Looking for help buying a Guitar.

Originally Posted by Newbie1234

Things happened pretty fast, and I picked up an Ibanez. I'm not really sure if I got a good deal, but with amp and everything, it cost me around 600$ CAD.

The only thing that I'm disappointed in, is that it sounds exactly like an acoustic guitar. What do I need to buy to get those crazy distortion stuff. I tried playing with my amp, but it wouldn't change much.

You have two options: A) Get a better amp or B) buy a distortion pedal. I recommend the Boss Metal Zone pedal. Digitech makes a decent distortion pedal as well. Those can go for about 80 bucks brand new and cheaper if you get them second hand.

Of course you could also try to mess around with your amp settings. It does have a little button for you to push in and you get gain right? Or a knob that when turned you get distortion? Distortion tone varies for person to person and is something you shouldn't concentrate right now, though I do realize that poor distortion can make you bummed out to play. So mess around with the knobs a bit.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Newbie1234

Thanks everyone for the advice. Sounds like I'll definitely be picking up a Boss pedal, although probably not any time soon. I want to be able to play a few simple songs, and just get the hang of the instrument before venturing into the distortion business if it means more purchasing.

Playing the guitar itself is definitely a bit different from what I was expecting. Just pressing down the strings can be a bit tough on the fingers, which is something I'm not completely use to yet. The strings are also pretty close together, so it ain't always easy hitting the right ones quickly.

Play some barre chords (chords that use your index finger to cover the width of the neck). That'll put a cramp on your hand. You'd really feel the cramp if you played acoustic since they use heavier guage strings to make it resonate with the wood.

There's nowhere I can't reach.