Low budget, but good sounding guitars and amps?

Question

So I've been playing the guitar for about a year. I have a Fender Squier Strat and a 25W Spider Line 6 amp, and to be blunt, they sound like crap. I'm finally starting to get pretty good, but no matter what I play, it sounds muddy, grainy, cheap, or just plain crappy... I bought a BOSS DS-1 pedal to try and mask the sound up, but that only works partly.

Anyway, I'm looking for a better guitar and amp, preferably under $300 (each). I've checked out Epiphones (SGs and Les Pauls specifically), but I've heard that they lose connection within a year or two, so I don't know.

Also, if anyone has any ides to make my current gear some better, or even suggestions for songs 
I can play, please speak up.

BTW, I play mostly bluesy hard rock/metal (GNR, Hendrix, Older Metallica, AC/DC, Black Sabbath/Ozzy, Clapton, Zeppelin etc.), simply that's my favorite type of music to play on the guitar, but I listen to and play lots from basically every rock genre (Punk, Grunge, Post-Grunge, Metal, Metalcore, Alternative, Classic Rock, whatever...)

Thanks.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I usually tell people to buy only the classics and nothing in basswood or agathis, but since you are specifying low budget, here is what I suggest:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Schecter-Guitar-Research-006-Deluxe-Electric-Guitar-518183-i1343895.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Marshall-MG4-Series-MG15FX-15W-1x8-Guitar-Combo-Amp-105182083-i1440389.gc

There, you just spent $348 and have at least decent equipment

Idk what you mean by Epiphones "losing their connection", and I've been a guitar tech for 37 years.  Chances are your friends dont know what they are talking about.

kevin · Answer

Schecter makes some pretty good inexpensive guitars that are versatile enough to play different genres of music. You obviously have to find a guitar that feels good to you first, once you get there you can work on the amp. I know people who swear by Line 6 amps, others are Fender fans, personally I like Marshall. If you do mostly play at home jamming check out the Fender G-Dec amps they are full of built-ins that will keep you rockin for hours. Good Luck

NICI PATRICIDE · Answer

wow, ok i think line 6 is super good stuff, your guitar is also good, its beginner stuff, but it shouldnt sound that bad. i have almost every boss digitech and mxr pedals and amps, aswell as many guitars.point is ya from guitar to guitar they can sound a bit different(type of wood, design) and stuff. your price range to be honest is a challenge, i have a guitar id give you for cheap that im trading for a line 6 pod. Ibanez for the money make the best stuff, they dont like esp,fenderand gibson have epiphone or squire or ltd models, you get what you get.....but guitars are often gold when found used or in a trade type magazine or adds at local music stores.

i could go on but wont bore you to death.

as far as your current stuff i can help you forsure if you give me your settings on the amp, boss pedal and minor things on your guitar itself...no prob..

email me your settings and ill beable to make adjustments, i to play metal and hard rock so it may be a quick fix....one thing someone taught me was to dick around and experiment because sometimes you get great sounds and unique sounds by simply experimenting.

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Low budget, but good sounding guitars and amps?

3 Answers