First Electric Guitar--Advice needed

1bassleft · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 12:44 am Post subject:

The Yam Pacifica is a fine guitar for its price range. The only thing I would say is "hold on the Monster Cable". Absolutely no need, MJW, really. They cost a fair amount of money and are well-made, sturdy things. They are also totally unnecessary for starting out. A reasonable cable is fine, even if the one coming your way has a nasty, moulded plastic plug.

A bad cable crackles, a useful cable doesn't, and an expensive cable doesn't crackle even when run over by a drummer carting his gear onstage. A cable that 'sounds better' is a different point; it may take a dog's ears to hear it. Before I get beaten to death, most would hopefully agree that the money is better saved for (eg) replacing the pickups at some later date. There are solid, theory-stuff, reasons why the guitar-amp lead is one of the worst places to blow $30 on improving a starter pack.

lee_UK · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:41 pm Post subject:

I misread the earlier post and thought the salesman was throwing in a monster cable, i echo what Bass is saying, this is an unnesersary addition, and like Bass says the money can be better spent in other areas, a cheap $10 cable will be fine. Maybe you could spend the other $20 you saved on some ar plugs, i think over the next few weeks you are going to need them. Laughing

mjw1948 · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 7 Location: MA.

Thanks for the info on the cable. The salesperson told me that the cables that come with the Starter Packs are terrible and as long as I am purchasing individual pieces, I should upgrade to a good cable. I'll check out other cables when I pick up the guitar and maybe get some earplugs.

A little detail on the guitar, it is a Pacifica 120 SD, black Alder body, maple neck, bubinga fingerbed. 2 Humbuckers, 3 position pickup selector, master volume, master tone, chrome hardware. This model was manufactured between 1994--1998 and is the equivalent or better than anything in the current Pacifica Yamaha line except for Signature Series according to a Yamaha support person. Final cost after the June 10 th special sale will be $122.

MJW

lee_UK · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:14 am Post subject:

Great package, Alder body and maple neck are first rate woods, bubinga fingerbed?? fingerboards sre usualy rosewood, but on that guitar rosewood will have little effect on the tone and i suppose bubinga is a cheap local alternative, i still would cough up more than $10 on a cable, get a short 12ft one too. if you want to see some reviews by people who have bought the 120SD have a look here:

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Yamaha/Pacifica_120SD-01.html

good luck.

mjw1948 · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 7 Location: MA.

Thank you for the great link! The Roland Amp user ratings are very good, too.

MJ

1bassleft · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 4:16 am Post subject:

Bubinga is just a version of rosewood found in Africa, Lee. No worse than Indian rosewood found on most modern guitars. Brazilian rosewood costs a bomb nowadays (with good reason, I am actually a tree-hugger in this case).

MJ, I take the salesperson's point about 'starter' cables. They are pretty awful, but if they stay in the bedroom between a guitar and an amp, they're OK for that job. Monster cables are a good few leaps in price for the pro player. A $10 guitarstore lead will be fine but, if you've already paid for the Monster; it's not wasted. It's a good cable, just not what I'd spend the money on right now. If you do have a few bucks left over MJ, can I suggest a nice set of fresh strings? Well under $10, much more likely to make an immediate impact, and something I'd do to a used guitar unless I had written guarantees that it'd already been done.

Over to the proper guitarists about their favourite brand of egg-slicer Smile

(ps, the 'earplugs' for you is one of Lee's jokes. He does good, deadpan jokes. Save the earplugs for when your son wants a big, beasty Marshall amp with two speaker cabinets. Unless you don't like his playing already Wink

)

mjw1948 · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 7 Location: MA.

Well, Graduation Day came and we gave my son the guitar. He really likes it and wants lessons right away. We gave him a beginners instruction book that came with a DVD and he has already picked up a few chords.

He likes the versatality of the Roland amp but already wants more volume than the amp can give, only 15 watts. Earplugs on the way.

In addition to the original purchase, had to buy a padded strap, padded gig bag, ended up with a Monster cable as it was only $5. more than a cheaper cable, wires and adaptors to attach a CD player to the amp and some other odds and ends as well as a two year warranty(used guitar) but on the special sale, only came to $347 for all. They also re-strung the guitar.

I think it was a decent purchase and I am looking forward to his lessons and future purchases! So many of his friends are into guitar, drums and keyboard it should be interesting to see what develops.

Thank you all for your help and advice.

MJW

youngwasp · Got Rhythm Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 71

[quote="lee_UK"]Great package, Alder body and maple neck are first rate woods, bubinga fingerbed?? fingerboards sre usualy rosewood, but on that guitar rosewood will have little effect on the tone and i suppose bubinga is a cheap local alternative, i still would cough up more than $10 on a cable, get a short 12ft one too. if you want to see some reviews by people who have bought the 120SD have a look here:

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Yamaha/Pacifica_120SD-01.html

good luck.[/quote]

youngwasp · Got Rhythm Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 71

And I'm accused of having no sense of humour?

Egg's run riot here.

youngwasp · Got Rhythm Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 71

More changes to save face?

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