Guitarists, I need your advice!

[Bovineoverlord]

1. I'm planning on buying an electric guitar ( I only have an acoustic ) and I know nothing about amps. What is a good, yet affordable amp for a beginner?

2. I've noticed in the past couple days that whenever I play, my left hand cramps up (I play right-handed)
Is this normal? How do I remedy this/ make it stop?

[mythicaljake]

At 8/31/08 02:24 PM, Bovineoverlord wrote: 1. I'm planning on buying an electric guitar ( I only have an acoustic ) and I know nothing about amps. What is a good, yet affordable amp for a beginner?

You don't need anything fancy whilst you're still learning. You can probably get a practice amp with your guitar as a starter kit... Remember to buy it at a store and not on the net though, that way you can upgrade when you want new equipment and you can bring your guitar/amp in at any time if they break.

2. I've noticed in the past couple days that whenever I play, my left hand cramps up (I play right-handed)
Is this normal? How do I remedy this/ make it stop?

With practice.
Keep persevering, your hands will get used to playing after a week or two.

[TheTrooper5]

At 8/31/08 02:24 PM, Bovineoverlord wrote: 1. I'm planning on buying an electric guitar ( I only have an acoustic ) and I know nothing about amps. What is a good, yet affordable amp for a beginner?

Roland 15 watt is what i got and it was really good for me.

2. I've noticed in the past couple days that whenever I play, my left hand cramps up (I play right-handed)
Is this normal? How do I remedy this/ make it stop?

Keep playing, in time it'll stop.

[CloudConnected]

First of all, go out and get yourself 3 kegs of beer, don't ask why.

Second of all, it is an absolute NEED to get a marshall stack, unless it's over 16k, it's worthless. There's no use getting anything that won't blast your neighbors to Africa.

Now it's time to get your axe, no fucking shitty Yamaha guitars here; You need a REAL axe.

Get this motherfucker: Not for the weak.

This motherfucking guitar is so extreme that some douche paid $950,000 USD in 2004 for it.

After you've gotten your shit, start a band and find a gig. When you start playing, throw that shit around, get some fuel and dump it over everything, call Gene Simmons there and tell him to breath fire over that shit, and then triumph over being the mightiest of all the guitarists in the world.

[xports]

At 8/31/08 02:24 PM, Bovineoverlord wrote: 1. I'm planning on buying an electric guitar ( I only have an acoustic ) and I know nothing about amps. : What is a good, yet affordable amp for a beginner?

It depends on what kind of guitar you end up getting.

2. I've noticed in the past couple days that whenever I play, my left hand cramps up (I play right-handed)
Is this normal? How do I remedy this/ make it stop?

you can find some good finger exercises online. i would link you to some, but ill just let you go get em.

[fractureboy]

At 8/31/08 02:24 PM, Bovineoverlord wrote: 1. I'm planning on buying an electric guitar ( I only have an acoustic ) and I know nothing about amps. What is a good, yet affordable amp for a beginner?

Well I've got a Vox Valvetronix 50, but there's really affordable practice amps

2. I've noticed in the past couple days that whenever I play, my left hand cramps up (I play right-handed)
Is this normal? How do I remedy this/ make it stop?

And that always happened to me, still does every now and then, but it'll pass just don't overplay, especially if it really starts hurting

[Wyattfilms]

At 8/31/08 02:24 PM, Bovineoverlord wrote: 1. I'm planning on buying an electric guitar ( I only have an acoustic ) and I know nothing about amps. What is a good, yet affordable amp for a beginner?

2. I've noticed in the past couple days that whenever I play, my left hand cramps up (I play right-handed)
Is this normal? How do I remedy this/ make it stop?

Guy, In my experiance look for anything atleast with a good clean channel.

Don't worry 100% on distortion on an amp, If you have a good clean then you can play pretty notes and choruds, and with a good clean channel you can always buy a distortion pedal of your choice later on.

if you have a bad clean channel then your distortion will sound horrible no mater what.

I use one i got from radio shack (burswood gx) its not bad, i can get great sound out of it, that and its not a problem moveing it around.

[Dry-Ice]

Honestly, you don't need to worry about what's a good amp, you just need to get a starter kit and practice for a few years before you need a good amp.

Basically, go to the guitar shop and ask someone to show you the starter packs. Buy one and start playing.

[pizza4ever]

any simple 10 watt amp is fine. they may not look like it, but they can get pretty loud.

[Bovineoverlord]

At 8/31/08 03:00 PM, KevnSevn wrote:

And to get it where your hands do not cramp up when you play, do a couple scales everyday for about 30 minutes. After about a month or two of doing that, your hands shouldn't hurt when you play (it will also make you a better player).

I don't know what a scale is.

[TheSilverGuitar]

At 8/31/08 02:24 PM, Bovineoverlord wrote: 1. I'm planning on buying an electric guitar ( I only have an acoustic ) and I know nothing about amps. What is a good, yet affordable amp for a beginner?

Line 6 Spider III (picture below). However, this is a digital amp, and I prefer analog

2. I've noticed in the past couple days that whenever I play, my left hand cramps up (I play right-handed)
Is this normal? How do I remedy this/ make it stop?

Totally normal. I've been playing for a good two years; it still happens to me. Just massage it a little.

[Scary-Kids]

my first guitar came in a pack with a fender amp..and i still use that amp today...but a better guitar lol
just buy a guitar pack they go from like 400-700 dollars

[TheSilverGuitar]

At 8/31/08 06:20 PM, Bovineoverlord wrote: I don't know what a scale is.

Just notes that go through an octave and start and end on a certain note.

[Dromedary]

I had a Squire, As my first amp. It was good to learn with.

[CapnCrunchDaPimp]

At 8/31/08 02:24 PM, Bovineoverlord wrote: 1. I'm planning on buying an electric guitar ( I only have an acoustic ) and I know nothing about amps. What is a good, yet affordable amp for a beginner?

Try to find some cheap ones locally. I got a Peavy Deuce 2112 tube amp from this guy for $50 (an incredible deal, it's at least a $700 amp). You probably don't have enough for a tube amp right now, so just get a cheap, little solid state one. Just make sure it's name brand - Fender, Marshall, etc.

2. I've noticed in the past couple days that whenever I play, my left hand cramps up (I play right-handed)
Is this normal? How do I remedy this/ make it stop?

It'll happen, just deal with the pain.

[Gein]

Line 6 spider is a good amp.

[kindmortal]

At 8/31/08 02:37 PM, CloudConnected wrote:

After you've gotten your shit, start a band and find a gig. When you start playing, throw that shit around, get some fuel and dump it over everything, call Gene Simmons there and tell him to breath fire over that shit, and then triumph over being the mightiest of all the guitarists in the world.

Simply breathe taking.

[Chozz]

Peavey Rage 15w is a real good amp :) I still enjoy playing with that amp and using the custom distortion up to present :)

Everyone else has answered the cramp question

[ZenOfAnger]

Roland Micro Cube! HURRAH!