which gear to get

[crude-kicks]

hi, i have been playing guitar for just over a year now but i practice alot and i am better than a friend who has been playing for nearly 2 1/2 years. I am looking to upgrade my gear as i only have an Encore guitar and a Shine 10w amp, which do you think would be better for me to get; a new amp or a guitar? I am left handed so that complicates things but i had in mind a marshall avt (not sure how powerfull, because i don't want to buy a 50w one then end up buying another, bigger, one in a years time, also looking to start a band so it would need to be big enough for gigs.) For a guitar i was loooking at Fender strats as they have a big left hand range but i am also wary of getting a cheap strat as i am worried that i will be paying for the brand name and not the quality of the guitar. Please any suggestions would be great! Thankyou

[frankus]

Hiya fellow lefty

Amplifier first. 10watts is half as loud as 100watts. If you really must you can mic up the amp to a PA or use a POD straight to the PA. Personally, as someone who likes eeking rather a lot of drive at lower volumes (it gives me more scope).. I reckon 40-50 watts will compete with the most enthusiastic drummer and might offer some nice sounds at levels that won't annoy the neighbours. If you get a louder amp you don't get the nicer sounds until your ears are bleeding - I used to have a 100W Simms Watt

Guitar:

Depending on the money you have to spend I'd recommend the MIJ Strats. The Japanese Strats are as good, if not better than the US Strats. US Strats sell for more money... BUT HANG ON! Wait a minute. Adrian Clark is selling a Tokai Strat on Ebay.. (there's a load of interesting history to Tokai and Fender... Tokai's guitars are amazing, so much so the MIJ Strats are made in the Tokai factory.. the early Tokai's were so good the likes of Andy Summers and Stevie Ray Vaughn downed Fenders to play them)

Here's a link

So top end MIJ Strat or Tokai Strat.. if I bought a new MIJ Strat I'd beef up the pickups and put locking tuners in, and I'd be happy as larry. If I bought the Tokai, I'd leave it be... and coo over it.

Slightly lower down the scale, Vintage Strats seem to be really good value for money and I personally like the Yamaha Pacifica 112L, I reckon a change of pickups and you've got a serious workhorse gigging machine.

I take it you've tried Les Pauls and the like and are resolved to play Strats ... and Marshals or have you tried the Peavey and Laney amps as well?

[imported_albino]

From another Lefty I'll give a +1 to Frankus's comments.

At the lower end of the market I'd definitley look at the
- Yamaha Pacifica or
- Vintage V6 lefty

If you want to spend a bit more you could consider:
- Crafted in Japan Strat - If you shop around you might find a good deal on the top end CIJ stuff like the 68 reissue. (Personally I think the PUPs are great and don't need changing).
- USA Fender Highway 1 strat.

Alternatively there are load of second hand options which could fit your bill if you're not in an immediate hurry.
- Adrian Clark's Tokai would be an excellent buy, but I think prices could get pretty high on that.
- See if you can find a Squier Silver Series or Protone (I sold one a couple of weeks ago and that was a cracking guitar).

click here
THis guy also does a lot of interesting liooking lefty strat-alikes - could be worth a look.

I'd steer clear of MIM strats because although there are good examples about IMHO the Yamaha and Vintage are much better value for money and a lot cheaper. 8)