Some advice please
I have decided to buy a guitar and give it another shot. I refuse to go with the cheapest thing I can find because that's just not the way I work. Also, I was never really happy with my Strat and that is what I would likely end up with if I went cheap. Getting something a little nicer (nothing ridiculous of course) will encourage me to play more and gives me a better exit strategy (better resale value) should I lose interest again.
After some research last night and this morning, I have pretty much narrowed it down to two candidates. The one I'm leaning towards is the ESP LTD M-100FM pictured above. It appeals to me aesthetically, has nice features, and gets excellent reviews. At $279 it fits well with my target price. I'd love to get the ESP LTD KH-202 Kirk Hammett Signature Model but $420 is just too much money at the moment.
The other option is the Jackson JS30 Dinky. It has similar features and reviews but the price is higher. This one would cost me $350 for the clear black finish that I like.
Both of these guitars seem to be excellent values and good for beginners with room to grow. The ESP has 24 frets versus 22 on the Jackson. I don't know if that even matters. The weak point on both seems to be the pickups. Those can always be upgraded later so this doesn't bother me terribly. I will try to find both in local stores so I can see how they feel but that may not be possible.
So... what are your thoughts Dan?
Note: I don't plan on buying from the site I linked to. It's just for reference. The Jackson isn't show as having a Floyd Rose tremolo but I have found it elsewhere for the same price.
posted by Aaron at 2/26/2007 08:47:00 AM
16 Comments:
Don't worry about the number of frets unless you are planning on pulling off some crazy solo's. When your ready to play Holy Wars then you can worry about it. I have a Jackson Dinky. It's called a Dinky because in comparison with other guitars it's, well, dinky. It's smaller and more compact and will probably be easier for you to play since the frets are not going to be spaced as far apart. Your hands are not going to be able to stretch very far to being with and it's just going to discourage you, so this is a very good reason to get a Dinky. A Jackson will hold up well too, especially during your Blind Melon assaults on it.
Jackson is a better brand and I usually swear by their guitars, which is of course why the price is higher.
I don't know much about the ESP other then reading the same specs that you are. They never really appealed to me.
Your price range right now will get you a bolt on guitar, which just means that the neck is bolted onto the guitar instead of it being one single piece. I guess I can't really add too much. I'd say stay with the Jackson Dinky. Don't get swayed by the Jackson Kellys they are going to have right next to them. They are heavier then hell and extremely hard to keep in an upright position. Just a word of advice since I picked up one of those guitars too. They look good but your never going to want to play them. The most important thing is going to the store, sitting down with it and making sure it feels right. If it feels funny move onto something else. If it doesn't feel good in your hands then your not going to play with it (that's what she said). But it's true, pick something that is going to make you want to play guitar. That's almost as important as the guitar itself. You have to keep yourself motivated, so don't settle for something you don't really really want. Besides, if you end up wanting to quit again, I'll but it off you.
Does this mean that I won't have your amp anymore? You know I'm on a 12 year run with having that thing.
Hopefully you will have this by our next Vegas trip in April. I can't believe MonkeyWrench is getting back together!
2:28 PM
Can I play bass for our new band??!?! Please! I wonder who will be worse, me on bass or Aaron on guitar. That should be funny. Just kidding. Aaron, I hope you have fun when you get your new guitar.
12:38 AM
This isn't a new band! We're getting Monkey Wrench back together. I'm already planning the reunion tour.
Dan, I respect your opinion which is the only reason I am still considering a Jackson. After further consideration, I have almost settled on the Kirk Hammet Signature ESP. It has some decent EMG pickups, ultra cool skull and crossbones fret inlays, and gets better reviews than anything I have looked at. Everybody says it sounds exactly like classic Metallica which works for me.
I went to Sam Ash last night and held all of the previously mentioned guitars. They all feel remarkably similar in size, shape, weight, and feel. Since I like the feel of all of them, I am no closer to reaching a decision.
8:29 AM
BTW, I have no reservations about ESPs quality. Just check out the list of musicians who have used ESP here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESP_Guitars
Looks like half of Gary's favorite bands are representing. It was Balsac the Jaws of Death of GWAR the sealed it for me. Also featured are Dave Mustaine, Jeff Hanneman, Kai Hansen, Trent Reznor, Scott Ian, etc.
8:40 AM
I don't doubt the quality of a ESP, however they just never appealed to my taste, which is why I never bought one.
At this point I'm hoping you spring for the Hammet Signature so I can play it.
And Gary, since you are the only one we know who "plays bass" then I guess your in the band by default.
9:04 AM
Hold the presses. There is a late entry in the race to be my guitar. It comes way out of left field and you may have never heard of it but I am lusting over the Schecter Damien FR. It is only $400, gets the best reviews I have ever seen, and is just about the coolest looking guitar ever. The ONLY bad thing reviews say is its not for beginners but they are talking about the Floyd Rose which all the contenders have. Check it out here.
9:29 AM
Oops. Forgot the link.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Schecter-Damien-FR-Electric-Guitar?sku=513103
9:31 AM
That guitar looks SWEET. Hey, by the way, we should get Mark in our band also. That way we can have 3 guitar players, just like Iron Maiden! Dan, you can sing because you sound like Peter Steele.
10:58 AM
Hold on a minute! Have we forgotten that I sound like Dave Mustaine???
BTW, I found out about Schecter because I wanted to find out what Avenged Sevenfold plays. I like the sound of their guitars. They all play Schecters. Sinister Gates, the exteremely talented lead guitarist, play a C-1 (which is almost identical to this one) and custom job they made for him.
11:21 AM
YOU sound like Mustaine?!!? I thought it was Curt who sounded like him. You sound like Beavis!
11:34 AM
No no no. Curt said I sound like Mustaine. You are clearly confused. Beavis works though.
1:21 PM
Aaron's right, it was Curt who said Aaron sounded like Mustaine.
How do you know I sound like Peter Steele? If I remember correctly, way back in the day I gave you a tape of something I wrote, I believe I did the vocals on it too? Is that what your talking about?
You have to get the Schecter for the bat inlay. It's all about the inlay. Besides it's a good guitar. I need to stop at Ed Roman's when I am in Vegas. Every time we go I say I am going to stop and get a guitar but I never do. Something about losing all my money in the first couple days changes my mind.
1:30 PM
We are going to Ed Roman for sure next time you come out. That we you can go home with no money and a guitar instead just no money.
I am settled on the Schecter. Now I just need to figure out how to pay for it. They are hard to get and, once I order it, will probably take a few weeks for delivery. None of the local stores carry them.
3:34 PM
And how can I get a copy of this tape you speak of? I must hear it!
3:35 PM
I'm pretty sure that tape has been destroyed. Besides, that was a very very long time ago. I have since switched my style.
Just a word of warning, which you seem to already know, but that Floyd Rose double locking system is not easy to work with. I have that on my Kelly and am still learning how to use it. Once you figure it out it's worth it since you can pretty much do whatever you want without worrying about having to re-tune your guitar. Now hurry up and order it so you will have it before I get there.
3:49 PM
Yes, I heard a tape back when you lived with your mom in Foothill Ranch. You had the Mac that you hated. This was back in like 1998. You sounded like Peter. I was like WTF?
4:16 PM
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