What's a good metal guitar?

Question

Ok so, my birthday is coming up and I want to get a new guitar. I want a guitar that has a nice metal tone and a nice look. Also, it can't be more that about $400. All help is appreciated.

Answer 1

It's not the guitar, it's the player. Get a cheap affordable one and once you can play and have enough experience to tell the difference in sound, then you can pick out your dream guitar and a bigger amp that works for you. You may already know that different amps will produce different sounds. Different guitars plugged into the same amp will sound different as well.

If that's not the case and you have been playing for a while now, it'd be best to go down to the store and bring your amp (if you have one) to try out with a bunch of different guitars you like the look of. I would personally recommend The Starving Musician, but make sure you avoid Guitar Center at all costs as people like to mess around with the equipment.

I got my first at musiciansfriend.com (by magazine order) for a very good deal (the strat pack) but I had a lot of repair work to do on the guitar later on involving bad drilling, etc. Basically, you're better off going on down to the store to pick one out.

Good luck! ^__^

Answer 2

Almost any quality solid body electric guitar can function as a "metal guitar". In all fairness, some brands and models have been more closely associated with metal (e.g. many BC Rich guitars from the 80's, as well as recent reissues, Gibson Flying Vs and Explorers, some Ibanez models etc). In respect to your price range, I would look into some of the Schecters, Ibanez, and BC Rich models. Epiphone (a Gibson subsidiary) also makes Flying Vs and Explorers. I also would stick with solid body guitars that have humbucking pick-ups. Fender Strats are wonderful guitars, but most likely will not give you the sustain you're probably looking for with their single coil pickups. The Stratocaster HSS would be an exception. Having a Floyd Rose trem or 7 strings will only increase the price. However, keep in mind that much of the "metal sound" is more a function of the amplifier that one is using and that amp's gain structure, rather than using guitar A versus guitar B. The solidbody guitar, its electronics, and it's tonal character give you a starting point that your amplifier takes to the next level. That being said, you can get a very good, usable, "metal sound" with most of the modeling devices (e.g. POD, GT-8, Tech21) currently out and many of the solid state amps. Certainly, they will not sound the same or be as "real' when compared against a cranked tube Marshall or a Mesa Boogie Recitfier, but that's the reality of things. Lastly, and most importantly, when buying a guitar, 1st choose the model that feels good in your hands when you play it, then worry about its looks, etc.. There is nothing worse than spending your hard earned money on a great looking guitar that plays like crap! Good luck!

Matt

Answer 3

Good luck finding a "pro" at a Guitar Center. Check into. B.C.Rich, Jackson, Ibanez, Epiphone, PaulReedSmith, Schecter, & Dean, just to name a few. All of these guitar companies offer imported models at an intermediate cost. There's so many out there. Do your research online, then visit stores to get the feel for whats available to you in your area. DO NOT BUY ONLINE, unless you know for sure what you're getting. It takes years of hands-on experience with guitars and even then, you can get ripped off! Be patient. You will eventually narrow your search down to a few, then you'll have more questions to post on Yahoo! Hope this helps. Enjoy!

Answer 4

Actually, I'd stay away from a strat. For metal, a single coil just isn't gonna do it unless you're playing lead. You're going to want something with a humbucker. If you can get something with active pickups then that's even better. Check out some stuff by Ibanez, Schecter and Jackson.

Answer 5

ask a pro at a guitar center.

Answer 6

just get the standard stratocaster-they are decently priced and they work great. Unless you want something a little bit more fancy then go for that, but those can get kinda spendy.