Dear Light, I basically just made this account on here to ask you 2 questions that i could greatly use some help with. I don't make forums becuase many people disagree and it creates confusion for the writer. From reading some of your posts, and seeing your reputation points, its clear you know what you are talking about. So, my first question is this: I am a lead guitar player in a hard rock band, and in my free time, I love to play punk and shred (Joe Satriani, Dragonforce, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Yngwie Malmsteen are some examples) but at this point am still using my starter guitar, a Les Paul Epiphone standard. I am considering buying a metal guitar by Jackson or Schecter for their thinner necks and smaller frets and other such features that make quick soloing simple. I am wondering what you would recomend for me to get. Sadly, I am only 15 and have a price range. It would need to be under $1000, preferably in the range of 500-800. I know that probably limits alot of what you were thinking might be good, but hope it doesnt effect things too much. Question number 2: I am sort of into have the right pickups as I see it is an easy, yet simple way to improve overall sound. so, I am wondering what pickups you recomend. Please tell me if the pickups are in relation to the guitar you recomend, and if you recomend more than 1 guitar as an option, please tell me the pickups for each. I've been looking at Duncan and EMG, but whatever you recomend i will most likely take. I'm looking for something a little more high output than what I have for sure, and they need to be quite versatile since I do alot of big walk ups all over the fret board. lol. sorry i left you this 10000000 page essay, but i trust your judgement and hope you are willing to help.