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I am considering getting an electric Guitar and Amp. My goals is to get something that I can use to practice late at night or early in the a.m. and listen to on headphone, perhaps through the computer audio in to practice with BIAB. I assume there is typically a way to get the sound out to the computer (perhaps headphones out to audio in)
I have never used an electic guitar, I am trying to keep the budget down, just wonder what other user have or suggest.
Any feedback on what to get, how to set it up for uses with computer and BIAB would be appreciated.
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I've heard that the Fender Squire Strat package is pretty good.
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Quote:
I am considering getting an electric Guitar and Amp. My goals is to get something that I can use to practice late at night or early in the a.m. and listen to on headphone, perhaps through the computer audio in to practice with BIAB. I assume there is typically a way to get the sound out to the computer (perhaps headphones out to audio in)
I have never used an electic guitar, I am trying to keep the budget down, just wonder what other user have or suggest.
Any feedback on what to get, how to set it up for uses with computer and BIAB would be appreciated.
My advice would be to buy the guitar and amp separately, as you can get your hands on the guitar and evaluate it by itself.
I got my son a $150 Squier Strat for Christmas several years ago. It was superb; he still has it, and I have used it for some projects myself. My son wanted a low-end B.C. Rich, which was a piece of crap, at the same price for the looks, but even he could tell the difference once he had it in his hands. Take a friend who knows guitars shopping with you and he or she will help you make a good decision.
If I were doing it now, I would take a look at any of these Behringer USB guitar packages. The guitar will plug straight into your PC and the packages include software. I haven't used them myself, but I am a Behry freak and consider them worth at least a look.
As far as the amp, you just want something with, at a minimum, distortion, reverb, a headphone out and CD in. 'Everbody' makes one of these in the 10-15 watt range for not much money. Spend a little more and you'll get more effects. (Power, in watts, is unimportant; if you need more volume, plug it into a PA.) They all have a headphone out; some will have a dedicated line out. Anything in this price range will be noisy, though, perhaps a consideration if you're thinking of recording with it. OTOH, that's almost a given and can be considered to add to the character of the sound. 
If you can spend a little more, consider an emulator such as the Behringer V-Amp or Line 6 Pod. These don't have speakers, but reproduce the sounds of many effects, amplifiers and speaker combinations--a LOT of bang for the buck. I have had my hands on versions of all three and recommend any of the lot. In fact, you might think about the Bass V-Amp. Despite the name, it is highly suited for guitar as well, and if you get a bass later on, you'll be ready for that, too.
HTH,
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Do you play guitar at all? (acoustic?) There are a number of solutions. My solution was an Epiphone Casino, because it is an acoustic guitar as well an electric guitar, so I can practice without an amp if I want. Pure electric choices range from Fender Squier, various Epiphones, some Ibanez models, to the low-end guitars with decent reputations like Agile at Rondo Music http://www.rondomusic.com/ and Xavieres at Guitar Fetish http://store.guitarfetish.com/xaviereguitars.html I had a low-end Kramer/Focus/Faux-Strat guitar that was decent. The build was good but the pickups were a little weak - but it was very inexpensive and pup upgrades are reasonable. But nothing beats going to a music store and putting your hands on the guitar, plugging it in to an amp, turning off all FX except for a little reverb, and listening. Here is a picture of my Epiphone Casino (about $400 used) and my Gibson ES-330 (about $5,000 used). They are very similar looking and sounding. If $400 isn't too steep for your budget, I'd recommend that you go to a music store and try one out.  Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
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As a decent starter guitar, the Behringer usb guitar is not a bad choice for interfacing with the computer.
Everyone that I have talked to that owns a few guitars, seem to agree that the SX or agile guitars from Rondo beat the low end big brands for quality build etc. I pretty much play nothing but copies now when I buy electrics. I have a great Jay Turser Neck Thru Bass, (used on eabay), I have a Jay Turser 335 copy purchased new on ebay. Both are great guitars. I also have an old set neck LP copy by Memphis which is one of my favorites. The only big name I have now is a Peavey 5 string Grind Bass, and my Larrivee accoustic.
If I were to buy an amp on a budget, I'd probably look at a small Behriinger, because they seem to be less noisy. The other would be a Line 6 Spider probably at least a 10 or 12" speaker.
I also have a Korean fender squire pro tone, which is not made any longer, but is a great guitar although more money.
I'd seriously look at the jay tursers and the SX.
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A great little practice amp is the Roland Mini Cube. http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLMICROCUBEIt has 7 amplifier models, reverb, delay, tremelo, chours, phazer, and flanging. It has headphones out that cuts off the main speaker so that you can practice without disturbing others. Street price in the neighborhood of 115 US dollars. Can be plugged into a PA system or the audio interface on your computer. As far as an electric guitar I would take a look at something like the epiphone dot. Its about 400 dollars and has characteritics of both a solid body guitar and a hollow body. I have one and its a nice guitar. I also have an ephiphone Lucille that I like even better which retails for around 700 dollars. Its got a switch on it that can take you from the fatter gibson sound to the thinner telecastor/strat sound. I wouldn't buy any instrument without sitting down and looking it over carefully and playing it. I found that Epiphone in particular has a lot of variation in the quality between instruments of the same model. When I went to the local Guitar Center to buy my Dot, I played 10 representatives of the Dot line, and didn't find 2 that were the same. The one that I ended up buying actually had the adujustable parts of the bridge installed backwards, something I didn't notice in the store but discovered when I got it home and started trying to fine tune the intonation.
Keith
2026 Audiophile Windows 11 RYZEN THREADRIPPER 3960X 4.5GHZ 128 GB RAM 2 Nvidia RTX 3090s, Vegas,Acid,SoundForge,Izotope Production,Melodyne Studio,SONAR,3 Raven Mtis
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Papa Mikie, You are a Canadian - buy a Godin. Go used to keep the price low, if you want, but even new they are a serious bargain. They sound good, play like a dream, are well built, and the quality control is good. The same company makes Seagull, La Patrie, Norman, and Art and Lutherie guitars. The LG model is a fabulous Gibson-style guitar, and the Freeway model has the classic Fender feel and sound. The components are made in a small factory in Quebec and assembled across the border in New Hampshire. Have a look here: lower-priced Godin electric guitars Why buy something from Korea, China, or Japan when you could own a real working man's guitar, made in your own back yard? I play the Godin "Freeway 4", and it is the equal of any bass I've ever played (and I have owned a lot of basses  ). I have owned, and recorded with, two Godin LG's, and actually prefer them to the Gibson SG or Les Paul. Am I making any sense, yet?..... 
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Well,I am biased towards Fender because I have played them for nearly 50 years.
Squier Strat Package comes with a little practise amp,but as always,please,please go to
a store and try it,or get the salesman to demo it for you,it's the only way to see if it
comes anywhere what you need.
Depending what sort of stuff you want to play,an Epiphone Les Paul is not a bad buy,but
it is a bit more expensive,and doesn't come with an amp.
You could always consider a used instrument but to be honest,for the price, a Squier Package
is hard to beat.
Go to the store and have a look,you don't have to buy anything you don't like.
Good hunting
Alan
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I do play guitar. Used to play a lot, and over the last year or two have been getting back at it. One issue is my music area is right central in the house, and playing acoustic in the middle of the night does not make other too happy. For some strange reason they think they should be able to sleep rather than listen to me practice scale, riffs, etc.
I am looking to pactice and figure the sound of an electric un applified will not be too disturbing to their sleep.
I am just looking for suggestions on a starting point.
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A friend bought a Bass From Rondo http://www.rondomusic.com/electricguitar.html , and i am very impressed, for the money it was very well made. I have my eye on one of there Tele clone as we speak. Also i would go with a POD2 amp modeler http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Pod-2.0-Guitar-Multi-Effects-Processor?sku=150448 for an amp, cause it interfaces with your compurer easily, and sound great, shop ebay for a good used one. This combo will make for some great recordings and a super practice team
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Suffice it to say there are as many opinions as there are guitars and amps. Since you do play, you probably have an idea of what you like. Couple of buddies have fender custom shop teles, neck thru, b-bender set ups etc.. They are a complete overkill for me considering how well I play. about $6000.00 or so each.
Its all about what you want, need and or can afford. I have a kick around accoustic that isn't worth $100.00, but a good setup, and some fret dressing, makes a world of difference. Doesn't sound as good as my larrivee, but if it gets banged up it's no great loss.
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Quote:
A friend bought a Bass From Rondo http://www.rondomusic.com/electricguitar.html , and i am very impressed, for the money it was very well made.
Quite correct.
The SX model guitars from Rondo are excellent values.
I own three of them (he said sheepishly).
And Kurt is an easy guy to deal with if necessary.
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You really can't go wrong with guitars and basses from Rondo music. I have a bass from them (copy of a 62 custom Precision bass) and a solid cedar top classical guitar from them.
Aim for either the SX or Agile brand.
Regarding the amp/interface/etc. I'll second the Behringer V-Amp - but I recommend the Bass V-Amp, even for guitar players. It has both good guitar amp and bass guitar amp simulation.
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Quote:
I am looking to pactice and figure the sound of an electric un applified will not be too disturbing to their sleep.
I am just looking for suggestions on a starting point.
If you're looking to practice un-amplified, you'll want a hollow-body of some sort. Notes was right on suggesting a Casino, or you could go with the popular (and really quite nice) Ibanez Artcore line.
This may sound obvious, but it bears repeating: Get the best you can afford. If I've learned one thing over the years of futzing around buying and selling guitars, it's this. People love to say that cheapies are as good as higher end guitars, but in the vast majority of cases this is incorrect. I'm not suggesting you go and get a custom shop Gibson (though they are wonderful  ), but I _am_ suggesting that you don't just get a Behringer USB guitar and be done with it. Get something that you will be proud to own five years down the line.
The flip-side of getting something that's good is that you can actually use it to perform live or record in the future, if you like.
As for amplifiers, it really depends on your needs. If you're looking for a little practice solution with headphones, you might not even need an amp - the purist in me hates to say it, but you may want to go for a POD or something of the sort... Or if you'd like to go _really_ simple, VOX makes a line of headphone amps that literally plug into your guitar (they are tiny palm sized units) which might be just right for practice.
If you have any other guitar questions, let me know Good luck!
----- Do you love the Floyd as much as I do? If so, click away the moments that make up the dull day: www.canadianpinkfloyd.com
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Well, a lot of good suggestions here. I do recommend Rondo Music, as they have a high value-per-buck on their products, pretty quick shipping and good customer service. I would also like to mention Guitarfetish as another oufit that sells extremely nice products at a very reasonable price and has great customer service. I've never had to wait more than 24 hours for an email reply to any questions from Guitarfetish. I do a lot of business with them because I have a sideline building and customizing electric guitars, and they have some top quality parts at great prices.
The Behringer adapter is a neat item for playing through your computer. If you need an amp, decide on what tone you want and how much power. Remember that tone and power are related, so don't expect a lot of gutsy tone from a six inch speaker. Also, tube amps are kinda expensive, but a lot of us guitar guys really like the warmth and smooth overdrive that a tube amp offers. Just go play some guitars and plug them into some amps at your local music store. Then order online...LOL
Notes Norton...sweet axes! How I love those big,nasty dog ear P-90's!! I like to see someone that appreciates fine instruments and takes care of them. I do a lot of custom changes and repairs, and it breaks my heart sometimes when I see a fine instrument that is in neglected, dispicable condition. Good for you!
Fire, the wheel, and the I IV V -- foundations of civilization.
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Quote:
Well, a lot of good suggestions here. I do recommend Rondo Music, as they have a high value-per-buck on their products, pretty quick shipping and good customer service. I would also like to mention Guitarfetish as another oufit that sells extremely nice products at a very reasonable price and has great customer service. I've never had to wait more than 24 hours for an email reply to any questions from Guitarfetish. I do a lot of business with them because I have a sideline building and customizing electric guitars, and they have some top quality parts at great prices.
This is great info too - everyone loves Rondo. The only downside is that you can't actually try the guitar out first. It's vital that you do so if you don't have other electrics around to help you approximate what you're buying. As well, you really shouldn't underestimate your ability to buy used guitars locally and get smashing deals. Craigslist is your friend.
----- Do you love the Floyd as much as I do? If so, click away the moments that make up the dull day: www.canadianpinkfloyd.com
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OK, once you've selected your new (or used) Godin , think Digitech. My RP12 was made in Utah with software developed right here in Victoria BC, but their lower priced models are now made in China. If you you don't want to shell out the 600 clams for a North American made Digitech, you can consider their RP150. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=megFiVykScAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKCz1YH3YcQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQUcEAszJdY&feature=relatedhttp://www.digitech.com/products/Multi-Effects/RP150.phpIt's an effects processor, a headphone amp, a pre-amp for recording, and has drums on board to help you practice. And it sounds very good. Plug it into a small stereo or boombox, and you have yourself premium stereo sound at a very low volume. Given your situation, may I suggest a solid body instrument? This will be whisper quiet when practicing acoustically, and you can reinforce the sound with headphones or a small amp according to your volume requirements of the moment. Solid body guitars, particularly the ones modeled after the Fender Strat, are the most comfortable to play, and take less space to store.
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I second the RP150 for a budget minded guitarist looking for a large variety of good sound.
Having compared it to a LOT of other units I am still happy with it.. and I compared to some higher priced units before deciding..
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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I have the old RP 200 and have never found more than a few useable sounds. But i hear the newer units are a bit better.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Quote:
<...>Notes Norton...sweet axes! How I love those big,nasty dog ear P-90's!! I like to see someone that appreciates fine instruments and takes care of them. I do a lot of custom changes and repairs, and it breaks my heart sometimes when I see a fine instrument that is in neglected, dispicable condition. Good for you!
Thanks.
IMHO the P90 pickup is the best sounding pickup ever made. I have an ESP with humbuckers and I used to have a Kramer/Focus/Faux-Strat and to me the P90 sounds better than either. Of course, that is a matter of personal taste.
I use the Casino on stage and play the Gibson at home. Since I play sax, guitar, wind synth, flute, percussion controller, vocals and sometimes keyboards on stage, and I sometimes have to switch instruments quickly, I don't want to take a chance on putting a major ding in the Gibson, it's become a collector's item.
And besides for having beautiful amplified tone, I can practice them without an amp, and without disturbing anyone. My wife, Leilani understands and also uses the Gibson to practice at home, when we practice together, we'll bring out both of them rather than plug in her Parker.
BTW, I have tried out an Artcore. They are nice guitars, noticeably heavier than the Casino, the neck is a little bigger, and the ones I tried had humbuckers - - again whether you want hubuckers or single-coils is a matter of taste. IMHO the trade off for humbuckers is to eliminate the slight hum you distort the tone. I can distort the tone of my P90s with FX, but there is nothing you can do to clean up the tone of the humbucker.
Back on topic.
I too have heard nothing but good things about the Rondo Music guitars - Agile and SX. I've never owned one though. But in all the guitar forums I visit, I've never heard anything bad about them. You will probably need to bring almost any mail-order guitar to a luthier or guitar tech to have them check the neck, action and other things that can go wrong in the UPS or FedEx truck unless you are experienced at that yourself. A good setup can make a world of difference in how the guitar plays.
I have a Zoom G1X, FX/Direct Box/Amp Simulator pedal. It does a decent emulation of a Twin Reverb and other amps. If you have a home entertainment system with an aux input, you should be able to use it as your amp with the pedal and save the expense of a practice amp. Also, my partner Leilani bought a little earbud that works on a battery that allows you to hear the guitar amplified in the earbud. However, since I got the Casino and we now have 2 acoustic/electric guitars, she hasn't used it. Sorry, I don't know the name or brand, there are no markings on the device.
Notes
Last edited by Notes Norton; 04/08/09 06:41 AM.
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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