ShortScale.org

i need to play guitar again. the only electric I have is in bits and needs the pickups rewiring. Its been like that for over 18 months. I haven't played my acoustic or bass guitar. A lot of that has been we had building work for most of last year and most things went in storage and I preferred playing my synths, drums and piano.

So, I have some cash from not going to the pub and looking for some inspiration on a guitar to get me back playing. no genre of music I want to play, I just want something that will make me want to pick it up. new or reasonable 2nd hand (UK) prices

A Burns Marquee is a nice piece of guitar, can be had for around or less than £300, good possibilities in the electric department (any pickup combination) but most of all standard strat-sized pickups, electronics and cases fit. Refreshingly, it is designed with a touch of english eccentricity, which makes it stand out in a not-heavy-metal kind of way.

Both versions of the bridge work fine, the older (point classic) may have issues, but they are covered by lifetime warranty. If that is the case don't pay more than £250. Getting the replacement is by mail so it takes a while. Works the charm though. (Or did 6 years ago)

Good if:
-You like subtly weird looks but traditional manners
-Like max 10-46 strings (the tremolo gets from wonderful to horrid somewhere at 11-49)
-Good looking woods and a finely finished neck is important even in a budget guitar

Bad if:
-You want absolute simplicity visually and electrically

If it was a car it would be one of them Honda made Rovers. It definitely isn't a Honda, and not quite a Rover either, but it could be had for peanuts when five years old and at least it sticks out in the tower block parking lot in the midst of the rusty Mondeos. And not just by being rustier.

Ooh, that's a good shout. I loved my Marquee. I would also add just about any Italia to that list. Or a Squier Bass VI.

Bullet. Mustang.

Fuck a Bullet.

benecol wrote:Fuck a Bullet.

Let me be clear, etc. I just really like the Bullet ‘stang’s. Two ham bakers, hard tail, no fuss

If it were me I’d get a Squier. Massive choice of really decent guitars between the Paranormal and Classic Vibe series. Though if it came down to it I’d probably just get a Strat.

kingkiller wrote:

benecol wrote:Fuck a Bullet.

Let me be clear, etc. I just really like the Bullet ‘stang’s. Two ham bakers, hard tail, no fuss

Sounds nothing like a Marquee, which is no ham bakers, (mostly) floating tail, fuss

But also oozing luxury from its thick korean gloss.

do you have an amp? what amp?

kingkiller wrote:

benecol wrote:Fuck a Bullet.

Let me be clear, etc. I just really like the Bullet ‘stang’s. Two ham bakers, hard tail, no fuss

I thought you were referring to a Fender Bullet. Fucking n00b.


FWIW, I think when you're tired of guitar, it's nature's way of saying play something with humbuckers. The petrol strimmer of the guitar world. One of those things you have to pointlessly rev, and maybe blip the engine at the lights.

P90 Epiphone Special or maybe a used Gibson Special?

Other variant would be a used strat + some fancy boutique overdrive pedal

Everyone knows there’s more mojo in accordions.

Are used SG’s cheap over there? I’d say one of those.

Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster.

Fender Player Strat/Tele.

robroe wrote:do you have an amp? what amp?

bassman 10 & amp simulators. I would also be using my eurorack to play into as well

A used Gordon Smith could probably be had for £500. The old ones can be true keepers. The total opposite stylingwise from the Burns’. Satin lacquer and bare wood instead of fancy plastics. Also great necks. One pickup models can be real great too.

A brand that is most affordable in the UK, not a lot of those around.

-edit-

The new ones might be good too, but haven’t tried so can’t say.

Gordon Smith is a great shout. Lovely guitars.

benecol wrote:

kingkiller wrote:

benecol wrote:Fuck a Bullet.

Let me be clear, etc. I just really like the Bullet ‘stang’s. Two ham bakers, hard tail, no fuss

I thought you were referring to a Fender Bullet. Fucking n00b.


FWIW, I think when you're tired of guitar, it's nature's way of saying play something with humbuckers. The petrol strimmer of the guitar world. One of those things you have to pointlessly rev, and maybe blip the engine at the lights.

Nice mixing of metaphors. Unless you stand at traffic lights with your strimmer?

How about an Adam Black Libra? They are the cheapest relatively recent UK guitars.

They remind me of the original Shergold Masquerader, but the reissues of that are not made in the UK and have details that make them look cheap.

Gretsch G2420T Streamline... go back to go forward.