My Advice to New Guitar Players

We all start somewhere, and I think it's best to start as close to where you want to be as possible. For example: if you want a Les Paul, but can't afford a real Gibson, find an affordable version that gives you all of the things that attracted you to the Gibson Les Paul you want. My first guitar was a Samick strat copy and while I enjoyed that guitar, it was simply an affordable entry to the hobby. I hate to go all "Back in my day..." on you here, but good quality guitars are way more affordable now than they were back in my day. When I started, to find a brand new guitar with anything other than a bolt-on neck you had to look at about the $1000 price range. So if your dream was a Gibson Les Paul you often ended up with a bolt-on neck Epiphone that really only taught you how to tune your guitar every 5 minutes. There were set-neck Epiphones, but that was something you had to beg your parents to help you buy. Their quality was also hit or miss. You either got a good one that inspired you to play, or you ended up looking at it and wondering why you ever wanted to play in the first place.

If you're not overly concerned about buying brand new, there is the used guitar market. There is nothing wrong with a used guitar, but you don't want to inherit someone else's problems. Used guitars can be a great investment, upgrade, or addition to your collection, but they're usually priced accordingly. If something seems like a deal too good to be true, it often is. That's not to say good deals aren't out there, you just have to be vigilant on what you're spending your money on. Check the neck and make sure it's not twisted or overly bowed, the frets are in decent shape, and make sure there aren't any hidden modifications from previous owner. With Rosetta, my Washburn A20, someone used a drill press to route for a Kahler, then filled it with auto body filler once they realized it was a mistake, and painted over that with Krylon Granite paint, before selling it to a pawn store. Another thing is don't be afraid to modify a guitar to suit your needs, but also be aware it could possibly harm the playability, or value of the instrument. In the end it's your guitar and your money, do with it what you will to suit your needs.

Now you've bought your dream guitar, or as close as you can afford, and it inspires you to play, learn and write your own songs. You're going to want an amplifier that inspires you just as much. I've had a few stinkers in my days, but my first real 1x12 combo was a Crate GX-30M, which was fairly decent. Although the clean was nice, the overdrive channel was HORRIBLE. And again, decent amplifiers are far more affordable now than they were back in my day. Don't get me wrong, there are still a lot of stinkers out there, but there are also a ton of good quality, affordable amps that give the player a lot of options. Whether you want an amp with a ton of tonal options like a Line 6, or a Boss Katana, or you want a tube amp as a powerhouse platform for your effects pedals or processing unit, there are a ton of options out there at affordable prices. We're at a point where so many companies offer really good affordable options for gig worthy amps that can do almost anything you need. It's a buyer's market.

If you're going with something like a Line 6, Boss Katana, or any number of other multi-units out there today, you're probably already good to go. If you're using your amp as a platform for effects, then you're in luck there too! I prefer the DIY effects pedal route, but that's just me. There are a TON of effects pedals on the market today that offer a vast variety of tonal options. Back in my day the "cheap" effects pedals came in plastic housings but were still kind of pricey, and they often times didn't sound very good. Today inexpensive pedals can sound almost identical to the expensive ones. I think the key is do the research on what fits your needs and budget. Get out there and test out some pedals and buy what you like best. Or you could always build them, like myself and a lot of other DIY guitar nerds.

You've got your guitar, your amp and all your effects sorted, so what's next? Basics like a tuner, learning how to do your own restrings and setups are really just about all you'll need. If you're uncomfortable adjusting your guitar you can take it to a tech, but if you're a little more hands on there are a lot of videos on the internet that can help you sort out almost any problem that may arise with your guitar. From the basics to modifications to complete restorations, the internet has it all covered. Choose what you're comfortable with and go from there. Through my years, and many hobbies, guitar has always stuck with me. I'm not the rock star I set out to be, but I have enjoyed my time invested. That's not to say it won't pay off someday, but at this point all that I've learned and all that I've done have been a benefit to my life. Take it as seriously or not as you want, the key point is just like with anything in life, and that is to enjoy your time invested.