Hey guys, I'm about to start learning how to play the accoustic guitar and I wanted to get some advice on what kind I should buy? If I'm a beginner, is there a certain kind I should get? What brands should I consider? Thanks for any tips!
There's really no such thing as a beginner guitar, it's just whatever guitar you start out with, that's your beginner guitar. A lot of people just start out on whatever piece o' crap they can get their hands on, myself included. If you think you might be playing for awhile, I would at least get a guitar with a solid wood top, as these resonate more and have a fuller sound than those with a laminated wood top, although they are more expensive. I wouldn't look so much at specific brands, as most brands tend to produce excellent as well as cheap guitars. Guitars with solid wood tops tend to start at around $300 or a little bit below that. I work in the guitar department at Guitar Center on Westheimer, and we sell the Fender Acoustic Pak, that is a decent solid top acoustic, and comes with a gig bag, tuner, extra strings, picks, and some other stuff for $200. It's a pretty good deal, I think. Although we don't carry them at Guitar Center, I also like the Seagull guitars that they have at Evans Music City and H & H music. The Seagull S6 folk guitar is pretty cool, and sells for around $300.
Oops! Add some money to the kitty fool! I started out with a pawn shop bought Applause for my first guitar (still have it). I guess what I'm saying is since you are a beginner; you don't have to blow a lot of money on a guitar to start out with. Just go check out your local guitar shop and look at their used ones. Pick out something that feels and sounds good to you. Don't let someone else tell you what you should get. Like I'm doing...
Great advice for a beginner guitar player. My niece just started playing, and my brother asked me to go with him to Guitar Center to pick out a beginner guitar for her. We got her an Epiphone acoustic for $79. Rock....you will be able to find something you like for less than $100. Just start going to stores and checking out guitars.
Agreed. How a guitar feels is more important than the name. Pay particular attention to the width of the neck. If the neck is too narrow or too wide, it may be difficult for a beginner. Also, I recommend playing light, not extra-light, strings. Many folks say extra-lights are better for beginners, because they're a little bit easier on the fingers, but the sound produced from light strings is much brighter, and you'll build calluses that will allow you play almost any guitar.
That sounds like a good deal. Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm about to head out to guitar center to see what's up.
I agree with MC Mark's advice. I bought a $60 acoustic at Music Go Round about 5 years ago and it sounds and plays better than some $500 guitars. Try out a bunch of guitars and find the one that feels right for you.
I bought my Applause in (glup!) 1978 for $100! I consider it my "beach guitar," I have three more and I was going to give up on the Applause, but I took it this old hippie in the village and he did some refurbishing on it, and I swear it now sounds better than my $1500 Martin.
get a cole clarke..... bought one for my dad last year after extensive searching, there is a great guitar bbs to check out for advice, will try to find the address
I gotcha beat.... Back in 1998, I bought my 1954 Gretsch Electromatic....for only $400 Mine looks like the one this guy is playing, except mine is refinished in a red sunburst: Yep it's true...bought it in LA right before I moved back to Houston. Got the ad out of a Greensheet type paper they have out there (can't remember the name). Bought it from a guy who lived down in Long Beach who used to take it to Church every Sunday where he played in the Church band. He was moving out of LA (ironically back to Texas.....Dallas) and was selling everything he owned. The guy absolutely did not know what he had. It's worth more than that, although the guitar has been refinished a red sunburst (instead of the original chocolate sunburst) and has a non-original tailpiece. I've been told that it's worth probably $1,000, but if it were all original, it would be worth a whole lot more. Doesn't matter to me....it feels, plays and sounds great, and it is my "Den Guitar"...I keep it on a stand next to my stereo and it rarely leaves my house. So, yes Virginia, sometimes you can get a real find from ad newspapers and pawn shops! Keep hunting....I do it all the time!
Taylor - Big Baby- sweet sound for cheap- just take care of it, a little fragile. I think about $300.00 If you want to spend $100- yamaha, applause, fender- talk to Guitar Center.
The Taylor Big Baby is a nice little guitar. It's a little smaller scale (15/16) than a regular acoustic and no frills, but sounds nice and is really easy to play. I like it for fingerpicking stuff.
