electric guitars

[DaveyeahMatthews]

why cant you just get a shitty electric guitar and put great pick ups on it. wont that make it sound as good as any another electric guitar with those pick ups?

[Grachi]

i think that there are probably different weights and feels to an electric, much like with acoustic. but my guess is you would be paying for the good pickups in a better electric guitar anyway, which makes it better then the shittier ones. So if you buy a shitty guitar and then put better pickups, it would be the same as just buying a good guitar with good pickups.

i dunno i dont really have much experience or knowledge with electrics

[mangold]

the wood of the body, material of the nut, quality of the bridge and overall attention to detail of the instrument also plays a large part in the sound. high end pickups will amplify the changes made to the sound by all of these things, they will also exposed weaknesses in any of these fields

[RunsWithBuffalo]

In truth, you can get a great sounding guitar for fairly cheap by upgrading pickups. Where you are going to lose out is playability. The neck will be slow, frets uneven, and it will likely go out of tune fairly easily.

Andy's explanation is pretty good but i disagree about the type of wood making a difference. What will make a difference is if the wood is hollowed out in full or partially. This will affect the sustain (hollowbodies are prone to more sustain and feedback) but as far as solid bodied guitars go, the wood really doesnt make a difference, especially in the hands of a hobbyist gutiarist.

[6_strings_for_life]

Go to your local music store, pickup a squire strat and without plugging it in, jam for about 20 minutes. Then pick up a american fender strat and do the same. You will see the light.

[bassman462]

In truth, you can get a great sounding guitar for fairly cheap by upgrading pickups. Where you are going to lose out is playability. The neck will be slow, frets uneven, and it will likely go out of tune fairly easily.

Andy's explanation is pretty good but i disagree about the type of wood making a difference. What will make a difference is if the wood is hollowed out in full or partially. This will affect the sustain (hollowbodies are prone to more sustain and feedback) but as far as solid bodied guitars go, the wood really doesnt make a difference, especially in the hands of a hobbyist gutiarist.

im pretty sure wood does, i know int basses it plays a big part, one of the reasons why people like warwicks. but ya, pick ups aren't the only thing.

[mattinbeloit]

This kind of follows the logic of putting a great custom made engine inside a shitty car, it might go fast but it's still a shitty car and can end up falling apart on you if you don't take extra precautions. There is a lot more then the engine, you've got breaks, suspension, the structure of the frame... The same goes for the guitar, most cheap ones do not play very well or feel right. You can put the Les Paul pickups in a cheap Cort you got for $50 and if you are very, very lucky, it might sound close to what the Les Paul sounds like, but it's not going to play like one... At any rate, the guitar is going to sound better then it did, just don't expect it to be a Les Paul because you put some BurstBucker Pro's in it.

[DaveyeahMatthews]

well for not an exact tone, i think that 150 bucks compared to 1,500 is a pretty good deal. if i pay 150 for anything that sounds remotely close to a les paul i think im having a steal. im going to try out that strat idea that that guy said, good idea. i have a squier and it sucks yeah, but i think it will do for learning electric. im still set on my idea that you should get a shitty guitar that feels good and put good pick ups on it. im not convinced that electric guitars really have more to them than just a pick up and playability.

[RunsWithBuffalo]

im not convinced that electric guitars really have more to them than just a pick up and playability.

They don't really, tone is in your fingertips. Interesting tidbit, the first electric guitars didnt have wood around them, it was added for cosmetic appeal.

[DaveyeahMatthews]

YES YAY sweet thankf for the info dude im just gonna find a gujitar that feels good for 100 bucks and throw some sweet pick ups on it and ill be set

[RunsWithBuffalo]

For a 100 its gonna be tough, id recommend looking at the made in mexico Fender telecasters or stratocasters. New they are 399, I picked one up used for 250 and its great. For 100 dollars, you arent going to find much of anything that is quality.