Starter Packages

Want to buy a starter package? Well I know you can buy a starter guitar package for $200-$300. But hold on a minute, you don't get much of a guitar for $200, let alone guitar, amp, strap, lead, stand, etc.

I also believe that starter kits can cause more harm than good. You may be buying the package in the hope that the soon-to-be guitarist will learn, but sometimes they're badly set-up and it's almost impossible for the guitarist to get a sound anything like their heroes. A bad experience with shoddy kit can put learners off playing the instrument altogether. I've always advised people against buying the cheapest guitar they can find. Like most things in life, the cheapest deal isn't necessarily the best.

Guitarists want to change their guitars as soon as they've reached the limits of what the guitar can do. Similarly for the amplifier. For a guitarist starting from no knowledge, they'll outgrow a starter package within 6 months, maybe sooner if they practice hard.

The idea behind these suggestions is to stop having to buy several times. Instead of buying the typical starter package, then upgrade the amp, upgrade the guitar and so on, these suggested packages should last a few years. In fact, the guitars and amps suggested here will be sufficient for any guitarist, no matter how experienced, even if only as backups or recording kit after they've bought more expensive gear later on.

So yes, these packages are more expensive than traditional starter guitar packs, but there is a lot more value in them.

Each of these packages will need the following accessories, whichever package. There are more details at the bottom of the page:

• Strap
• Instrument Cable
• Picks
• Tuner
• Guitar Stand

Package Suggestion 1 - Cheapest

The most basic electric guitar from Yamaha is the EG series currently featuring in their bundled starter packs. Working up the model range from there is the Pacifica 012. One step above that is the PAC112J featured here. It's a better guitar, admittedly not a full US Fender Stratocaster but it's a great starter guitar and will work well as a backup guitar later on as the guitarist improves. The amp is a Peavey Valveking, it's a budget tube amp with a good range of tone. Hands down it will sound better than the solid-state amps that come with starter packs.

1. Yamaha PAC112J Electric Guitar Red MetallicFeatures a solid alder body and maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, making it a guitar that sounds great and is easy to play. Single-coil pickups in the neck and center position combine with a bridge humbucker to give you a vast array of tonal possibilities. Vintage-style chrome tremolo, die-cast chrome tuners, and white pickguard.
2. Peavey ValveKing Royal 8 5W 1x8 Tube Combo Amp BlackThe ValveKing Royal 8 is a true Class A guitar amplifier designed to give players the punchy dynamics and tones that inspired rock 'n' roll's greatest riffs. Perfect for rehearsing, the Royal 8 combo amp features the simple interface of a single tone control, dual inputs, and master volume and gain controls that can be adjusted for either class A "breakup" power amp tones achieved by reducing the gain and increasing the master volume, or preamp distortion, which you can access by reducing the master volume and cranking the gain. The Royal 8 amplifier's single-channel design emphasizes the dynamic relationship of the power amp components to produce volume and headroom that belies its small size and wattage.

Package Suggestion 2 - Best Tone and Most Fun

This is my favourite selection. It's a great little package featuring a brilliant small amp and the guitar's very playable too. The Blackstart HT-5 is one of the best small, low-powered amps on the market today. It's fun to play and easy to get a great sound out of. It is the most expensive package suggestion, but it is also the one that will last longest. No matter how experienced the guitarist, these items will have a place in their kit.

1. Blackstar HT Series HT-5 5W 1x10 Tube Guitar Combo Amp BlackThe Blackstar HT-5C is a 1x10" combo amp ideal for studio work or practice, packing all the great tone and innovative features of the award-winning HT tube pedals into a 2-channel, footswitchable tube amp format. The patent-applied-for ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) circuit gives you infinite adjustment over the characteristics of the tone control network and takes your tone from the USA to the UK and any where in between. So now you can effectively design your own tone and finally find "that sound in your head."In making the Blackstar HT-5 amplifier ideally suited to home and studio use, the aim was to develop a tube amp that sounded full and toneful even at the lowest volume level. With this in mind Blackstar designed a brand-new tube power amplifier topology. The HT-5C power amplifier is a low-powered, push-pull design which producing the crunch and breakup characteristics of a traditional 100W output stage but at a much lower volume via its 12BH7 dual-triode in push-pull configuration producing 5 watts output, which is rich in tube harmonics and compression.The HT-5 guitar combo amp also has a fully specified speaker-emulated output, further enhancing its studio credentials and allowing any guitarist to get amazing tube tone straight to tape or disk, or through headphones. It also features the unique 4x12/1x12 voicing switch, allowing you to change the tonal characteristics of the emulated signal between 2 emulated cabinet types.Add to this an effects loop with switchable level, along with 16-ohm and 8-ohm speaker outputs allowing you to run the guitar amp into an external speaker cabinet of your choice, and you have everything you need for recording or practicing.
2. G&L Legacy Electric Guitar BlueburstThe Tribute Legacy Guitar by G&L features an alder body, 3 G&L vintage-style Alnico V single-coil pickups, a hard rock-maple neck with a maple fretboard, 18:1 sealed-back tuners, dual-fulcrum vibrato, 5-way selector switch, volume, chrome hardware, and G&L's PTB (passive treble/bass) tone system.

Package Suggestion 3

1. Blackheart BH5H and BH112 Little Giant Half StackBlackheart BH5H Little Giant 5W Tube Guitar Amp Head This is a truly classic boutique design amplifier delivered in a robust, stylish package. With a switchable pentode/triode selector and 3-band EQ controls, you get the only amp in its class to deliver true tonal range from instantaneous punch to deliciously greasy overdrive and with precise control over output volume.Every feature of the Blackheart Little Giant 5W 120V Tube Guitar Amp Head represents zealous dedication to true quality in tone, looks and ruggedness. Under its sexy exterior you'll find a 16 gauge steel chassis, 1/2" corner radiuses and meticulous tolex work insuring years of reliable performance. Powered by an EL84 and voiced through a 12AX7 preamp tube.Blackheart BH112 1X12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet Built around a 12" Blackheart by Eminence speaker in an 11-ply, classically joined, void-free plywood cabinet, the Blackheart BH112 1x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet makes a perfect pairing for the Blackheart Little Giant 5, or use it to maximize the tone of any amp in your arsenal.From its incredibly well-crafted construction to its surprisingly clean tolex work, this speaker cab is a great value in a portable, powerful, and boutique quality extension cabinet. The closed back tuned design and Blackheart by Eminence speaker are the fruit of extensive research involving Crate and Eminence and the result is a very tight and responsive cabinet. All of the 112's cabinet joinery is based on classic, proven design for tone and roadworthiness.
2. Dean ML Electric Guitar with Matching Headstock Metallic RedThe Dean ML with Matching Headstock features a maple, C-shape neck and a rosewood fretboard. A string-thru bridge keeps your tone alive throughout the guitar's entire body. 22 fast frets facilitate wicked, shredding solos and lightning quick chord changes. 2 humbuckers with 3-way switching, volume and tone control keep things simple, yet tonally flexible. Being a Dean, the ML Electric Guitar looks as good as it sounds. The large, famous Dean headstock complements the ML body, a look enhanced by the matching finish.

Package Suggestion 4

1. ESP LTD EC-100QM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black CherryThe ESP LTD EC-100QM Electric Guitar's eye-popping figured top and matching headstock veneer plus a model number inlay at the 12th fret and black hardware make this one a real looker. The basswood body and maple neck with 24-fret rosewood fingerboard provide great resonance to help the ESP LH-150 humbuckers crank out rich, lengthy sustain.
2. Epiphone Valve Junior Hot Rod 5W Guitar Amp Head Black/RedThe Epiphone Valve Junior Hot Rod Head was created due in part to the worldwide cry for more features on the wildly popular Valve Junior head. With added standby, master volume, gain and reverb, this 5-watt monster will deliver the goods. In addition Epiphone added a dummy load reverb / preamp output on the rear panel. This turns the unit into a very versatile 5-watt stand alone reverb tank or enables the preamp to drive the front end of another amp.
3. Epiphone Valve Junior 1x12 Extension CabFeaturing birch plywood construction, superior audio design, and cool retro looks, the Epiphone Valve Junior Extension Cab is the perfect match for Epiphone's Valve Junior Head. The cab is equipped with a custom designed, 16 ohm, 12" Eminence Lady Luck Speaker rated for 70 watts RMS.

Accessories

Strap - Go for a basic leather strap. You can buy straps featuring skulls, crime scene, hearts and many other patterns if you wish, but a plain black leather strap will last just as long:

• Levy's Leather Adjustable Guitar StrapFully adjustable from 44"-53". 2-1/2" wide genuine top-grain leather with decorative double stitch and a neutral back to avoid color bleed. Has buttonholes and ties for an acoustic guitar.

Cable - Again, we'll just go for a basic cable. This will avoid the typical curly, coiled cable that comes in starter packs.

• Musician's Gear Standard 1/4" Straight Instrument Cable Black 20 FootBraided copper shielding for great hum reduction, heavy-duty heatshrunk tubing for strain relief, and oxygen-free copper wire add up to an incredibly quiet and reliable cable. Durable gold-tipped metal plugs make a clean connection every time.

Picks - Again, go for basic picks. Best to avoid really thick or really think and floppy.

• D'Andrea 351 Delrex Picks in Tin Container .88MMThese Delrex guitar picks feature a durable, precision die cut Delrin formula plastic. Tumbled and finished with a flat matte surface for grip.

Tuner - As for the above accessories, we're going to go for the most basic tuner that does the job well. You could go for a tuner pedal or one with a better display, but this is just a basic model.

• Korg GA-1 Guitar and Bass TunerWith a size similar to an audiocassette case, the Korg GA-1 guitar and bass tuner features a distinguished design in a pocket-sized package. Thanks to the GA-1's 1/4" input, you can plug right in. The Korg tuner's large display window also offers greater visibility than many tuners on the market. The display also includes an LCD needle-style meter, as well as red and green LEDs for utmost accurate tuning. The auto power off function saves the battery, even if you forget to turn off the tuner.

Stand - Need a simple stand, preferably one that holds at the neck only.

• On-Stage Stands GS-7155 Hang-it Single Guitar StandThe single version of the On Stage Hang-It! is height adjustable designed to hang most standard guitars by their headstock. The tripod base provides stability and folds for guitarists on the go. Features Velveteen rubber on all contact surfaces.