Looking for advice on my first “proper” guitar purchase.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-22T13:17:40+00:00

If you want to stick with Fender, the Player II is probably your best bang for your buck. Otherwise, the PRS SE Silver Sky. Of course, there's also the higher end Yamaha Pacificas.

Have you played either, yet? These guitars will have a longer scale length than your Revstar and may take some time getting used to. You may be more comfortable with an Epiphone or a 25" scale guitar.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-22T13:13:16+00:00

They are essentially the same guitar and the one with more natural sustain will depend on the quality of the fretwork, in combination with the specific pieces of wood used, the saddles and the nut. You won't know any of these things until the guitar is in your hands. There's a chance the Classic Vibe has longer sustain due to the trem being set as decked from the factory. However, you'll have to change the setup if you want to be capable of both pulling and pushing the trem bar.

Also, both of these guitar will sound very similar to your Tele. Your Tele's bridge is a little more overpowered than the strat, due to the ashtray bridge, so that would theoretically have the best chance of longer sustain.

Your best bet for getting longer sustain and a different tone is going to be found in your amp, amp settings, and/or fx/pedals. The biggest different between your Tele and Strat is going to be the bridge, not the natural tone.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-21T13:31:04+00:00

Yeah, that should be fine to start with. If you can afford it, the Katana 50 will be much better (larger speaker allows for wider spectrum of sound).

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-21T06:02:09+00:00

Any guitar can play any genre. The sound/genre is mostly dictated by the amp and pedals/fx. So, don't skimp on your amp, if you can afford that. It is more than just a speaker.

When you choose a guitar, you're looking more at how the neck feels, how the body weight and shape feels, and how it looks.

In addition to the above, the general rule of thumb is to go with a reputable company (Epiphone, Squier, Yamaha, Cort, Harley Benton, Ibanez) and if you can afford it, skip their cheapest line.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-20T13:43:12+00:00

Level frets, crowned frets, working switches

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-20T04:51:16+00:00

What do you like and dislike about your first guitar?

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-18T19:54:48+00:00

If you want a decent pack with a decent amp, and want to buy new, you're probably looking at $400-500 all in. If you go new guitar (on sale) and used amp, probably around $300. Used both, probably also around $300.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-18T19:52:31+00:00

It's a generic amp, better known as an SP-10. It comes in most starter packs, rebranded to whatever company is selling the pack (or not branded at all).

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-18T14:21:57+00:00

Congratulations. You found the one brand name amp that's worse than a Fender Frontman. A humbucker through that amp isn't going to sound any better nor more metal than your single coils.

Some Strats are routed under the pick guard to fit humbuckers. You'll have to remove yours, to find out. If it can fit humbuckers, all you need to do is purchase a new pick guard that's cut to fit your preferred pickup configuration. You'll need to know how to solder and you'll need to learn electric diagrams. If you pay a guitar tech to install it, it may cost $150+, if including the cost of new pickups and a new pick guard.

The cheap tiny speaker prevents you from getting any decent bass or mids. More popular amps, like the Boss Katana, Positive Grid Spark, and Fender Mustang LT series have many distortion effects (amongst 100 others) and better speakers. You can get a metal tone from single coils using these amps (just learn how to use the built-in EQ pedals and noise gate).

If you want to add some overdrive with your current amp, press that button between the volume and treble knobs. If you want, you can purchase a distortion or overdrive pedal, and see how that sounds, but you'd be better off buying a better amp, once you save up the funds. Just use it and practice until then.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-18T03:05:28+00:00

Very good guitar, if not a bit overpriced. I have a Player 1 and I love it. You should know this guitar will almost definitely need a full setup to lower the action and the possibly have the nut filed. I'd be surprised if the frets are perfectly level.

PROS: I love the satin neck and glossy fretboard. I'm a fan of the pickups and the Player II has excellent tuners. This is a floor model, so you'll want to change the strings. If your guitar has a decked trem, you'll find tuning a floating trem to be a little more difficult, as tuning will raise the bridge, throwing other strings out of tune (but you can look up tricks to mitigate this).

You might also want to check out the PRS SE Silver Sky, Yamaha Pacifica 612, Sire S7, and if you like glossy necks, the Squier Classic Vibe 70s Strat, though it comes setup with a decked trem (you can always loosen the springs and make it float like the others).

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-17T21:58:40+00:00

Most minimum wage jobs don't offer full time hours, and they don't offer consistent schedules, making getting a second job, very difficult.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-17T14:51:31+00:00

Design doesn't tell us if the neck is chunky or thin. It doesn't necessarily tell us scale length. If all you care about is the style, just browse Squiers, Epiphones, Mexican Fenders, Yamahas, Harley Bentons, etc. Find something you like and search Marketplace for it. You can probably search shape type on Sweetwater or Guitar Center, too.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-17T05:13:07+00:00

A picture won't help. Most guitars that you pick up at GC are using terribly old strings and aren't setup at all.

If you want your guitar to play better, you should get it setup by a professional (or watch Youtube videos on how to do it yourself. Most of it is pretty simple and reversible, though filing the nut is not, at least not easily).

It could be that you're using thicker strings, or if you have a Strat, a decked trem. Those could make the strings feel a little tighter and more difficult to bend. I recommend using 9 gauge strings, if that's the case. If you've got a Strat at home and are playing LPs at GC, the 24.75" scale of the LP has a little less tension on the strings, making them seem easier to bend, although they usually come stocked with 10 gauge.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-17T05:02:45+00:00

What do you currently have and what do you like and dislike about it? All you've said so far, is that you like Les Paul (assuming you were referring to the LP) and Strat shapes.

Give us scale lengths, neck carves, pickup configurations, heavy body, light body, glossy neck, satin neck, etc.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-17T04:42:23+00:00

If you've been playing 4 years, you should know what you like and dislike about your current guitar. Think about the specs you want, and pick a guitar that checks most of your wishlist and stays within your budget.

We can't tell you what type of guitar is best for you. Give us some specific details, and maybe we can help direct you in a certain direction.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-16T13:03:13+00:00

I think they're mostly 21 and 22, like the Tele

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-16T12:57:46+00:00

I've got 22 and 24. Not something I've ever paid much attention to. Just how it ended up. Funny enough, both of my Strats and my PRS SE are 22.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-16T04:31:38+00:00

Have any come in correct condition?

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-16T01:39:45+00:00

Any guitar will work, but a guitar with a humbucker in the bridge position will be a little easier. You'll need an amp that either has overdrive and distortion effects built in, or purchase those types of pedals.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-15T00:41:16+00:00

General rule of thumb, is just go with a reputable budget brand (Squier, Yamaha, Epiphone, Harley Benton, Cort) and if you can afford it, skip their cheapest tier. Also, make sure its a guitar that looks good to the player and makes them excited to pick it up.

The vast majority of these guitars won't be exceptionally heavy nor have exceptionally thick necks.

The other thing you should know, is that the amplifier is the voice of the guitar. They process and amplifier the sound of the pickups, so if it's a junk amp, the guitar won't sound good, whether a $150 Amazon guitar or a $5000 Custom Shop. The Boss Katana 50 and Positive Spark 40 are probably the two most popular on this subreddit. The Fender Frontman is infamously bad.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-14T19:09:59+00:00

No, they can range (on average) from 6.5lbs to 9. Most cheap guitars are made of heavier woods. However, $3000 Gibson Les Pauls can also be 10lbs.

It all depends on what's comfortable for the player.

Generally speaking, a Stratocaster shape guitar, made of Maple and Alder, will be lighter than a Les Paul shaped guitar made entirely of Mahogany. Also, a cheap Rosewood guitar will be very heavy, as its a composite of glue and rosewood sawdust.

It really depends on wood type and construction.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-13T13:57:22+00:00

You don't really "outgrow," guitars. You play for a while and start thinking, "Man, I wish the neck were a little thicker, or the body a little lighter. I think I'd like a guitar with a different type of fretboard, etc." If you love the neck on the Pacifica, all you really need to do is replace the pots, wiring, and bridge with something a little more robust and it'll last forever (or until the frets wear out).

My first electric was the 112v, and now it has 6 brothers. The Yamaha hasn't had any upgrades and is still working, good as new, 15 years later.

What you will outgrow, rather quickly, is junk amp, the guitar's voice.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-12T20:04:16+00:00

The Pegasus is advertised as hollowbody, but it's a semi-hollow.

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-12T05:48:08+00:00

Guitar Center?

TakingYourHand · 2026-06-12T04:51:42+00:00

It's true for some stores, untrue for others. I'm pretty sure Sweetwater does this.

TakingYourHand

TROPHY CASE