Need advice from experienced guitar guys

[phylodog]

I had a couple of guitars in high school and for a few years after. I tinkered around, played tab and never really made any progress. Eventually I sold them off and moved on to guns. I've had an itch for the past year or so to give it another go. I prefer acoustic but I figure I could play an electric without disturbing the family as much and I'm told there is software out which allows you to use a laptop rather than an amp (I could wear headphones or earbuds).

I'm wondering if any of the experienced guitar players might have some advice for someone looking to start over. I don't have a $1K budget for a guitar but I don't want a piece of crap starter guitar either. I see a lot of Ibanez for sale on CL. They were considered pretty cool when I still had a mullet, are they decent? If not, what would you recommend?

Does playing through a laptop work pretty well? Any particular software you'd recommend? Just trying to get an idea of what it would cost me to try to get back in to it a bit.

 

[iChokePeople]

Tagged for interest, and a side note: you can even play through an iPad.

 

[1911 DeadHead]

There is nothing like playing through a cranked up tube amp. Call me old fashioned, but computers are a bad influence on music. Stock with an acoustic, any experienced player will tell you it's better to learn on one.

 

[phylodog]

There is nothing like playing through a cranked up tube amp. Call me old fashioned, but computers are a bad influence on music. Stock with an acoustic, any experienced player will tell you it's better to learn on one.

Any way to tone an acoustic down a bit so everyone in the house wouldn't have to listen to me make insulting noises with it?

 

[churchmouse]

Any way to tone an acoustic down a bit so everyone in the house wouldn't have to listen to me make insulting noises with it?

Play in the garage.....not be a smart A$$ but I did that when I was learning to play in my early teens. Kept the old mans foot out of my butt.

 

[phylodog]

Play in the garage.....not be a smart A$$ but I did that when I was learning to play in my early teens. Kept the old mans foot out of my butt.

Ain't happenin. Have you been outside this month? My garage isn't air conditioned, I wouldn't hand around out there if there was a fully furnished stripper pole let alone to play guitar.

 

[Ltrain]

I'm no expert but I really like my epiphone Les Paul black beauty. Its under a grand and sounds awesome.

 

[indyjoe]

You can go with something like the Yamaha SLG100N Silent Guitar. You play into headphones.

 

[mrjarrell]

Check the pawnshops for guitars of all sorts. I've seen good acoustics and electrics in them, in the past.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

 

[1911 DeadHead]

Sure you could run headphones. What kind of music would you like to play?

You could always play an electric without an amp. I did that for years in my bedroom because my gear was always at someones house.

But in the end I'll still say nothing raises the hair on my neck like warm tubes.

 

[Fishersjohn48]

I'll check with my son. His room looks like Guitar Center threw up in there. I know he uses Guitar Port to play into the computer. I also know the best sound comes from the Marshall stack and Peavy 6505+ tube amp. The software is Audacity.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Got a chinese strat ripoff for my son to see if he was interested; hasn't been so far, but it's not a bad unit for about sixty bux. Got a Peavey Predator to noodle with and save the strat. An acoustic is best to learn with, but it won't go any quieter than it is. An electric through headphones can be pretty quiet, but you lose the capacity for "real" feedback if you're so inclined. Tradeoffs, desires, the whole thing.

 

[JB357Mag]

Depends on what you want to do, If u like Les Pauls the Epiphones
around 5 to $600 are great buys.

As said above a cranked old school tube amp sounds great.

I cant stand playing through anything solid state, but thats me.

Most important thing is get SOMETING AND PLAY!!!


Jimmy

 

[marshallartist]

I have an acoustic but I usually play one of my electrics through a POD with headphones to keep from irritating the family too much. Does it sounds as good as a cranked Fender Bassman or Marshall stack, no but you're not recording your practicing. As for the brand of guitar, that's a personal choice. Kinda like Glock vs. Sig vs. ....... I have a couple of higher end Ibanez's and I really like them. I've also owned a couple that were garbage. Pretty much you get what you pay for.

 

[phylodog]

I listen to more country than anything these days so I'm not too interested in rock. An acoustic is more appealing but like I don't want to punish everyone in the house with my crummy playing.

 

[jason867]

Get an acoustic, and try stuffing some towels in it or something?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I prefer acoustic

I have a couple of Seagulls. They are the Rugers of guitars, lots of bang for the buck.

I think the S6 Cedar is a great first guitar.

Seagull Guitars

 

[indyjoe]

I love my Seagull parlor sized. Small for just messing around. Sounds good for the money. Better when someone else plays it.

 

[joslar15]

As far as acoustics go, classical guitars are somewhat quieter than steel strings. If you want a steel string, go with lighter gauge strings, a soundhole comer and strum with your fingers or a use a thin pick.