I have no musical experience beyond 6th grade orchestra, and really no musical ability at all. But my 16-year-old brother does. He plays trombone and tuba in his high school band and violin in a local community orchestra. I think he's a really good violin player. I would like to buy him an guitar for Christmas, but don't know anything about them. Is it too hard to start on an acoustic? Can someone recommend good beginner guitars? I'd like to get one for under $200. Based purely on what he plays, I think he likes bluegrass, country, classical, and jazz best. I don't know his listening preferences.
I'm not much of a guitar player (I can only jam the bar/generic chords), but I recently bought an acoustic here: http://www.interstatemusic.com/weba...1&parent_category_rn=45280&top_category=40007 You can narrow the search to anything under $200 and there are about 14 to choose from.
You can get a nice beginner acoustic for under $200 at Guitar Center. Ibanez or Yamaha are brands that would fall under this category. And yes, you can learn on an acoustic.
The new Guitar Center by the new Kroger on Dowlen is supposedly really nice. My cousin plays and he spends a good bit of time there. I don;t have any talent for it so I can;t really help as far as what to get, but from what I have heard the guys at the GC should be able to help you out, easy enough.
Bought my son a Sigma Guitar to learn on several years. Now he owns a Fender Strat Electric, Ibanez Bass, and Guild Acoustic guitars. Last night I heard him playing Paranoid Android by Radiohead and Fire by Jimi Hendrix. He has come a long way in just a short time. But the boy plays in his room all freaking evening after school and homework.
Beginner guitar? I would go with Epiphone Special II ... its about $150 but I like it more than my $600 Ibanez RG series (well ... it was $600 when it first came out)
as far as acoustics, takamine and ovation make good beginner ones. the guys at guitar center will try to milk you for money, but you should be able to spend at most 250 on a good beginner acoustic guitar. they will definitely try to sell you a hard case, which is another 70-100, and they will give you the illusion of you getting a deal by rounding the price to some whole number. as far as accessories, maybe an extra set of strings and a string winder. there might be beginner packages that come with that stuff which aren't too bad.
I like the Alvarez instruments for under 200.00 smackers. I picked up one to have as a beater and it plays and sounds suprisingly well. I tried everything under 200 bucks at the time.
Epiphone PR-4E acoustic-electric with gig bag, amp, and a few other extras: $199 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-PR4E-AcousticElectric-Player-Pack?sku=518786
For what it's worth, Seagull acoustics are consistently rated the best value for money. I got mine for a little under $300, as I recall, including the case.
If he starts on acoustic, his hands will be stronger than most people starting out on electric. Plus you don't have to buy an amp or cables for it. Don't forget the tuner though, if he doesn't already have one. Lots of starter guitars for under 200 both ways, just take a walk in Guitar Center or Danny D's
Seconded. Alvarez's are fantastic values. My first guitar was Alvarez RD-30S and many, many, many guitars later its still one of my favorites. The RD-30S went out of production in 2001 but the RD-20S is pretty similar and prices around $230. I also highly recommend picking him up the Rhythm Guitarist's Handbook.
you should definitely be able to get something decent in the $200 range. just check around pawn shops - if you dont play, bring someone along who does and let them try it out. someone who has been playing for awhile will know pretty quickly if it is good for the money. you didnt really say, but has your bro expressed and interest in guitar? if not, i would hate for you to buy it and he never plays. you can get something at guitar center, like an ibanez or fender, but if you look elsewhere, $200 should be able to get you something nice. consider the used guitar route...when i wanted a guitar my grandpa just went around a bunch of pawn shops testing out acoustics and ended up spending about $200 for a used ibanez performance acoustic. he bought this guitar for me for christmas 1990 and 17 years later it is the only acoustic i have ever owned and i still play it every day. and like tomato said, learning on acoustic rather than electric will make one a better guitar player in the long term. its actually a little harder to play acoustic as far as pressing down on the frets and stuff, but if you learn on acoustic the switch to electric is much easier - all of a sudden you can play a little faster. it was none other than the mighty keef richards who said something to the effect of "i can always judge a guitar player by how well they handle an acoustic".
