I’m borrowing a mates fender for a week to see how she plays.
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Jammy bas****.
I’d run off with it, or basically just not give it back. You’ve got to try one I think before you can rule it out.
If you do like it then you can really go shopping.
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Try everything you can get your hands on. The 50s Vintera will be Mexican made and will have a fatter neck. I have a Player series Tele and it’s more often than not the guitar I take off the hanger. I put Graphtec string trees and nut on it and tuning is rock solid.
I know I’ve said this before but try a PRS SE too if you can.
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He’s not getting that back if I were you.
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This looks nice.
COVID has pushed back all the release dates.
I think the 3rd in my list can be ignored as it’s a bit too metal sounding - slipknot like - and I’m not into that.
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I could certainly go with one of the more traditional looking PRS guitars.
To be honest though, I’m quickly learning that if you get your amp and pedal set up right you’re not going to be far away with any tone that you want. So that means that feel and comfort trump most things to be honest.
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In my opinion there are 4 things to think about when buying a new guitar, how it looks, the weight of it, how it feels and how it sounds. The looks are what draw me to a guitar initially but if I hate the neck then it’s a no go straight away. Remember frets can be polished and fret boards oiled which can make a big difference to how a guitar feels. Very little can be done about a fat neck though but glossy necks can be made satin easily enough. A heavy guitar is also not a runner for me but if you are going to be a “bedroom” guitarist then the weight might not be as much of an issue. I’ve played a few Les Paul’s and its almost a workout to stand with some of them over your shoulder.
I remember playing a flying V some years back and really enjoyed the feel and the sound but no way could I get over the looks. I’m fairly “old school” and like Teles, 335’s, Gretsch’s. (don’t own a Strat…yet) If you were to have a chance to play mine I’d imagine the PRS would appeal to you in terms of how it looks. I think I remember you saying you would like a wider, flatter fretboard? The PRS will certainly meet those requirements. Get whatever you like the look of into your hands and go from there. As Noo Noo says a decent Amp is important too. If you like the feel of the Guitar try to play it through the same or similar Amp as your own. I have known one or two who fall in love with the sound of a Guitar in the shop when they play it through a quality Amp and when they get it home it doesn’t sound the same. I’ve even known a chap who brings his Amp when Guitar shopping.
Another pitfall is that out of the box or off the wall a Guitar can be badly set up. If the neck is too straight or the action too high it will feel like shit to play. Ask for the shop to give you a free set up on whatever you buy. I would also say that price tag or brand name does not automatically guarantee quality and you might be surprised how shite some expensive guitars feel and sound.
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My guitar tutor has an ibanez so I gave that neck a fondle tonight. Really nice and thin but wide.
Looking forward to getting the fender to try.
Hmm Les Pauls of various makes spring to mind again.
Fender incoming around lunchtime…
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Shes here. Not played yet as working. Neck feels very much like the Charvel which is no bad thing but totally different from an Ibanez.
This is an American Strat and was bought for £1,100 a few years back.
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I’ll give it a good going over if you’re willing to post it to North Wales.
I will then be emigrating to Finland
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Played for 90 minutes tonight. Really nice guitar. I do have to play some chords slightly different. Wasnt playing anything in particular just bits and pieces. Oddly I find it really hard to play a poison song (fallen Angel) on this one. Must due to different neck shape.
Barre chords seem easier. Power chords about the same. Those odd 3 chords at start of that Kiss song Sure Know Something - I can nearly do those. The 3rd one is causing me grief but that’s due to barring finger.
More playing tomorrow…
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The way I see it, the thousands of people that use Strats professionally cant be wrong. There’s something right about them. They obviously aren’t for everyone but as said previously it’s like a right of passage I think.
I cant believe how much the neck feels like the charvel. If I closed my eyes and you gave me charvel and said it was a fender I’d only know by the weight.
I need to play a ton more on it as I’m so used to my other one I need to get used to how others feel.
Does it feel right?
Plus, is it a guitar that you want to put on a stand in the bedroom so it’s the first thing you see in the morning? Quoting That Pedal Show there where they would quote looks over pretty much everything else.
My point here is that does it excite you? Is it a guitar that you cant put down, and it basically always makes you want to play.
The point being, you can have a great guitar but if, for whatever reason it doesn’t inspire you to play then perhaps its not the right one.
I’ve gone slightly to the other end now in that I know I’ve got a great guitar and I’m realising that I’m the problem, not the guitar. Is it the one though? Possibly not, but it’s not a million miles away. My issue is not having a great playing space with easy access to my gear. I have to wait until everyone’s in bed, then haul everything out of a cupboard, set it up and play through headphones. Not ideal by any stretch.
@Noo_Noo No it doesn’t feel 100% right for me yet. I dont want to own one yet. Yes its lovely and it has the wow factor. Everyone Ive sent a pic too are blown away by it but…im not running out to buy one.
I know I’m playing a quality guitar - the best I have even played and you can feel the quality it oozes but I think the neck is a little too round for me and is causing me fretting issues . I know the Ibanez neck suits me more as flatter and my instinct is saying go Ibanez.
I think Fender is the guitar for me to get… after the next one if you know what I mean.
As you say everyone should own one but for me, not yet.
I will keep playing this until the Ibanez comes in stock and make a decision then.
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Just rang them and PMT are getting the Ibanez at end of April but only 2 or 3 so you can pre-order.
None have been reserved just yet.
Ill give this Fender and blast for a few more days and then go from there.
You want a slim neck, you want an Ibanez Walshy.
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