01-11-2022, 02:50 PM
(01-11-2022, 01:01 PM)MileHighGrowler Wrote: I'd have a couple recommendations. First, on the acoustic front, you can get lighter guage strings. Not sure what you're using now, but I've got some Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze strings on one of my acoustics and the light guage are really easy to me. They make extra light but I'll break one in a week the way I play.
On the electric side, I'd go about this a little differently. There are so many body styles and they play and feel differently. I'd be more inclined to go the store and try out some guitars. LP, strat, tele, 335, etc. See which one feels best in your hands. Maybe you've done this, but if not, I think it's a good first step because you want something that feels comfy to want it in your hands often. For example, I really dislike the feel of a LP as much as I love the look. Just doesn't make me want to play as much as others.
If you're not wanting to drop big dollars and get an LP style, I probably wouldn't go Gibson. Gibson is great and it's the little things and details that make them what they are (plus the name on the headstock). But they're really pricey if you're just looking to learn and noodle. You can get an Epiphone for a fraction of the price but a very similar guitar. Some Epis are amazing quality. ESP makes some good one in the body style. I've seen one from Ibanez as well, but never played it. PRS has a similar thing, but I think they're a totally different category of guitar because of their unique scale length, and are pricey.
As far as amp... what kind of music are you going to be playing? I found one of the most frustrating things about electric was trying to get the tones I wanted out of the wrong amp. You can make anything work, and versatility is awesome, but sometimes the best starting point is knowing what sound you're going for. Being frustrated isn't a good way to get motivated to play in my experience at least!
Thanks
I'll probably run over to some local pawn shops and see what I can lay my hands on. I've just been dipping a toe into looking and one of the dings on the cheaper guitars I've read say 500 bucks or so is the necks are bad to bend, stretch, and shrink and very hard to keep in tune. Just playing for an hour and you have to retune them 3 times or whatever.
And I'm old school so to speak, 70's 80's rock and some country. Been learning Sweet Home Alabama and such.