Guitars

[LeMieux]

Was wondering if anyone had any experience with Takamine guitars, got a Jasmine dreadnought for really cheap and was wondering if I should bother spending more money on it or just treat it as a kick-around.

Also, if there's any suggestions on affordable electric guitars.

[Twerpie]

For electrics:

If you like single coils, I'd recommend a Fender American Standard Strat. You can get a used one for 700-800. Make sure its an American Standard Strat, and not a Squire Stratocaster made oversees. There's a huge difference in build quality and hardware. Make sure it isn't a 'CBS Fender' made before 1985. If you like set necks/humbuckers, I'd recommend a Hamer Studio. You can get one used for around 800. It has the same materials as a Les Paul, and actually has better hardware than the standard Les Pauls like Duncan pickups . Most people take good care of their instruments, especially if they've gotten one of the guitars above, which are above the 'entry level' instruments, so I wouldn't worry about getting a used one. I've always felt that all the guitars under 500 were equally horrible instruments, and for just a little extra money, you could get a very good instrument. All my opinion, of course. Hope that helps.

[Morethancaffine]

Me gots a Takamine Acoustic/Electric Dreadnought wit a little equalizer on its, and me loves it. Greats growley low end and meaty mids. Very clear on da high end. Buts joo gots ta play wit da EQ ta get really goods sound when joo is plugged. Me mostly play its unplugged doh.

[LeMieux]

Actually that does help...I've been looking at Epiphone Les Pauls lately. I really like the Les Pauls, they have that very thick sound to them. The Epiphones are very nearly identical to Gibsons with the same sound, for like a third of the price. Not the 300$ ones, mind you, those are garbage...they don't stay in tune at all. But the 500$ ones are very quality.

Oh and by the way for 30$, I'm in love with this Takamine, it's unbelievable how good it is for a cheapo. Going to pony up and get some Martin strings for it.

[Drameko]

You shouldn't use the price of a guitar as more than a reference point.
A lot of cheap guitars work just as well as expensive ones. Every now and then you might also find a cheap guitar that plays even better than an expensive one! They are all individual instruments, and some of the more expensive ones, even if they are a good brand, might be teh sux! Always play the instrument before you buy it.

Seems like you had a good find too, grats!