Clueless Newbie Questions, Karaokeing recordings. Options

[nickdaum]

My current hard and soft:
Mac G5 dual
M-Audio FireWire Solo
GarageBand
Audacity

I'm not a professional musician and don't intend to be. I just want to start singing and playing guitar Blues on my own as a retirement hobby.
Instead of using loops for the drums and bass backing I would like to use actual recordings of my favorite musicians as karaokes. Is it possible to remove both voice and guitar from a recording? If so how?

Secondary question, a little off topic: I need to buy an electric guitar, not too expensive, possiblly second hand.
As a matter of fact I'll stick to a slow tempo, like Blues does, so I don't need a "fast" guitar. I don't care about the look or the shape since I find them all ugly whether Strato or LesPaul or whatever. I don't care about accessing the highest treble notes.
I care only usability and sound.

What are the specs I should put on my list? Any brand you would recommend?

TIA

Nick

[dwwave]

IMO learning on a electric is much easier and much more enjoyable

There are alot of lower priced electrics out there(depends on your price point)

Some of the PRS SE models are dropping in price ($400 range
and you can get single coil models or humbuckers (I prefer humbuckers to avoid 60 cycle hum)

Fender's Squire range offers alot options (telecaster custom or deluxe for under $200.00) same with the stratocasters(Squire)

Epiphone (owned bu Gibson) has a wide variety of guitar, alot are
Korean or Indonesian built copies of Gibson's for very low prices.

Dean Guitars has some models for $100-150

Yamaha Pacifica has been rated the best under $200.00 guitar for

5 years straight, its Strat like 3 single coil pick-ups this one
may be a good choice without quality concerns

Jay Turser has some real low priced enty level models

you can check quailty user reviews on Harmony-Central.com

For a nice amp a Vox Pathfinder is a real nice amp for about $100-
$125.00 I have one and its 15 watts, it can also drive a external
4x12 cab!

Some of Line 6 new amps are in the under $300 range and offer
different amp models, effects , cool stuff

Hope this helps and Good Luck!