Planning to buy my first stepup guitar- opinions invited!

[Jackie Treehorn]

I was late in life to the guitar game but during covid my wife got sick and I picked up a Fender Paramount and I've learned enough to make a public spectacle of myself with it! I like the sound and everything but I am ready to pay more for a step up from that and allow myself some alternative tunings on the other guitar. I'm basically playing regularly JJ Cale/Neil Young/Wallflowers/Zevon/Tonic/Allman Bros (Greg not Duane!) kind of stuff. Maybe my biggest challenge is I strike the pickguard pretty hard and I've had it replaced once already on the Fender. I think something with a little more substantial feel to the body might be a good idea? Any recommendations about what I might look for and go try out will be appreciated. Thanks!

[Lillis]

First off I like the Lebowski reference in your name! You didn’t mention a budget but any Eastman would probably be a nice next step up.

[Denandannie]

Maybe you need a steel pick guard. . .or a lighter touch.
Two of my three guitars have no pick guards. I like the clean look. I’ve learned to keep my picks off the guitar. Wish you the best in your journey.

[TheGITM]

Welcome!

You need to have a budget for what you can spend, and you really need to play as many guitars as you can to get a sense of what feels best to you... and also what sounds best to you. Somewhere in that process you can start to narrow down a selection.

There's nothing we can say that will make any sense for you since we don't know any of the parameters. There are A LOT of really good choices across all price points, styles, and wood choices.

I'm sure you'll get some good recommendations, though.

[Rockysdad]

Welcome to AGF, as mentioned previously, your budget will allow for better ideas.
Are you wanting *any*, body size, nut width, 14 fret, 12 fret etc.?

Maybe which general location you're in so specific shops could be recommended.

There ARE a lot of choices.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Originally Posted by Lillis

First off I like the Lebowski reference in your name! You didn’t mention a budget but any Eastman would probably be a nice next step up.

Great point- I'm thinking maybe 2 to 3K at the top end? Yeah, TBL is a regular viewing at my home!

[Jackie Treehorn]

Originally Posted by TheGITM

Welcome!

You need to have a budget for what you can spend, and you really need to play as many guitars as you can to get a sense of what feels best to you... and also what sounds best to you. Somewhere in that process you can start to narrow down a selection.

There's nothing we can say that will make any sense for you since we don't know any of the parameters. There are A LOT of really good choices across all price points, styles, and wood choices.

I'm sure you'll get some good recommendations, though.

Thank you! I know there's a lot and I want to get player's opinions versus sales guys/girls who could have motives that don't fit my end wishes.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Originally Posted by Denandannie

Maybe you need a steel pick guard. . .or a lighter touch.
Two of my three guitars have no pick guards. I like the clean look. I’ve learned to keep my picks off the guitar. Wish you the best in your journey.

Trust me I've thought about it- but when I get an audience and I'm singing it up I haven;t found the discipline to keep from hitting the guitar body. Part of it too is probably because I still need to look down at the guitar for the more difficult parts and that puts the body at an angle where I'm getting into it?

[Jackie Treehorn]

Originally Posted by Rockysdad

Welcome to AGF, as mentioned previously, your budget will allow for better ideas.
Are you wanting *any*, body size, nut width, 14 fret, 12 fret etc.?

Maybe which general location you're in so specific shops could be recommended.

There ARE a lot of choices.

Thanks- I'm in Santa Barbara/SLO now but I lived in LA forever and I will go there to shop. I know nothing about a lot of what you say but I do prefer a little wider distance between the strings and the Paramount is good about that. I originally bought a widebody guitar on someone's suggestion but I didn't like it al all, although that was a rattle issue. I like a lot of the things about the Paramount as far as size/frets.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Originally Posted by Lillis

First off I like the Lebowski reference in your name! You didn’t mention a budget but any Eastman would probably be a nice next step up.

Looking at the Eastman website- a lot of the featured guitars appear to be sort of hybrid acoustic/electric. I'm not yet hooking up to an amp although I have one- if I go to Guitar Center and play one of the Eastman guitars without being hooked up on an amp will I be doing it a disservice?

[Lillis]

Originally Posted by Jackie Treehorn

Looking at the Eastman website- a lot of the featured guitars appear to be sort of hybrid acoustic/electric. I'm not yet hooking up to an amp although I have one- if I go to Guitar Center and play one of the Eastman guitars without being hooked up on an amp will I be doing it a disservice?

I don’t think you would. I have a few acoustic/electrics and I never plug in.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Originally Posted by Lillis

I don’t think you would. I have a few acoustic/electrics and I never plug in.

Thanks a lot- Eastman is first on my list to check out!

[davenumber2]

Originally Posted by Jackie Treehorn

Looking at the Eastman website- a lot of the featured guitars appear to be sort of hybrid acoustic/electric. I'm not yet hooking up to an amp although I have one- if I go to Guitar Center and play one of the Eastman guitars without being hooked up on an amp will I be doing it a disservice?

Just FYI, Guitar Center is not an Eastman dealer but they do have some used guitars in their inventory across the country.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Seagulls are the best budget guitars around. For a big step up from that, USA Guilds are built to stand up to some serious abuse — one reason I call them the party guitar:

Gibson = the saloon guitar
Guild = the party guitar
Martin = the porch guitar
Taylor = the trendy guitar

It said here often because it needs to be: No matter what guitar you get, a good setup is essential.

And — if that pickguard damage is from a pick, try playing bare-handed. It sounds just as good. (If you don't use a pick, I don't know what to tell you!)

[kipkohl]

Take a look at Yamaha - LL, LS, FS, FG series. Great guitars. My step-up guitar is an FS5 and it is fantastic.