[JuZ]

Hey guys,

In a few weeks I'm going to begin guitar lessons and I was after a bit of advice from my learned brethren, if you'd be so kind. I have myself an acoustic for learning the basics but I'll be pretty keen to get myself something with a bit of juice asap. In fact, my other half wants to buy me an electric guitar for my birthday which is a couple of weeks away.

So, any advice? We're talking absolute newbie here, although I'm a very keen one with pretty strong hard rock/metal leanings. On a budget of around $AUS 500.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Cool, the more guitarplayers, the better. Join the club, brother

Anyway, first of all, I'd like to say, that's it's always better to learn the basics, like chords, strumming, picking, fingerpicking, scales, etc, on an acoustic guitar. Sure, it has less balls, but once you make the leap over to electric guitar, it will be much easier, and your fingers will adjust fluently to an electric guitar.
Having said this, everyone knows, owning a guitar automatically makes you cooler, and since guitarplaying is 75% sound, you'll need a nice sounding guitar and amp.
Some good beginner guitars, which are pretty cheap, but still sound and play okay, are London City guitars. They have strat, PRS and tele models, which all sound pretty nice for their price.
Yamaha Pacifica guitars are pretty cheap and have quite a good sound, especially for beginners.
Some, and I do mean SOME, Fender Squiers are okay, but as with every guitar you want to buy, you'll have to play on them to get the feeling and listen to the sound.
Some people will recommend you Epiphones, but I'm not a big fan of those. Especially when you're learning more and more on your guitar, and want to get more stuff out of your sound, an Epiphone will disappoint you pretty soon. (especially when you hear or play your first Gibson Les Paul customshop or Fender relic/customshop).

As for your first amp.. this is a whole different area. I can't think of many cheap amps to start on. I'd always say, buy a nice 30 watt Fender combo, and start on that. A lot of guitarplayers buy effects pedals and processors when they start playing. This is a not a good idea. I'd recommend everyone to start playing with just your guitar, a cable and your amp. Figure out your pickups, the strings, tone and volume knob, etc. Once you control all your guitar elements, then it could be time for some effects, like delay or a tube-screamer. God... it's really obvious that I'm a teacher, right? ... urgh

Good luck in buying your new axe, and with learning to play guitar. First couple of months are always hell, and people will tell you to 'please, stop playing!', but fuck 'em... Everyone has to start somewhere.
If you have any more questions about buying, learning, repairing your guitar, I'd be happy to try and answer them.
Hopefully this is some useful information.

Not sure if I'll be able to top that essay there haha, but I'd say there are some cheap Ibanez guitars that are quite good for their price too.

Again, some great advice above. I have no idea on exchange rates and availability in australia, but if you do go electric and want a lot of guitar for your money, schecter have asome great buys

Yamaha Pacifica guitars are pretty cheap and have quite a good sound, especially for beginners.

Tis very true, my first electric was a Pacifica. Even though I now have a guitar worth five times more than the Pacifica I still play it often, they're such great guitars! I've never had any problems with it the whole time I've played, lovely things they are.

[JuZ]

Thanks guys! Archetype in particular... I appreciate you taking the time to write all that! I'll start looking into it now.

you could be a fool like me, and get a squire!! I dont care what my friends say, I love it. I decorated it with harry potter stickers!

yeah yamaha pacifics are actually damn good starter guitars, also jackson if you're gonna play metal. Epiphones are meh

Agile guitars are pretty great starter guitars. For the money you pay for them, its really hard to beat.

Epiphones are a bit hit and miss in all honesty, you get the odd good one but you have to really look for it.

From what I hear (from both my friends and people here on the board) Yamaha Pacificas are a solid choice for getting started.

I've never heard a good entry level Jackson though. I'm gonna have to go and look for one now

[JuZ]

Pacificas look like the guitar of choice then. And from what I've seen and heard (trusty youtube never fails), they seem like pretty amazing value for money.

Epiphone, I started out on one of them. A Wilshire.