I started learning how to play guitar on November 11, 2021. I love it! This is the equipment I use.
My Gear
This is my Schecter PT Fastback IIB, named L1FR. It stands for Level 1 Fishing Rod. Whenever I sit down to play, it is like fishing for a song. Sometimes nothing will bite, but you still gotta cast a line to try! I also love it to pieces and will never part with it, so it's a "Lifer"!.
When I started doing research for what guitar I wanted to get, I created a list of things that were important to me. Firstly, I knew I wanted a telecaster or a T-style. There's something about the shape of a single cut guitar that just looks really appealing to me. The rounded top seems friendly and chill, I guess, which is fitting for the kind of music I listen to and want to play and create. I also think that a bolt-on neck is more practical than a set neck, in case of disaster. Finally, a lot of my inspirations favor the Telecaster, especially Jonny Buckland of Coldplay, who is my favorite!
Secondly, it needed to be versatile. I was debating between a tele deluxe or a tele custom. The deluxe is closer to the thinline that Jonny's signature guitar, but the deluxe offered a single coil in the bridge, which in all the demos I had heard sounded the nicest. But then I learned about the coil split feature on some guitars, and instantly knew that's what I wanted- the best of both worlds!
Third, it just had to look cool. This is kind of an extension of the first point, but finish matters a lot in the vibe of the guitar. I'm really into burgundy and deep reds right now, so that was my target, but I was open here. I knew I didn't want a butterscotch, black, or sunburst though. Those colors seem too old-fashioned to me. I wanted something different that I could call my own.
Fourth, it needed to be within my budget. I really didn't want to spend more than $1000 on everything I needed, including amp and accessories. While I was excited to start learning and always advocate for investing in tools, I also had to stay within my means and be practical. That said, I didn't want something in the lowest price bracket either. All my research suggested that in the $300-$700 range, every dollar translates to tremendous increases in quality. It was a matter of finding a good sweet spot.
Fifth, I wanted a whammy bar of some kind. This was gonna be tough, because telecasters typically aren't equipped with them. String-through bodies are by far the most common, so I assumed I would have to give this up. But then I saw the PT Fastback IIB in an article about telecaster alternatives, and my jaw dropped! It checked every single box, and had a super cool Bigsby trem! This was exactly what I was hoping for!
L1FR always sits on its stand in the corner of my eye and every time I pick it up it puts a smile on my face. I know a lot of people in the guitar community suffer from G.A.S. and are always looking for the next piece of gear, but in all my searching before and after, I've never seen a guitar that appeals to me more than this one. It feels like it was custom designed for me! I'm gonna play the crap out of it and make it my own. It's already gotten a few minor scratches on the finish but that's part of the natural relicing process. Though I would never get a guitar pre-reliced, the idea of naturally wearing in my own over the years makes me happy. There's a lot of PT Fastback IIBs out there, but this one is mine! I love how many different tones I can get out of it, even on the same amp settings. Speaking of amps...
My amp right now is a Positive Grid Spark 40. Its versatility is incredible! I like the ability to simulate a range of amps and pedals in a budget package. It's also got a great app experience that helps learn songs and discover new tones! It even doubles as an audio interface so I can record directly to my computer without having to mic it up and deal with background noise. It's been an excellent learning partner and I highly recommend it to beginners, though it does lack an effects loop and is still a relatively small speaker. However, eventually when I upgrade and get a nice main amp, this one will always remain as a great travel or practice amp.
My most recent acquisition is this Ditto X4 Looper Pedal... and surprise surprise, I also love it! I wanted something with two separate tracks, and the features on the DX4 can't be beat for its price bracket. Picked it up off ebay in mint condition and saved around $100. It arrived in-box as if it had never been touched. Good deal! Looping helps make practice fun, and live looping always inspires me whenever I see it in action. My style is heavily influenced by video game BGMs which are built on looping melodies, and I continue to practice the art of making a great loop. It's also handy for dialing in a tone on my Spark, since it frees up my hands and can play the same passage over and over.
My current favorite picks are Dunlop 1mm Nylon Standards. I like how thick they are for sharp attack on notes. I also appreciate the texture on the sides, since I hold my picks with a three-fingered grip for more control. I got a few variety packs when I first started, and I always pick up new ones to try, but these have been my favorite so far. It's also nice that they match the red and black aesthetic that I have going on with my gear, hahah!
Other stuff I use:
- Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (10s) strings
- Fender tweed cables
- Dunlop Formula 65 cleaning supplies
- My fingers!