Beginners Guitars, American Guitars, Versatile Guitars

[schoolside]

I know a little something about guitars because I have a few and do all my own work with the exception of finishing. I'll start by saying Leo Fender was a genius. His designs are simple yet elegant and everything is functional, adjustable and easily repairable. Both the Telecaster and the Stratocaster are extremely versatile musically, require very little care and are virtually indestructible if treated within reason. In addition to the previously mentioned features, they have been around so long, they are available in just about any combination of esthetics and electronic configuration. You could play a lifetime with nothing more than a Telecaster and a Deluxe Reverb.
My first choice = Telecaster

The second guitar I will mention is Taylor acoustic, with or without pickup, choose any model that looks good, fits you well and sounds great with your desired style of music. They all play with ease. Bob Taylor's innovation and relentless pursuit of perfection down to the smallest detail have made the guitars so comfortable and stable that they can go through extremes of temperature and humidity and still play like they were just set up at the factory. I strongly believe that every electric player should have a Taylor to pluck on and learn a little finger picking. While you can buy better tone than some Taylors offer it is usually at a much higher price and you're likely to sacrifice reliability and playability.
2nd choice, Best Value Acoustic = Taylor

Next: Rickenbacker 360/12 there is only one electric 12 string, it's ingrained in our musical history and can never be replaced, The sound is distinctive and unique, rarely imitated and never duplicated. You won't use it on every song, but when you do you won't go unnoticed. Thanks to the Hall families dedication they have turned this legacy brand from one that could have faded into the sunset like so many other family businesses into the most coveted of all the non boutique guitar makers. Owing to the fact of refusing to go overseas to cut cost and increase production, their consistent high quality along with constant incremental improvements, this guitar is a good value now and is sure to become an heirloom to past down to the next generation. No matter what happens in the future, these guitars will always have exceptional value and be treasured by their owners. I mentioned the 360/12 but my comments really extend to the whole line as they do not make any cheap, mass produced guitars.

[beatlefreak]

I can agree with you on every point except your first choice. I've never been a Fender fan. I'd nominate the Gibson Les Paul for that spot - Also been around forever, extremely versatile, and available in just about any color combination and other aesthetics.

[deaconblues]

I personally can't stand the sound of a Taylor, too thin and toppy for my taste. Plus, the bolt-on necks are weird. Give me a Martin or an old Gibson any day.

I think everyone should own and experience BOTH a Les Paul and a Fender Strat or Tele, the weaknesses of one are the strengths of the other. I use a '58 Historic Les Paul and a heavily modified Squier Strat (Sounds and plays better than almost any American Stratocaster I've come across).

[schoolside]

I personally can't stand the sound of a Taylor, too thin and toppy for my taste. Plus, the bolt-on necks are weird. Give me a Martin or an old Gibson any day.

I think everyone should own and experience BOTH a Les Paul and a Fender Strat or Tele, the weaknesses of one are the strengths of the other.

Thanks for sharing, I am also a big fan of the Stratocaster, Les Paul, and Gibson Montana acoustics. My everyday guitars are a MIM Strat and a J-45. The Mexican Strat is the only guitar I'm comfortable banging around a little. The reason I was recommending the Tele as most versatile is the lighter weight (than a Les Paul) and the durable and simplistic design. Both Fenders and Taylors use bolt on necks with the advantage being a perfect neck angle is easy to attain. When you see a beautiful old Martin and realize the neck must be reset if you're going to play past the fifth fret you start to appreciate innovation a little more over tradition. Even Martin started putting a bolt in some of their set necks. The more you know about Taylor, the more you understand the quest for consistent perfection. I have seen all the factory Friday videos, read every issue of Wood and Steel and toured the factory twice. These folks have it all together if you're not opposed to having computers, lasers and robots assisting in building your hand made guitar (and I'm not). The thin and toppy is a plus for studio and live playing as it's not "boomy" we should keep in mind that a guitar is a "voice" and when played with other instruments does not need to always carry full balanced frequency response, Bass and keyboards need to contribute also. Like I said, you can get better tone, James Taylor's Olson for example, but not necessarily better value. Rickenbacker is implementing some high tech as well and the guitars show it in appearance, stability and playability.

[1965]

I'm not exactly sure what the point of this thread is, sounds pretty subjective. Is this a "if I was stranded on a desert island and could only take one guitar" kind thing?

Strats and Teles are good, but they're no better than a Les Paul. They all serve different purposes and provide different sonic qualities. I will say that it generally costs more to produce a "good" Les Paul than a Strat or Tele of similar quality.

I had a Taylor for a few years, I've been to the factory. Yes, they're great playing guitars but the sound isn't for me. I don't know about best value though, Martin and Taylor are quite competitive in the sub–1k price points. It's more about their different sounds, a tech can set either up to play well.

[jdogric12]

I had a Taylor 214e. Great guitar, sold it though. With a Rick ac 12 there was no need for another lover!

Desert island? '96 Epi Casino for sentimental value.

[whojamfan]

First, hands down,my Les Paul Custom is my #1 gigging guitar. No worries about temperature,humidity, and rock solid construction, and a big fat tone.

As far as home playing, usually either the 330 or 360/12, not that I haven't used them live, but really haven't had much of a chance to. I'm not a big fan of Fender guitars, even though I own 2, as they tend to weasel out at high volumes, where the Gibson doesn't. This is my highly subjective opinion of why they don't work for me,and not a slag.My PBass, however,kicks some big booty. I prefer my 4003 to it though.

I used to sell Taylors in the mid 90s, great guitar, unique voice, but apparantly not for everyone. Recently, I had a chance to buy a Martin d-18 for a little over 500 bucks. Cool, I'm on it, untill I saw it,with no truss rod and action you could slip a zippo under at the 12th fret, I was bummed. Oh well, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. I would never buy a guitar(non classical) without a trussrod(s), unless it was some kind of composite, but probably still wouldn't but it for other reasons.

I used to sell Gibson Acoustics as well,wow,absolutely love them,and they have a truss rod. I think the Newer Martins do(beautiful sound as well), but I'm not sure. There are many great guitars out there now, it's all about what you want to spend.

[schoolside]

If I could bring just one guitar to a desert island, it would be my Gibson J-45.
For the record, I have two Les Paul Deluxe Goldtops, (one is NIB) so it’s not that I don’t like LP’s. If the Island had electricity the decision would be harder. It might be a good place to age a 52 tele RI or 62 Strat RI. It wouldn’t be a Les Paul because I’m a little sensitive to the additional weight and I am partial to single coils.

[schoolside]

How do I delete a duplicate post

[schoolside]

I'm not exactly sure what the point of this thread is, sounds pretty subjective. Is this a "if I was stranded on a desert island and could only take one guitar" kind thing?

No point, just musings to idle away the hours after midnight…. Maybe, what's a good versatile American beginners guitar.

After all this talk about Les Pauls, I might bust mine out for a little while. I do appreciate the shorter scale and the fact I can bend strings without popping them off. If I had the cash I might like the '59 VOS in washed cherry.

[deaconblues]

I'm not exactly sure what the point of this thread is, sounds pretty subjective. Is this a "if I was stranded on a desert island and could only take one guitar" kind thing?

No point, just musings to idle away the hours after midnight…. Maybe, what's a good versatile American beginners guitar.

After all this talk about Les Pauls, I might bust mine out for a little while. I do appreciate the shorter scale and the fact I can bend strings without popping them off. If I had the cash I might like the '59 VOS in washed cherry.

String bendability definitely a plus.

I'd say my favorite features of my Les Paul are sustain, 'solidness', neck radius, and humbucker tone.

On the Strat I like the playability, long scale length, versatility and that great neck pickup sound with the tone knob on 8 or 9.

Desert island guitar? My 325c64, even if it has to be unplugged. After all the guitars I've played and owned, nothing comes close to Rickenbacker quality.

[whojamfan]

Cheap American Guitar? Gibsons Melody Makers start at about 349 bucks including shipping from most mail order places. Solid little guitar that gets the job done, and I don't know of anybody else making a guitar in the USA for this price.

[wj350]

I've been fortunate to have found some terrific examples of different guitars. Looking around the playroom, it does seem Fenders occupy the most space. I the Telecaster is an amazing instrument, surprising capable of variations considering the typical pickup/switch combinations avail.

Gibson also makes very fine instruments, but they are the minority in my possession--a J-160E, LP Studio, and (maybe a stretch), a Lennon 1965 Casino.

I also have a couple Martins and one Taylor--and I'd be very hard pressed to choose between the two. My favorite Martin is my std D28, and my Taylor is a 324 Koa.

My Rics are variations on the same theme, different versions of the 325. Of them, my favorite is probably my Jetglo 325c58, followed by the 1996 (I really like the flatter board on the 96).

Bill

[deaconblues]

Bill, please tell us about your Fenders!

The 1996 is the same as the 325c64 except for finish and f-hole, right? Same radius?

[wj350]

Dan, re the c64 and 1996, they have different radii--7.25" on the c64 and 10" on the 1996. It surprised me too, I thought exactly the same thing as you--a c64 with a different paint job and an f-hole. (The Ric page shows 7.5" for the c64, but I think it's a typo).

I've been through a bunch of Fenders, MIA, MIM and CIJ. Kinda like eating peanuts, you know??

My current Fender family includes three Teles, a desert sand CP Baja, a '52AVRI (my 2nd one actually, I regretted selling my first), and a vin blonde Squier (bod)/MIM Std (neck) partsocaster with SD 5-2 pickups; four Strats, a honey blonde Am Dlx V Neck, a sonic blue CIJ '57RI with USA Vin Noiseless pups and wiring, a burgundy mist MIM Classic 60s, and a cherry burst Squier Std; a surf green 62 AV RI Jazzmaster; a vin blonde CIJ Mustang; and soon to join the family, an ocean turquoise 62 AVRI Jaguar (just scored her from Ebay Canada, waiting on her to get to me).

I find myself in a Tele place of late, but that changes all the time. I may let a couple Strats go, as I think I really do prefer the Tele for their simplicity, but the Am Dlx V will probably always have a home with me!

Thanks for asking!

Bill