Beginner guitar

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: Chris Green
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 02:17 PM

Wow! People actually BUY banjos?! :)

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: DonMeixner
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 01:20 PM

Besides, really good banjos are easy enough to find in ditches, dumpsters and skips. Right next to accordions and bodrhans.

Don

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 10:31 AM

Banjoman - Thats an unkind suggestion for someone just starting out- he is going to have enough trouble developing any 'Street Cred' any way without having to put up with the banjo jokes as well . And I have a spare five string myself as a matter of interest !!

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 07:25 AM

Buy a banjo

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: DonMeixner
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 01:02 AM

The new Elderly instruments catalog just came out and they have a new Yamaha dreadnaught for sale in the $150.00 range. Elderly maintains their guitars have a good set up when they leave the store. You might consider a guitar from Elderly Instruments in East Lansing, Mich.

Don

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: Grab
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 06:57 PM

A guitar bought new from a reputable music shop should *not* need setting up - the shop should already have done it! But if you buy from Costco or Walmart or somewhere similar, there might be problems. Yamaha is a decent company, but guitars don't always come straight from the manufacturer with things set up properly, and where a music shop will make sure it's OK, Costco will just put the box on the shelf without checking.

Re the "avoiding formica" tip from Don, aim for one *without* any colour scheme - no sunburst or green/blue/purple varnish or whatever. These are often just used to make a crap instrument sell, and the instruments are often just veneered plywood. Ply sides/back are OK, but aim for a solid top. Don't bother with brands too much, bcos a feature of low-end instruments is variability, so just look for one that sounds nice.

"Dreadnaught" is not the only full-size kind of guitar. A dreadnaught goes in very little at the "waist", which tends to give it a louder, deeper sound (at the risk of sounding muddy). The other main shape is the "jumbo" style which has a much more pronounced waist (like a classical guitar), and this tends to give more clarity to the sound (at the risk of sounding tinny). Which to get is personal preference, so your son would need to hear a shop assistant play them and decide which he prefers.

Or another way to start is on a cheapish nylon-string classical. Nylon strings are much easier on the fingers, which is good for starting out, and the guitars tend to be significantly cheaper. After a year or so, he'll be in a position to go into a guitar shop and try out the steel-strings himself. I don't know how things work in the US, but in the UK it's quite common to learn on a cheap classical and then trade up to a proper steel-string - hence there tend to be a fair number of cheap classicals floating around second-hand.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: Tansy
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 04:47 PM

I have a friend who bought one of those Estevan guitars from the infomercial entitled "Gift of music" or some such nonsense..it's on late nights on the National Geographic channel.. for her teenager..it's a standard looking acoustic with a few frills you'd not often see for such a low price and they've been very happy with it. He's taking lessons and he says it performs nicely. I haven't seen it or much of the commercial, but he's not the first person I've known to have gone that route. Best to ask some people here about this guitar though since it's specially produced for the Infomerical and may not have the back-up service you'd want long-term. I think it's a one of those guitars that tries to be the best of both worlds: folk & classical. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't.

I'll have to ask my Brother-in-law what he did with my old Aspen steel string. If it's playable and he's not using it..maybe I can get it to you for the cost of shipping.

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: the fence
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 10:09 AM

I purchased a new Yamaha guitar (beginners bottom of the range) for about £90, Played it for an hour a day first 2 years and it still sounded and worked as good when I sold it as it did when I bought it. It went to another guitar beginner who is using it now (1 year later) and apart from strings has had nothing done to it. Still sounds great too!!! Maybe I was just lucky?

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 09:47 AM

A second hand guitar is a better buy IF it is in good condition !!
It will NOT depreciate in value the way a new one will , and any possible problems will be immediately noticeable ! BUT get it checked by someone who knows what they are doing !

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: Chris Green
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 08:33 AM

Don't know if it's the same in the States, but in the UK you can generally haggle about the price in music shops. Often they'll offer you a discount for cash, and if you do wind up paying the price on the tag they'll generally throw in a few extras like spare strings, plectrums, a strap etc. I'm with Martin on this one - it's best to buy off someone who knows what they're talking about!

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From:
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 06:12 PM

OK, thanks again for everything and I'll let you know what happens. I know of 2 places nearby that specialize in guitars (acoustic and electric), I'll check them out. Didn't realize a guitar needed to be set up--as I said, I know nothing about them. Thanks for suggesting some brands, too. You folks have been a big help.

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:50 PM

I bought a surprisingly decent cheap electric guitar *with amp* (a Silvertone) for $100 at Wal-Mart a couple of years ago, for a son who, in the end, never got serious about playing the guitar.

The instrument is nothing special, and the amp is dinky -- a "practice amp" -- but the strings stay in tune and the action is nice and low, very easy to play. It turned out to be fairly ideal as an instrument on which to learn. I fool with it once in a while, especially when I have a chance to play it through a *real* amp, but generally much prefer my own 35-year-old acoustic dread.

I don't think a similarly-priced acoustic would have been nearly as playable. I've been playing for 40 years, and I can't hold the strings down to get a decent sound out of most cheap high-action acoustic guitars. I have come to the conclusion that -- contrary to what certainly seems to make sense -- a beginner might very well be better off with a cheap electric guitar than a cheap acoustic.

Of course, if what your son really wants is an acoustic dreadnaught, he won't be at all pleased with a brand-X electric axe.

Yamahas are decent instruments, and their dreadnaught models are quite popular. Also, as MG mentioned, Epiphone (Gibson's bargain nameplate, formerly an independent company) and Fender Squire are reliable lower-priced brands.

As others have noted, every individual instrument is different, and an experienced player should help you shop in order to help choose the best single guitar from among those available in your price range. Also, while a music store will probably charge a higher price than a discount chain, the difference is worth it *if* the music store employes craftsmen who will set up the instrument for you.

Shopping for used guitars *might* yield a real "diamond in the rough," a very good instrument for a bargain price, but would require time and consultation with someone who can offer a bit of expertise.

Good luck!

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: Once Famous
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:34 PM

Costco does have high quality products overall.

However, you are sacrificing service and knowledge for a few bucks. I would reccommend that you buy from a music store.

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From:
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:26 PM

In defense of Costco, they have consistently high quality products, we've not been disappointed to date with their stuff. If the Yamaha in question is a good guitar, don't understand why it shouldn't be purchased there.

Anyway, I live in Carlsbad, CA, about 30 miles north of San Diego. And the Yamaha has steel strings. Sis steered me in the same direction--start with steel.

Thanks again for all your input, much appreciated.

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: DonMeixner
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:19 PM

Cathy ,

Where do you live? Some one of us may be near by or knows of a good dealer in your part of the wilderness.

Don

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: DonMeixner
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:17 PM

Cathy,

I learned on a Yamaha and I still have it. They can be great guitars. Is this one steel or nylon strings? There is a big difference and both have their positives. I think the steel string is more versatile and he will go further with it at the onset. A Classical guitar, nylon strings, is a style people grow into. Few start there.

Have some one go with you to play it. I don't imagine Costco does any set up and it isn't likely that a guitar out of the box will have the best playable set up.

Don

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: Once Famous
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:14 PM

don't buy a guitar from Costco.

Buy a guitar from someone in the business.

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From:
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:05 PM

Ok, Ok, I hear you. So, say I take another tack and go for a new guitar? I'd have to come up with almost double the money, but what do you think of Yamaha guitars? Our local Costco has the Yamaha FG403S with soft case and a few other goodies for $189. It has a solid sitka spruce top with nato back, neck and sides, mahogany body. 1 yr warranty parts/90 days labor.

And thanks so much for your input--I've realized I simply don't have the time to scout out the kind of used guitar at the price that I was hoping for.

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: Once Famous
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 04:48 PM

Go to a large chain like Sam Ash or Guitar Center and try the Epiphones, Fender Squires, or Yamahas in the 100-150 range.

Take along someone who plays and has an idea about the overall action and playability.

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: DonMeixner
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 04:44 PM

Hi Cathy,

Well here is my opinion. Unless you have time to look for a decent used guitar in your price range buy him a puppy. You just can't go after a good beginner type guitar without spending some time doing it. OR Have some one you know and trust who also is a decent musician do the leg work for you.

The sad fact is there are as many guitars in closets because they were too cheap or poorly set up or outright un playable as there are guitars that the new owner just lost interest in.

Nothing is a better desire killer for the budding guitarist than a guitar that can't be tuned or has an action that Superman couldn't press down. It is the type of stuff that is usually found on cheap guitars (Avoid QVC and Estaban like the plague).

Better an accoustic guitar that looks like hell but tunes right and plays well than a new formica and chrome accoustic or electric guitar that looks "Just Real Keen".

You can find used accoustic guitars in your price range that are good beginners. But you have to find them. I suggest an accoustiv very strongly. Otherwise you are looking at a guitar and an amp for the your $100.00 and that will guarranty even less quality.

Good luck.

Don

Subject: RE: Beginner guitar
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 04:41 PM

Give him the money with the caveat that it is intended only toward purchase of a guitar. Then have him and a guitar player friend do the shopping.

I've had well-intended loved ones buy me musical gifts before and they're usually just not quite what I want !

Subject: Beginner guitar
From:
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 04:29 PM

Hello everyone,

My sister, who has been playing guitar and singing for many years, suggested I post to this forum. My 23 year old son wants a beginner guitar, I'd like to buy one for him for Christmas. I know nothing about guitars, and don't have much money to spend. Say about $100 for a decent used guitar.

I've seen what look like some good guitars for affordable prices on Ebay, but Sis says don't buy a guitar without listening to it first. However, I really don't have the time or inclination to spend a whole bunch of time on this, as the guitar could wind up in the back of the closet.

If any of you could give me some guidelines about what to look for and possibly some reliable brands, I'd really appreciate it. He wants a full-sized guitar--dreadnaught, right?--other than that, anything goes.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cathy
[e-mail]