Question about buying a guitar...

[future_black_belt]

I'm going to buy a beginner guitar and teach myself. I found an Epiphone Les Paul Jr. Player's Pack on the Guitar Center website that was $100. This guitar had decent reviews and probably about 15% of them were bad. Then I went to a local music store to just check out guitars and prices and I found one that was priced at $170. This was a better guitar with a better amp, actually came with a couple of picks, and had a whammy bar and tuners that were actually on the guitar. Which one should I buy? Also the other store throws in a free lesson.

[DWx]

Just outta interest what was the other guitar?

Personally I think I would go for the thr $170 one. If the amp is better and the actual guitar is better then that should be the main reason for buying it. Don't worry about the whammy bar and plectrums as you can get them fairly cheaply off the internet, there's loads on ebay. $70 more isn't that much if you are going to have the guitar for years anyway.

[lordtariel]

It depends on the other guitar. I'd price out the parts individually and see if you are actually getting a bargain. A lot of times these "packs" cost the same as if you were to buy the guitar and amps separate. You might also want to check out some other places online as well. Another option is to look into a used instrument.

Personally though, I would spend the extra $70 for the better equipment if indeed it is. Learning is so much nicer on a good guitar than a cheap one. Personally, I would even consider applying the extra $70 to the guitar and suffering with a cheap used amp until I could afford one.

[future_black_belt]

It depends on the other guitar. I'd price out the parts individually and see if you are actually getting a bargain. A lot of times these "packs" cost the same as if you were to buy the guitar and amps separate. You might also want to check out some other places online as well. Another option is to look into a used instrument.

Personally though, I would spend the extra $70 for the better equipment if indeed it is. Learning is so much nicer on a good guitar than a cheap one. Personally, I would even consider applying the extra $70 to the guitar and suffering with a cheap used amp until I could afford one.

Well, I looked at the price for the Les Paul Jr. by itself and it was 100$. I can't find the price for the Silvertone though.

[NoBeThere]

There are a number of really decent guitars at the beginner level.

One line that gets really good reviews is the Yamaha Pacifica.

I usually play Fenders myself (stratocaster). Their budget line is called Squier and some of them are pretty good.

I would suggest you go in and handle several guitars, see which one feels right. Put a strap on the guitar and let it hang in front of you. Which one feels right? Also, once you have the brand/style picked out, try several of that same brand & style -- there will be differences.

If I were you I'd put my money on the guitar and get a cheap amp at the pawn shop.

If you do go to the Pawn shop, you can also find cheap guitars there. One undervalued but really good guitar is the Peavey Predator (USA model). You can find them used for about $100.

Lastly, you can research nearly any guitar or amp on the harmony-central.com site. Tons of reviews and information there.