guitar for the blues...

[snapperenthusiast]

I am looking for a really heavy/thick/full sounding guitar for the blues. I am gonna go and try out a bunch from the couple of music stores in my area, but i was hoping that someone might post some of their own opinions so i can be a little better informed while i am out hunting. Up to 1000 bucks is what i can afford and i am leaning towards a gibson.

[Hendrix]

If you want a really thick/heavy sound, listen to some Stevie Ray Vaughan, instrumentals like Lenny or Riviera Paradise and listen to his guitar. He plays through a stratocaster with .12-.13 strings, the thicker you go the fatter the tone you get will be.
P.S. Strats are affordable, standards only run 900 for the american, better quality, stratocasters and they sound great and last for a really long time.

[Hendrix]

He plays through a stratocaster with .12-.13 strings,

Whoops- I meant to say he plays on .12s and .13s haha that would be a very interesting guitar if he could play with those.

[ez-one]

Strats with heavy gauge strings is pretty common with blues players. Since you are looking at spending about a grand, you can't go wrong with an American Strat, far superior to a MIM Strat. I have an American Deluxe Strat, which from the day I got it became my favorite guitar, I just use 10's on it, because I don't have the hand and finger strength for the 12's or higher, but even 10's have a lot more tone than 9's

[snapperenthusiast]

Thanks, i have been thinking about a strat, but because my first guitar was a squier strat(cheap stratocaster imitation) i wasnt sure if i wanted to go near that "concept" of guitar again. I'll check one out when i go to the store. Does anyone know what strings they come with from the factory?

[ez-one]

Thanks, i have been thinking about a strat, but because my first guitar was a squier strat(cheap stratocaster imitation) i wasnt sure if i wanted to go near that "concept" of guitar again. I'll check one out when i go to the store. Does anyone know what strings they come with from the factory?

Mine came with 9's. but I can assure you that there is no comparision between a Squier and an american strat, kinda like compareing a VW to a porcsha.... or something along that line. I would suggest staying away from the signiture series ie Joe Walsh model and others like that, they are still really nice guitars but you are paying extra for the name and some small perks, Also there are several different models of American Strats, different pickups ect. so check out a couple different ones and find one with the tone you like, mine has the newer noiseless signel coils which I really like

[sdolsay]

Get a decent American made strat and swap in a set of Fender Texas Special pups and your golden :)

Scott

[Lythos]

Mine came with 9's. but I can assure you that there is no comparision between a Squier and an american strat, kinda like compareing a VW to a porcsha....

Thats insulting to VW! :eek:

Replace VW with Kia or Daewoo and you have a better analogy.

[snapperenthusiast]

Ok I went there and tried them all. I ended up buying this. Check it out:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/Fender-American-Special-Mahogany-HSS-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar?full_sku=511165%2e837

I take back my stupid post yesterday, nothing like the squier. I also want to point out that i was torn between this one and this one

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/buy_gibson_les_paul_vintage_mahogany_electric_guit ar?full_sku=102771409

(it might have been a better deal but i went with the strat)

Thanks for the help, i couldnt believe the sound coming out of that thing!!

[Mister_Darcy]

that vintage LP looks great. i'll have to try one out next time i'm at guitar center.

my only concern with LP's is weight. do you know if that vintage model is as heavy as the standard LP?

[snapperenthusiast]

yup, or at least it felt that way.the neck wasnt as fast as i'd like, also. to each his own, i guess.

[ez-one]

Thats insulting to VW! :eek:

Replace VW with Kia or Daewoo and you have a better analogy.

It took me a min. but I finally got your meaning hahaha, compareing a VW to a Squire, I would have to agree, the VW would be rated slightly higher :-)

[ez-one]

Congrats, thats a great looking axe, and with the HSS pickup line up you will be able to get some of that LP kinda sound. Also I had a G&L with a Mahogeny body and it had a great tone to it. You will probably notice yourself playing more. I wouldn't mind adding one of those to my collection. (PS I looked at both and I would have made the same choice)

[Hendrix]

looks great, hope you have fun with it ;)

[Lythos]

It took me a min. but I finally got your meaning hahaha, compareing a VW to a Squire, I would have to agree, the VW would be rated slightly higher :-)

The real funny part about the VW - Porche comparison is that the Porche slaps their own engine and hood ornament on a VW SUV and calls it their own, so the quality can't be all that different ;)

I've heard squires have improved in quality but I don't know that they'll ever lose the reputation in many folks minds.

More on topic though, I would've got the LP but thats just me ;) They were both good choices just a matter of taste.

[fatblade]

Nice choice, your next guitar should be the LP, to replicate the 60's blues ala Peter Green and Clapton.

Don't you just love the guitar having fun learning and playing and collecting gear