What makes a good guitar for a beginner?

[Fat Tone]

My son got an acoustic guitar for Christmas, and I've really enjoyed playing it. Trouble is it is only 30" and the strngs are too close for me to play chords reliably (although the close frets makes it a little easier for me to stretch).

So, I'm looking to spend a little on an acoustic for myself. I'm looking at a Squier by Fender (only £80 from www.argos.co.uk) as it seems a step up from the cheapest they sell and I'm not sure its worth going to the next price bracket (£120 and up), but I know very little about this.

I see EBuyer do some acoustics at £25 but they must be awful, despite the reviews. I got a trumpet from them for £35 (normally £50) and the valves are quite temperamental and it puts me off playing as much as I would.

ISTR there are some guitar players on here. All advice welcome.

T.

[az]

Why don't you go to a musicians' shop and play around with the cheap models they have on display there, and maybe get some advice there (in addition to what you get here, of course)?

[Gurm]

You get... what you pay for. That said, there are perfectly decent guitars for a hundred bucks (USD) for beginners that are full-sized and don't sound terrible.

If you get serious, you'll outgrow anything under $300 pretty quickly, though. But if you don't get ery serious, you haven't wasted $300.

That said, don't even ASK what I play.

[az]

So, Gurm, what do you play?

[Gurm]

So, Gurm, what do you play?

Ha. At the moment, I play a Taylor Koa wood 400 series. Nice warm tones. I like my brother's better - every Koa guitar is a bit different and I just like his tones better, but mine is still pretty damn nice. Maple top, koa back and sides.

A ... bit ... pricier than the ones FT would be looking at.

[Mehen]

Definitely go and try playing a bunch. Sometimes what the majority likes isn't the same as what you would like.

I have some old acoustic (can't even remember what brand) that was picked up from a pawn shop years ago, it is plenty if you don't have real high demands.

As for electrics, I have 2 Ibanez guitars (one with Seymour Duncan pickups & floyd-rose bridge), 1 cheapo immitation fender, and 1 Ibanez 4-string bass. I have a Mesa Boogie Recto-verb head and Boogie Oversized Recto-cab. An example of what I mentioned before, a lot of people don't like the Ibanez sound as much as others, but I find it to my liking. So there.

Still dreaming of a Gibson though

[Gurm]

Oh, I forgot electric!

I play an ESP electric. Very pretty. Black hardware, Duncan variable pickups (the kind that can be humbuckers or not), and no tremolo (long story there). I like it - it's shaped and sounds a lot like a PRS (Paul Reed Smith) which is what I really want to own eventually (y'know, when I have $1000 to drop on an electric). I run it through a Crate programmable modeling amp.

[Fat Tone]

Given that I'm still struggling to do basic chords, I'm definitely not spending a lot on this (yet?).

I'm home with the 'flu, so wifey fetched me the one I mentioned earlier. Argos has a great returns policy, so if it turns out to be naff I can return within 16 days. I will visit the local music shop as soon as I'm well enough.

Thinking in terms of construction features, what should I look for? The fittings differ somewhat from Luke's small guitar. For example, my tuners have closed mechanisms linked to vertical chrome pegs, whereas lukes are open, linked to horizontal bars. All my strings are steel (metal at least) whereas Luke's are half plastic. Also the mechanism for attaching the bottom of the strings on mine seems to be into a round cream peg (no idea how to change tem!), again different. Its a lot louder too, presumably a lot of that it down to size.

Dunno what I think about it really. I'm definitely back to square one learning the larger geometry of it, and driving thr family mad!

[RedRed]

I recommend a yamaha acoustic or an aria for electric.....

neither should be much over 200 squid (for a good starter)....

both will be set up fine for starters - you dont want to start messing with fret-board filing and moding pickups at the start (though a nice set of Semour Duncans blades always go down a treat!)


If you know anyone who knows anything about guitaurs, they can be bargins at second hand shops (or cash converters style things).... I got an aria pro there 10 years ago, and had it valued two years ago at over £1000...... (it cost 300)

I would unspeakables for a messa boogie amp....

[RedRed]

The gut type (plastic rtealy) strings are typical of the spainish style. (as well as the pegs you discribe). You will probably find the fret board is almost flat too - like a plank on the business end.....

Harder to learn, IMO (but sounds warmer)....

Standard acoustinc here is called the 'country style...' It will be steel (or possibly bronze (on the bottom strings) stringed, have a more curved neck (i think its about a 3 yard diameter). Generally these have a lower 'action' (ie the strings are lower to the fret-board....) - too low and they buzzz.. to high and they loose pitch whn you depress tehm, and they squeek more when you change chords.

Country guitars are easier to learn - I feel - especially for basic chord work (the Spainish style is more suited to picking)..

If you ever plan to go electric, you will have a devil of a time changing from a Spainish....

Also (for every Spainish I have played (and its not been many )) they dont keep tune very well - not good for learning when there are enough bum notes!!!

The pegs pop out - they are just held in with friction. THey have a groove along which the string rides - the string has a nut or a Knot at one end - simply pus the string back into the hole, and then pudh the peg in!

Check out google for some great (mostly) free tutorials on basic guitar picking/Chord striumming - then its blisters and practice all the way. I also suggest growing your thum nail on your right hand (if you are right handed) - the wrong sort of chick will spot you out as a guitar player a mile off! (at least they did when I was 18! )

[Mehen]

Ignoring the style of play - I find the classical (spanish) to be easier to play for beginners.

[Helevitia]

Ha. At the moment, I play a Taylor Koa wood 400 series. Nice warm tones. I like my brother's better - every Koa guitar is a bit different and I just like his tones better, but mine is still pretty damn nice. Maple top, koa back and sides.

A ... bit ... pricier than the ones FT would be looking at.

wow, a Koa guitar! How much did that puppy set you back? Most people don't know but Koa wood is among the rarest in the world and pretty expensive.

[Helevitia]

Oh, I forgot electric!

I play an ESP electric. Very pretty. Black hardware, Duncan variable pickups (the kind that can be humbuckers or not), and no tremolo (long story there). I like it - it's shaped and sounds a lot like a PRS (Paul Reed Smith) which is what I really want to own eventually (y'know, when I have $1000 to drop on an electric). I run it through a Crate programmable modeling amp.

Sweet, what year is your ESP? I have a 2005 ESP LTD Viper EC-1000. Mine has EMG 81/85's. I too want a PRS, but I am going to buy an acoustic first and then get a PRS down the road.

Sorry to hijack the thread, I'm not great about picking out acoustic guitars since I play mostly electric.

[VJ]

I got a Yamaha Pacifica 112 (electrical) to begin with. A very nice guitar, but too bad I couldn't learn to play it due to arthritis.

But somehow, I don't have the heart to sell it... So it's been sitting on the shelf for years...


Jörg

[Gurm]

wow, a Koa guitar! How much did that puppy set you back? Most people don't know but Koa wood is among the rarest in the world and pretty expensive.

It was pretty pricey, although we get really good deals. My parents are professional musicians, so whenever I want an instrument I have the "my family spend XX,000 dollars a year on gear here" discount. I think this particular Koa (acoustic only, no electronics) set me back... $1100? Maybe $1200? Something like that. Previously, all through college I played an Ovation Custom Balladeer with active electronics. The kind with the white front and the calembic graphic coating on the neck. That was a decent completely predictable guitar which now travels from country to country with my father when he gets a gig outside the USA - precisely because it's so predictable.

Koa IS really rare, and I want to reassure people that Taylor ONLY uses fallen wood. They would never cut down a tree which many feel ought to be protected!