Help for a new guitar player

[CAFC Nick]

Hi there,

Only recently really starting playing guitar. I had dabbled with picking it up over the years but never actually really started to learn.

Just a quick question.

Would anyone be able to recommend a half-decent amp for relatively cheap along with a good effects pedal or some sort of plug-in?

I am completely new to owning guitar parts etc so really don't know what to look for!

Been playing a lot of Chili Peppers recently like Dani California and I Could Have Lied.

Thanks,

Nick

EDIT: Should also tell you my aims really! I am hoping to play a lot of Guns stuff, I think appetite stuff is a pretty reasonable aim to begin with and then maybe get onto some Chinese stuff if I actually got good years down the line. Also a big fan of Frusciante so looking to play Frusciante-era Chilis material

Edited August 27, 2012 by CAFC Nick

[Dan H.]

Tube amp, all day.

I'd recommend the Fender Hot Rod, it'll cost you a but it will be worth it.

Peavy makes nice tube amps as well, and for decent prices.

I will recommend tube amps all day, quite simply because they have a beautiful, vintage sound that is very crisp and smooth. Other pedals sound choppy and manufactured, but tube amps have quality that can't be ignored. I'd recommend dropping the 2-3 bills on a decent one, especially if you want to take playing seriously.

If you're just putzing around for fun and REALLY don't want to get a good amp, I'd go down to the pawn shop and pick up whatever they recommend down there.

Before I go on to pedals, if you do decide to buy a tube amp, take very good care of it, the tubes are fragile. Make sure you turn the amp on prior to plugging in the guitar for about five minutes to allow it to warm the tubes up, and likewise for cooling it down, unplug the guitar and let it sit for a few minutes. Be careful handling it as well, don't drop it or knock it over or you could risk breaking the tubes and having to buy new ones. Also make sure you replace the tubes every few months, when you can start to hear a decrease in the sound quality.

Now, on to pedals. For the Chili Peppers obviously you will need a decent distortion pedal, which comes with taste. Go to the guitar shop and try some out, however I will say, the Boss DS-1 is an affordable and decent distortion pedal to start off with to get you used to operating with a pedal.

Delay, and Wah pedals I'd also recommended for the Chili Peppers, and I'd say go with a Cry Baby because they're just a fantastic, classic pedal. I think The Edge(U2) uses a Boss-DD3, and if anyone knows anything about quality delay pedals, it's that guy.

Finally I always recommend a good fuzz/overdrive pedal. And for that I will always suggest:

http://www.samash.com/p/Electro%20Harmonix_USA%20Big%20Muff%20Fuzz%20Reissue_-49960521?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Distortion/Overdrive-_-USA%20Big%20Muff%20Fuzz%20Reissue-_-EBMUFFUSA&gclid=CMfy_czQiLICFYUWMgodrzwAEg

^ My favorite pedal of all time, and is great for distortion, fuzz, and overdrive.

Maybe think about a chorus pedal, but I think you can tackle RHCP with just distortion, wah, delay, and overdrive.

With GNR, Slash usually just uses the distortion settings on his amp, but pick up a Cry baby and a cheap delay pedal and GNR is covered. Slash and Izzy preferred a really raw, barebones sound, and so they had a fairly stripped down setup and relied mostly on the natural sounds of the amps, and didn't have very extravagant pedal boards. So like I said, a Cry Baby for the solos, crank the amp(after letting it warm up of course!) and a delay for the intro of Jungle and a few other songs, and you're good to go!

Edited August 27, 2012 by NormalGuns

[Bumble's Bridge Pickup]

Tube amps are indeed the way to go but it also depends on how loud you can play. Because of the inherent nature of tube amps, they really sound their best when played pretty loud.

If you live in an apartment with paper thin walls and don't want to disturb your neighbors I would just recommend a Line 6 Pod of some sort and a decent set of headphones instead of an amp.

[sweetness]

If you can afford a tube amp sure go ahead, I found my Marshall JCM 900 on craigslist for 700 bucks, hardly used. But honestly if you're really new to playing and you just need something to practice with it isn't so horrible to own a solid state, the distorted tone isn't nearly as good but you still get a decent clean tone. Personally I wouldn't spend money on a tube amp until you're further down the road and know for sure playing guitar is something you're gunna be doing quite a bit, for the casual player I just don't think it's really worth it but if you intend on joining a band and playing shows n shit definitely get a nice tube amp

Edited August 30, 2012 by sweetness

[CAFC Nick]

Hi guys,

Thank you for your responses.

The tube amps seem to get great reviews but I think I will have to agree that a tube amp may be something I get a bit further down the road. Money is a bit of an issue so I agree that it would be something I would look to invest in once I realise that guitar playing is really for me.

My girlfriend recently got a Fender Mustang I amp and I think its a pretty good amp for the level that we are.

Really considering getting a 'Cry Baby' pedal however!

I think my ambition is to get pretty competent (at the age of 23, I'm pretty ok with knowing that I will never get truly great) and I would love to get a Buckethead Les Paul a bit further down the line!

[Bumble's Bridge Pickup]

Can't go wrong with the Mustang if you're an absolute beginner and want to play RCHP stuff!

Are you able to play something yet?

I would highly recommend reading at least a few pages of this http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1091796

[CAFC Nick]

Can't go wrong with the Mustang if you're an absolute beginner and want to play RCHP stuff!

Are you able to play something yet?

I would highly recommend reading at least a few pages of this http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1091796

Hey.

I am doing ok actually. Picking up a few licks here and there. Been playing Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton along with I Could Have Lied, Dani California and Under The Bridge by the Chilis.

Will definitely check out that UG link in the morning, had a brief skim over it just now but its a bit late and I'm about to go to sleep.

I do think technique is the main thing I need to work on right now, I've been looking at Frusciante's lessons along with random people's covers of DC and UTB on YouTube and they really open my eyes to basic errors I am making in terms of technique.

[Bumble's Bridge Pickup]

Hey.

I am doing ok actually. Picking up a few licks here and there. Been playing Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton along with I Could Have Lied, Dani California and Under The Bridge by the Chilis.

Will definitely check out that UG link in the morning, had a brief skim over it just now but its a bit late and I'm about to go to sleep.

I do think technique is the main thing I need to work on right now, I've been looking at Frusciante's lessons along with random people's covers of DC and UTB on YouTube and they really open my eyes to basic errors I am making in terms of technique.

Right. Great that you're progressing constantly.

The one most important tip that applies to ALL techniques is that whatever you ever play, be as relaxed and efficient in your motions as you can