Home Forums Guitar Discussion Guitar Suggestions for a first guitar?

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  • #21719
    jilly23
    Participant

    Hi all,

    I am really interested in learning guitar – I thought I would start with acoustic. I have no idea what to begin looking for. I plan on going to a music store in the area to ask them but I wanted to have some knowledge before going in – does anyone have any suggestions (name, type, price) etc?

    Thanks so much!

Viewing 23 reply threads
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    • #65839
      pedalboardguy
      Participant

      …you are correct. Gotta be steel strings.
      My first guitar was $15.00 out of the Sears wish book. (thanks daddy..see ya in heaven) I have the neck on the wall in my garage. Now that was a FAT ASS neck. I have no idea where the body got off to.
      Steve

    • #65841
      glw
      Participant

      [quote=”pedalboardguy”]I think all aspiring electric guitarist should play acoustic first![/quote]

      Perhaps, but not el cheapo nylon-strung monstrosities like I had when I was a kid.

    • #65886
      pedalboardguy
      Participant

      Some of the $99 to $129.00 acoustics are great for the money. Take the epiphone line for instance. After a professional set-up they are a great value. I think all aspiring electric guitarist should play acoustic first! Builds strength, cuts down on audio fatigue, teaches dynamic control, etc.. and the list goes on. It’s way to easy to get caught up in the word of pedals, pedalboards, tubes, cable, strings of nickle, silver, stiff, slinky, pickup types and height adjustment, strat vs les paul, amps, speakers, cabinets, combos..and the focus moves away from playing for the sake of playin’…keep it simple. learn through experience. Ok..I’m done. uuuhhh…use medium gague strings and set the neck up at medium height…not too low. This will translate to higher action on an electric in the future. If the action is too low, it’s tuff to bend a note ’cause ya can’t get a finger tip under it, AND learning to play with higher action translates to heaver strings for more string TONE. Low action with a heavy string is as bad as too high with heavy strings as well. Medium is best !!…imho..ok really done now

      Stevie
      http://www.ePedalBoards.com

    • #65843
      six six six
      Member

      I think it is excellent that you are thinking acoustic ,most new guitarist want electric .as for your question don’t cheap out ,buying a cheap guitar will hurt you in the long run,look at a guitar in the 300-500.00 dollar range,like anything else you get what you pay for.Once you decide on your guitar and make the purchase get the guitar tech at the store to lower your setup so you strings are setup almost like an electric ,it is much easier to play.As for brands you should look at fenders,washburns ,takamine,for a start don’t be afraid to ask the sales guys for help..

    • #65890
      1bassleft
      Participant

      Ah, I remember “Eric the Satriani man” and what happened to that bloke with the “check out my guitar licks” multi-posts? Anyhoo, I must’ve been watching too much “Deliverance”. At the mention of the Missi, I was a-thinkin’ “Shoore got a purty pedalboard”…

    • #65879
      pedalboardguy
      Participant

      ..I wonder what those guys are payin’ for one of those tormenting pop-ups? my buddy at rockon pedalboards (not a plug) down in Florida (he is a cable tv dogg by day) shelled out $1000.00USD 🙄 for a line ad on HC with zero obvious return on his $.

      Stevie

    • #65892
      lee_UK
      Participant

      Like i say, nothing wrong with a plug Stevie, welcome aboard.
      Of course if this was the BBC you would never get away with it, but i think its a bit strong to be accused of ‘overplugging’ when we get bombarded with 60 pop up ads every time we log on here!! 😆

    • #65851
      pedalboardguy
      Participant

      6 already? 😯 well….perhaps I should set me gun asside and introduce myself. No..first I must make my excuses..SORRY. A veteran of my experience should know better than to blast into the house. Hello. My name is Stevie. I was born in Mississippi in the middle of nowhere..red dirt, cotton, unrest, and the Blues (there is a story there)

      I have less days left in front of my cart than behind it. I won’t post the details of my resume’, but I been playin’ guitar f’r….hhmm…42 years?
      A veteran road warrier….blah,blah,blah.

      Pedalboards?? Hobby. Yet, I sold way too many units last year, so I had to recruit (employee) my youngest Son Josh (he tries to keep the ‘ol man centered) to build. Do we want to sell more boxes?? Sure. Do we need to? Not really. Will we stop? I doub’t it seriously. Me ‘n the Lad are havin’ way to much fun. Our relationship is…let’s say….it’s a gift.

      Do I have anything to bring to the feast asside from a biz? Perhaps I should step outside for a smoke and when I return there will be a seat at the table. And…while I’m out….ya may want to check out my(our) sight. http://www.epedalboards.com 😉 (I couldn’t resist 😆 ) that should make 7 or is it 8 links now?

      i gots nuttin’ but luv for yoose guys

      Stevie

    • #65672
      lee_UK
      Participant

      i counted 6 links!! not bad for a new comer, but who remembers http://satrianiforum.no-ip.org ?? he was a true pro with periodical re-posts over the weeks, but he did have some input too. 😆
      I quite like a blatent ‘Plug’.

    • #65687
      1bassleft
      Participant

      Stevie, chum, you are slightly pushing the envelope of the “how many separate threads can I tenuously link to my biz” idea 🙂 . Nice to see you stick around for a chat, at least. The spatter-gun “check out my site” vanishing-acts are less fun.

    • #65654
      pedalboardguy
      Participant

      YES!!

      CHAT

      The ever popular UK magazine with true stories and all these brilliant
      brain teasing puzzles with prizes. I will include a free magazine with every pedalboard I sell!!!!!!!!

      âž¡ http://www.epedalboards.com

    • #65630
      lee_UK
      Participant

      Sorry Stevie, of course your pedal boards, with that special compartment to put your latest copy of ‘Chat’ .

    • #65644
      pedalboardguy
      Participant

      uuhhh…the designer PEDALBOARDS I build ?:arrow: http://www.epedalboards.com

      Stevie

    • #65702
      lee_UK
      Participant

      Sorry, my fault, i should have mentioned Designer clothes, Nail care and the all important weekly ‘Chat’ ‘Gossip’ ‘Celeb news’ And ‘Hello’ type publications, there, i think thats covered it…. anyone care to add anything else?? 😆

    • #65636
      1bassleft
      Participant

      🙂 I originally thought there was something wrong with the date-field here. Lawd knows, I have enough problems with my PC on this site. F’r’ instance, a 2005 post appears with clearly 1970s-style “Birds – they only spend money on shoes and haircare” type of jokes 😆 How did that interview for the Diplomatic Service go? You never told us 😉

    • #65666
      lee_UK
      Participant

      Jill’s original post for help was early April, shes probably gone out and bought the guitar, learned, studied, and now playing solo accoustic for the National Philharmonic! or more probably bought one, didnt like it, sold it and bought a good set of hair staighteners instead..

    • #65646
      mikec3
      Participant

      Hi Jilli,
      If you have a need for an acoustic find a “nice” mom&pop store with a cool lil’ selection of acoustics. Most M&P’s have affordable brands and most likely have tried many brands out in that field and stay with the best.
      They get them in check for damage and playability of the instrument and set them up or will if they need it. Look for play action ( distance between
      strings and fingerboard) check the necks feel , check sound, look at the parts bridge pins , tuners etc. Also check the top for any rising of the wood. Ask them to tune it , they’ll should be glad to do it. You’ll have to excuse me but I won’t buy anything from a salesperson with arrogance!
      It don’t matter if it’s from Asia or not cause there are plenty of USA $1000. instruments that are faulty too… So a nice Jay Turser , J.B. Player
      Woods, Dean, Trinity River, Palmer, and even Sunlite have real nice acoustic’s under $300. and if they are taken care of ,they’ll last a lifetime.
      Then later on you can move on up if you wish. But, everybody needs that first guitar….
      Hope this helps.

    • #65717
      1bassleft
      Participant

      I won’t suggest an acoustic brand (I tend to only manage one string at a time) but I would like to suggest you choose your store, Jilly.

      If you can, go for a “Mom ‘n’ Pop” or “educational” type of music shop. They’re not the last word in bargains, but they have some advantages. They buy stock at relatively low volume, and tend to set them up properly. They won’t laugh or ignore you when you say you’re a beginner. Even if you only want to spend $150, they’re more likely to let you try out what’s comfortable/sounds good to you.

      TBH, a lot of ‘better-known’ names are made in exactly the same factories as the “whoda…?” models you get at lower price levels. The ‘names’ don’t even make their own spec; they just put their logo on the same instrument.

      Now, I’ve got nothing against the big chains if you know what you’re doing. Without wishing to patronize yourself, Jilly, nor to tar all “big-store-assistants” with the same brush, here’s what can happen in some 3-storey shops.

      Jilly: Hello, I’m interested in an acoustic to learn guitar on
      SA (points to guitar on wall): They’re popular. I can get one from the stock-room. Cash or Visa?

      If you’re even more lucky, you may get “The Widdler”. This guy says, “Nah, you want one of these”, wafts it under your nose for a microsecond, then does “widdlywiddlywiddlywiddly” for aeons. He cares nothing about making a sale – never mind finding you the right guitar. All he cares about is that he’s paid to go “widdlywiddlywiddlywiddly” on expensive guitars whenever he feels like it. Once, when I stupidly enquired about a speaker cabinet, I shut the door on my way out and the bloke still had his eyes closed, rocking his head to his beautiful music.

      Depressingly, they are out there. If you don’t like the feel of the guitar or the store, walk away. Sorry not to be specific, but some of the other posts deal with actual models better than I could.

    • #65626
      next_2_nothing
      Participant

      yamaha C-40 $200AU best value begineers guitar ever, if you were to buy a classical guitar though, look at buying a narrow neck classical, as normal nylon stringed guitars have a wider neck making the transition of playing on an electric after a year or so of nylon string guitar quit difficult as the strings are closer together on an electric
      cheers
      MaTT

    • #65642
      BLS_Berserker
      Participant

      Epiphone Special ll or for acoustic witch is realy better to learn on an Epiphone AJ 100, both are realy good quality for the price

    • #65648
      lee_UK
      Participant

      My advice is, if your are buying a ‘quality’ instrument, then make sure you buy a used one, make sure it is a sought after model ie: Strat / les paul /SG / Telecaster, and make sure you buy it in original condition in a standard colour!!, because these guitars will always retain their value.

    • #65634
      youngwasp
      Member

      Without any doubt it is false economy to buy a cheap instrument. There will be those that disagree with this as you can buy really quite good ‘cheap’ guitars – BUT I feel that the longevity of a novice guitarist’s career is more often than not cut short when the guitar is difficult to play. This is not to say in terms of where to put your fingers, but some guitars are more difficult to play than others and cheap guitars tend to fall into the category of being less well made, so less easy to play.
      My own choice would be to purchase a Yamaha from the APX range – the type with a cutaway making upper fret access possible. These are exceptionally well made for the money, I own two and compared to Takemine and the like, they hold up very well.
      Make sure you buy a music stand too as you will find this very benefical when learning from any printed material (you’ll see what I mean when you try propping a book up against a vase or old bottle of tomato ketchup).

    • #65711
      dcolville
      Participant

      😀 Hello, Cant talk for all guitars but Ive been playing for a bit, and I like telecasters best, but if your looking for something really different, I found a new place to order hot guitars, I ordered one 3’s a new days ago and waiting for it to come in, It looks like a snake its wild, it a new brand called COLVANE guitars, its at http://www.ghostwares.net they have all kinds of wild looking guitars. try it out, but for plain old try a tele. 😆

    • #65660
      lee_UK
      Participant

      if i were buying a first accoustic to learn on, i’d buy a nylon strung guitar, sometimes called spanish or classical guitars, there are a few good reasons why, the strings dont hurt your fingers as much as a steel strung guitar, which means you can get more practice in, the strings are spaced wider apart because the neck is wider, this helps getting your fingers properly placed on the strings without ‘fluffing’ the notes behind them, also those guitars are usualy smaller bodied than the steel strung ones, you can a quite good one for $100-150, and once you own one you wont sell it, in time you will want to get a steel guitar and then maybe an electric, but people always seem to hang on to their nylon strung guitar, so my advice is go for the nylon strung guitar, easier all round to learn on and play.
      Good luck.

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