Most versatile guitar for pub rock covers band?

HAL9000

PC_Dave said:

Jalapeno said:

Yamaha 611 would be very versatile, and not irreplaceable should you decide to belt the bassist/singer with it

That is exactly my thought process. They don't seem to come up s/h too often.

Wasn't sure whether to look at the 611 with the P90, or the 612 SSH...

I own a 611 and am well pleased with it. Covers a lot of bases and has a noticeably fuller fatter sound than my Strat. (Strat is still my go-to though.)

Here's my review...

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/150669/yamaha-pacifica-611hfm#latest

proggy

How can you front a classic rock band and have a hatred for Strats! Don't get it.

I used to be in a band where the drummer hated the sound of my Rickenbacker, every rehearsal session he made a point of mentioning he didn't like the tone of the bass in certain songs, but the rest of the band seemed happy enough with it. After being in the band for a few months I bought a Fender Jazz bass and I told the drummer about it - and just to piss him off I never once brought it to a rehearsal or a gig, just carried on with the Ric.

PhilKing

Get a Flying V just to piss him off.  It will actually cover most of the songs you have there, and even Hendrix played one!

Seriously though, if you are looking at tele's, then thbe the most versatile: https://reverb.com/item/6426624-squier-vintage-modified-telecaster-ssh-olympic-white-preowned

ToneControl

Fender VG strat

newi123

I play that kind of stuff in my band and usually go for a HSS strat, which I`m most comfortable with.

Played with the same band and the same set and taken a tele (roadworn with a neck humbucker in my case) and done the whole gig on the tele bridge single coil. Sounds different but works just aswell with slight tweaking of amp and pedals. 

Enjoy!

Rich210

This is what you want mate, maybe too straty though. HH with split coil. Great build quality, american made and equal to a fender custom. It'll go for less that £600. Easily worth a shout .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEAUTIFUL-G-L-LEGACY-STRATOCASTER-2009-USA-2HB-HH-AND-G-L-CASE/183991816576?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3Dc1332b8c636346b4a92f295121203d66%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D183993771101%26itm%3D183991816576%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A0cde9b38-ee8f-11e9-ad22-74dbd180c839%7Cparentrq%3Acaacae0716d0a99c13ad03c9ffdf2f43%7Ciid%3A1

Jimbro66

Fender Player Series HH Tele. Nice to play and coil tapped 'buckers to approximate the Tele SS sound if required. Strat-style belly cut on the back. Really good value for around £500.

Rich210

I just got a G&L Doheny V12 which is a swiss army knife, and gorgeous. series, parallel and single coil on neck and bridge. 

munckee

I sold this to Andy, its got great quality bits and is versatile for this sort of thing.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/164384/fs-ft-partscaster-telecaster-usa-body-price-drop-500#latest

PC_Dave

munckee said:

I sold this to Andy, its got great quality bits and is versatile for this sort of thing.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/164384/fs-ft-partscaster-telecaster-usa-body-price-drop-500#latest

That does look good.....! What's the humbucker like? I've been spoiled by the Thornbuckers.....

p90fool

These are awesome, if my house burned down I'd just buy one to get back on the road. 

Ibanez AR420-VLS Violin Sunburst https://g.co/kgs/P3QjDQ

designerseye88

As it's probably already been said. If the bass player is dictating what guitar you use then I can't see it being much fun at all. I often play my strat in the covers band im in and it's great. 

Sassafras

I can understand what the bassist means. I mean we all remember how rubbish Hendrix sounded in a 3 piece band with his puny, weak arse Stratocaster.

PC_Dave

designerseye88 said:

As it's probably already been said. If the bass player is dictating what guitar you use then I can't see it being much fun at all. I often play my strat in the covers band im in and it's great. 

Yep, and as i've said, it's a stepping stone... 

Jalapeno

I agreed with the Yamaha 611 idea as it was a means to an end without spending silly money (personally I get the HB/P90 version).

But any of the £500 or so suggestions would be good alternatives.

Ibanez RG/S5/AS (AS73 for semiacoustic goodness)

PRS SE (singlecut or ordinary)

Tele

Jaguar/Jazzmaster/Offset Tele

Maynehead

If it's just the fact that he wants humbucker tones, you can replace your strat bridge pickup with a hot rails, and everyone's happy.

munckee

PC_Dave said:

munckee said:

I sold this to Andy, its got great quality bits and is versatile for this sort of thing.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/164384/fs-ft-partscaster-telecaster-usa-body-price-drop-500#latest

That does look good.....! What's the humbucker like? I've been spoiled by the Thornbuckers.....

I had a filtertron in it before the cheeky bleeder changed for a humbucker. I would have gone HB but I have a 335 with SD Vintage Blues in which satisfies my HB needs. 

skullfunkerry

PC_Dave said:

skullfunkerry said:

PC_Dave said:

Bowks said:

Charvel DK24 should be good for this gig.

Looking.....

Out of sheer bloody-mindedness I'd be looking for a San Dimas or SoCal style 1, which are basically hot-rodded Strats. When he complained, I'd point at the headstock and say "But it's not a Strat"

Yeah, that was my thoughts. I can see where he is coming from - it's a 3 piece band and he wants the guitar to sound as big as possible.

I don't like 24 fret guitars though....

The San Dimas and SoCal are only 22 fret. It's the new DK range that have 24 frets

andy_k

After I saw Bonamassa playing his nocaster, which did everything, I built a replica, so it is basically the same thing as Keefs, or Andy Summers custom, not much you cant do with that setup. For my own (punk) gig I use a walnut bodied esquire, with a dimarzio tonezone. I think it looks pretty cool, black with white pickguard, maple neck and single pickup, single knob, no tone, very simple but I wouldn't hesitate to use it in self defence and it can do all sorts of metal / hard rock sounds, not really tele like at all.
Probably cost about £350 to put together, and theres a guy selling a few right now at that price on here, all well worth a punt.

sweepy

Ibanez Jem, a proper Swiss Army knife of a guitar