Best Electric for Acoustic player?

[jjracer]

I have found that my Telecaster feels most like my acoustics. The playability and feel of the neck is similar. (IMO)

That would be my choice.

[Landru]

Confusing, isn't it?

I agree with Gypsyblue on the telecaster no vote. I find the tele not versatile at all. It's wonderful on stage, for it is light and so easy on the shoulder, back, and body - four hours on-stage is nothing. That is it's main advantage. Teles do take a lot of manipulating to get a good tone. AND the necks are slow, AND . . . . . . . if it's Fender it's a Stratocaster. That is what Fender players use to shread and be beautiful - look it up. As for PRS, there are so many models and they all play well - you must find them and try them out.

I too have a '54 Tele. The black pick guard is standard. Gypsy, if you got yours with white and switched, it was switched on you before you got it.

[franchelB]

I have:
1. Gibson Les Paul Deluxe
2. Fender Telecaster
3. Fender Strat
4. Washburn "335-copy"

My "go to" electric guitar is the Fender Tele. And yes, I also play my Taylor 6 and 12 string a/e guitars, Takamine a/e classical, Kentucky mandolin, and an off-brand banjo.

[edward993]

"Best" eh? ...I think you know the answer to that one

So you want a nut on the wider side, then you ain't gonna get that in any Strat or Tele unless it's a custom build or a non-Fender strat/tele type guit. I'd look for Gibby or the ubiquitous Gibby-esque variants if wider nut is more your speed.

Also consider neck thickness as Gibson's so-called "50s-style" necks are on the thicker side. If you want your electric to feel more like your Taylor, look for a "60s-style" neck. I am giving you the Gibson generalization, but among the Gibby-style gutiars out there, a vast array of neck thickness and widths exist. Recall your Les Paul and think about how that felt in your hand, perhaps. You must try them and you'll likely find which do and do not work for you.

As for tone, well that, friend, is all over the map, as it is with acoustics. But any desire to foray into heavy sounds and I'd advise a humbucker guitar. Buckers can go from light/clean to heavy better than single coil pups can ...not that the single coils "can't," you can push em there, but the tone just isn't quite there if heavy OD is an important option you want in there. By contrast, a good bucker can span a very wide breadth of tone.

That said, I love single coils for their overall clarity and tight bottom end. Many refer to their "piano-like" lows that are tight and percussive. Even overdriven, singles have a wonderful note definition that is their signature tone. A good guit with single coils can likewise span a wide breadth of tone, just stopping short of the heavier "metallica-style" saturation.

Personally, for your first guitar, I'd shy away from P90 guitars as these are more a nuanced flavor that some swear by, and others can do without. While single coils and sharing many of the attributes of a Strat/Tele tone family, P90s are hotter, fatter sounding (good, really), but along with that tend to be noisy; and tend to be very sensitive to lighting and/or electical noise. A good P90 guit is nice to have, but I'd say better as a second electric for flava ...yeah I know, I know, IMHO

Then there's hollow and semi-hollow bodies vs solid bods. Given what you've said thus far, I think you'd be happier with going to a good, versatile solid body. Later if you get enamored with electrics, feel out some semi-hollows ...again for a different flava.

I'd find myself a good big-box guitar store and go in with patience and an open mind. Play everything you can get your hands on, and all through one decent tube amp sans effects, and get a good feel for how each guitar responds to your touch/dynamics. The various PRS, Gibson, and the likes are great places to start, then go to the variants (Epi, Schecter, etc.) and see if any of those speak to you. I love Strats, and my 1980 is my go-to live guit, but the neck/nut may turn you off. Yet an HSS Strat (humbucker single single) is easily one of the most versatile tone machines known to mankind. See if that floats your boat. Hope this helps you a bit ...have fun!

Edward

[Gypsyblue]

Originally Posted by Landru

Confusing, isn't it?

I agree with Gypsyblue on the telecaster no vote. I find the tele not versatile at all. It's wonderful on stage, for it is light and so easy on the shoulder, back, and body - four hours on-stage is nothing. That is it's main advantage. Teles do take a lot of manipulating to get a good tone. AND the necks are slow, AND . . . . . . . if it's Fender it's a Stratocaster. That is what Fender players use to shread and be beautiful - look it up. As for PRS, there are so many models and they all play well - you must find them and try them out.

I too have a '54 Tele. The black pick guard is standard. Gypsy, if you got yours with white and switched, it was switched on you before you got it.

Mine did come with the black bakelite pickguard that's on it now. But it's not original. I did remove it, set it on a quart can of paint and spray it with nitro so it looks stock and even has the overspray on the back side except for the unlacquered circle from the quart paint can the guard sat on. That's how Fender did it in the early 50's. Years ago I found a white pickguard from a '57 in perfect condition so I keep it in the case along with the original pickups and bridge. I'll probably never change it back to stock but when I'm dead and gone the next owner will have all of the parts. I've never seen a '54 with with an original black pickguard...I think most did have white. Here's one: http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/30U-15874.htm

[kirkham13]

I was in the same camp, ;ooking at electrics after being an acoustic player. I bought a 90's schecter strat and a vox 4 watt tube amp (200 new) AC4TV mini, and am so happy with them. The schecter is basically an old anderson. If I could afford it I would buy a new or slightly used anderson classic or drop top strat. I will hold on to the Schecter though and may add another one if one comes up. My guitar teacher who is a jazz musician uses an 03 hollow droptop as his main guitar- very sweet. He also swears by the old schecters which he brings in to lessons a lot. Check out the anderson website and forum, as well as the gearpage and ebay-

[muscmp]

well, i guess there are really only two types of camps in the electric guitar arena: fender type(strat, tele) and gibson type(les paul, 335). figure out which type you would like and go from there whether it is a PRS, DeTemple, Collings, etc.

good luck!

[zaboaa]

Love my strat. But picked up one of the new SB Taylor double cutaways. Beautiful guitar with great action. Being able to switch the plug and play loaded pickguards/pick-ups is awesome. I have a couple different combo's. Right now I'm playing with Alnico set-up. Check it out.

[denbrinson]

As an acoustic player, I like my telecaster, BUT..... my Gretsch 5120 is great. It feels good, sounds good, and looks good. Great bang for the buck, however, it is not single coil and has a distinct sound. good luck

[DB Cooper]

Obviously, the only logical choice here is a Gibson SG Standard.

Was that so hard?

[hazmuz]

i am happy with my prs se semi hollow.

[Landru]

I have mad love for the Gibson SG Standard - incredible guitar and a dark-horse amongst electric guitars. Why? Word is it's hard to tune/keep tuned. Rumor mill mentions other neck issues.

[DB Cooper]

Originally Posted by Landru

I have mad love for the Gibson SG Standard - incredible guitar and a dark-horse amongst electric guitars. Why? Word is it's hard to tune/keep tuned. Rumor mill mentions other neck issues.

I don't have any tuning issues with my SG... rumors are just that. Best-selling Gibson electric of all-time because it ROCKS!

[Landru]

Right on, DB.

[djphelan01]

I recently just bought a PRS SE Santana and it is awesome guitar for the money. The build quality is top notch.