I recently wrote an article for BestCovery.com titled: Best Electric Guitar Overall. At first I begged my editor to take me off the case: “Best Electric Guitar?”… are you crazy?… I’m gonna get 100 pounds of hate mail!…”

My worry was that everyone and their third-cousin would  take issue with my recommendations.  I begged and pleaded, saying that it was just too lofty a concept to tackle in less than 20 sentences. Fortunately, my editor is a very bright guy, and highly persuasive. He convinced me to word my introduction so that folks would understand my motive; Overall the guitar has to provide as much functionality as possible to any guitarist. “Ok…” I said.. “I’ll do it…”

That said, I decided to write something here on HumbuckerSoup that explains why I chose each guitar. I guess I just want to be understood : – )

# 1 – Fender American Deluxe HSS Stratocaster

Fuhgeddaboudit. If you don’t love this guitar you are crazy. I always buckle at the knees when I know I can go from balls out Rock via a bridge humbucker, to silky smooth vibro-coolness via my neck pickup, and all points in-between. The killer here is the S-1 switching system. If you don’t know what that is, Google it, there is lots to love about it. But really really really, there is not a sound you can’t coax outta this whamma jamma….. buy it, love it, leave it to your kids in your will.

Fender American Deluxe HSS Stratocaster

# 2 – Godin LGX-SA AA Flamed Maple Top

This may sound like a repeat of my post about the Godin Multiac Spectrum SA Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar, but here these dudes go again, only in reverse; you get an electric, Acoustic transducer and a 13-pin synth controller. I mean, ‘com on! The on-board controls are friggin’ great and the guitar looks better than the furniture in the White House.  I dare anyone to argue me on this one.

Fender American Deluxe HSS Stratocaster

# 3 – Parker NiteFly Mojo Guitar

There was a time when the Gibson Flying-V was considered down-right blasphemous. I know, it’s hard to imagine, but that guitar did not do well at all in the beginning because of it’s radical design. Well, I say give the folks at Parker a break. While some may find their guitars a bit too Orwellian, they are incredibly innovative and employ only world class design ideas. I love stainless steel frets, and I love dedicated stereo outputs and I love Fishman piezo pickups….. and thus, I love this guitar. You should too.

Parker NiteFly Mojo

# 4 – Music Man Steve Morse Y2D

My question is: Do you want to play or do you want to mess around? If you wanna get down to business, this guitar is the shiznit. The gun-stock oil finish on the back is killer if you ask me… this is about economy of movement. Excellent pickup options and a well-balanced body make this one a perfect choice for any serious musician. Oh yeah, and you can adjust the truss rod without taking the neck off. Very cool.

Music Man Steve Morse Y2D

# 5 – Ibanez RG3570Z Prestige

Ok, so this is really for the shredders out there. But if you are one of ‘em, then you are in good shape here.
You’ve got all the variables in-place for some serious streechin’ out. I wouldn’t recommend it for fun-strummin’ or the like, but for the next Paul Gilbert out there…. here you go.

Ibanez RG3570Z

Summary: There are tons of great guitars out there and everyone has an opinion on which one is best. But the challenge was put forth to me and I have laid it out on the line. Some may disagree with these picks, and that’s ok. But if any of this helps you with your next purchase or at least creates a few options in your mind that were not there before, then hopefully your time was well spent here.

Good Luck!

So, you need a new electric guitar and you are on a budget. There is no need to worry; more than ever, there are some options for you out there if you know what you are looking for.

The key here is have a strong sense of what kind of guitar you want. Let’s face it: no guitar can do everything, but a few out there can do more than one thing. Some are specialists, some are generalists. If you focus on what you want to accomplish with the guitar, then you will end up with the guitar you had in mind.

Tip # 1 – Know Thyself

Are you a punk? a rocker? a funk meister? Whatever genre you hold near and dear to your heart, make sure you are shopping for the guitar that matches your style of playing. A perfect example of this is the Ibanez GRG170DX , which recently won the award for Best Budget Electric Guitar from BestCovery.com This guitar is really a shredder’s guitar. So if you like low action, super duper five bombs with minimal tuning hassles and a two-octave neck, then this is the guitar you want. If you are looking to play the best of Creedence Clearwater Revival, then maybe it is not the best choice. They key is to be clear about the kind of instrument that fits your style of playing.

Ibanez GRG170DX

Tip # 2 – Try Before you Buy

These days, everyone buys online, and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that at all. But, a big part of knowing how an instrument will work for you is to try it and see how it feels in your hands. You can still buy it online, but if you go to a local music store that carries it, it’s worth your time to get a handle on how it feels.

Tip # 3 – Don’t Be Afraid to Buy a Specialty Guitar

While it is always good to have options, sometimes you want a tool that does one thing really well. An example of this would be if you are really focused on Country  or Old School R&B. In both cases, a Telecaster would be the way to go. While this guitar may not serve you well in many other genres, it will nail the sounds you need and nail them good. A perfect budget guitar that fulfills this requirement is the Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Special Butterscotch Blonde, which came in at # 2 in Best Covery’s Best Budget Electric Guitar

Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Special Butterscotch Blonde

One might say: “Hey, it’s only a budget guitar… so what if I get the wrong one…” I disagree with that statement. If you are shopping for a budget guitar, the reason is probably that you cannot afford to buy a second one. So, it matters that you get the right one for you. Also, it is likely that you are a beginner, so having a guitar that you can not only afford, but enjoy and grow with will play a critical role in your development.

Godin Multiac Spectrum SA

An acoustic guitar, an electric guitar and a synth controller, all in one? Yes… the Godin Multiac Spectrum SA gives you all three options in one very well made (and very good looking) package!

I will admit that I’m not the biggest fan of the whole “two for the price of one” thing; it can often be a very over-played marketing approach. But sometimes it’s just the plain ol’ truth. This guitar provides a wealth of tonal options that leave no stone un-turned. Here we have “Three in one….” and there is much to be impressed by.

First things first: This is one great acoustic guitar. Before you even plug in a 1/4″ cable, you can’t help be impressed with the full-bodied sound of this instrument. The Chambered Mahogany body is key here; the projection is excellent, yet the overall tone is very balanced, and the spruce top gives great snap to your sound. Also well done here is the Mahogany neck and Ebony fingerboard. While ebony does tend to have a fairly bright tone, the Mahogany is a nice balance for that.

Not too far from the neck is a Seymour Duncan Lipstick pickup. The coolio hollow-ish sounds that jump out are just stunning. While this is an acoustic guitar, it can certainly double for an electric in certain circumstances. Depending on the tone you are going for, you might need only one gig-bag at your next session. Not too far from your strap lock is a 13-pin jack that allows you to control a RolandTM GR-Series synthesizer. Not too far out of your reach is the set of controls that allow you to decide how much of everything you want, as well as EQ.

I’m not too sure you could ask for a whole lot more here. Godin does not make bad guitars. Here they put out one that is exceptional. Sure, you could spend more… but at the end of the day; you want the most for your money. With the Godin Multiac Spectrum SA, you get more than your money’s worth; you get the Best Acoustic Electric Guitar on the market, with electric sounds, and a synth controller.  I’d say someone ought to send these folks at Godin a thank you note.

CARL VERHEYEN/CARL VERHEYEN BAND is very pleased to announce that Maria Matias Music (Robben Ford, Michael Landau) is now booking us for N. America!

Carl Verheyen Management:
BETSY ALEXANDER
Straight Ahead Artist Management
865 Bellevue Road, #W-4
Nashville, TN 37221-2727
01 (818) 426-3292 phone
redqueen9@att.net
LinkedIn member
Skype: betsyalexander

Carl Verheyen

Greetings, We’re busy as bees this Spring and look toward a summer full of classes, custom work and fun. Below you’ll notice a bunch of new classes we just opened to help make your summer productive. In the custom shop, we continue designing and producing our Little Horns and subwoofers, but we are especially happy to announce our newest addition to this product line – the 300B tube amp! OH! And just for you, we are offering a special 15% off coupon you can use for any service work we do. Our expert guitar techs are eager and ready to help. Read on for more info! New 300B Single-ended Monoblock Tube Amplifiers This project has been in the works for quite a while. It is a circuit I have been dreaming about for more than a decade. Loosely speaking, the circuit is based on the 1934 Western Electric Model 91, but the front end has been modified to take a line-level input direct from an iPod if you wish. This blending of cutting edge miniature technology coupled with such antique circuitry makes me roll around on the floor with joy. This amp also pairs beautifully with our Little Horn Speakers. Click here to see photos of this newest Specimen taken during its building process. 2010 CLASS SCHEDULE: Fretting Workshop May 18 – June 8, 2010 Tuesdays, 6:30 – 9:30 pm SALE! Save 15% on this class! Guitar & Bass Setup and Maintenance Course May 20 – June 10 Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:30 pm NOTE: Only 1 space remains open in this course. Tube Amplifier Building WEEKEND SEMINAR May 21 – 23, 2010 Friday – Sunday NOTE: One space remains open for a student to build a Marshall Combo kit. Constructive Techniques WEEKEND SEMINAR June 12 – 13, 2010 Saturday – Sunday Constructive Techniques Workshop June 26 and August 28, 2010 Saturdays, 1:00 – 4:00 pm Guitar Electronics Workshop July 1 – 22, 2010 Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:30 pm Advanced Guitar Repair Workshop July 6 – 27, 2010 Tuesday evenings, 7:00 – 9:30 pm Guitar Design & Theory WEEKEND SEMINAR July 31 – August 1, 2010 Saturday – Sunday Tube Amplifier Building WEEKEND SEMINAR August 6 – 8, 2010 Friday – Sunday Guitar & Bass Setup and Maintenance Course August 10 – 31, 2010 Tuesdays, 7:00 – 9:30 pm Guitar & Bass Setup and Electronics WEEKEND SEMINAR August 21 – 22, 2010 Saturday – Sunday Fretting Workshop WEEKEND SEMINAR September 11 – 12, 2010 Saturday - Sunday

The Repair Shop Chronicles Another installment is added to our on-going journal of repairs that come our way in the shop. Included this time is an example of our new antique-ing service we offer (just kidding!), a complex bowl back mandolin repair, and a Les Paul Special who needed a serious chiropractic adjustment. Click on the links and enjoy! Ibanez Roadstar Mandolin Repair Les Paul Special Join Specimen at the Beer Hoptacular! For All True Beer Enthusiasts Specimen is joining forces with some of the best craft brewers for the first annual Beer Hoptacular! Join us at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom on June 4 and 5 for beer samplings, demonstrations and fun from craft brewers, beer experts, home brewers, and demonstrations from local artisans like bike shops and Specimen. The Specimen Crew will be there demonstrating guitar building and repair as well as showcasing some of our custom guitars, horn speakers and amps. We’ll probably be sampling some of those fine brews, too! Be sure to stop by and see us. Click here to more information about the event. Save 15%! Now is the time to have your guitar properly set up; the weather is changing and this can greatly effect how your instrument plays and feels. Or, if you’ve been thinking about a re-fret, swapping out pickups, or overhauling your amp, take advantage of this offer and make it happen! Bring your instruments and tube amps to Specimen and let our experts take care of you. Just mention this coupon when you come in. This special offer applies to any kind of service work we do. Offer Expires: 6/15/2010. To learn more about our service shop, click on the following link: Specimen Repair Shop

The Chicago School of Guitar Making