Electric guitar around $250 -- suggestions?

[jersey_emt]

My Christmas present to myself is going to be an electric guitar. I already play acoustic (have an Ovation Balladeer S771 Special), and am looking for a good electric for around $250.

I'm partial to the Epiphone Les Paul series, and my current 'top pick' is the Epiphone LP-100.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[terbow]

What kind of music you play? Epis are nice, i personally feel anything gibson is overpriced now a days, since they are all (in that price range), manufactured over seas. The Fender Squire line has come a long way in teh last year. You can get a nice squire strat for 250 and u have the option of the tremolo bar (whammy bar). We have a few here and i think pound for pound they cant be touched. I think Gibson you pay more for the name on the lower models. Fenders have a really clean sound, everything nice and bright and clear, whereas the gibsons are a more mellow tone. Theres some nice ibanez's as well if your into a shredding (ibanez's have a really fast neck).

thats my opinion from what i deal with on a day to day basis. Im only speaking on the entry level guitars. The high price stuff is a different ball game.

 

[terbow]

just to add also, its really all player preference. if you can, go out and play them, you really need to be comfortable with the instrument. I know people that prefer mid range guitars over high end ones cause thats just what called out to them. And they can sound damn good too.

 

[awsmp5]

my friend an I got the strat pack what ever starter kit, i mean given its a junk guitar but i learned on it and its not that bad for what you get. of course it was my first guitar, so ya. the amp is decent, my buddy got reaal damn good and he still jams on that squire strat but he upgraded the pickups cuz they were pretty crappy...
hmm dunno what im tryina say guess i ended up jus tellin ya what i did

get what ever tickles your pickle(band)

 

[SilverBulletES]

In that price range those are a solid bet.

Thing is, it has a bolt-on neck instead of a set neck like a "real" Les Paul. I'd probably go for this Les Paul Jr. copy which is every bit as simple that the original was intended to be.... BUT.... the neck is also set like the original bottom-of-the-line LP
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...-57-Les-Paul-Jr.-Reissue-with-P100?sku=519390

I have a copy of one and it's every bit as fun if not more than my multi-pickup guitars. A little less versatile and lot more punk rock. But then again, it's just a style thing to me. Play a few and go with your gut.

One thing... be SURE you spring 40 or 50 bucks and have a professional set it up correctly. I just did it when some of my crappy guitars and it makes 100% difference. The factories in China and the people at Guitar Center surely didn't take the time to do it. It's money well worth spent.

 

[terbow]

yea amen to the setup, i have to do them all the time. the only ones that are setup decently are ibanez RG's those badboys are alllllll the way down lol

 

[Rickman]

Solely based on the thread title, I would say go play every guitar under $350 at your local music shop, pick the one you "feel" and then go buy it online (to save $$).

You will also save money buying used. I recently got a $600 washburn acoustic for $150 at my local Guitar Center. They had it listed "used" because it was a return.

I've never purchased a "new" guitar before. But I currently have about 8 (3 Acoustics, 1 12 String, 2 Electrics, and 2 Bases). But a couple of those were acquired when family members died.