New to the forum. Newbie questions.

[erikro]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum. This is a great place to learn. I have always been an acoustic guy but lately have the bug for an electric. I know I am going with a tele but dont know which one. To be honest I know my choices are limited because I have about $700 max for a guitar and amp. For an amp I was looking at the VOX Da5 which I can get for about $130. That leaves $570 for a guitar. What would everyone recommend? I am expecting the MIM standard which seems to have a lot of positive support here. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Erik

[mellecaster]

On your Budget, I would take a different course...I'd fine a nice used Tele for $200...and then spend the remaining $500 on a decent Amp...but that's just Me........

[ajgus]

I say go w/ a Nashville. You can buy one new for about what you have to spend. They also lend themselves very well to modding w/ their swimming pool route. That way you can pretty much do anything you want w/ them. Quality guitar for the price!!!

[garrett]

That's a pretty good idea. If you get a used Standard for around $300, it would allow you some room to afford a nice little amp.

[Tdot]

Knowing what I do now... if I were in your shoes, I'd get a used MIM Standard Tele (or new in the color of your choice). And a Vibro Champ XD or Super Champ XD.

[odiemann]

Blackheart combo and a Standard Tele $650 at American Musical divided into three monthly payments with no interest.

[Tom A.]

New Fender MIM Tele - $400
Used Peavey Classic 30 - $300
If you could swing another $100, get a used Tele 50's Classic to go with the Peavey amp.

[slylon]

I'd have to say find a clean used blues jr for 350, and get the best tele you can get with the rest...good luck, have fun!

[Cassady]

If it were me, I'd buy a Squier Standard Tele and a Superchamp XD or a Vox AD30VT. If you could get a shop to price match one of the big online retailers and maybe throw in a gig bag and a setup on the guitar, you could come out at $500 and have a really nice setup.

I think that the advice to spend more on the amp than the guitar is solid--the Squiers are really good guitars and almost any decent guitar will sound good through a good amp.

Let us know what you decide and how you like it.

Cassady

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

On your Budget, I would take a different course...I'd fine a nice used Tele for $200...and then spend the remaining $500 on a decent Amp...but that's just Me........

+1

The amp matters a lot. A lot.

[aman]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

On your Budget, I would take a different course...I'd fine a nice used Tele for $200...and then spend the remaining $500 on a decent Amp...but that's just Me........

Another +1. A guitar only sounds as good as the amp, and never better.

[beep.click]

If you're not in a hurry, I'd go to Guitar Center -- a lot. Especially around holidays, when each store puts its own selection of stuff on sale.

Example: around Christmas and New Years, I picked up a NEW Nashville Tele, for $330. A few days later, I noticed a NEW Classic 30 tube head, for $200, with a matching 2x12 cabinet, for $120. Got those, too.

[erikro]

This has all been great information. If I had not posted here I probably would have gotten the best Tele I could afford and the cheapest amp. Now I know to go the other way. I am going shopping tomorrow. Thanks for all of your help.

Erik

[Benjamin10]

I don't know if you plan to gig at all, but check out the 15-watt Vox Pathfinder. It sounds fantastic with my 60's Classic Tele.

The Pathfinder is only $100, has tremolo with a foot switch, a pretty usable overdive, reverb, headphone jack for late-night playing, and a line out if you ever need to boost the volume through a small cab. It's solid state (not a tube amp), but many people have compared them to other Vox's very favorably.

I threw in a $40 Jensen Mod speaker that made it even sweeter. Plenty loud for jam sessions, too.

If you can, look around for a Classic Series Telecaster. I just got a 60's Classic and it really is the nicest electric I've ever owned.

[casterway]

I'd get a Squier, or used MIM and spend the rest on a good $300-$400 amp.


Sometimes it's better to spend more than you expected, than less that you should have.

You will regret getting a cheap amp more than a cheap guitar.

[erikro]

I can get the Fender Super Champ for $260. It seems to have great reviews. Anyone else recommend that amp? Still looking at guitars but I will at the very least pick up a MIM Tele. I am hoping the local dealer will make me a great offer on a different Tele.

Erik

[Cheesehead]

Originally Posted by Tdot

Knowing what I do now... if I were in your shoes, I'd get a used MIM Standard Tele (or new in the color of your choice). And a Vibro Champ XD or Super Champ XD.

+1. MIM standards are great and these amps are great. I would avoid a Squier. Blues Jr. amp and a used 50s or 60s Tele classic (or other MIM Teles like a Muddy Waters or 72RIs) are also a great recommendations - in fact if it were me this is the route I'd go...

[erikro]

So the latest is that I can get a MIM standard for $375, and a Super Champ amp for $260. My only question would be about a classic series. I can get a 50's classic series for $585. Is it worth the extra money over the MIM standard?

Thanks,
Erik

[erikro]

I can get the vibro champ for $219.

[Cheesehead]

Originally Posted by erikro

So the latest is that I can get a MIM standard for $375, and a Super Champ amp for $260. My only question would be about a classic series. I can get a 50's classic series for $585. Is it worth the extra money over the MIM standard?

Thanks,
Erik

Yes. I've owned both a standard and a Muddy Waters, which is basically a 50s classic body with a 60s classic neck. Great guitar. Only reason I got rid of it was to be able to get an AV52RI, my dream guitar...

[Fatmanstratman]

Originally Posted by aman

A guitar only sounds as good as the amp, and never better.

Sound advice.

It's a pity you weren't around to post those few simple words when the dreaded "You should always play any Tele unplugged, as the unplugged tone of the wood is SOOOO important.... you feel the vibrations through your body.... if it doesn't sound good unplugged, don't even think about buying it...." etc. etc. thread was creating one hell of a flame war around here.

Thank goodness - folks are now actually AGREEING that it's the AMP that plays a huge part in making a great sound, and NOT the resonance/wood/finish/hardware etc. of the guitar.....

Phew! I feel that a sense of normality and reason has returned to the forum!...

[Cheesehead]

Originally Posted by Fatmanstratman

Sound advice.

It's a pity you weren't around to post those few simple words when the dreaded "You should always play any Tele unplugged, as the unplugged tone of the wood is SOOOO important.... you feel the vibrations through your body.... if it doesn't sound good unplugged, don't even think about buying it...." etc. etc. thread was creating one hell of a flame war around here.

Thank goodness - folks are now actually AGREEING that it's the AMP that plays a huge part in making a great sound, and NOT the resonance/wood/finish/hardware etc. of the guitar.....

Phew! I feel that a sense of normality and reason has returned to the forum!...

I agree. What the heck was that thread all about?

The biggest thing for me is TUBES. I don't think you can lose with a Fender tube amp, and the Super Champ and Blues Jr. are good places to start.

[Tdot]

Originally Posted by erikro

So the latest is that I can get a MIM standard for $375, and a Super Champ amp for $260. My only question would be about a classic series. I can get a 50's classic series for $585. Is it worth the extra money over the MIM standard?

Thanks,
Erik

Originally Posted by erikro

I can get the vibro champ for $219.

To be fair, I didn't mention in the other post, that I started with a Highway1 and a cheap practice amp, which was quickly replaced with a Blues Junior. Luckily it turned out that I liked them and still have both.

As your first electric setup you want it to be good enough, but don't invest to heavily until you know what you like. There are a lot of variables in Tele models and amps.

With the extra price, I agree with Cheeseheads idea of a Classic Tele & Blues Jr "if" you can try them first. That fretboard on a 50's Classic has a smaller radius that may be an awkward adjustment from acoustic playing, and a vintage bridge that might feel uncomfortable (I like them). Opinions vary but I think the quality of the MIM Standard and MIM Classic are close, but the Classic's have upgrades that make them worth the higher price.

Again assuming this is your starter set for electrics, is why I would look at a Standard Tele, and though I haven't had my hands on the new Vibro or Super Champs, the reviews are positive and they have the built in modeling/effects to keep you entertained and experimenting for quite awhile. The Vox AD15VT and AD30VT amps would also be nice options for the same reason. A chance to sample variety without buying a bunch of pedals.

Honestly a Squier Standard (or Vintage Mod) Tele and a Fender Champion 600 would be a pretty cool set to get yourself rolling. But a step up is worth while. One thing to keep in in mind, especially with lower cost models is they can go from okay to great with a good setup. Since you appear to be dealing with a local shop, they'll probably take care of that for you.

[Cheesehead]

Good advice Tdot, except I think Erik should skip the Squier. Fender MIM Standard is a big leap from the Squier - and I agree that the Classics are worth the extra money. Also, the Vox Valvetronix amps are nice amps, but are not true tube amps. I upgraded to a Blues Jr. and liked it a lot better. But like you said, TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!