Ibanez SA120 over Mexican made Fender Strat?!
Question: So I'm going to be getting myself a guitar/amp sometime before christmas. I'm sort of a beginner, even though I've been a guitar owner for over ten years. But anyway, I've decided to *possibly* get the Ibanez over the strat mainly because of the hundred dollar price difference.
Plus there's something about Ibanez's that I just like a lot. I'm a lover of blues, jazz and classic rock so you'd think I would be totally against getting anything but a strat (or a telecaster). But I really like the heavier types of sound I can get with the Ibanez. This might not even matter because I'm getting a relatively cheap amp (about 150) to go along with it.
Answers: So I'm going to be getting myself a guitar/amp sometime before christmas. I'm sort of a beginner, even though I've been a guitar owner for over ten years. But anyway, I've decided to *possibly* get the Ibanez over the strat mainly because of the hundred dollar price difference.
Plus there's something about Ibanez's that I just like a lot. I'm a lover of blues, jazz and classic rock so you'd think I would be totally against getting anything but a strat (or a telecaster). But I really like the heavier types of sound I can get with the Ibanez. This might not even matter because I'm getting a relatively cheap amp (about 150) to go along with it.
Hi,
Overall, I think you will continue to do well as you are putting good thought into your purchase. I have a couple of suggestions:
1. Don't Sweat the $100. Get the guitar that you want. Borrow the extra bread if you have to. Over time you will forget about that $100, but you will never stop regretting having the wrong guitar.
2. Get the Ibanez if that's the guitar you like. I once saw a live video of Johnny Copland playing with Stevie Ray Vaughan. Johnny Copland is certainly one of the more respected Blues Artists to have come along, and guess what kind of guitar he was playing... a peavy.. yeah, a friggin' peavy. Not exactly what you imagine a "Real Blues" guitar to be, but it made him happy, so who cares.
3. Don't sweat the amp. Amps come and go in your life. Most people tend to keep the same guitar for a while. So, put your time, money and effort into buying the right guitar. A year from now, you'll have enough $$ saved for a great amp to match it.
Overall - I would say that a Strat or Tele is gonna give you more of a Classic Rock / Blues sound outta the box. But if you like the Ibanez, get it. I think people overlook how some of their favorite players became who they were. Fro instance, Keith Moon, Rock Drumming Icon right? well guess what his biggest influence and passion was... Surf Music. He loved it, couldn't get enough of it. Next time you listen to The Who, you can really hear this. So, somtimes it's an odd mix of taste and styles that creates something new. Maybe you will be the nex great Blues Player who played an Ibanez? Could be a fun new sound.
Good Luck!
Kevin Chisholm - American Guitarist
http://www.american-guitarist.com
http://americanguitarist.typepad.com/
I'm like you,I like the warmer,heavier tones,that is why i own a les paul.
I would go with the ibanez,it is a quality instrument and as you said the price is fairer.Technology today though makes even the crappiest guitar sound good,so it is really just what you prefer.The stratocaster though is probably a better quality instrument.I'm not familiar of their mexican quality standards but It is probably best to go ibanez then use the extra money saved to invest in an effect or 2.
You cant go wrong with a Gibson , they have the best sound for the blues . Fenders sound to dull and the Ibanez sounds to tiny .
I'm gonna agree with Satan Handy about the gibson,
but since you are choosing between the two, I would go with the Ibenez. Better to have the higher quality guitar. *sigh* and fenders used to be so good.
Truth be told though, as good as gibsons still are - they are WAY overpriced these days.