Jag

34 minutes ago, FrankAtari said:

 

Well in my opinion it may be worth it if you know what you're buying and will stick to that guitar in the years to come.

 

Ok some time has passed, have you got a guitar?

 

 

I'm still undecided but it will be either the Ibanez RG370AHMZ  with the Ibanez Quantum pickups or for an additional £100ish considering a couple of Ibanez guitars with DiMarzio pickups.  But the urgency has subsided for the moment as I have just bought a Tele copy on impulse. It was reduced and just too good to miss. Yes, I know its a completely different type of guitar, but a Tele was something I planned on getting sometime in the future anyway.  For a £130 guitar it sounds really good, build quality and finish is good and it has an ash body. 

6 hours ago, Kiwi said:

Very good trems if you're looking for a knife edge design.  I don't have one because I generally go for bearing or cam type designs, they're a little more durable.

Thanks for that, I'll look into those, are there any particular makes of guitar that have these you'd recommend? 

Hi all, I am very tempted by an Ibanez with the Edge Zero II trem. Does anyone have one, what do you think of it? Are they reliable, robust and reasonably easy to setup and tune? 

59 minutes ago, Skinnyman said:

I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. I’ve had a few amps do it and it’s never caused a problem - I’ve just got into the habit now of turning the volume down whenever I turn the power on or off.

 

 

Unfortunately turning the volume down doesn't make any difference, that was my first thought too. I've started to plug a headphone jack in before switching it off. You're probably right it won't cause any problems but it's very loud and sounds like something has blown! 

Hi all, just bought a new Fender Champion 20 Amp, it makes a loud pop noise every time it is switched off. My Marshall amp does not do this. I googled the issue and it seems to be a common issue with a lot of amps. Should I be concerned and is it common with this model ie if I had it replaced will the replacement have the same issue? Cheers. 

On 23/12/2021 at 09:30, ezbass said:

Hmm. I one of those who subscribes to the theory that, outside of the player themselves, the biggest contributors to tone are the transducers in the signal chain - the pickups and speakers. The speaker is also reliant on being in an appropriate cabinet. I can’t help but think that a sub £100 amp won’t do a well built/equipped guitar the justice it deserves. That’s not to say that you can’t get a decent sound from a small amp, it might be the very sound you’re after, but I don’t think it’s in the same league as something more conventionally sized and with more power. Just my 2 cent’s worth, others may think differently. Go and try some ‘better’ amps when and if you can.

Good point re decent amp, I've ordered a Fender Champion. I'll look into a new guitar now. 

1 hour ago, Skinnyman said:

Interesting question and one I struggle with too.

 

I’m another who starts out looking for something mid-priced but decent and then gradually talk myself into the top-spec, super-duper model with the go-faster doohickey and the Unicorn horn inlays.

 

In reality, I think that (assuming that the amp is at least reasonable) below a certain quality  level the guitar is the limiting factor.   At the very top level, you’re mainly paying for finish and decoration which have either a limited impact on tone or are so subtle that you need a much better amplifier/cabinet to hear them.

 

Somewhere between those two is the Goldilocks point where the instrument has decent pickups, bridge, but, etc and is put together properly. After that point, I’d start looking at upgrading to a better amp and speaker combo…

I too do this every time, tv, soundbar, car, laptop etc. I think I'll stick to the original plan, high end of budget to lower end of premium. I know its all relative but the amp is probably OK for me.... at the moment. 

1 hour ago, ezbass said:

Hmm. I one of those who subscribes to the theory that, outside of the player themselves, the biggest contributors to tone are the transducers in the signal chain - the pickups and speakers. The speaker is also reliant on being in an appropriate cabinet. I can’t help but think that a sub £100 amp won’t do a well built/equipped guitar the justice it deserves. That’s not to say that you can’t get a decent sound from a small amp, it might be the very sound you’re after, but I don’t think it’s in the same league as something more conventionally sized and with more power. Just my 2 cent’s worth, others may think differently. Go and try some ‘better’ amps when and if you can.

I was afraid of this, it might snowball into something more than just a new moderately priced guitar! 

Hi all, I find it all too easy when looking for a new guitar to start with the intention of getting a decent budget one and gradually ending up considering moderately higher end models. I then find myself wondering it is worth the additional expense when it will be used with an average amp like a Marshall MG15CF. So I suppose the question is will a guitar with expensive branded pickups and better hardware be apparent when played on an 'average' amp? If so, how and to what extent. 

Hi folks, I'm seriously thinking about buying an Ibanez rg370ahmz or rg421ahm. Any opinions on the Edge Zero II bridge? Also, is the Maple fretboard finished, ie will it get noticeably grubby over time? Thanks. 

7 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

Good afternoon, @Jag, and ...

 

 

Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. 

 

 

Tips..? Here's a couple, from another 'oldie'...

The fastest way to learn to play anything is to go slowly. Get it right at slow speed, then gradually up the tempo. Slow and steady; that's the way.

For longer pieces, learn the last few bars first. Once they're mastered, add the preceding few bars and start again. Rinse and repeat until you reach the beginning You'll find that you're playing into familiar territory as you progress, and the endings sparkle, as you'll have played 'em so much.
Have fun, though, that's the important bit. 

Learning from the end? That's a good tip and makes sense, I'll give it a go, thanks 

4 minutes ago, leftybassman392 said:

Hi Jag and welcome to the forum.

 

Plenty of expertise around here, so never be afraid to ask.

That was a quick response, cheers! 

Hi all, always fancied learning to play guitar, and in need of a new hobby it seemed like an ideal time to start. I bought my first guitar last year, a Fender accustic electro, followed by a Squire 50s vibe and a semi hollow. Im really enjoying learning and would like to occasionally tap into your expertise and knowledge.