You already have a Squier HSS - I assume a strat. That guitar is OK, I have one of those. I doubt you need a new guitar at this stage, you just need more practice. Not hitting the right strings is normal at the beginning.
Like others say the fingers will get better and stop being sore.
On amps, yes the Frontman 10G is a super basic amp and the Fender LT25 is a lot better. I started on the LT25, it sounded pretty good. However there is the “next level” of home amps which is Fender Mustang GTX, Boss Katana, Yamaha THR, etc. The bad sound from your current amp is probably being a newbie.
I have a Fender Mustang GTX50 amp. I’d recommend you keep the guitar and just get a better amp for that budget.
Like @jkahn, I suspect that the “bad sound” has more to do with the amp and with you being a beginner than with the guitar. I’m assuming the guitar is a Squire Affinity HSS. That should be okay, although it’s always worthwhile to have a professional setup of the guitar done, just to rule out the possibility of actual guitar issues.
Your fingers will get sore. Your hand muscles might, too, and you’ll struggle with making your hands and fingers do what you want them to. It may seem impossible, sometimes. All that is completely normal. With regular practice, it will pass. But while you’re struggling you’ll wonder all sorts of things: maybe there’s something wrong with my guitar, maybe my hands are too big or too small, maybe my fingers are too short/too crooked, etc., etc. Assuming you’re had a setup on the guitar, 99.9% of the time none of those things will be true and/or relevant.
Anyway, I think your best bet is the following:
Go to the guitar store. Tell them you want to upgrade your amp, but first you want to have your guitar set up (which will include a new set of strings), and then you want to try some amps with the freshly set-up guitar.
When your guitar is ready, go to the store and plug it into some amps. Give them a shot. Don’t be shy about asking the guitar store employee to help you dial in a tone. Maybe “Hey, how would I dial in a classic rock kind of tone like AC/DC or Sabbath on this amp?” I’d look at amps like the Boss Katana 50 as a starting point. There are multiple choices in that category. If you’re not confident in your abilities, you can also ask the employee to play some riffs with your guitar + whatever amp so that you can get an idea of what is possible with that rig, and what it might sound like once you’ve improved your guitar skills.
Practice regularly and consistently. Accept that you’ll struggle, at first.
bring your squier to a local guitar store and tell them your interested in
buying an amp and play thru several, see if it sounds better to you. if it still sounds crap have them check the guitar setup. like others have said, i doubt its the guitar. everyones fingers hurt at first but you could go with lighter gauge strings
Local guitar store? What’s that. When I moved to Warrington there were 3. Now all shut. Where I brought my last guitar 4 years ago in Liverpool now shut. As is their Manchester store and these are big cities. The internet has killed retail.
Unfortunately I don’t have the answer for the OP but luckily I don’t need any gear.
Thanks all, I think I have explained things a bit badly, I no longer have the Squier guitar (sold it) due the the discomfort, the guy who bought it (for his daughter) said, the frets are rough and sharp, the neck needs adjusting and could do with a clean and oil, the intonation is out and the action is very high. So I am now starting from nothing, and need guitar recomendations (I have been looking at the Ibanex gio grg121 or the grgr221) just because I have read they have great playability out of the box, now my problem is also compounded by the fact that I do not drive and there are no stores in the local area, so will have to be an internet sale, now as for which guitar??, that is so difficult, i like mid tones, I hate the Hank Marvin tinny sound (hope that makes sense). I was thinking about HH set up with either coil split or something similar, but to be honest at this point I am just so confused, I just dont know what to do now lol.
If you are buying online, I’d suggest buy from a seller that has a good return policy, as you may get issues with any guitar from any manufacturer at any price. See a picture I posted of a horrible nut in a not so cheap guitar.
I have the Ibanez GRG131DX. I think it is slightly cheaper than the ones you mention. It didn’t have any issues with the frets. But the nut was cut too high. For me that’s not a big deal, as I have the tools to fix it. But I think you should also budget for a setup by a local luthier for any guitar at any price. Also check Justin’s site (and the web) there are resources on how to setup a guitar. If the guitar nut is fine then the rest of the setup (truss rod adjustment, action, intonation) can be done without expensive tools.
Most of the tone will come from the amp settings (and pedals if used). The pickups will play of course a part but (IMHO) you don’t need to buy a guitar with HH configuration only. As far as I know Hank Marvin played a 3 single coil strat, but so did Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen and their tone very different.
Thanks for the heads up, PMT is where I got the Squier from years ago, I keep looking on the web site but, the Leeds shop has very little in my price range apart from something called Antiquity??, and Manchester is miles away lol, Liverpool is the other side of the country lol, due to me not driving and having no access to a vehicle, but I will keep checking PMT web site.
I have been looking at a few web site/shops, Gear 4 music, Gak, Guitar Guitar, Andertons, did look at Thomann, but being outside of the UK I am not sure about it lol.
kmgr, how do you find the Ibanez 131? does it play well? can it play other styles apart from metal lol, and does it feel good?, shame it seems to only come in black though.
At the moment it’s my favourite. I even prefer it over my MIM Fender.
It plays very well with low action (but almost any guitar can play well with a good setup). It is also very light for a solid body guitar, just 2.8kg. But note that weight will vary between guitars of the same model, because of wood density variations.
And I play blues/rock mostly and less heavy metal, so it can do anything. I bet it can do even the Hank Marvin tone!
Just about any electric guitar can play just about any style. And anything that a guitar you buy now cannot do? Well, you needn’t worry about that until you can play a little
It kinda sounds to me that you’re overthinking it. Choose a popular guitar in your price range that you like the looks of. Any of them will be fine. Put some light strings on it (i.e. 9’s) and make sure it’s set up decently.
BTW, you should probably figure out some way to access a physical guitar store/guitar tech. Guitars often need set up or maintenance, which can make a massive difference in playability. (Much more than the playability differences among guitar brands and models). Most guitars nowadays play well “out of the box”, but it’s not guaranteed and anyway, you’ll eventually need the help of a guitar tech. Something to think about.
I think you’re in Bradford going off your other thread. When I worked nearby I’ve bought stuff from Reidy’s in Blackburn which ain’t too far from you. They used to be near the market but now trade from an industrial estate. They have a good web presence. If you want to try stuff you might want to check they’ve got it in the store from the warehouse beforehand. They will probably deliver.
It’s 60 miles from me so not local. Don’t know if they have a tech. The tech in PMT Manchester building is a totally different business.
I don’t know if you know but Gear4Music do have a physical showroom in the outskirts of York, so not a million miles away from you. If there was a specific model you wanted to try might be worth ringing them to see if they have one in the showroom
Seems like your previous guitar was in need of a good setup.
If your budget is £500 and you want to stick with it, perhaps have a good look at Thomann. Their own brand (Harley Benton) seems to have good reviews. Then you could probably get both a guitar and an amp.
Alternatively, since you have an amp that makes a sound, you spent your 500 quid on a guitar now and save up for an amp in the next sale season.
In terms of UK shops, I bought my Ibanez from PMT but it was not well setup and they didn’t want to keep it for a setup either, even though I had a “the first setup from us will be for free”. So I avoid them since then. Not that they ever had anything I wanted in a price better than elsewhere. I’m really lucky about my Ibanez though. In retrospect, I should have bought 2…
Gear4music, I have a good experience with. I’ve bought 2 instruments from them (digital piano and my Epiphone). They’re good. The guitar came well setup as well, I can’t fault them.
Hi, I am looking to maybe learn guitar, but I have a couple of issues that I would like some advise on first if I may.
I am an older person over the age of sixty, so would take longer to learn I think.
I have small hands which are a bit stiff and I have a touch of arthritis in my fingers. I also so have limited reach or stretch.
So if possible I would like to get an idea of which type of guitar would be more comfortable to play?.
Would a short scale be better or a thinner neck.
The players I like to listen to include, Knopfler, Gilmour, Guthrie Govan, Alex Hutchings, to name a few, but also listen to a lot of different styles of music from classical to metal.
This guitar market is so confusing, especially when you are on a budget.
Also would a multi effects pedal with headphones do for now, or would I need an amp.
I have no intentions of being in a band or gigging, this will be just for my enjoyment.
First, age has little to do with learning to play. You comment on being over 60, but if you ask the many folks here in their 70s or 80s, they will tell you it is possible. I think it is about willingness to learn to play.
I played with people for the first time at Christmas three weeks ago. Both of them had fingers that were bent out of shape or not flexing properly. One of them cannot bend his middle finger and has moved from guitar to violin. The other plays acoustic and does just fine. They like to play faster-paced things and I had a hard time keeping up.
Play comfort will probably be personal preference. The difference I see between longer and shorter scale lengths is in finger stretching. The stretching is something that you can overcome, but it does take time. Stretching is no different than gaining muscle - your body needs time to adapt.
Guitar type should probably be something you find comfortable. This may be hard to determine this early. Electric or acoustic can be used to learn on. An advantage of electric is that it tends to have lighter strings and will amplify to recognizable sounds. The advantage of acoustic will be light weight, wider neck, and the ease of taking it where you like.
Disadvantages of electric are the added cost of cables, cost of amp, weight, smaller neck width if your fingers are larger. Disadvantages of acoustic are maintaining humidity, size of body (in most cases), less access to personal setup elements like string height.
I’m sure others will have more on those comments!
From my experience, if you were to choose electric, I would skip the pedals for now and consider a simple effects processor. This would give you a lot of sound options in one unit and likely save money in the long run. Remember you still would need an amp. There are a lot of comments on the forums here about selecting an amp. I selected my stuff with an expectation of a lifetime of use, not with a budget mindset. I think you should get other input than mine on that part.
Think through this and the comments that will come and ask more directed questions. lots of opinions that will move you in multiple directions, so feel free to ask more if something is not clear enough.
Andy, it is at all possible then I’d recommend visiting a store and trying a variety to find what is most comfortable.
I think a multi-fx and headphones should work fine for now. I think it is nice to be able to hear the guitar with out headphones. You can always acquire an amp later.
Do you know anyone who does play?
If so, I think I’d see if they’d be willing to help you pick out a ‘used’ guitar that is a mid level quality guitar. Something that is playable and sounds decent. You’ll have to rely on your friend for these qualities as you won’t know since you don’t play.
Whatever you decide to get. Be sure someone thinks it’s a playable guitar. My 1st guitar was a real bear to play. Very hard to learn on as the action (string height from the fretboard) was horrible high. Even after I learned to play and had better playing guitars, I found that 1st guitar that I had a horrible guitar. It was not inspiring, it was hard to play, it sounded poorly. It’s amazing I even continued to learn to play it was so bad. Don’t get a guitar like that. fwiw, that guitar was a harmony stella. Might have been a $30 guitar back in 1970.
Myself, I learned on acoustic (that harmony stella). As time has gone by, I think it was as good a way to learn as any. Cheapest anyways. And that may be a consideration as you may want to continue to learn or your may find it’s not for you. Your investment will be minimal if your find you find that playing is not for you. If you find it is something you want to do, the next guitar you get will be more in line with what and where you think your playing is taking you.
Good luck and I hope you much success if you take up playing.
And, Justin Guitar is a great place to lean to play. He’s a very good teacher I think.
