What is the most versatile guitar?

Rocker

My cents worth is to begin to consider the guitar + amp as a single entity.  You can get a very wide range of tones using both as one instrument.

blueskunk

A good semi with coil taps?

Grunfeld

How's about an Ibanez RG.  If I had to have one guitar this would be the type.

Very comfortable ergonomically, not too weighty, and despite being slightly pointy in appearance they're incredibly versatile sonically cos you have the humbuckers and the single coil combinations.  I tend to block off the trems too -- I just prefer hardtails.

And they're not too expensive.

Rox

TTony said:

I'd vote for either a Variax or a Godin XTSA.

The Variax gives you a whole range of guitar sounds, but always feels like the same guitar.  That same feel is either a good or bad thing, depending on your preferences. 

I'm a fan of The B-52's, and Keith Strickland used a Variax for live work for the last few tours.  Funnily enough he only used it because it could do so many sounds and alternate tunings (Ricky Wilson - the original - loved his weird tunings) but misses not having a real pickup.

Rox

Howabout a Peavey Generation EXP Custom?  Lots of pick up options, as well as piezo in there too.  They can be snapped up quite cheap, are really well made:

Lixarto

Somebody said the guitar isn't necessarily versatile, but the player is.

Dull, but probably true.

bazxkr

My EBMM Steve Morse is very versatile for sounds with the combination of HB & single coils. Goes from rock to country...pretty much covers most sounds you could wish to find

Cheers

Baz

Andyjr1515

Something with Seymour Duncan P-rails in - the humbucker setting really does sound like a humbucker and the P90 setting really does sound like a single coil (the rail setting, on the other hand is a bit dubious).

Much better balance of the two sounds than any split coil I've ever installed or used.  

Got some installed in an ESP LTD MH-100QM with original Floyd Rose if you're interested  (but that's a by the by - I stick with the above whatever)

bazxkr

You are right on the Peavey Generation EXP Rox... for the money they are superb and bloody well made... solid as a rock

Only just moved mine on & struggled to get £150 !

Cheers

Baz

Kebabkid

frankus said:

I'd say a Strat with an HLK and a tremel-no gets pretty close ... if you want to get a bit closer get a GK3 pickup on it and a GR55 - it's like a Variax then

I, too was going to suggest a Roland GR-55 but paired with a guitar already having a HSH pickup configuration with coil taps.

crunchman

RichValentine said:

PRS DGT, gets close enough with the tapped humbuckers to most guitar sounds you could need.

This

AuldReekie

ICBM said:

randomhandclaps said:

If the Swiss Army made guitars then it would be one of them.

If the Swiss Army made guitars it would be an Eggle/Levinson Berlin Pro with VSC .

AuldReekie knows exactly what I mean!

Yes ICBM, as you well know my Berlin has a Blade VSC fitted, giving a total of 27 different options via three switches - pick up selector (3 options) x coil tap (3 options) x VSC (3 options) and all the sounds are useable. In addition, you can alter the amount of bass/mid/treble on the VSC..................

p90fool

OP, what guitar do you already have?

grungebob

I'm finding my hs mustang a hugely versatile guitar, covers everything from strat cleans and funk (thanks to the out of phase option) to metal easily. Very light weight and an easy playing guitar. The 24 scale may not work for everyone though.

roundthebend

Rox said:

Howabout a Peavey Generation EXP Custom?  Lots of pick up options, as well as piezo in there too.  They can be snapped up quite cheap, are really well made:

I really like this.

I'm glad this question has inspired such discussion. I'm not really in the market for a new guitar at the moment - I'm going through a phase of trying to reboot my motivation to playing and it's something that came to mind.

If I was buying a guitar, I'd probably only have a budget of £300 max so many of the suggestions here wouldn't work for me. But it's useful to have the thread here for others.

I like Rocker's idea of thinking of the guitar & amp as a single unit. I guess with the right amp and knowledge of how to use the various controls you can get a wide variety of sounds out of your kit. It's something I am aware of and really want to learn, but I guess it's one of those things you have to put time into

Rox

roundthebend said:

Rox said:

Howabout a Peavey Generation EXP Custom?  Lots of pick up options, as well as piezo in there too.  They can be snapped up quite cheap, are really well made:

I really like this.

I'm glad this question has inspired such discussion. I'm not really in the market for a new guitar at the moment - I'm going through a phase of trying to reboot my motivation to playing and it's something that came to mind.

If I was buying a guitar, I'd probably only have a budget of £300 max so many of the suggestions here wouldn't work for me. But it's useful to have the thread here for others.

I like Rocker's idea of thinking of the guitar & amp as a single unit. I guess with the right amp and knowledge of how to use the various controls you can get a wide variety of sounds out of your kit. It's something I am aware of and really want to learn, but I guess it's one of those things you have to put time into

I have just the one amp, a Vox AD30VT, which is brilliant.  Lots of amp sounds, lots of options, but not overly complicated.  I find if I search carefully enough, I can find a setting that suits pretty much every guitar I have.  I was struggling finding the right 'sound' for a Japanese LP Custom I have (a cracker!), but their 80's setting really works nicely.

They replaced the AD series it with the VT30 series (both types have 15w, 30w, 50w and 100w options), I had a VT30 but preferred the AD30VT so sold the VT.  You can pick the AD30's up at very reasonable sub-£100 prices - and the Peavey perhaps somewhere between £100-200.  Easily within your budget for both, and plenty of variation in both bits of equipment.

You're making me wish I hadn't sold mine now! 

DulcetJones

I've posted a pic of this to the old forum with several warnings, anyway, I used this guitar on stage playing everything from Dire Straits to ZZ Top to Ventures to Moody Blues......, how you ask?  Note the Kahler trem(minus wammy bar here), the D'Marzzio dual sound pick ups and the switches between the knobs that allowed me to switch between single and dual coil.  I bought this fairly cheap in the 1970's because a former owner had already altered it beyond vintage value, it is a mid 70's Gibson Les Paul gold top.  I've since sold it on but I miss it some times.

equalsql

Another +1 for a HSS Strat..

Or you could always try a Fret King Danny Bryant..

meltedbuzzbox

Lixarto said:

Somebody said the guitar isn't necessarily versatile, but the player is.

Dull, but probably true.

This all the way.

And who uses all 5 positions on a strat? 

Pyroman

  I have a Schecter Solo Special, with a humbucker in the bridge, and a P90 in the neck.  the 'Bucker is splittable, the '90 is tappable, and it has individual volume and tone controls for each pickup.  VERY versatile set up.  It's got a tune o matic and a stopbar, and sustains for DAYS!

  It was also only $350 new.  ( it was on sale!)

  I cheated, though, and bought a Fender Mustang III.  12 different amp models ( I have a version 1), the ability to tweak just about anything you could want- including speaker and cab sims, and a boatload of well chosen effects on board.  That, and 100 user editable presets to put all your favorite sounds in.   With that Schecter guitar, I have a hard time getting any BAD sounds out of it.

  For home use, for those with widely varying tastes- it's tough to beat.  Sounds very convincing- like a real amp, and not like a digi toy.  Also has an fx loop that can double as a line out, jacks for two footswitches, and enough guts for the occasional gig.  Takes all the pedals I can throw at it like a champ. The current version adds an XLR out, more amps, and more effects.  Blackstar and Roland make some nice modellers, too- I just happen to like the combination of features Fender offered in theirs.

  Anyhow, there's another option for you- a versatile AMP to go with whatever guitar you like best.