I recommend the Zoom G6. This unit has many built-in sounds. User friendly and extremely programmable. I've been playing in a multi-genre band for about 5 years now. This paddle is really all I need.

I have a friend who is an extraordinary blues guitarist. He can make a cigar box sound good. He owns a few Monoprice guitars. All he did was, he changed the pickups on them . He told me that the electronics on them are very good for the money.

@Christian Lie I think some of the squire telecaster affinity models do. Also, The fingerboard is important. Not sure what the material is on a Squire.

I'm 62, I'm mainly a piano player (Nord Stage 3). I play guitar on approximately half of the songs that my band plays. I've purchased numerous guitars in the past. I've owned a 1982 Gibson Les Paul standard. I've had it for many years. There's not much praise about that model. It's just that it's the wrong kind of sound and it's something like 20 lb. Still have it but can't really use it. I also own a telecaster acoustic electric. For the songs I use that in, it definitely plays great, and has a great sound. So let me give you my opinion as far as the inexpensive guitars. Some of them might play fairly decent. I think it all depends. I have a friend that actually buys monoprice claiming the electronics are good. He just replaces the pickups on them. About 5 years ago , I purchased the Squire Telecaster. That is just the sound that I needed. It was okay. I decided to buy an actual Fender Telecaster, a real one. I must say, there's no comparison. Besides the pickups, it's the maple neck that really makes a difference. As you get older, you'll realize that the inexpensive guitars Don't really compare.

Can someone tell me what the proper gauge for a Rickenbacker 325 short scale would be?

Pat Benetar " Hit Me With Your Best Shot".