Gear Dilemma

[Guitarmattms]

Hey, Guys.

Okay, I'm having a little problem here and I can't decide the best and easiest route here.

First of all, I'm going to list the gear I have then I'll tell you my problem.

3 Guitars
1) Home made jem with parts bought from e b a y.
- Evolution picks, ibanez edge tremolo, cheap neck, swirled body from Perleguitars made from popular.
2) Fender Strat - MIM with floyd rose, yjm pickup in the middle.

3) Washburn Shadowseries strat - Seymour Duncan pickups.


Amplifiers -
1) Peavey Valveking 2x12

Pedals
1) Bad Horshie wah pedal
2) Ibanez Jemini
3) Behringer Delay and Octave pedal


So, here's my problem and I hope this makes sense.

Within the past couple of months I've been doing research on some guitars and other products and have come to the conclusion to remodel my setup. I would like to get down to 1 guitar or 2 if I really have to. I don't need all those extra strings and besides I'm just a bed room player. Not only do I want to do this but I feel "bored with my gear." So, that's another reason why I want to change it up.

First of all, I thought about changing the neck on my jem cause the neck I have on it now isn't that great but there is something about the guitar I just don't like. I can play the guitar but it just doesn't sing.... There's no om pf behind the tone.

Second I thought about selling it and getting better pickups for my strat which I love.
the third guitar is just a cheap starter that I added better pickups too and got the neck scalloped so I'm not sure what to do with that one. I thought about giving it to my niece if she would like to learn.

So, with the cash from the two guitars I would like to put towards a real nice instrument. One that I would not have to keep upgrading to make it play better or sound better.

I've been interested in the Ibanez prestige models but I'm a big fan of Strats as well. Just recently I discovered the Fernandes Retrorocket Elite guitar

http://www.fernandesguitars.com/rre.html

and I'm really intrigued by them. It comes with Seymour Duncan Hot rails and a Sustainer!

So, that's kinda what I'm leaning too. I also would like to do something with my amp. I'm going to be moving to an apartment this fall and I can't have anything to big.

I hope you guys wouldn't mind giving any suggestions as to what I should do, type of guitars and little practice amps. That sound good. I've been looking into the Peavey Vypr but I'm not sure about going back to Digital. I'm a tube man now.



However, I have not played one of these yet.

[smooth55]

Have you got any sort of price quotes on your guitars and amp if you were to sell them? Considering that your guitars, while not bad, are mostly cheaper models with upgrades, I have a hard time seeing you get a good price for the whole package. You might do better to break down the components if you're looking to sell. That route requires more work, but you'll probably get more money for the individual pick-ups and components seperately than you will just selling the guitar.
If I were you I'd probably get a good instrument over having 3 guitars that you're not really happy with. On the other hand, if you're looking at a guitar that will be totally different than what you already have, there's nothing wrong with having a couple guitars for stylistic versatility. For this, save your money and buy when you're ready. I'd only buy a guitar that I could try so I'd definitely recommend you play the Fernandes before you decide to buy it. Specs are nice but if it doesn't feel or sound right...
As for your amp, do you play with a band at all? If so, then I wouldn't suggest selling it as it is a capable small/medium gig amp. But, if you don't really play out, it might be better to use money from one of your guitar sales to get something that you'll be able to use in your new apartment. I went 3 years never playing my big amp at home while living in an apartment. I took it out when we had gigs, but otherwise never touched it because I couldn't turn it up over 1 without getting complaints. In that situation, it was pretty much a waste of space since I didn't play out all that often.
In priority, I'd settle the guitar question first. You need something you enjoy playing and has the feel and features you want. Don't compromise. If you can't afford it, wait and save. Otherwise, you'll settle for something and still want what you can't afford. In that situation, you'll just buy it down the road and wish that you would've gotten it in the first place...especially with the way prices are always going up. Once you work your guitar situation out, you're looking at a cheap smaller practice amp for which you have a myriad of inexpensive options. You could decide to go with a tube amp to try and meet both home and gig needs and you'd have to seriously do some research and spend a good chunk of change on that.
Good luck with all of this, redoing a rig is exciting and keep us posted with your decisions.

[Vim Fuego]

I've had a number of low to mid range instruments, including an RG470, some were rubbish some were pretty good. When I upgraded from the 470 to a Jem, it was like someone turned a light on! I would recommend getting the best instrument you can for your budget, rather that upgrading bits (I did that too).
As for the amp, I mostly play live or use a Pandora effects box for practising but smooth55 makes good points.
Jim

[Guitarmattms]

Okay, I'm going to be heading to GC to check out some products tomorrow. Here's what I'm looking at right now.

Guitar - Fernandes Revolver Pro-81
Amp - Crate V5 or V18 (yes, they are tube!)
Effects - Boss Me-70.


So, what do you think?

[fretboardpyro]

i had an me50 running in front of a tube amp and unless the me-70 is a million times better than a me-50 i'd hang on to your hard earned dosh and get separate good quality pedals! the me-50 would work much better as a preamp into the loop in of your amp but what the hell is the point of owning a tube amp if you are missing the pre-amp stage. Fernandes guitars as a rule are pretty good, they always seem to be well made and ofer good value as for an amp.... i'd stick with the tube king! Get an extension cab if you want a bit more projection. All in all its took me the best part of 10years or so (give or take the time my rig was stolen) to get a setup i'm happy with. Its all a matter of taste at the end of the day.