Fender StarcasterMusic

[F1GTR]

^ That's my friend's dream guitar, until I pointed out how phallic the headstock looked. He says it looks like a leaf but I know he doesn't look at the guitar in the same way again.

 

[F1 fan]

*snip*

The point I was trying to make is that he may not like the feel of the fender in the first place. I had a squire to begin with and made very little progress. The fretboard radius in particular was a gripe of mine. Still, being stubborn, I went out and bought an Epiphone SG and persevered. In a week with that guitar, I made more progress than I did with the strat for several months. Point is, it just felt comfortable and I was able to get on with things without making excuses about frets or fretboard radius. And for the record, my particular squire was a p.o.s. I've played other ones that put it to shame. Mine was just a bad one. It wasn't beyond saving though, I sold it to a friend who ripped the pickups out of it, did a fret redress, hardtailed the bridge, fitted new hardware and took the lacquer off. He turned it into a nice guitar with a bit of work.

In my case, a guitar of relatively decent build quality, really helped, and it wasn't long after, when I saved up for my first Gibson Les Paul standard and started playing in clubs. Whereas with the strat I had, I was getting nowhere.

The epiphone I bought was secondhand, so it wasn't much more than the strat, and for me it was a nice comfortable guitar that I came home and played every single night for hours. That is what made the difference for me.

The reason I don't want anything expensive-what if I don't like playing? I'll be honest I'd love a Les Paul for a beginner but if I don't like it I'm out $800 not including the cost of the amp and everything else.

You'll be able to sell it and get most of your money back.

For instance, if the neck's bad or something, you only need a new neck. See what I'm getting at?

Unless you get a guitar with a set neck. The point I was trying to make is that you might find out that you're not really a strat type player. See above.

 

[Camaroyenko]

Unless you get a guitar with a set neck. The point I was trying to make is that you might find out that you're not really a strat type player. See above.

Yeah, but I believe the Starcaster has a bolt on neck.

 

[Bigbazz]

Chances of you getting a bad guitar if you stick with the good brand names are very low, I honestly can't see you coming accross any bad necks, dodgy frets or anything of the like. Some guitars aren't greatly setup from new but are still far from being that bad. Even some of the most expensive guitars on the market can come with bad setups (Ibanez high end stuff for example, in my experience) that require a little tweaking, but it's no big deal.

My main live guitar is a 1994 Ibanez Jem7V and it is fantastic, but honestly I still rate my old Squier, i've not yet played a bad one, I've played a few fantastic ones, a few average ones and a few beat up, but the consistancy that i've seen with them in all the individual ones i've played has given me great respect for the company, considering how cheap they are. I would sooner play a squier than a sub £400 guitar from most companies. I ended up replacing the pickups on my Squier for Seymour Duncans (which went a long way in keeping me interested and improving the sound), but ultimately after years and years it still plays great and still stays in tune, the intonation is still spot on. I don't play it half as much as my Ibanez or my Fender Strats anymore but I feel fortunate that I was able to learn to play on such a quality guitar, I remember I was very close to buying the cheaper Encore set, thankfully I went with the Squier.

Take from that what you will. Camaro, you seem to have decided on the Starcaster, but if you want my advice, get a Squier Strat or the Epiphone Les Paul you wanted, you will not be sorry if you take my advice. They all cost the same price after all.

 

[Camaroyenko]

It's a little late for going back now, I guess my mom ordered it last night lol.


I think the Starcaster will be fine for me for a while. I just wish guitars were cheaper


Thanks everyone!

 

[F1 fan]

Yeah, but I believe the Starcaster has a bolt on neck.

Yeah, but you might play it and not like it. You're missing the point I was trying to make. It seems you had your mind set on this guitar, but everyone will find they have a preference for one thing or another. I started playing with a squier and the neck never felt right to me. The same could easily happen to you. Which is why I advised you to play a variety of entry level guitars.

Fast forward through the years since then, and you'll see all the guitars I've bought since have been of a similar neck profile. The reason for this is that I've found my preference.

For example, a company named "vintage" make a variety of Gibson and Fender copies. They're competitively priced compared to other entry level guitars. A friend of mine has a vintage les paul copy and he loves it. Had you played a variety of guitars, you would probably have found that some "felt better" than others.

I just wish guitars were cheaper

Tell me about it.

 

[Bigbazz]

I've spent more money on guitars and/or guitar related equipment than anything else. We're talking thousands. It hurts, but I wouldn't be without it! I've been wanting to buy a new amp for years, adding to the collection (keeping my others), a Cornford Hellcat or MK50II, they cost in the region of £2000. A few years ago I probably would have spent it, but now I'm too cautious of money to do it, even tho I've been close a few times.

 

[Camaroyenko]

Well, I'm still learning how to hold the neck properly.


You see, I've had this guitar a few years and for the last 3 months or so I started playing it more. I fail badly at it-but I'm trying. Just trying to prefect the Chromatic scale

 

[Bigbazz]

Well, I'm still learning how to hold the neck properly.


You see, I've had this guitar a few years and for the last 3 months or so I started playing it more. I fail badly at it-but I'm trying. Just trying to prefect the Chromatic scale

Start with the basics, learning to move between D, C and G chords, then start adding more. Take a look at the pentatonic scale and learn that, before moving on to the major and minor.

Take it slow (1 hour a day, every day, but no more for the first few months) and especially focus on learning easy songs that you enjoy (don't forget those chords). If you do that you will be able to play decently after 6 weeks. Thats 6 weeks of 1 hour a day, every day. From there if you keep it on you will just get better, always find new and exciting things to play and don't get stuck around too long on the same thing. If you can do that you will be great in no time.

I started playing when I was 14.

 

[Camaroyenko]

I can play G chord pretty good, I can do the C okay, and the D I can do pretty good. I've only been trying to get 15 minutes minimum each day in...guess I should work on that

 

[PeterJB]

At this stage you should be doing at least 30 minutes a day ideally. When I first started Cello I was on 30 minutes a day, at my current standard it now requires 3 hours a day!

 

[Camaroyenko]

Thanks everyone. I've been getting 20-30 minutes in a day now, slowly but surely I'm getting better. 👍

 

[rb26x]

Thanks everyone. I've been getting 20-30 minutes in a day now, slowly but surely I'm getting better. 👍

Slowly but surely is the way!

 

[Camaroyenko]

I'm definitely able to tell I'm getting better. Learning to strum always gets me though

 

[Bigbazz]

I'm definitely able to tell I'm getting better. Learning to strum always gets me though

Have you got a teacher? If not you should really consider it! When I was in school they had a guitar teacher who came in once a week and taught any students that were interested, in groups of 2-3.

 

[Camaroyenko]

Have you got a teacher? If not you should really consider it! When I was in school they had a guitar teacher who came in once a week and taught any students that were interested, in groups of 2-3.

Nope, I'm doing it all from this website. I'm currently on lesson three:
http://guitar.about.com/od/guitarlessons/u/lessons.htm

 

[Bigbazz]

Aye those things are cool, but they can't help you with your technique, which is especially where a teacher can guide you better.

 

[Camaroyenko]

Aye those things are cool, but they can't help you with your technique, which is especially where a teacher can guide you better.

True, but that site's definitely made me a better player. Just can't get that strumming though

 

[Acheron79]

Found this that might help

http://www.studybass.com/tools/online-metronome/

Set it really slow (its automaticaly set at 60 beats per minute which wont mean much to you yet. 45 beats per minute is a good speed to start off with.)

Dont play a full chord and strum at the same time. just play one note. That way your focusing on your right hand and not worrying about what your left hand is doing. Use the picking pattern in the lesson and refer to the mp3 as much as needed. Take it slowly and keep at it. It will come to you soon enough. Then when you have grasped the pattern and rhythm, use it to play a full chord. Any problems, pm me. ive taught in the past and enjoyed it.

 

[Camaroyenko]

Thanks 👍 Until last night I didn't even know what a metronome was (I'm not very musically experienced...), but I actually found a different one online and figured it out.

 

[Camaroyenko]

I can't wait 12 more days for the Starcaster....

 

[Tom]

I can't wait 12 more days for the Starcaster....

Take some pics for us to see when you get it. 👍 We'll have to jam on Skype at some point.

 

[Camaroyenko]

Take some pics for us to see when you get it. 👍 We'll have to jam on Skype at some point.

Will do! The Skype thing, I couldn't figure that out if you paid me! Plus the webcam we have doesn't work.

 

[Tom]

Will do! The Skype thing, I couldn't figure that out if you paid me! Plus the webcam we have doesn't work.

That sucks, buy one that does! 💡 Are you on Facebook? If so they have calls on there that you can set up without a Skype account.

 

[Camaroyenko]

That sucks, buy one that does! 💡 Are you on Facebook? If so they have calls on there that you can set up without a Skype account.

I do indeed have Facebook. I don't think I'd be allowed to use a webcam if I got a new one anyway.