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

[nickdaum]

Hi

My message has got strange chars at each inverted commas and is difficult to read. I hope this version will be more readable (same text).

Hi folks

Thanks for keeping giving me your inputs.

Since I have no elements to make my own opinion I�fm very interested in whatever you say. It helps a lot. I was completely clueless, now I�fm a little less clueless ;-)
I did the same before I bought my Firewire Solo. With my Mac and my sound system it makes a perfect match. The help of savvy people is invaluable :-)

Let�fs say I want the same kind sound as Howlin�f Wolf�fs, Hooker�fs, Luther Johnson�fs (Luther "Georgia Boy (snake)"Johnson, I�fm nuts about �eLonesome in my bedroom�f record) or Otis Rush�fs:
* should I forget about Yamaha or Ibanez?
* is there only Fender or Gibson and their subsidiaries that sound that way?
* is an amp necessary? what an amp is supposed to add by the way? remember I have an M-Audio Firewire Solo sound interface to plug the guitar and the mike on.

I�fve been looking at overdrives on BEHRINGER�fs site. I didn�ft check other vendors yet. What do you think about stuff like such products, which are dirt cheap?

This one is supposed to be dedicated to the blues:
Blues Overdrive BO100
http://www.behringer.com/BO100/index.cfm?lang=ENG
but what are the Level and Tone controls supposed to add to the ones existing on all guitars? Is it the Gain that makes the difference as well as the pedal?

This other one is the same price with different controls and apparently a different purpose:
Overdrive/Distortion OD100
http://www.behringer.com/OD100/index.cfm?lang=ENG


What about something a little more expensive but with lots of options:
Modeling Amp/Multi-Effects Processor with Integrated Expression Pedal X V-AMP
http://www.behringer.com/X-V-AMP/index.cfm?lang=ENG

According to the user�fs manual:
the X V-AMP features 100 user-rewritable presets, each consisting of 7 ingredients:

1. amp simulation
2. speaker simulation
3. pre-amp effects (noise gate, compressor, Wah Wah)
4. adjustable presence and bass EQs,
5. modulation effect (e.g. phaser, chorus etc.)
6. delay effect
7. reverb

Isn�ft it all what a blues player is supposed to have? ;-) I don�ft get the meaning of every item but I�fll read the manual more closely ;-)

The first two can fit in your pocket, the last in a bag. Isn�ft it the kind of stuff that would do the job instead of a bulky amp including a speaker?
They would fit into my already existing chain system, between the guitar and the interface, while combos would add another branch.

Just another stupid question: wouldn�ft that make sound any guitar the way you like (provided it has the correct quality)?
Yet another one: what about double coil mikes Vs. simple coil? and 2 Vs. 3 mikes?

TIA

Nick