Guitar guys?
 

Hey guys, I played guitar for many years but had to sell my collection a few years back due to tough financial times. I haven't really played since, but Im looking to get back in the game now. It would be great if you could give me some recommendations on where to go..I know of most of the bigger music shops in Vancouver, but sometimes their inventory is hit & miss. Im looking to get something nice..an american made strat, gibson les paul, PRS....not sure yet, but something that can produce a nice blues tone. Also looking for a good amp, Im not in a band so I dont need anything huge, just looking for quality gear that won't cost me a fortune(oxy moron?) Fender, VOX..probably want to stick with a tube amp. Opinions on gear would be awesome too, thanks!

P.S - I just discovered Joe Bonamassa last week, and found out he has a show in Vancouver on Dec 17th. Most of my friends aren't into this kind of music, so if anyone is interested in going, hit me up, I would love some company. Cheers,

-Jeremy

I don't play, but I know a guy who LOVES this shop:

Neil Douglas Guitar Shop - Guitar Sales, Lessons & Repairs - Neil Douglas Guitar Shop - New Westminster & Burnaby

It is small, but has been there since 1968.

I'm selling a guitar on craigslist. Really good shape, EPiphone Gibson AJ-10, my girlfriend's old guitar, she barely used it. PM me if interested.

Epiphone Gibson AJ-10 Acoustic Guitar, Excellent shape

Locally, Dave's Vintage Guitars near Gastown is kinda fun. Although not local, I've heard really good things about Rondo Music guitars, specifically the AL-3000.

Wow Neils guitar shop... my elementary teacher owns that shop Ms.Douglas..
I also first learned to play guitar at their shop;

Highly recommend this place, they have guitars and they truly care about their customers.

They are located on 12st New Westminster!

yeah Neil Douglas, I take any and all my repairs to him, this guy know his stuff.

I do a lot of work with Tom Lee Music.. And I know they're having a Black Friday sale this weekend. Might be worth checking out.

You named quite the range in guitars lol. From a Strat to a PRS. What's your budget?

And as far as amps go.. Depends what you're looking to do. For people who are just jamming at home, I always say just get a Line6. Its affordable, has a whole world of sounds, no pedals required. It lacks a bit in the mid-tones, but you're not recording or performing live with it. Just use your neck pickup and crank the mid setting on the amp.

Vox is kind of a one-trick pony. They're good for clean tones, that's about it. I wouldn't say it's worth the price, unless you don't plan on adding any distortion and play strictly clean.

Fender amps are pretty generic, again, overpriced for what you're getting. I'd just go with a Marshall or Orange if you're not into the Line6.
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^ my budget is around $2k for guitar and amp. I would be happier if I could get both for around $1k though, hehe. Im not sure exactly what I want, just something that is good quality and has great tone. I used to have an epiphone les paul, but was never happy with it..so if I go les paul again I would def get Gibson. I love the tone on strats on PRS, but I havent played them much so I not sure..

I almost bought a line6 about 10 years ago, they are cool amps for sure...I think you are right, line 6 is the way to go since I'm just jammin' at home. Thanks for the suggestion and info about Tom Lee!

PJ, what do you think about the marshall JCM2000? I always wanted one as a kid, but could never afford it. Im playing mostly blues/rock, also want something with a good clean channel

start picking up guitars and playing them, since you are a guitar player im sure you know every guitar is a lil bit different.

as for amps i recommend Orange, screamin sound even out of the cheaper ones,

let us know what you pick up

For your price range, I'd get a Strat and a Line6 or a solid state Marshall.
And I like Strats because they're really easy to mod. Any pre-90's Strat implanted with Klein Jazz Pup pickups = :sweetjesus:
I doubt you can find a decent PRS for your price range.. IMO the only PRS worth getting is the Santana 2 and 3.. The SE is garbage. Better off going with a Strat.
Any Strat will serve you well, but I highly recommend swapping out pickups down the road.. Unless you can afford the John Mayer or SRV signature models :fullofwin:

I thought you were looking for like a microwave sized amp lol. Get the JCM if you really want, but I play live, record, and produce- and I've never been able to use one to it's full potential lol.
It's a great amp, but a little overkill. It looks cool too :fuckthatshit:

Honestly, any Strat paired up with a Line6 will keep you entertained for a long time.. And if you decide to, you can always mod your Strat or trade in your amp :alonehappy:
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You confirmed what Ive been thinking myself..I will probably get a strat/line 6. I asked about the Marshall because I have found a few used ones on craigslist that are really reasonably priced. I love to play with effects though, I used to have over a dozen pedals..so I think the line6 will satisfy that side of me :p

PJ, if you have time, do you mind telling me what you think of these?

eric johson + line6 flextone III

Line 6 Amp - Spider III 120 Watt

I had a spiderII 1x12 75w with a Ibanez SZ520
It was great until I plugged the guitar into a MesaBoogie...

I personally have not played on an Orange Amp, but i hear its excellent even on their small amps

My favorite guitar to play on? ESP Eclipse
i got it 2nd hand and its just SEX ON HANDS

MESA BOOGIE MARK 1

have you considered a MIJ strat/tele? if you're looking for blues, a telecaster would be a great choice.

Tele MIJ 50th Anniversary

I use a 79 Strat, maple neck that is real fast.. popped a seymour duncan humbucker in it to give it some pep

mmmmm Mayer Big Dipper pickups :sweetjesus:

line 6. meh. i wouldn't get their amps.

re: vox being a one trick pony? clean an overdriven are what they're known for. i mean they aren't metal amps, but other than that they're pretty solid.

i was going to recommend you go with an orange tiny terror. but since you like playing through pedals , i'd say just get a nice fender small power tube amp like a deluxe reverb or princeton. marshalls are fun and all but unless you're playing in a band, it's kind of overkill for in home use.

guitarwise. i would just go with a used american strat. i've been down this road before. gibson/fender = better resale value. 5 years down the road, when you're looking to upgrade this choice will make things easier. you might also want to figure out if you want humbuckers or single coils. since you didn't like the les paul, maybe a thinline tele?

Of course.

They're both good deals.. the first one is actually a really good deal. I'd grab it if I was in the market for a Strat :p

The problem is, it seems like a bit of a waste to play a signature Strat through Line6. It's like having a Ferrari, but only being able to drive 30 in a school zone.
I don't know much about the Line6 FlextoneIII specifically. But Line6 in general, all their sounds are very digital - like I said above, really lacks mid tone. Basically you can play a Squier through a Line6 and it'd sound decent. Which is why a standard Strat+Line6 would've been a good combo.

But if you're really thinking of the Johnson Signature Strat, I'd personally ditch the Line6 effects and really exploit the guitar's sound with a Marshall, Orange, Mesa, or hell, even a Fender. If anything, just grab a couple pedals. But that's just me.



Ibanez and ESP are really nice to play on for rock/metal, but IMO too much high end treble for blues..

I never said they're bad amps. I used to have one when I was playing more clean and jazzy stuff. Their clean channel is fucking sparking clean.
But that's about it. Clean, and some heavy-mid fuzz. - even for me, I didn't like their overdrive too much. I mean it's cool, but it sounded really muddy and muffled. But that's my opinion. And from what I hear from Tom Lee Music's customers.
You try to play strong distorted rhythms on a Vox, you get this even worse unpleasant muffled sound.

I love Vox, but as far as just jamming at home, I'd pick something more versatile so you can play whatever you want. Yes the Line6 has fallbacks, but what other amp gives you that many options with no pedals?

yea i like my metalll

if the op wants more options that pedals would normally bring yeah line6 probably is the best option. i just think if the main purpose is to get an amp that gets a good blues tone, you should get an amp that sounds better.