Choosing your first Pro-Level Guitar

Finding a high-quality guitar that plays as great as it sounds used to require hard work and a little luck, but these days there are numerous guitar manufacturers to choose from to find your ultimate axe. To start your foray into guitar music, you might want to an acoustic guitar to give you that flexibility and ease of use you need when you’re starting out. However, there starting with an electric guitar is also safe if you’ve got your heart set on playing that kind of music. To avoid the dilemma whether you should play an electric guitar or acoustic guitar let’s take a look at 2 of the brands we recommend for beginners.

The Epiphone Les Paul Electric guitar

 

Epiphone, a company steeped in 140 years of history for their musical instruments is one of the cornerstones of the modern electric guitar industry. The guitar came into being after Les Paul was asked to consult on a new design for Gibson guitars to rival the introduction of the Fender Telecaster. This iconic design, as well as its innovative circuitry which give it an iconic sound has made the Les Paul one of the most famous guitars in the world.

When the Epiphone musical instrument company was bought out by Gibson, the Epiphone brand was used to create high quality, yet affordable versions of the Gibson branded guitars. With many other innovations still being made by Epiphone, they continue to create new designs, independently of Gibson.

A range of tones

 

The Epiphone Les Paul comes in a number of different options available for the beginner or the pro which allows you to choose a high-quality instrument that doesn’t break the bank. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard is well regarded as a high quality professional musical instrument, despite its relatively low price compared with Gibson models. A number of famous guitarists use this guitar and swear by its quality and sound.

Other variants of Les Paul include the Les Paul Studio; a ‘no frills’ version of the standard that has less finishing options such as body and neck binding, dot inlays and a natural top finish. The Les Paul Plus Top features a beautiful A+ wood top finish that usually contains quilted maple. But for those that want a true Les Paul experience on a budget, the LP-100 comes in at an amazing price to give you that authentic Les Paul sustain and tone. You can check out this review on Epiphone Les Paul guitar and make the decision a little  easier for you:

Cole Clark Guitars

 

Finding your tone is one of the most enjoyable aspects of guitar playing, and as you progress you will find that the materials used in the production of your guitar will play an essential role. For this reason, many people choose to find a specialist guitar maker that uses the best materials combined with a high-quality finish.

Cole Clark guitars are a small producer of high-quality musical instruments that utilise years of experience and craftsmanship to offer some of the finest sounding acoustics on the market. Cole Clark guitars use indigenous Australian fine woods to create their masterpieces, which allows a tonal range that is rich and true to hear.

The finest materials and construction

With two separate classes to choose from when it comes to acoustics, the Fat Lady and the Angel series, a wide range of choice is on offer to give you an acoustic tone to fall in love with. Cole Clark acoustics are made from the finest materials, offering Quilted Maple, Indian Rosewood and Tasmanian Silkwood tops to give you a rich deep tone.

The finish on all of the acoustics in the range is second to none, giving you high quality craftsmanship in the binding and fretwork, delicate inlays and the refined class of the headstock which screams quality. Cole Clark guitars also offer their very own range of pickup systems which are incorporated into their acoustic models.

Standing the test of time

So if you are looking for a fine guitar that has a history of superior quality, fine craftsmanship with high-quality materials, Cole Clark acoustic guitars are the way to go. Similarly, with a rich history of build quality, super cool looks and killer tone, the Epiphone Les Paul models are your best bet at your first pro model guitar.

If taken care of, these guitars will last you a lifetime of enjoyment. Built with the finest materials, designed by world leading skilled luthiers, and a brand name that many artists swear by, your first pro level guitar is just waiting to be played.

The Instruments Of Choice For Some Of The World's Famous Guitarists

We all have our specific tastes when it comes to our instrument of choice. Depending on your playing style and the type of music you want to play, different brands and models of guitars can be appropriate. In this article, you will find information about some of the world’s most famous guitar players and their ‘weapon of choice’. 

 Gibson Guitars

The legendary Bob Marley was a very passionate Gibson guitar fan. In fact, he was very much in love with the Les Paul Special, so much so that he was buried in a mausoleum with the Gibson guitar by his side. In memory of this great musician, Gibson launched its release of a Bob Marley signature Les Paul Special in tribute to his love for Gibson guitars.

Paul McCartney of The Beatles was another influential Gibson enthusiast and a line of the Les Paul Standard was released in his honour. In fact, many of the members in the Beatles were all about Gibson guitars and this does include John Lennon, who used the J-160E during his time with the Beatles. Even after Lennon moved on from the Beatles, he still used Gibson guitars, including the Les Paul Special and Les Paul Junior. 

Arguably the most famous guitarist known to play Gibson guitars is Elvis Presley, who used a 1956 J-200N Gibson guitar in both his presence in concerts and films. His passion for Gibson guitars was such that he engraved his name onto each on as a memoir of his successes and achievements. 

Fender Guitars

While there have been many great guitarists that have used Fenders, the musician I think of first is the great Eric Clapton. Clapton was initially a Gibson user however in 1967 he switched over to Fender guitars and has since used a Stratocaster. In fact, Fender released a Clapton signature line in tribute to the great man. Over the year, Clapton and his Fender have written many a catchy riff and the guitar suits his blues-influenced playing style.

Another renowned Fender guitarist was Jimi Hendrix who was a significant icon in developing the era of the blues. Hendrix was often seen with a Stratocaster on his right hand despite him being left-handed. Hendrix’s influence on the rise in popularity and demand of Fender guitars cannot be understated. In fact, when Hendrix was asked about his reaction to his famous on-stage burning of his Stratocaster, he replied with this: “The time I burned my guitar it was like a sacrifice. You sacrifice the things you love. I love my guitar.” As a tribute Fender produced a limited edition Jimi Hendrix model Stratocaster.

Ibanez Guitars

Often more suitable for heavy rock, Ibanez guitars have many famous advocates in the music industry. Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, known for their highly technical instrumental and experimental guitar playing, have used custom models throughout their careers.

Wes Borland, former guitarist from Limp Bizkit, about Ibanez guitars extending to custom-made Ibanez guitars such as a 4 stringed baritone as well as the notable RG7 CST (which were of an extremely limited edition with only 18 made in 1999). 

Other notable Ibanez guitarists include the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ guitarist, John Frusciante, with his use of the Ibanez RG250DX throughout the recording of the album Mother’s Milk in 1989.

Changes in Music Technology as Instructed By Line 6

From the early days of Tom Morello, down to the days of Jimi Hendrix, musicians and guitarists have always been looking for innovative ways to enhance their sounds with a variety of amplifiers and sound effects.

Line 6, one of the most prolific companies in recent history, changed the fortunes of the music industry with its digital modelling guitars, amplifiers, and other musical equipment. The company is, in fact, the pioneer of guitar amp modelling.

Some of the most popular Line 6 products include electric, bass, acoustic, and guitar amplifiers. With the release of Variax, Line 6 audio was able to convert all the pundits that doubted that anything good could come out of guitar amplification and modelling.

With its subsequent Variax products, Line 6 has been able to redefine the cherished guitar classics; it has also paid homage to the finest guitarists of all time. The company has various types of acoustic and electric guitars that offer limitless possibilities with various models like Gibson, Fender, Martin, and Guild.

Another very popular product released by Line 6 is the kidney-bean shaped ‘POD’, which has completely changed the way guitarists record their sounds. With its success, came other series with improvements including active user communities, and software that allows the downloading and sharing of patches or device settings.

Electric and Acoustic Guitars Paradise

Melbourne Premier Guitar Specialist Store for 20 years

Guitar Paradise is your home of top brand guitars: Gibson, Ibanez, Fender, Epiphone, Cole Clark electric and acoustic guitars...All kinds of guitar accessories left-handed instruments, Tascam mp3 / cd players,  home recording instruments are also available.