I didn't plan or think at all. Was walking to the shops for Chinese take away and saw a Schecter Hellraiser, thought it looked cool, bought it and without knowing anything about guitars at all, took it home and then figured out what the hell it does. Then found out playing guitar is really hard! 🤣
Hello Elmo. You make valid points. Long ago I bought a Jem 77 FP, first batch. Because of the looks and my adoration at that time for Steve Vai. It took me a few years to discover than I can express myself better on tele's and strats. I had to work a little harder on those guitars which made me in the end a better player. So the message is: the guitar of your idol might not suit your playing. When it comes to select a guitar I start with the feel of neck and the fretboard and also how much zing and vibe is translated into the body. Some guitars are just dead. Hardware is a minor issue. Tuners, bridge, nut, controls and pickups can be replaced. Looks do count, but a good guitar doesn't have to be a Cinderella. I purchased a Saint Blues Mississippi Bluesmaster which has a too small body to be a balanced design, but it sounds and plays just beautiful.
I would say, go for looks! You can setup, fix, replace things to make them work, also I was very nitpicky about neckheels, neckprofile, fretboard radius, but after years I would say everything is playable, do not get lost in the dark forest of guitar properties, just play. If I had to recommend one very cheap, comfortable, light guitar I always say Cort G100, you can get them with SSS or HH pickups, they have a toploader fixed bridge, they requier a proper setup (for mine I did a full fret level+polish process), still the most comfortable strat I ever had.
Elmo…. Thank you! You are my measure for a decent guitar! Just bought a fender Squier 70s vibe strat! All black… been playing a long time, but put it down for many years…. So excited to get the vibe… thank you 😊
Ahh, the lifelong pursuit of sonic bliss. Love the video and I agree on all points. Just bought a 7 string second hand to avoid the hassle of getting through the "infancy" stage of buying g a guitar. Previous owner did a lovely job setting it up and it was near mint shape when I got it. Saved me almost $300. RGMS7 that is completely spoiling me with the multiscale fretboard. So easy to play.
I have spent my fair share on guitars during last 30 years, but year ago finally I found my absolute dream guitar. White Ibanez PIA. It's way better than any JEM (I know, because I still have two of them VWH7V and SFG70V). Elmo, sell your swirly Ibanez universe and buy a PIA instead. You won't regret it. Edit: I'm sure you get this sort of posts all the time, like "it's the greatest thing ever" - but this time it just happens to be true. That PIA Guitar is living on it's own level of existence - way above everything else. But don't just take my word for it. If you live in Helsinki (or nearby), then go to Levytukku and try it out. Seriously.
Hey Elmo, I sent you an email about this topic. You go over specs and details but I think this is a bit too advanced for, say, an aspiring musician. This is for when you already understand how to navigate through the internet and find the guitars which would serve as the basis for your follow-up inspection tips.
I'm happy to see that you keep the Eart. When I saw your review about it, you seemed to really love this guitar. I had an Eart headless, which was incredible so I bought the exact same SSS. And.... Well, I didn't use my Fender MIM anymore. My Eart is just impressive. Not only for that price. It's really great overall. I'm planned to buy a Blackmore MIM or a Fender 70's MIJ (similar to a Malmsteen signature). But I definitely keep the SSS and upgrade it because even if I spend money on the Eart, it's still gonna be worth it. Great video, as usual !
Yup I’ve gone through a few guitars before I finally found what I like. Sold all my Jackson’s, Charvels and my Fender stuff and I’m a Dean ML and V guy love that V shaped neck everything else seems like a toy. I still have my JEM and of course everyone should have a Les Paul of some kind which I still have a 10 pound tone of joy. I try and get one at a good price the do come up once in a while so if you have to dump it you won’t take a huge hit.
I tried a Peavey T-60 once in a shop and it looked and sounded great but was very heavy! I read that in the era they made it, guitarist thought sustain was based on the weight of the guitar
I want add that it is important for me 24 Jumbo Frets, Gibson Mensur, Wizard Slim Neck, HHH Pickups, Out of Phase, Single Coil Mod, Killswitch, Mahagoni Korpus for Gibson Les Paul Sound, Locking Tuners and PRS Tremolo System..I won't find this Specifications in Low Budget..I hope sometimes Harley Benton will solve this Problem one day...
There is no such thing as a perfect guitar - the search for the holy grail of guitars is lifelong and involves justifying just one more purchase in an endless search for perfection . I have plenty of perfectly good guitars ,some well above my playing ability , that are sitting idle as I continue my search for the one. Maybe I am just a sucker for spending money pointlessly ?
I think you make a good point. I've come to realize that this is the case for me and I've stopped. I'm settling for "yeah, this is good." I realized the gear circus doesn't bring me joy and wonder anymore. It's just another habit. Gonna get rid of that habit and start making more music.
Thank you for this, great points! Used is the way to go, I bought a 1988 Strat last night. Just curious, why would you ask your audience to call you generically "this guy" when we call just call you just "Elmo" that is simple, memorable and more targeted to building your brand?
Yeah man, you need to level the frets on that one. Its a pain but its not impossible. Use a level to make sure you get it perfectly perpendicular to the ground before you get started, and if you're a beginner, use a really long leveling beam. Its harder to fuck up.
See, I like a thicker neck. I played a classical acoustic almost exclusively for about the first five years I played, even though that was a long long time ago I've always liked a slightly thicker neck. Its easier to chord, imo.
That Harley Benton lp is gorgeous, man. My kinda guitar. I like playing metal on an lp (Willie Adler), and mine with modded P90s sounds killer. Lotsa bite.
Was it wrong for me to listen to these tips as to how to get the perfect life partner???... Except for the fret-buzz... there was no translation I could make to a relationship ;-P On a serious note, what to do when your favorite player just up and decides to start playing something totally different? Imagine Brian Seltzer playing an Abasi inspired guitar???
Hi Elmo, Checkout Freya guitars 🎸 the price ranges from 150 to 300 euros, apparently all fully setup before delivery, would love your opinion on them. As for your video definitely agree on your tips.
Hello, Mr Elmo! Sorry, my English is not advanced level. About this subject, 01:47 here in Brazil, there are many musicians digital influencers that don't recommend to buy second hand guitars. Also they often say you must avoid buying those guitars that are exposed in the main window of a guitar store. They say the guitar are daily exposed to sunlight, and the sunlight does some kind of "damage" to the wood. I am not sure if it is true or not. What do you think about that? I have bought an used one and just needed some parts to be replaced. Fortubately, the wood is fine until today.
Thanks for the video. I appreciate your advice. One thing you don’t mention which has mattered to me a lot, as a beginner, is scale length. I am able to practice full bends on a les Paul type guitar, but have found it much more difficult on a strat type guitar. I like the strat style, but find it makes practice unnecessarily harder. What is your assessment of this issue?
@@MrPolevaulter Thank you. I used to use a lil screamin demon.. It sounded great. I have a Hot rails in one of my Strats now. I had met Alex Beyrodt and Matt Sinner here in town at a music store at a clinic, There was like 5 people there.. This was back in 2004 or so.. I checked out his Ziggy guitar and it had a S Demon it it and sounded killer , so I bought one that day. :) It looked like a relic Malmsteen. I actually offered to buy it from him. lol.. He said no. I think he uses it still. Cheers my friend. Love your videos. I tried to buy a Marshall 1987 x form Thomann music store but they will not ship it to the USA for some reasons.. Sucks because 4 months ago they would have but they had none.
Hola Elmo! While I certainly agree with “try before you buy”, the models I’m after are almost without fail unavailable locally. So, I usually buy online with the manufacturers and retailers reputations in mind, along with user ratings and reviews. I used to order a lot of gear from Musician’s Friend, but their customer service really took a severe nose-dive a few years ago. Then, I discovered Sweetwater. They assign you a dedicated “Sales Engineer”, and mine provides me with the best customer service and tech support I’ve ever experienced. An example: I recently bought a $7 patch cable that arrived with an inspection card, and on top of that he actually called me on the phone to ensure I was happy with it. 🤯 Best of all, they perform a 55-point inspection on all guitars $299 and up. In addition, shipping is free and they extend the manufacturer’s warranty by two years. When I received my Marshall DSL40CR from them I was surprised to see they even inspected that, so it’s not just guitars. Sorry for the rant, just thought this info might be helpful to those considering online purchases. You can check out their inspection checklist along with a video of the process at: sweetwater dot com /about/guitars
While I encourage everyone to view their guitar inspection checklist on the Sweetwater web site, I just noticed the video I was referring to is also available here on RUclips: ruclips.net/video/4iWfqakaV0Y/видео.html
Looking for alternatives? Look no further: ruclips.net/p/PLNaLwTdlpQNGXHK9wPm1kYNDwFvMLQ7ES
I didn't plan or think at all. Was walking to the shops for Chinese take away and saw a Schecter Hellraiser, thought it looked cool, bought it and without knowing anything about guitars at all, took it home and then figured out what the hell it does.
Then found out playing guitar is really hard! 🤣
Hello Elmo. You make valid points. Long ago I bought a Jem 77 FP, first batch. Because of the looks and my adoration at that time for Steve Vai. It took me a few years to discover than I can express myself better on tele's and strats. I had to work a little harder on those guitars which made me in the end a better player. So the message is: the guitar of your idol might not suit your playing. When it comes to select a guitar I start with the feel of neck and the fretboard and also how much zing and vibe is translated into the body. Some guitars are just dead. Hardware is a minor issue. Tuners, bridge, nut, controls and pickups can be replaced. Looks do count, but a good guitar doesn't have to be a Cinderella. I purchased a Saint Blues Mississippi Bluesmaster which has a too small body to be a balanced design, but it sounds and plays just beautiful.
I would say, go for looks! You can setup, fix, replace things to make them work, also I was very nitpicky about neckheels, neckprofile, fretboard radius, but after years I would say everything is playable, do not get lost in the dark forest of guitar properties, just play. If I had to recommend one very cheap, comfortable, light guitar I always say Cort G100, you can get them with SSS or HH pickups, they have a toploader fixed bridge, they requier a proper setup (for mine I did a full fret level+polish process), still the most comfortable strat I ever had.
Very helpful! Especially the part about zeroing in on what your heroes play.
Elmo…. Thank you! You are my measure for a decent guitar! Just bought a fender Squier 70s vibe strat! All black… been playing a long time, but put it down for many years…. So excited to get the vibe… thank you 😊
Thank you. Glad to be of help :)
Ahh, the lifelong pursuit of sonic bliss. Love the video and I agree on all points. Just bought a 7 string second hand to avoid the hassle of getting through the "infancy" stage of buying g a guitar. Previous owner did a lovely job setting it up and it was near mint shape when I got it. Saved me almost $300. RGMS7 that is completely spoiling me with the multiscale fretboard. So easy to play.
I have spent my fair share on guitars during last 30 years, but year ago finally I found my absolute dream guitar. White Ibanez PIA. It's way better than any JEM (I know, because I still have two of them VWH7V and SFG70V). Elmo, sell your swirly Ibanez universe and buy a PIA instead. You won't regret it.
Edit: I'm sure you get this sort of posts all the time, like "it's the greatest thing ever" - but this time it just happens to be true. That PIA Guitar is living on it's own level of existence - way above everything else. But don't just take my word for it. If you live in Helsinki (or nearby), then go to Levytukku and try it out. Seriously.
Would love to try one of those.
Hey Elmo, I sent you an email about this topic. You go over specs and details but I think this is a bit too advanced for, say, an aspiring musician. This is for when you already understand how to navigate through the internet and find the guitars which would serve as the basis for your follow-up inspection tips.
This is a fantastic, common sense video that all prospective buyers can use. Great job, This Guy!
Glad it was helpful!
I'm happy to see that you keep the Eart. When I saw your review about it, you seemed to really love this guitar.
I had an Eart headless, which was incredible so I bought the exact same SSS. And.... Well, I didn't use my Fender MIM anymore. My Eart is just impressive.
Not only for that price. It's really great overall.
I'm planned to buy a Blackmore MIM or a Fender 70's MIJ (similar to a Malmsteen signature). But I definitely keep the SSS and upgrade it because even if I spend money on the Eart, it's still gonna be worth it.
Great video, as usual !
Thanks!
Yup I’ve gone through a few guitars before I finally found what I like. Sold all my Jackson’s, Charvels and my Fender stuff and I’m a Dean ML and V guy love that V shaped neck everything else seems like a toy. I still have my JEM and of course everyone should have a Les Paul of some kind which I still have a 10 pound tone of joy.
I try and get one at a good price the do come up once in a while so if you have to dump it you won’t take a huge hit.
All guitars in this video are very nice but the finish on the Hb LP is amazing! Valuable content in this guys (lol) video is always helpful!
Cheers!
Thanks you again always for great advice 😊
Any time!
I tried a Peavey T-60 once in a shop and it looked and sounded great but was very heavy! I read that in the era they made it, guitarist thought sustain was based on the weight of the guitar
I want add that it is important for me 24 Jumbo Frets, Gibson Mensur, Wizard Slim Neck, HHH Pickups, Out of Phase, Single Coil Mod, Killswitch, Mahagoni Korpus for Gibson Les Paul Sound, Locking Tuners and PRS Tremolo System..I won't find this Specifications in Low Budget..I hope sometimes Harley Benton will solve this Problem one day...
👍
I'm Violinteacher and I need the little distance for my fingers..
Would be fantastic a custom shop from Harley Benton..I think it's possible to get an Instrument in this way Sound like a Signature Gibson/Fender/ESP
excellent video
There is no such thing as a perfect guitar - the search for the holy grail of guitars is lifelong and involves justifying just one more purchase in an endless search for perfection . I have plenty of perfectly good guitars ,some well above my playing ability , that are sitting idle as I continue my search for the one. Maybe I am just a sucker for spending money pointlessly ?
One man's trash is another man's treasure. Maybe that sort of can apply to guitars too.
Yeah, the search goes on :)
I think you make a good point. I've come to realize that this is the case for me and I've stopped. I'm settling for "yeah, this is good."
I realized the gear circus doesn't bring me joy and wonder anymore. It's just another habit. Gonna get rid of that habit and start making more music.
Thanks for the tips Elmo always enjoy your videos. Thank you and cheers.😎🎸🎶✌️🎃👻
My pleasure!!
E.. great advice, never found a guitar I liked,I always had to custom them.. bye'eeee..
Thank you for this, great points! Used is the way to go, I bought a 1988 Strat last night. Just curious, why would you ask your audience to call you generically "this guy" when we call just call you just "Elmo" that is simple, memorable and more targeted to building your brand?
Haha :D You can call me anything you want :D
elmo elmo elmo! ultimate guitar for a beginner... ie other than eart
Is that a question? Depends so much on what you play etc.
@@MrPolevaulteryou mean genre? blues maybe....
Yeah man, you need to level the frets on that one. Its a pain but its not impossible. Use a level to make sure you get it perfectly perpendicular to the ground before you get started, and if you're a beginner, use a really long leveling beam. Its harder to fuck up.
See, I like a thicker neck. I played a classical acoustic almost exclusively for about the first five years I played, even though that was a long long time ago I've always liked a slightly thicker neck. Its easier to chord, imo.
That Harley Benton lp is gorgeous, man. My kinda guitar. I like playing metal on an lp (Willie Adler), and mine with modded P90s sounds killer. Lotsa bite.
Was it wrong for me to listen to these tips as to how to get the perfect life partner???... Except for the fret-buzz... there was no translation I could make to a relationship ;-P
On a serious note, what to do when your favorite player just up and decides to start playing something totally different? Imagine Brian Seltzer playing an Abasi inspired guitar???
You try it out and see if it's something for you 😊
Tip 1 pretty much everything.
Hi Elmo,
Checkout Freya guitars 🎸 the price ranges from 150 to 300 euros, apparently all fully setup before delivery, would love your opinion on them. As for your video definitely agree on your tips.
I had a look at them and they seem interesting. Tried ordering a Strat but seems they don't ship to Finland.
Hello, Mr Elmo!
Sorry, my English is not advanced level.
About this subject, 01:47 here in Brazil, there are many musicians digital influencers that don't recommend to buy second hand guitars. Also they often say you must avoid buying those guitars that are exposed in the main window of a guitar store. They say the guitar are daily exposed to sunlight, and the sunlight does some kind of "damage" to the wood. I am not sure if it is true or not.
What do you think about that?
I have bought an used one and just needed some parts to be replaced. Fortubately, the wood is fine until today.
I'm not sure about that tbh. Second hand guitars can be great. They have already had all the problems that new guitars can have as the wood dries etc.
Thanks for the video. I appreciate your advice. One thing you don’t mention which has mattered to me a lot, as a beginner, is scale length. I am able to practice full bends on a les Paul type guitar, but have found it much more difficult on a strat type guitar. I like the strat style, but find it makes practice unnecessarily harder. What is your assessment of this issue?
I've never had that issue really to be honest.
Oh, and thanks 😊
10 tips with the price of 8, nice surprice.
👍
Hello my amigo, what pup(bridge) are you using in the Ziggy custom Malmsteen?
Seymour Duncan Little 59.
@@MrPolevaulter Thank you. I used to use a lil screamin demon.. It sounded great. I have a Hot rails in one of my Strats now. I had met Alex Beyrodt and Matt Sinner here in town at a music store at a clinic, There was like 5 people there.. This was back in 2004 or so.. I checked out his Ziggy guitar and it had a S Demon it it and sounded killer , so I bought one that day. :) It looked like a relic Malmsteen. I actually offered to buy it from him. lol..
He said no. I think he uses it still. Cheers my friend. Love your videos. I tried to buy a Marshall 1987 x form Thomann music store but they will not ship it to the USA for some reasons.. Sucks because 4 months ago they would have but they had none.
#9 Just before buying, ask yourself, "What would Yngwie do?"
:D
I have been thinking to buy Tokai ast-33. It would be my "second guitar". Do you have experience. (ps. hyviä videoita)
Thanks! Haven't tried it, no. Sorry :(
Dose this available in India?
What?
@@MrPolevaulter this guitar
@@balajiv7835 No. It's custom made.
@@MrPolevaulter okay
Hola Elmo! While I certainly agree with “try before you buy”, the models I’m after are almost without fail unavailable locally. So, I usually buy online with the manufacturers and retailers reputations in mind, along with user ratings and reviews. I used to order a lot of gear from Musician’s Friend, but their customer service really took a severe nose-dive a few years ago.
Then, I discovered Sweetwater. They assign you a dedicated “Sales Engineer”, and mine provides me with the best customer service and tech support I’ve ever experienced. An example: I recently bought a $7 patch cable that arrived with an inspection card, and on top of that he actually called me on the phone to ensure I was happy with it. 🤯
Best of all, they perform a 55-point inspection on all guitars $299 and up. In addition, shipping is free and they extend the manufacturer’s warranty by two years. When I received my Marshall DSL40CR from them I was surprised to see they even inspected that, so it’s not just guitars.
Sorry for the rant, just thought this info might be helpful to those considering online purchases. You can check out their inspection checklist along with a video of the process at:
sweetwater dot com /about/guitars
While I encourage everyone to view their guitar inspection checklist on the Sweetwater web site, I just noticed the video I was referring to is also available here on RUclips:
ruclips.net/video/4iWfqakaV0Y/видео.html
Cheers mate :)