I've been playing acoustic (cheapo Squier starter pack) for a year or so, and I'm interested in trying out an electric.

Thing is, I have $200, $300 top, that I can really use to spend on a guitar and amp. Everyone says that all the guitar/amp starter packs are crap.

So, I come to you fine people. Are there any great deals out there waiting to be discovered by me? Or, do any of you have any old guitars/amps you want to give to a poor soul for cheap?

There's nothing wrong with a starter pack for a starter. In fact, for your price range, that is probably the best way to go if you want new equiptment. You can find the squier strat or tele packages for around $150-175 if you're willing to put the time into finding the deal. Or you could go with epiphone... unfortunately, in that price range you're basically limited to the les paul special II package deal which, for the money, is a lesser guitar. If it were me, I'd go for the Tele.

If you're not hung up on getting a new set-up, the route I would take would be to start going to pawn shops and even garage sales with guitars advertised. I recently found an Epiphone Dr-100 acoustic at a garage sale, it was in perfect condition with a case and tuner for $30. I kept the tuner and sold the rest for $100 about a week later. The deals are out there... do your homework and have a good idea of what you're looking for before you start looking.

I just sold an Ibanez RG 520 the other day. Man, I paid $500 for that and sold it for $200; should have posted sooner.

I know most of these are probably crap, but if any of you experts want, feel free to tell me which of these is probably best:
http://www.wwbw.com/Solid-Body-Elect...es-d2955.music
I'm looking mainly at the les paul, the strat packs, and perhaps Ibanez? I want something more classic, not like a BC Rich.

[ July 22, 2004, 01:43 PM: Message edited by: rla128 ]

this is a pretty good deal.

also, look here

"Blem" just means it already has a scratch or has been returned for some reason... in other words, it's a lot cheaper and you don't have to get pissed when you put your first scratch on it.

There's nothing wrong with a Silvertone, Aria, or any other "cheap" guitars, but I wouldn't buy one online without picking it up and seeing how it feels first. I know more than a few people who have old Washburn Lyons or Peavey Predators tucked away in a closet or somewhere because that's what they learned on... mine was a Lotus strat knock-off.

I learned on an Epiphone SG with a single P-90 pickup.

I know this post is old, but I'm selling an Ibanez GAX Artist Series... it's gray and has a drop D switch. Not bad, I just upgraded. If you're still looking, I'm trying to pawn off the guitar and hardcase for $150.