buying a guitar

[HappyScrappy]

lol - scalloping makes it sound like shit - just get jumbo frets - yingway malmsteen (sp?) sucks anyway. fast as shit - but his songs are all the same.

eric johnson is where it is at if you want tone.
he has like a I forget if they are '54 strat and '67 strat, or 57 and 64... and a gibson es-335 - damn - those are sweet.

the PRS sounds just like a les paul in some of its settings - but then you can change the settings and sound just like a strat.

get a les paul and you only sound like a les paul (zeppelin, gNr, creed - although his is technically a PRS I think).
get a strat and you only sound like a strat (SRV, Hendrix, nirvana - although his was really a jazzmaster that was all fucked up)

also, peavy makes excellent amps - and if you want all the cool sounds - get an effects processor.
get one of the old digitech RP-N where N is whatever number you can afford - they all rule - but the ones with the built in wah pedal are a great starting point.

 

[c-sharp minor]

Eric Johnson is a tone FREAK! He says he can tell the difference in sound when he changes batteries in his pedal.

For my money though, Gary Moore is the tone master. Download "The Loner" to see what I mean.


Yngwie actually put out legit classical cds with a full orchestra. The guy is a natural. I don't know about his songs sounding the same, but many of his solos do.

 

[HappyScrappy]

but many of his solos do.

exactly

 

[mocella]

You should be able to get a package deal - guitar/amp/cord/tuner/strap - for under $300 from an online site like marsmusic.com (they have free shipping) or music123.com or musicians friend.
In that price range, I'd probably stick to a hardtail guitar because the tremelos they use tend to suck and keep going out of tune - at least that's been my experience.
I'd also agree with HS and getting a decent multi-effects board. I've tried the Zoom 606 and it's fairly decent for just giving you a bunch of different sounds to play around with - costs about $100.

 

[Peyote Killa]

Joe Satriani is my personal favorite guitar player, I just like him.

I also think that Adam jones from Tool kicks ass

 

[Pebcak]

I also think that Adam jones from Tool kicks ass

Then you'll want a 1979 Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst. Unfortunately they are extremely hard to find (I've looked) and are pretty expensive, especially for a beginner.

Most of his stuff is in Drop-D tuning which makes it fairly easy to learn and you fret the power chords with one finger. When I first started I was able to pick up a lot of his stuff. Was kind of inspirational.

The stuff on Lateralus is a little different though. He experimented with some alternative tunings on certain songs (Parabola & Lateralus to name 2).

I myself own a Hamer (USA) Eclipse and a Gibson Les Paul Custom. Don't let anyone fool you, they definately sounds different. If I could afford it I would love to get a Paul Reed Smith McCarty model. Inspired by Ted McCarty the head of Gibson when they first introduced the Les Paul.

Pebcak