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Is a brand new Gibson Les Paul Standard an acceptable 1st guitar for a newbie?
Posted on 1/29/15 at 9:13 pm
Posted on 1/29/15 at 9:13 pm
Apparently it is, because I was in GC today half-listening to the salesman next to me talking to some guy who had clearly never played guitar before. The customer was 40 or so, and the salesman was explaining the difference between Gibsons and Epiphones, telling him about some of the brand names and which ones were better.
So anyway I walk to the other part of the store, walk back around, and he's still talking to the salesman, when the guy suddenly says "OK I'll buy that one" and points to a cherry sunburst Gibson Les Paul which was still hanging on the wall. As in, I'm pretty sure he never even held it before buying it.
I was shocked and I'm pretty sure let out a kind of choked sound, because the guy gave me a dirty look. I wanted to pull him aside and point him to the used Standard Strats and Ibanez Artcores that are really nice guitars for 1/5 the price and much more appropriate for beginners. But hell, it wasn't any of my business. Plus I figured the salesman might literally try to fight me if I cost him that much commission.
I was also tempted to give him my card and be like, look, if this ends up sitting in your closet for the next three months give me a ring. I could not even imagine dropping that kind of $ on an instrument without knowing how to play a single note.
So anyway I walk to the other part of the store, walk back around, and he's still talking to the salesman, when the guy suddenly says "OK I'll buy that one" and points to a cherry sunburst Gibson Les Paul which was still hanging on the wall. As in, I'm pretty sure he never even held it before buying it.
I was shocked and I'm pretty sure let out a kind of choked sound, because the guy gave me a dirty look. I wanted to pull him aside and point him to the used Standard Strats and Ibanez Artcores that are really nice guitars for 1/5 the price and much more appropriate for beginners. But hell, it wasn't any of my business. Plus I figured the salesman might literally try to fight me if I cost him that much commission.
I was also tempted to give him my card and be like, look, if this ends up sitting in your closet for the next three months give me a ring. I could not even imagine dropping that kind of $ on an instrument without knowing how to play a single note.
16
Posted on 1/29/15 at 9:23 pm to Cold Cous Cous
If he's willing to drop well over a grand on a beginner guitar, then it will be a fantastic one. I wish I could have started out playing one.
This post was edited on 1/29/15 at 9:24 pm
Posted on 1/29/15 at 9:27 pm to Cold Cous Cous
1. new gibsons are garbage and not nearly worth their hefty price.
2. never buy your first guitar new
3. never buy new guitars
List:$6,265.00
sale for: $3,759.00
zzsounds
2. never buy your first guitar new
3. never buy new guitars
List:$6,265.00
sale for: $3,759.00
zzsounds
This post was edited on 1/29/15 at 9:32 pm
Posted on 1/29/15 at 9:32 pm to Cold Cous Cous
more power to him.
Posted on 1/29/15 at 9:34 pm to Kashmir
quote:
more power to him.
yeah I mean if the guy is a baller and wants to piss money away that's his deal.
Posted on 1/29/15 at 9:34 pm to TigerinKorea
Doesn't compare to my first '96 Hamer Slammer. Hell they don't even make those anymore, which makes it a collector's item. Can't say that about a boring old Les Paul off the rack.
Posted on 1/29/15 at 9:38 pm to TigerinKorea
quote:
If he's willing to drop well over a grand on a beginner guitar, then it will be a fantastic one. I wish I could have started out playing one.
agreed. I guess playing a piece of shite beginner bass made me appreciate having the bass I have now though.
Posted on 1/29/15 at 9:41 pm to monsterballads
quote:
monsterballads
I agree with all 3 points - not that Gibsons are bad, but I think Gibson charges more of a "headstock fee" than any other instrument company. In other words, you pay for the name on the headstock.
I played around with a new SG and the min-e-tune thing is very cool to watch in action, but not much more than a gimmick imo.
ETA: I'll add a 4th rule - any guitar actively marketed as a "beginner" instrument is a hulking pos. Those Epiphones or Squiers that come packaged with a 5W amp for $120 are made with the cheapest components known to man and the QC is zero. I think lots of people are turned off from guitar because they start out trying to wrestle with a poorly intonated, wooly-sounding piece of junk. But there is a middle ground.
This post was edited on 1/29/15 at 9:45 pm
Posted on 1/29/15 at 9:59 pm to Cold Cous Cous
I'm thinking of writing some hip hop
Is a brand new Acer an acceptable laptop for a newbie?
Is a brand new Acer an acceptable laptop for a newbie?
Posted on 1/29/15 at 10:03 pm to Cold Cous Cous
beginners should shop craigslist for used good guitars.
Posted on 1/29/15 at 11:56 pm to monsterballads
Wouldn't have been my choice for a first guitar, got mine as second or third, after I knew how to play. Then again, it's his money, so more power to him.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 12:45 am to Kafka
Just download fruity loops and you'll be makin dope beats in no time. You could sample Desperado into one of your tracks 
OP: if the person has the money to drop on an expensive first guitar, more power to him. That definitely wouldn't be my choice though. American Fender Strat is what I'd go with on electric; versatile, great tone, classic. And I'd look for a used one, personally. My first guitar was a piece of shite acoustic given to me that had bronze strings, catgut and nylon My first electric was a $200 Ibanez, that came in a package with a small amp.
OP: if the person has the money to drop on an expensive first guitar, more power to him. That definitely wouldn't be my choice though. American Fender Strat is what I'd go with on electric; versatile, great tone, classic. And I'd look for a used one, personally. My first guitar was a piece of shite acoustic given to me that had bronze strings, catgut and nylon
My first electric was a $200 Ibanez, that came in a package with a small amp. 
Posted on 1/30/15 at 6:51 am to Cold Cous Cous
An American Standard? Hell yes. It's a good guitar for someone that's been playing 25 years.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 7:08 am to Cold Cous Cous
No. Sound great, sure but heavy. Most guitars are more comfortable and easier to play. The headstocks are so easy to break as well. Mine got bumped off the stand and cracked. Hip replacement would be in store if it was my everyday guitar and I'm not a small guy. It's a worker you keep around because you enjoy their personality and are well liked but you have some work horses out there that are better for the bottom line.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 7:19 am to knuckleballer
Salesman is a prick unless the guy just said he wants a standard Les Paul.
To talk a newbie out of an Epiphone is just shitty.
At least the buyer will make a better resale craigslist priced.
To talk a newbie out of an Epiphone is just shitty.
At least the buyer will make a better resale craigslist priced.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:19 am to Cold Cous Cous
I could see it being dirty to talk a young kid into thinking they NEED a Les Paul, but that was a grown man who probably told the saleman he didn't want to start on a pos. I wish I had started on something better, one of the most discouraging factors is first starting to play is pos guitars go out of tune almost as soon as their strummed, and the tone is shite. People underestimate how much your ears need to learn, and it's much better to start on a guitar that can give you that foundation.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:23 am to Cold Cous Cous
If a guy who's never played walks into a GC without:
• Having talked to friends who play about good beginner guitars
• Doing some research on the internet
… the guy deserves what he gets (assuming the guitar is poorly matched to his skill and experience level).
That said, it's not unheard of for a player to buy a guitar that's "above" his skill level. Why? It's just plain fun to own and play a cool guitar, even if you aren't Jimmy Paige.
• Having talked to friends who play about good beginner guitars
• Doing some research on the internet
… the guy deserves what he gets (assuming the guitar is poorly matched to his skill and experience level).
That said, it's not unheard of for a player to buy a guitar that's "above" his skill level. Why? It's just plain fun to own and play a cool guitar, even if you aren't Jimmy Paige.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:44 am to Cold Cous Cous
This arguement doesn't ever make sense to me. The only reason most people buy cheap guitars as a beginner guitar is just to see if they like it before flaking out. So what if he wants to buy a nice quality guitar with his money? How many people go out and buy a nice set of golf clubs and only play once or twice?
So I can't buy a Martin dreadnaught to strum D, A, G on because it has a far better tone than a $200 Takamine? I'm surely not Paige. I would argue any and all guitars are above everyone's skill level unless your someone who's mastered it like J. Paige.
quote:
That said, it's not unheard of for a player to buy a guitar that's "above" his skill level. Why? It's just plain fun to own and play a cool guitar, even if you aren't Jimmy Paige.
So I can't buy a Martin dreadnaught to strum D, A, G on because it has a far better tone than a $200 Takamine? I'm surely not Paige. I would argue any and all guitars are above everyone's skill level unless your someone who's mastered it like J. Paige.
This post was edited on 1/30/15 at 8:47 am
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:55 am to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
Salesman is a prick unless the guy just said he wants a standard Les Paul.
bullshite. The salesman was a guy who did his job. It's a salesman's job to blow smoke up your arse. It's up to you to tell him that it tickles and you don't like it.
This post was edited on 1/30/15 at 8:56 am
Posted on 1/30/15 at 9:12 am to TopWaterTiger
quote:
How many people go out and buy a nice set of golf clubs and only play once or twice?
Sure, people piss away money on all sorts of shite. This is no different.
I was mostly just completely shocked at the whole thing. I was sure the guy was going to walk out with a $500 Epi. Then for him to turn around and buy the Standard without even strumming it?
Anyway I do think the salesman was playing on the fact that the guy hadn't done his research and really had no clue what he was buying. But I guess that's his job. Every sale like that makes up for 100 slapnuts like me who play around for 1/2 hour and then walk out with a single set of 4.99 strings.
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