I have a Strat copy from a beginner’s package. To my ultra-beginner self, it sounded good and I felt unworthy of a guitar that sounded good. Two years later, I am reasonably intermediate and it doesn’t sound good and I finally feel worthy of a guitar that sounds good.
I’m thinking about a Fender Cyclone. From what I have gathered from reviews at Musician’s Friend, it meets all my criteria (which, admittedly, are more limited than limiting; good clean & good distortion, aesthetically pleasing shape, neck thinner than a tree branch around which a giant rubber band ball is being built, preferably under $500, not a Strat, etc). And it’s beautiful. If the Cyclone doesn’t work out, some sort of Tele might.
My dream acoustic is a Dean CE resonator, or a nylon-string Martin. Right now, though, my Ovation Applause (get it? Ovation? Applause? Clever, man! No, that’s really what it’s called) is satisfactory.
So, we are going to look for a Cyclone to try out this afternoon once I finish. the. stupid. essay.
