QUOTE(^Hobbes^ @ Apr 10 2007, 01:42 AM)
IMO, what you guys said are quite true at least for an intermediate player and above, but for a begginner i would say amp =)
Vox ADVT series should be a good beginner amp, with the different amp modeling he should be able to try out which amp tones he prefers. Also judging from most of his posts, he doesnt even know whether he wants a strat type or les paul type.
Assuming that he gets a cheap squier and a vox advt series, if he decides he doesnt like strat type body and sound, he could always buy a new guitar and keep the amp.
But if he puts all his money on a good guitar and a shitty amp, he may loose some versatility in tones that he may like. Furthermore he isnt sure whether he likes that guitar to begin with.
Sure pedals and eq-ing can help turn a shitty amp into an OK amp, but from a beginers point of view, they just dont have enough experience to do it and may be a discouraging factor
lousy guitar + good amp = best amplification of the worst sound (instant turn off)
lousy guitar + lousy amp = why bother? sound so sh*tty that you'd prob give up being a musician forever...
good guitar + lousy amp = decent sound that you know could sound better with prop equip
good guitar + good amp = heaven (or hell for your neghbours)
sorry mate but the guitar is the foundation. pretty much like a good engine. If your main engine (guitar) sucks..no amount of frills or amplification is gonna make it work.
When i started playing bass i didnt even have an amp...i just used my old beat up mini-compo...