and have fun...find the guitar that tells you it wants to go home with you...kinda like dating except you can unplug the guitar after

robogone · Post by **robogone** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:24 am

I guess what you really should do is go to a guitar store and play some. You'll get a good feel for the weight and balance, and the feel of the neck and frets. Also, you should play some with single coil and some with humbuckers to find out which you prefer, and it will give you a chance to see what the difference is with the pickup selecter switch in different positions.

No guitar store will ever turn people away for wanting to play guitars, so I would say just go to your nearest one and start playing a few.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:31 am

I'll definitely be doing that. I'm just trying to learn the differences in things. To educate myself on brands, pickups, sounds associated with various instruments. I'll only be buying if I can sell my Danelectro DC3 anyways.

So trust me, I'll go mess around. This thread is more for me to learn, and not to make a decision.

Brent

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:33 am

okay, well first let me ask...what don't you like about the dan electro?

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:39 am

Doesn't feel right, and the sound just doesn't seem to fit exactly what I'm wanting. I can't seem to get the tone out of it that I'm wanting. Plus, the pickups are a bit noisy for me(not that it's not my fault with my tone selection).

I'm still messing with it, but so far it's not really fitting much with what I'm trying to do. I wish I had a better reason, but it's hard for me to describe. It's a beautiful guitar though.

Brent

xolax · Post by **xolax** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:43 am

Hink wrote:okay, well first let me ask...what don't you like about the dan electro?

Dan Electro is a very sub-par company which makes quite poor soudning effects (and so I would assume that their guitars are equivalent of Squiers, which are not very good).
I will suggest a Cort KX Custom
http://www.cort.co.kr/english/products/ ... uct_id=109
or a KX-5 which is a slightly downgraded version.
Both are sub-700$ price range and are amazing. My friend/bandmate plays one and it is amazing (A KX-1F). It has a great tone, comes with a coiltap which can be used to split the oils for non-distoted tones. Its tone is amazing and the feel and playability are godly. One of the best guitars Ive ever played.
BTW, do not get any ESPs below the 400 model number, because all lower models have poor wood used as well as the hardware and pickups (especially the 100s).
Schecters are also amazing for the price (very good prices). I strongly suggest you try out a Cort KX series axe - some of the best out there.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:44 am

okay, well that guitar is fairly thin sounding and of course that would be a lot about the pick-ups. Also the noise would be part of the pick-up selection in the dan electro. So stabbing in the dark I think it's safe to say that you might want to avoid single coil pick-ups and go with humbuckers.

What kind of tone do you want? You said you don't want a lot of distortion, but are you looking for a clean sound or a little of both?

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:50 am

xolax wrote:
Hink wrote:okay, well first let me ask...what don't you like about the dan electro?
Dan Electro is a very sub-par company which makes quite poor soudning effects (and so I would assume that their guitars are equivalent of Squiers, which are not very good).

I disagree on everything you said there...Dan Electros are very unique guitars that stick closely to how the original models were made(that are quite popular), the fx pedals are after thoughts and not here or there on this topic...and squiers are what they are, cheap beginner guitars.

I will suggest a Cort KX Custom
http://www.cort.co.kr/english/products/ ... uct_id=109
or a KX-5 which is a slightly downgraded version.
Both are sub-700$ price range and are amazing. My friend/bandmate plays one and it is amazing (A KX-1F). It has a great tone, comes with a coiltap which can be used to split the oils for non-distoted tones. Its tone is amazing and the feel and playability are godly. One of the best guitars Ive ever played.
BTW, do not get any ESPs below the 400 model number, because all lower models have poor wood used as well as the hardware and pickups (especially the 100s).
Schecters are also amazing for the price (very good prices). I strongly suggest you try out a Cort KX series axe - some of the best out there.

You're right on all counts, all those guitars are good, but maybe not right for him...more info is needed first.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:52 am

I want to be able to do both clean and some good rock rhythm guitar type stuff. I don't need anything thrashing though.

As for the Danelectro, the reviews I've seen for this guitar have been good ones. It's actually a fantastic quality guitar. Put together real well. This particular one retails for around $400 or so. But it's not cheap feeling or anything. I've actually heard others say that compared to their effects, their guitars are great. I've never had their effects, so it's hard to say. But I don't think this is a crap guitar by any stretch.

It's just not been my cup of tea in the time I've had it.

Brent

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:55 am

Would another option be replacing the pickups? They are currently lipstick pickups and I don't know if other pickups will fit into their holes, or if it would be worth looking into?

Brent

Need some help with learning which guitars would suit me