Guitar players need some help...

[RGraphics]

Hi, I want to start playing acoustic guitar which is something Ive always wanted to do and finally have the time. I need help looking for a good beginner guitar that will last for the whole learning experience. Does it also matter if i find something used like from a pawn shop and what should I look for.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ambrose]

congratulations

what type of music?

Pawnshops are great but you might need to have some knowledge going in.

I would say trust your gut and stick to name brands.

 

[Chrisp]

When I started learning the acoustic guitar earlier this year I had the same questions. A very good tutor gave me the following advice: It's hard to single one brand out as you would have to try out various guitars and judge them on their sound and feel. Even if you don't know how to play yet, you can usually tell if a specific guitar is the one for you or not. Best opinion really is to try them all and see which one resonates the most with you.

Choosing a guitar is very personal and you have to love the guitar before buying it. Shop around a bit, and try and a find a quiet spot in the store to get a feel for the guitar and if you like its sound. There are some excellent used guitars out there and some even sound better with age like the solid top models.

Once you have chosen a guitar, it might be worth having a guitar tech
check it over. Even cheap guitars can be adjusted to sound really good along with improved playability. Try and find a quiet area in the store to try them. Take your time as well so you can make the best decision.

If your'e interested - check out http://www.rhythmguitarzero2hero.com/

All the best.

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Dad bought me a Squire years back that I still enjoy playing, and I actually get a nice tone out of it. I can't imagine it cost more than $150, but it gets the job done, and because the fretboard is some sort of synthetic there is little upkeep.

Don't worry too much about your first setup. The music is mostly the player. Hell, Jack White plays (what used to be) a cheap, plastic Airline from a mail order catalog.

 

[laberinto24]

Right on!

I am a bass player although I did start out on guitar....from personal experience I can tell you that places like guitar center or musicians friend usually have some kind of newb starter pack. It usually includes a beginner guitar + bag + a few picks....something like that should be available for $100.00 give or take a few bucks.

If you do go to guitar center...their employees work for commission and can sometimes get a bit pushy so be prepared for that, don't let them push you into something more expensive.

Best to try out a super cheap instrument and see if it is really for you.

As far instruction....there are plenty of free resources online including blogs with free lessons/tabs etc. and youtube has plenty of good tutorials as well.

Best of luck!!

 

[Xman74]

Choosing a guitar is very personal and you have to love the guitar before buying it..Shop around a bit, and try and a find a quiet spot in the store to get a feel for the guitar and if you like its sound. There are some excellent used guitars out there and some even sound better with age like the solid top models.

Once you have chosen a guitar, it might be worth having a guitar tech
check it over. Even cheap guitars can be adjusted to sound really good along with improved playability. Try and find a quiet area in the store to try them. Take your time as well so you can make.the best decision.

+1 Very good advice.

Is there someone you know who has played acoustic guitars for awhile? If so, ask them to accompany you on your journey to visit your local pawn and guitar shops. His/her advice will cover the things you don't know about yet. But let YOUR ears and fingers do the choosing. As Chrisp said it is very personal and you are going to have to live with your new guitar for many, many hours to come. If your ears and fingers are happy, you're golden!

Finally, if you are really keen to play guitar, and it sound like you are, consider spending a bit more than you might otherwise think. A decent guitar will give you years and years of enjoyment. If and when you decide you are at a skill level where something truly better would suit your needs, then you can drop some serious coin. However, if you buy a cheapie now, you will almost certainly need to replace within a year or two as your skill level will quickly surpass a cheap guitar's function.

Now electric guitar are a whole other story, but we'll leave that for a different day.

Good luck.

 

[commanderkeen]

Yamaha makes good proper acoustics. Then again, as others have said, you might not like them so the best is to go to the store and look around for something you wouldn't mind looking at and playing. Strum open, maybe a few chords if you know some, see if you like the sound (this really isn't that important but will help keep you going once you get the basics down). One of my pet peeves is the Low E buzz a bunch of cheaper guitars exhibit, its when the string vibrates against the neck and makes a buzz sound.

 

[40boy]

Take a look at a Washburn D10S. They are pretty good starter guitar.
It's no Martin or Taylor, but it is a step up from the starter kit guitars.
Solid top, mahogany sides, Grover tuners. cost is less than $200.

Sounds good, stays in tune, and looks nice.

I agree that picking out a guitar is a very personal.
IMHO the Washburn is a good value and worth a look.

 

[Spivey]

It's tough to beat Alvarez. I have thier least expensive solid top acoustic guitar and it sounds pretty great. I think it listed for ~$250 and it's very well built.

 

[MartyPowerJazz]

I'd second the recommendation that you bring a friend who plays already, just to give the instrument a quick check. You should really like how it feels/looks/sounds, but an experienced eye will spot any issues that won't be apparent to a new player. Checking the action is a very good idea, especially at the nut - too many guitars have the nut cut too high, which makes it a bit more difficult than needed.

Good luck!
Marty

 

[Amer]

Take someone with you who knows about guitars if you can, but at the same time you have to pick what you want. I started electric and learned a bit then picked up a nice acoustic that will last me a lifetime for about $450 bucks. I passed up a lot of other acoustics that were cheaper and more expensive before I found the one I liked (an Ibanez A200, this one: http://www.ibanez.com/AcousticGuitars/model-A200ETBW). Honestly I'd go look at a nice expensive guitar, then a super cheap one, so you can feel, see, and hear the difference, then try to find one that is nice in your price range.

The other things to look at when choosing an acoustic are body size, body shape, and whether it has a cutout or not (the cutout section at the bottom of the body near the fretboard - makes it easier to access high frets, but really only necessary if you like to spit out some solos on the acoustic). The larger the body, the "deeper" the sound you will get, but the harder it might be to play. The one I picked out above is a medium sized body, so comfortable to play, but it also has an arched back so I can get a little more low end. Some people might not like that. You have to pick what you like otherwise you won't enjoy playing it.

Either way you're going to want more than one eventually if you take to it.

EDIT: And just some good brands for measure, from what I remember when I was looking for acoustics: Alvarez, Ibanez, Seagull, Yamaha, and always Fender and Gibson - but they are really known more for their electrics. Taylors and Martins and the like are probably more than you are looking to spend.

 

[BentonClay]

When I used to teach guitar I would tell the students' parents to set aside about $40 of their budget to have the guitar "set-up" for proper intonation by a local professional. Intonation is the guitar's ability to stay in tune no matter what key you play in. It also ensures the strings are not too far up from the fretboard, so that it is not unreasonably difficult to press them down. If a guitar sounds awful and hurts your fingers, it can be very de-motivating. On the other hand, having a guitar that is in tune and easy to play makes it much more enjoyable, and increases the chances of persevering with the instrument.

 

[RGraphics]

Wow! great advice here. Another of the reasons i want to start playing is because at our family gatherings since I could barely remember my uncle who recently passed always played on his guitar. At our recent gathering we noticed how we really missed his great tunes. I dont know anyone else that can play and get me through the picking that's why I thought B&B would be a great place to start.

Im thinking ill to start at local pawn shops and craigslist for something used that could possibly be already setup and ready for me to learn. i see that there's no real answer on to whats best but its to what feels good on hand.

This is all great information and the good thing is with Black Friday coming up I can also get something new at a decent price.

Keep the help coming, this thread will sure be helpful for others in the future.

Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[RGraphics]

One more thing. If Im looking for something used what are some things to look for that would make a guitar not good for play or be damaged in some way?

 

[commanderkeen]

You don't want the body banged up, superficial scratching is okay but no dents or cracks. The neck should be fairly straight, there could be some curvature but nothing that you notice without looking closely (all necks bend, and there is a bolt that can tighten it back into correct form). All the string attachments are there and the tuners work. The little bits that hold the strings up off the fretboard (the nut, which divides the head from the neck and the saddle at the other end) arent worn down. The fretboard is intact. Should be it, correct me if I missed anything.

 

[RCC]

You don't want the body banged up, superficial scratching is okay but no dents or cracks. The neck should be fairly straight, there could be some curvature but nothing that you notice without looking closely (all necks bend, and there is a bolt that can tighten it back into correct form). All the string attachments are there and the tuners work. The little bits that hold the strings up off the fretboard (the nut, which divides the head from the neck and the saddle at the other end) arent worn down. The fretboard is intact. Should be it, correct me if I missed anything.

assuming it's a steel string flat-top, check that the bridge is not separating from the top. (look for hairline splits between the two at the back). check that the top is not bowing (bellying out).
As above, the real thing that can't be worked around is a bad neck. warping and weird curves are show-stoppers even if you can dial out some using the truss-rod, check the fret wear, because that affects intonation.
Talk to the owner. if he's a flake, think twice before buying his guitar.

 

[Blue_2]

Electric or Acoustic?

TBH Without a guitar player with you it's going to be hard to know what "too much" bend or fret wear is acceptable (even with one it is). IMHO go for less wear and not a lot of money. When you can feel the differences between a Taylor and an Esteban, then buy a better guitar.

I'm just saying to be careful. There's a lot of bling and eye candy in the guitar world, and a LOT of stigma and misconceptions as well. Incredible used guitars can go for a few hundered.

 

[RGraphics]

Has anyone played with Mitchel guitars. I went last night to Guitar Center and played a little with one and the workmanship is really nice on them. The price range was about $179 with a Fender at about the same.

I also just got a $20 coupon with $99 or over purchase

 

[rickboone1]

True, stick with name brands. I love a Takamine, but others hate them. Can't ever go wrong with the sound quality of a Taylor, IMO. Just pick them up and see which feels best and sounds best to you.

 

[Blue_2]

They're not bad in that price range.

The best starter guitar is the one that you'll play every day. If you liked it and it felt good, then go for it.