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  1. I strongly disagree with the Epiphone Les Paul Packs or Fender Squier packs. It make be $300.00 but the gear is far from quality and in the end, there is a strong chance you will see it as a waste of money.

    Epiphone Explorer is a fine guitar and are priced around $499.
    http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Korina-1958-Explorer-Electric-Guitar?sku=518234

    And the stock pickups aren't horrible either. Although you could get more of an Edge tone but upgrading the pickups, later when money permits, to T-Tops.

    Vox Pathfinder comes in at $119.00
    http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-Pathfinder-15R-Guitar-Amp-with-Reverb?sku=481948

    So for $620.00, you will get a good guitar and good practice amp. Items you will be able to play and not fight how poorly they are made or sound. And they are items that once you upgrade to other things later, you will still want to and be able to use these. (Example, I still use my Pathfinder to run stereo effects, live (as amps are usually mid'd live) while using my AC15CC as my main amp (sometimes a Vox AC30).

    There are also a number of Fender Stratocasters between $499.00 - $699.00 that are well-made. I recommend staying away from the Squiers BUT the made in Mexico stuff - not so bad. Plus you can get a $499.00 Strat that will sound nice - that you can upgrade the pickups later and that $499.00 + $200.00 in upgrades (depending on the pickups) will likely sound as good as a $1200.00 to $1800.00+ Stratocaster.

    In the end, I guess you have to reconcile between your budget, your own ears and what guitars feel good to you. But I do think you will regret any of the Epiphone LP package deals or Fender Squier pacakge deals in the end. Better to hold out a month or so and get something that is decent and that will serve you well than to buy now and feel ripped off later.

    EFFECTS-WISE... you can get a number of Edge-worthy tones from the:

    Line 6 M13 (better deal than the M9 for only 100.00 more at $499.00 - although you can find them for $399-ish on e-bay)
    http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-M13-Guitar-Multi-Effects-Pedal?sku=482675

    or for a bit cheaper (but some less features)

    Line 6 M9 $399.00
    http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-Pathfinder-15R-Guitar-Amp-with-Reverb?sku=481948
  2. What model Stratocaster is the one pictured?

    Looks similar to a Clapton, with the Lace Sensor pickups. Or perhaps an older Stratocaster Plus?

    [image]


  3. My idea would simply be to head to your nearest guitar store and try out a few guitars, maybe with a bit of help from a staff member or something. You wanna find a guitar that you feel comfortable playing primarily - my first guitar, which I still have, was a Ridgewood Strat. copy which I tried out when I was first starting out. I couldn't play guitar, but I still got a feel for it being comfortable and suited, so that would be my advice. I still use it now and still rate it.

    That and it was all I could afford =P but yeah, there's my take
    Originally posted by EyesWithPrideB3:The obvious choice would be an Epiphone Explorer (or a Gibson, if you're talking some serious money)...but Edge also plays Les Paul models and Fender Strats (which sound great clean) most commonly.

    He's been using what looks like a hollow-body on "Breathe" and "No Line" live this year, and someone else on the thread would probably be able to help you out with what thats called. I play a PRS (Paul Reed Smith) SE, which looks remotely like a Les Paul. It has fantastic action and sound, and through my multi-effect pedal, Edge's sounds are usually close to achievable. It's all a matter of personal preference. The PRS cost me about $500

    I wouldn't say the Explorer is an obvious choice, but as guitars go it's one of the best I've played. That said, I've not played every guitar in existence, but it suits me to a tee - everything about the look, the feel, the sound, the versatility (which might not be apparent to everyone); of the three electrics I have, it's far and away the best. The Les Paul is a fun guitar to play, but there are things about it which knark me, primarily the fact the tuners are shite and it goes out of tune very easily - bend any string a slight amount and you then have to spend the next 3 minutes retuning (thankyou Epiphone's Chinese-based factories...).

    Re. Breathe and NLOTH, he's using one of his arsenal of Epiphone Casinos. My housemate has one and it just doesn't have that zing for me - the P90s plus its limited sustain don't suit my style, but it's a decent guitar for what it's worth. I just prefer my Explorer One of my best friends has a PRS SE too, and I would also say that's a damned good piece of kit for what it's worth, but again it doesn't quite do it for me - having said that, it's not mine so I'm not gonna worry!

    Amen brutha
  4. I love my new Explorer, it just looks so unique compared to all my friends who have strat-copy type guitars. I noticed it only has 22 frets though, are the Epiphones shorter scale than their Gibson equivalents?

    Though it is based on the 58 Explorers not the 76 reissues Edge uses.
  5. Originally posted by vanquish:I love my new Explorer, it just looks so unique compared to all my friends who have strat-copy type guitars. I noticed it only has 22 frets though, are the Epiphones shorter scale than their Gibson equivalents?

    Though it is based on the 58 Explorers not the 76 reissues Edge uses.


    The 1976 'Limited Edition' Gibson Explorers that The Edge (and I !) use were based on the original 1958 explorer design.

    I don't think there is much difference, other than the pickups in the 1976 being the T-Tops versus the 1958 which probably had the PAF Humbucker.

    The only difference in the Epiphone Explorer design and Edge's 1976's are that the Epiphone guitar body is Korina vs. the Edge's being mahogany body. That said, I've not heard anyone complain about an Epiphone Explorer. A friend has one, which she had T-Tops put in, and it sounds great!
  6. Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:[..]

    The 1976 'Limited Edition' Gibson Explorers that The Edge (and I !) use were based on the original 1958 explorer design.

    I don't think there is much difference, other than the pickups in the 1976 being the T-Tops versus the 1958 which probably had the PAF Humbucker.

    The only difference in the Epiphone Explorer design and Edge's 1976's are that the Epiphone guitar body is Korina vs. the Edge's being mahogany body. That said, I've not heard anyone complain about an Epiphone Explorer. A friend has one, which she had T-Tops put in, and it sounds great!


    I heard from numerous sources that the 76's have humbuckers called "tarbacks". One of the members on the U2-sound-forum has 2 LE exploerers, and he checked both of his and they have these tarbacks.
  7. Wow....thanks for all the advice guys!! I will definitely take it all on board and will let you know what I end up with!!

    THanks again!!
  8. Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]

    I heard from numerous sources that the 76's have humbuckers called "tarbacks". One of the members on the U2-sound-forum has 2 LE exploerers, and he checked both of his and they have these tarbacks.


    A "tarback" IS a T-Top/T-Bucker pickup. Not all T-Tops are Humbuckers. Some had the epoxy seal and some didn't.

    Why are they referred to as T-Tops?

    T-Tops are referred to as such as they have a "T" that is part of the molding on the front of the two pickup bobbins. These also had the decal with "Patent No 2,737,842"

  9. Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:[..]

    The 1976 'Limited Edition' Gibson Explorers that The Edge (and I !) use were based on the original 1958 explorer design.

    I don't think there is much difference, other than the pickups in the 1976 being the T-Tops versus the 1958 which probably had the PAF Humbucker.

    The only difference in the Epiphone Explorer design and Edge's 1976's are that the Epiphone guitar body is Korina vs. the Edge's being mahogany body. That said, I've not heard anyone complain about an Epiphone Explorer. A friend has one, which she had T-Tops put in, and it sounds great!


    The design on the 76 ones is better, it has sharper curves compared to the 58


    The 58s (both the Gibsons and the Epis) also use Korina wood instead of mahogany which means they should sound different, to luthiers apparently Korina has even better tone than mahogany (brighter with more sustain) and is a lighter wood too.
  10. Originally posted by vanquish:[..]

    The design on the 76 ones is better, it has sharper curves compared to the 58[image]
    [image]

    The 58s (both the Gibsons and the Epis) also use Korina wood instead of mahogany which means they should sound different, to luthiers apparently Korina has even better tone than mahogany (brighter with more sustain) and is a lighter wood too.


    I much, much, much prefer the bridge on the '58, though. Subtle difference in sound and look, but still a gorgeous difference in the '58.


  11. It started it's life as a Powerhouse Strat, one of the very first ever made(not that it matters), I then changed the stock pearl pickguard with a different one, since the stock Fender one was too yellowish for my taste. Then threw in some EMG SAs and about a year later put the EXG and SPC (just like Gilmour's, unintentionally). It also has Graphteck string saddles since my sweaty palms rusted out the stock vintage styles. One day while picking up some new strings I saw some gold screws and decided to replace the silver with gold and made it look even better, to me at least.

    The neck is surprisingly figured for a Mexi-strat as an added bonus.

  12. I'd like to get a '76 in time, but as things are I do love my Epi. '58 model. As I've said above...
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