I'm in Houston. I started taking lessons in 5th grade but I was too distracted with other things to keep going. I really wish I had stuck with it. It's never too late!

After further looking at your pictures, I recommend watching this great strat vlog from Mick at TPS.

Thanks for the resource! I will definitely take a look at this video!

The more I learn the more I realize how much more there is to learn.

no problem.

Any knowledge I may have on the subject, I accumulated over years of watching videos like this as well as working on my own guitars to find what works best for me. Because, at the end of the day, everyone likes their guitar setup just a bit differently.

Also, I stumbled my way on to that particular video after watching through this one while drinking my Saturday morning latte. TBS videos are long as hell, but I learn so much from listening to these guys. I just love how in depth they get into the little things that are the reasons why I love guitars.

Watching this is about to cause me to pick up my blue strat and play if for a few hours...

I started following along with JustinGutiar on YT and have practiced yesterday and today until my fingers couldn't take it anymore (which isn't more than about 45min to an hour at this point). It's only been two days with the new guitar but I have looked forward to practicing each day am a bit surprised at how much I retained all those years ago taking lessons.

We were out running errands yesterday and I knew we'd be by Guitar Center so I made the wife poke around with me. I can see how GAS comes on so quickly. I am definitely going to want an electric guitar, and when the time comes I am going to hit Fuller's to try some Strats and Teles. So far, based on nothing, I want to check out the American Professional II in each.

Go to the Anderton's YouTube page and click "videos" and start going through all the different guitar models they demo on the page.

So far, watching them played, hearing them, and listening to the comments from the Captain and Danish Pete (and others), I want:

A PRS Silver Sky
A G&L Strat of some sort
An Ibanez Satriani
A Sire Larry Carlton model, probably an S-type
The video I watched today was with Nick Johnston and his Schecter model. I want one of those

If I could find one that wasn't being flipped for twice the price, an Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul

Probably a Tele or some sort

This is a rabbit hole I do not need to go down! I likely will, though.

The "brisket" burst PRS models really rustle my jimmies, from a visual perspective.

K Bo said:

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This is a rabbit hole I do not need to go down! I likely will, though.

The "brisket" burst PRS models really rustle my jimmies, from a visual perspective.

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They make some really pretty guitars. I've only played SE models in the store so far, and usually trying to hear over the guys playing Come As You Are and Unforgiven or something on a Schecter 7-string tuned down to Drop-A.

Hard to know how it sounds in the main room at GC.

I wish the Silver Sky had a stained body with the flame tops you see on other PRS models.

I also want a Fender Strat Eric Johnson "Virginia" model.

But mostly I need another 10,000 hours of practice.

maroon barchetta said:

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I also want a Fender Strat Eric Johnson "Virginia" model.

But mostly I need another 10,000 hours of practice.

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Wrong. Buy what makes you happy.

Trust me. I need the practice.

Play them at those stores, but I would always recommend buying used. Reverb is a great place to get a good deal.

The hit rate on Fender Professionals are very high. Great guitars, though I personally prefer vintage style Fenders.

I have been browsing Reverb non-stop. I also add the guitars I think I like to my watch list (from Fuller's) and it seems like the prices can be decently negotiable new. In any event, I have a long way to go before I know what electric I want to buy.

I know it's been asked previously in this thread, but my "inspirations" would be Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Ray Barbee.

Which era of Clapton or Page?

From what I see, Ray Barbee plays a Jazzmaster with a Twin reverb, a lot. I'm sure any Fender style single-coil guitar with a Blackface style amp would get you in the realm. Want to have that true spring reverb on board. You probably want to look more at a Telecaster or Jazzmaster. The bridge single coil on an SSS strat will be too thin to get you anywhere close to his tone.

For Jimmy, early sounds and on many recordings you are playing a Telecaster. Around Zep II he moved to a Burst as his #1, though he still used his Tele on many recordings. Important to understand that even though his Les Paul has humbuckers, they are original PAF versions. Very low output and non-potted. That is the tone I love in a humbucker, which is why I replaced the humbuckers in my Les Paul and ES-335 with Seymour Duncan Antiquities. Do NOT get a guitar with high output humbucker pickups. Hell, I would stay away from medium output humbucker pickups.

Early days Clapton used many guitars, but primarily his Burst and ES-335 are what I think of when I think of his pre 1970 days. Once you hit the 70's, he moved on to the Strat as his primary. He's pretty much been a Strat player, ever since.

For early Page and Clapton, you want that Plexi/Bluesbreaker style amp. Starting out, you may buy some digital modding amp. I hate those and just hold my tongue (for the most part) when people talk about them. Really, it's going to come down to what your budget is. Because you mentioned Ray Barbee as well, your best bet may be a Fender Deluxe Reverb for his tones, and then use it as a pedal platform to get your Page/Clapton tones. With that setup, now we are talking pedals, and I can find you many great videos on the interwebs where they are searching for those tones.

DallasTeleAg said:

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After further looking at your pictures, I recommend watching this great strat vlog from Mick at TPS.

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Just got a chance to watch this video. I will try what he recommended with the outer two screws and inner four screws. And measuring the saddle heights was a good plan.

He never checked the neck relief. And he set up pretty much everything before he put on the springs. That was interesting but makes sense. He really didn't measure much until he was done. Thought he would show a little more of that.

His neck relief was probably already set. Unless he's adding higher or lower gauge strings, neck relief shouldn't change if it was setup properly before he took his strings off.

Five Watt World just recently released a video about Clapton's guitars. His videos are always fantastic for historical and technical knowledge on all things guitars and amps.

Awesome! I'll start this tonight.

Finished that Clapton video this morning. Really interesting stuff and I had no clue he played so many different types of guitars. I mostly knew about the SG and Strats, but it was really fascinating to see the variety he's worked with and his experimentations with the different Strat setups. "Brownie" is a sweet guitar.

I'm in the market for a new fuzz peddle. Anyone got one they'd recommend?

Dave's Guitar Shop sells used Fenders at a very good price. You could shop Reverb for months to find one, but I always check their shop to see what new comes in. Here is an American Pro II strat for a good price:

https://www.davesguitar.com/collections/used-electrics/products/american-professional-ii-strat-20?_pos=23&_fid=a645f0da3&_ss=c

Granted, I believe any American Standard, Pro, or Pro II post 2011 is a great guitar. My personal favorite I have played is my Dave's Guitar Shop limited '62 reissue with a thin skin all nitro finish. It's about the best you can get before going custom shop, imo. But, as I've said before, I love the vintage specs.

It's funny you bring up the American Standard Pro II as that's the guitar I've currently "settled on" based solely on videos and reviews, specifically black with maple fingerboard. I haven't had a chance to play anything, yet, so it's likely possible that will change, but that's the guitar I keep coming back to. When I make some time I'm going to hit Fuller's to play what I can, then go from there. I've "favorited" a few guitars on Reverb from Fuller's and they've offered 10% off each time so I'm thinking there may be some flexibility in their sales prices. I'll keep an eye on the pre-owned market, though. I just like to be able to handle and see something before I invest this much.

Fuller's will definitely work with you. Eric and John can be very helpful. They also have a great selection of fenders. You can try all price ranges from Squire, MIM Fender, American Pro/Ultra, American Original, and custom shop.

I've personally just realized I prefer buying used versus new. the current American Fender Pro lines have a great feeling neck and fretwork. The QC on every one I've played has always been very good. The necks are a nice modern C shape, so very comfortable.

It's so pretty.

I actually prefer the look of this one, because I don't like a light rosewood fretboard and I prefer the 3-tone sunburst:

https://www.davesguitar.com/collections/used-electrics/products/american-deluxe-strat-5?_pos=16&_fid=4776d01ed&_ss=c

I like that one a lot, too! I like the roasted pine finish, as well, but feel like the pine competes too much with the maple (and rosewood) fingerboard.

Yeah. I like that one even more.

True. Would be better with a rosewood fingerboard or maybe roasted maple would work. But it's lovely!

K Bo said:

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NGD! I've been wanting to give playing guitar another go (started taking lessons 25-30 years ago but never stuck with it) but didn't want to break the bank if it didn't work out. I was a given a Sweetwater gift card for my birthday and, after reading a ton of reviews and watching lots of videos, I settled on this Ibanez AW54. I have only strummed around a bit but really like the richness and warmth. I'm excited to get back in to this hobby and and hoping that since I'm older and [hopefully] more patient, I'll stick with it. I have some residual knowledge from my lessons long ago but going to proceed as if Ive never touched a guitar. I hope to eventually be a contributing member to this thread.

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Put some Martin SP strings on the acoustic today and I feel like it really opened it up. Next up is swapping the nut, bridge, and bridge pins for bone from the factory junk.

What string gauge did you go with?

11-52. I'm not sure what the stock string gauges were but these are definitely a bit lighter, sound better overall, and are much easier to play.

What strings do y'all prefer on your acoustics? I settled on these after reading some good reviews and Sweetwater had what I thought was a decent deal on them - 3 for 2.

My PRS came with 13's from The Tone Shop. Not sure why they put those on. When I had a setup done the luthier at Rockin Robin suggested 11's. I was going to do 9's or 10's but decided to give the 11's a try.

I'm pretty happy with them. They are Elixirs. I need to change them. It's time.

My Yamaha had whatever came from the factory and I had a setup done on it and had Elixir 10's put on. It's so easy to play, even more than before.