New guitar help

[riverniall]

Hey guys, i was thinking of buying a new guitar pretty soon, I already have an epiphone lp which i like very much.

With my new guitar Im not really sure what i want! I would like a whammy bar of some sort on it, althoughi don't know the differences between each type (i would like string lock things, so they dont go out of tune).

If anybody has any opinions on guitars i should maybe think about buying, please answer to this post, im open to suggestions, and if anybody could give information on different whammy bars on guitars that'd be great.

Niall

[Akeh]

Budget, Music style?
The 2 main style of whammy bars are Fender style "Dive Only" which can only lower the pitch of your guitar, and
"Floyd Rose and variants" which both raise and lower the pitch, and stay in tune (For the most part, depends on quality) but they are more complicate to string/set up/intonnate/change tunings.
If you change tunings often and aren't willing to spring for several guitars best to get a Fender style. PRS and Fender guitars have these commonly.

[TSRTS]

American Strats aren't too expensive, you can often find some going for pretty cheap on eBay or at pawnshops. (I got a 1982 american strat for 1000 candian dollars at a pawn shop)

If you are able to afford an American Strat I'd go for it, very versatile, has a whammy bar, overall awesome.

[mutant!]

With my new guitar Im not really sure what i want!
My 3 rules of upgrading: (1) only upgrade if your current gear is holding you back; (2) only upgrade once you know exactly what you want; and (3) only upgrade once you can afford exactly what you want. Evidently, you still fall short on #2, so I'd say do it, but do some research first and delay it a little (and save up a little more money too).

I would like a whammy bar of some sort on it, althoughi don't know the differences between each type (i would like string lock things, so they dont go out of tune).
Floyd Rose, Ibanez's Edge, and other similar trems include a nut that "locks" the strings. This is awesome for (1) keeping the guitar in tune and (2) allowing you to go wild with the thing. However, changing strings is a mission, and you're screwed if a string goes in the middle of a performance (you will not be able to get back in tune). Fender, PRS, Wilkinson, and other similar trems without the locking nut are usually only designed to bend down, not up. The belief is that they go out of tune very quickly; however, get a lubricated nut, locking tuners, String Saver saddles, and a good intonation and action setup and this problem is solved. This kind of trem is generally intended for subtle vibrato and not wicked dive-bombs.

If anybody has any opinions on guitars i should maybe think about buying, please answer to this post...
Depends on what you play. If you want something dramatically different from your LP, check out Fender Teles and Strats, and Ibanez's RG series. If you are happy with your LP's tone, however, and want something only slightly different, maybe look at a Schecter, PRS, or ESP guitar. If you tell us what you play, what makes you unhappy with your LP and who/what you want to sound like, we can give further advice.

[riverniall]

I play mostly GnR/Rage style although I would quite like to do some Steve Vai solo's with crazy dive-bombs and such every so often, (but not all the time) which is the main reason for the change from my LP. I was also looking into the digitech whammy (havent actually played one yet) for the crazy dive-bombs etc. rather than buying a new guitar. Would this be a good idea?

I suppose i cant really decide until i have actually tried the guitars/whammy bars in question first, but i like to research before i try things out. Any more info. will be welcome

[mutant!]

Idk, I haven't played a Whammy ever before, but I have this idea that you need to have teh sk1llz dat k1llz if you want to use one to play a solo with actual notes that make harmonic sense. They're awesome for random noise, though. Just ask Matt Bellamy.

I play mostly GnR/Rage style although I would quite like to do some Steve Vai solo's...
Humbucker guitar for you, my friend... I would suggest an Ibanez-style guitar. Not just because Vai plays them, but because they're the kind of guitars that are versatile enough to cover GnR, Rage and Vai bases. You would probably enjoy an Ibanez model with an Edge locking trem (as Fender/PRS style trems are just not made for crazy divebombing). Two humbuckers will be enough (get one with a coil tap switch). For versatility, you might want to get one with a middle single coil as well. Fender also makes an HSS Mexican Strat with a Floyd Rose trem. You might want to check that out too. The Mexican Fenders are also cheap enough that you can acquire one and then pimp it to the max - Seymour Duncan pickups, Graph Tech/Schaller hardware, or whatever else your heart desires. Finally, check out PRS - but don't expect them to come with abuse-friendly trems. You could always get a PRS with a stoptail and rout (gasp!) it for a Kahler or Floyd Rose or whatever.

[StormX]

I'm going to say a Cort G290. It's got a Wilkinson trem which can dive bomb and can bend up pitch somewhat, and it also has a roller nut and locking tuners. Mine has never gone out of tune no matter how much I used the trem. It's got EMGs H-S-S and the humbucker has a coil tab, so it's got plenty of pickup options.

[mutant!]

^ According to Harmony Central, a lot of people have trouble with the bearings in the nut falling out. Also, Wilkinsons are still not abuse trems. You're not going to be able to play Rage/Vai with a Wilk.

[StormX]

^ According to Harmony Central, a lot of people have trouble with the bearings in the nut falling out. Also, Wilkinsons are still not abuse trems. You're not going to be able to play Rage/Vai with a Wilk.

Hasn't happened to mine. And I know that you're not going to be able to play Vai with a Wilk, since Vai does have floyd style/floating trem. All I'm saying is that it will handle most stuff that's not extreme.

[mutant!]

^ The thing is, TS wants to play Vai. So no Wilk for him.

I'm sooo getting a Wilk installed on my Strat, though. Along with Graph Tech/Schaller hardware and a Fender Bottle Opener, of course.

[StormX]

^ The thing is, TS wants to play Vai. So no Wilk for him.

I'm sooo getting a Wilk installed on my Strat, though. Along with Graph Tech/Schaller hardware and a Fender Bottle Opener, of course.

Well, he only wants to play Vai sometimes, plus the Wilk on the G290 is floating :naughty:

[mutant!]

:naughty: Didn't know floating Wilks existed. In that case, TS: I'd recommend getting a guitar with a floating Wilk and no locking nut because locking nuts are a b1tch to manage.

[StormX]

AKA the G290.

It's got locking tuners. Sperzel I think. They keep it in tune perfectly.

And yeah, floating wilk = ownage. I thought it was a CFA, cause that's what the website said, but after closer examination, it is indeed a Wilk, and it is indeed floating.

[Woofdog]

I'd just like to say, make sure you know what your doing before you buy a floating (locking or non) trem, as when I recently changed strings (+gauges) it took me a while to get the bridge parallel again etc.

[mutant!]

^ You should re-intonate and re-setup your guitar when changing guages anyway. If you don't, the intonation, action, etc will all be screwed, even if you don't have a trem.

And besides, the above only becomes a problem if you actually change guages.

[Woofdog]

I was just saying its not really a case of "might as well get a trem".

[Mr. Badguy]

How long did it take you guys to learn how to do all of this stuff? Y'know, knowing how to make the bridge parallel, and lower the action, and all of that other crazy-hip jive? I feel like a total beginner now, heh. ^_^;;

[StormX]

How long did it take you guys to learn how to do all of this stuff? Y'know, knowing how to make the bridge parallel, and lower the action, and all of that other crazy-hip jive? I feel like a total beginner now, heh. ^_^;;

I just use stuff on Project Guitar. They have awesome tutorials about setting up your guitar.

[Mr. Badguy]

Ah, I see. I'll go look it up on google now. Thanks, man. :-D

[riverniall]

cheers guys, i'll look into that wilk trem!