Well, Shane... I don't know about contests where a guy can "win" a guitar or anything like that, generally contests are promo tye of a thing and it's pretty tough to guarantee a win. Kind of like winning a lottery, really... Very rarely is there a situation where you can "work" towards a new guitar. As for recommendations on a guitar for someone just starting out, I'd say get one with strings on it, and you'll be laughing.
Just out of curiosity, what kind of music do you want to play? Y'know, what do you listen to? do you have a guitar right now? What is it?

More to the point, what would you be willing to do for a new guitar? heh heh I have some used (but still nice) gear I'd part with if you're willing to jump through some hoops, and complete 10 itty bitty little "quests" for me...

Post here if you're interested... (You have one day to reply... I'll put my quest "details" up here so you can see what you're getting yourself into...)

Oh yeah

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Here's the items on your "quest", should you choose to accept... The rules are simple. Each and every item on my quest has to be filled out to the letter. You'll need a webcam. You have one month to make this happen (Starting tomorrow) Now, I have my own reasons for doing this, and I'm not affilliated with guitar.com in any way other than being a user here (Actually, the evil-est one here...) but like I said, I have my reasons... Now, Shane... this applies to you, and only you. If you decide to not do this, I may post something like this again in the future... And yes, I'm an evil prick, I make no apologies... lol

1) 1000 webcred on G.com. I don't care how ya do it, who you need to bribe, but 1000's the magic number. I've noticed that posting a lot of topics on the forums, posting video clips, and doing blogs seems to really hlp bolster the 'ole webcred... Again, however you want to do it, it's up to you. Anyone you can get to help you's cool with me, OK? It just has to make it to 1000. Now, you may have enemies -1'ing you to death here and there, but it won't be me, because I actually WANT you to have the axe...

2) Learn to Play Joe Satriani's "Midnight" post footage of you playing on youtube, and also post the tabs, complete with all of the chord changes in a G.com Blog. It doesn't have to be fast, just complete... (That means the WHOLE THING!) I don't care if you have to play the thing on an acoustic, and you have to convince other members here to help you with tabs, etc. Whatever it takes, dude.

3) In the "Bands and Artists" forum please post 2 threads; one with every video known to mankind pertaining to the Warr Guitar and the Chapman Stick and another thread with every video known to man pertaining to fretless guitar. So, for both of these I expect every google link you can friggin' find in regards to resources that pertain to the aforementioned topics, and as many embedded youtube videos as possible.

4) Paganini's Caprice #5. Learn it, post video footage of you playing it on youtube. Make a g.com blog. It doesn't have to be fast, and you can lean on any resource you can find to learn it, find tabs, etc. It doesn't have to be fast, just complete. Oh, and the intro and outro arpeggios don't have to be included...

5) Create a G.com Blog with everything there is to know about tuning and intonating and setting up an electric guitar. It needs to be long, and there should be pictures. All types of electric, guitars with floyds, fixed bridges, etc. It should be in your own words, long and detailed. Expect to be criticized, and have your post ripped apart by other G.com members (That's not the point, though, just create the Blog...know what I mean?) You may want to go to your local guitar store and ask the guys some questions, maybe get your hands dirty...

6) Bach's Bouree in Eminor for Fingerstyle/classical. Learn it, post video footage of you playing it on youtube. Make a g.com blog. It doesn't have to be fast, and you can lean on any resource you can find to learn it, find tabs, etc.

7) Learn all of your Major Scales: http://www.guitar.com/zombre/blog/c_major_scales__3_notes_per_string
(Post audio clips of you playing them, soundclick or something)
8) Learn All of your Harmonic Minor Scales: http://www.guitar.com/zombre/blog/a_harmonic_minor_scale_diagrams
(Post audio clips of you playing them, soundclick or something)
9) Learn all of your Pentatonic Scales: http://www.guitar.com/zombre/blog/pentatonic_scale_diagrams
(Post audio clips of you playing them, soundclick or something)

10)Learn to play the chord changes for "Autumn Leaves" Learn it, post video footage of you playing it on youtube. Make a g.com blog. It doesn't have to be fast, and you can lean on any resource you can find to learn it, find tabs, etc.

If you choose to accept, good luck, sucka...!

lol @ Zombre....

Hey, if I've done 2, 7, 8, 9, and 10....minus the vids, pics, and sound clips (although I have some new equipment shipping tomorrow that will change the clips part ;) )....what does that entitle me to? I need a new knob for my tubescreamer...


Shane (cool name btw), I would suggest a cheaper instrument, as in less than $500, that's simple. I suggest Ibanez, like maybe an RG321, or Yamaha Pacifica PAC112M. Either one can cover any tone you want, from metal to jazz. They're both cheap but not cheaply made (in comparison to like-priced guitars).

As far as an amp, any amp will do at this point. Fender Frontman amps are the staple beginner amps. If you have the money, I would suggest looking on ebay, especially for the Peavey Classic series amps. You can get a classic 30 or 50 for anywhere from 100-400 bucks usually. There's no "distortion" on these amps per se, but they are great building blocks for your tone, and sound good when you decide to add pedals later.

I hope this helps you out some. Good luck!

lol Scott, that was a freaky outbreak of evilness



PS my bro has that strap on his ltd too!

how about Paganini's Caprice #24 its so much cooler

thats a really cool deal help kill the long summer hours. i wish i had a "quest" lol

Indeed...my quest right now is just to get a job :( All this fine government training in IT (and the much-cooler IT Warfare) and not a job to be had it seems.

After that, I'll take up the sword again!

heh more quests to come, we'll see how this one goes should be cool...