First New Guitar

Subject: First New Guitar
From: John Galt
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 05:53 PM

My 17 year old son has been playing various guitars harvested from pawn shops ($50 or less) for about 4 years. He is yearning for a new guitar, and has been eyeing a Gretch, Hertiage Concert. I'm considering the purchase for Christmas but $600 seems like a bunch.....any advice would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: johnp
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 05:56 PM

spend more...you will save in the long run

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 06:21 PM

I've never had a new guitar in my life. And that's quite a long time. The one I use now was £10 in a charity shop needing a bit of loving care and attentioin a couple of years ago, and I wouldn't sell it for 20 times that. (It's in my picture in bbc's archive's.)

I can't remember being 17 too well, but I think a $600 dollar guitar would be likely to cramp your style. Particularly one bought for you by your father. You'd be scared to take the bugger anywhere interesting in case someone threw up on it or sat on it. For example the beer tent in a festival.

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: Wesley S
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 06:24 PM

I havn't played the model you mentioned but you should be able to get a pretty good Martin for that much or a little more. Ask the salesman to show you models that are not laminated. Try to get something with solid wood back and sides if possible. It will be better in the long run. Good Luck

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 06:46 PM

Might I be so bold as to recommend the Seagull from LaSiDo. The S6 is a wonderful, affordable guitar.. I've been playing mine for 15 years now... Hang on.. I'll see if I can find you a link...

Try This

I hope that html stuff works...

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: DonMeixner
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 09:40 PM

"Who is John Galt?"

I had a first new guitar once in the the days before children, payments, new rooves, cars, $125.00 sneakers, cable, computers, surgery. When I liked, cheap beer, cheaper whiskey, fast food, fast boats, fast 318's, late nites, Camel straights, and the memory of a particular woman. The Guitar was a Yamaha FG 180. I recommend it highly and that was in 1973.

Its an old guitar now and the children are almost gone, there are only a few payments left, a new roof, a new car, I still buy canvas sneaks, and I do appreciate cable, old films and some MTV, the computer is obvious, and the surgery was a success in many ways. The beer is much better now but I drink less, the whiskey is smoother and older, I drink wine more often too. Fast food is now, Lemon and garlic chicken on knoodles with a ceasare salad, crusty bread and dry whites. The fast boats are now any sailer I can get for a day, or any skiff I can pull in the shade where the bass lie up in the heat. The 318 is now a Mini Van. Nights are earlier now most times unless I'm online with the Catters, the camels are gone long ago. That particular women is so very much more than a memory now.

The first new guitar is now fairly old and it plays quite well. Sounds like a dream when good hands play it.

The moral here is spend the money on a good guitar to start with and you won't go wrong. It'll grow old with you and keep just as happy as all the stuff I mentioned, But find your own particular woman, they are harder to find, harder to keep, and a greater blessing than you can know when you are young.

Don

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From:
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 09:42 PM

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: JamesJimFolk
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 11:21 PM

Give him a gift certificate and/or let him pick the guitar. Sounds like he's already an experienced player - he'll know what he wants. You'll be a hero!

JJF

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: Sam Pirt
Date: 18 Dec 99 - 10:24 AM

The first new instrument is always a special one, I to this day can remember my first new Galotta accordion that I got on Christmas day 7 or 8 years ago. A long time ago I put in a thread about the best guitar to buy so search the past threads and you might find something.

Cheers, Sam

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: Larry Terrell
Date: 18 Dec 99 - 11:00 AM

Hello there. I am not too certain what style the Heritage Concert is, but Gretsch does have a good reputation. I'm down with the gift certificate suggestion: if my pops had trusted my judgement then, I'd have come out a little happier. The Seagull suggestion is very good. They make some darn fine acoustic instruments at a comparably affordable price. At 17, though, dependent upon how "sensible" your son is, he may not see it in that light. Too, you could majorly outfit a "used" favorite guitar of his to bring up to par with the instrument he wants. New accessories bring out the life in the previously-owned instruments. Whatever you all decide, please make sure to get a decent case. Protection goes a long way:-) Good luck and enjoy each other this holiday season! Larry Terrell

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From:
Date: 18 Dec 99 - 04:14 PM

I agree on the gift certificate, this way if he wants to add his own funds he'll get what he wants and won't be sorry so then he won't be pissed at you and everyone will be happy.

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Dec 99 - 04:32 PM

I got my Yamaha EF-10 Eterna for about $150.00 from the Sears catalog about 6 years ago, when I was 15. I love that guitar, in fact, it's sittng on my lap now, and I would never give it up. Sure, there's no fancy artwork, or mother-of-pearl position marker inlays, or curved plastic back. Hey, it may not even sound that good compared to more expensive guitars--but workhorses don't have to be pretty, they just need to get the job done.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From:
Date: 18 Dec 99 - 06:00 PM

i just got my first guitar, its a takamine g series which we paid less than 200 for. shop around, you'll probably find one a whole lot cheaper that will be just as loved and appreciated. good luck ^_^

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: jeffp
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 08:17 AM

I have to echo the gift certicate suggestions. Let him choose the guitar that sings to him. I still play the first steel string guitar I ever bought, a 1967 Epiphone Cortez. I paid $50 for it in 1972 and turned down a $200 offer in 1975. It has a classical-sized body with a very sweet tone. I actually prefer it to the D-sized Guild that I bought new in 1978 or so. Let him try a bunch. The right one will make itself known to him.

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 02:06 PM

I don't know the US market but another alternative that I haven't seen mentioned is a good second hand instrument and although I don't know the Gretch, there may be better used instruments for that money.

It seems to me that if you buy a good quality used instrument, it is unlikely to loose value and also, this may be just me but I find some of the new instruments sound a bit "tight" compared to instruments that have been played for a couple of years.

Ayway, it sounds as if he knows what he is looking for so that is probably the one he wants. The only other suggestion I have is that he makes sure that he does try a few different guitars (he might have done that already).

Jon

PS Someone mentioned the Yamaha FG180. I have a friend who owns one and it compares favourably with all the new guitars that I have seen in the say £300 (and possibly higher) range.

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: Tony Burns
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 04:52 PM

John, I think the key in your original post is that your son has been looking at a particular guitar. If you can afford that guitar get it. Buying anything else in the same price range or maybe even more is not respecting his choice. If you can buy it somewhere he can return it if he wants something else then that might be a good idea.

At about the same age my son had his eye on a black Fender acoustic that he was going to spend his own money on. He discussed it with me and I said I thought there were other guitars that would be better in the long run. He bought the Fender anyway and traded it in on a better guitar a couple of years later for one of the guitars I had suggested. He enjoyed the Fender for a while and out grew it but he got what he wanted at the time and that brings its own satisfaction.

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: Marymac90
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 06:51 PM

I agree with Tony and Jon.

If you respect his judgement, and give a gift certificate, or the model he wants, he will appreciate you and love the guitar. If YOU choose the one YOU think is best, he will resent you, and not appreciate the merits of the guitar, because it's not the one HE wanted. If You can't afford the one he wants, or really don't think it's worth the price, give him a gift certificate for what you can afford, and let him earn the rest.

Being an adolescent (and being a parent) are difficult enough-don't make this happy occaision into a struggle of wills. Be glad your son is taking such an interest in music. Someday he may come to you and ask your advice on a guitar, but not for a gew years yet.

May your family have a Merry, Peaceful Christmas,

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: Owlkat
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 03:10 AM

Hi hi. The first new guitar. Hm. I've never bought any new ones, but I have advised students and parents. I think letting the player have the choice that makes their ear and hands happy is the best thing. Bye bye. ;-) Mart

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: John Galt
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:57 AM

Thanks for all the advice.....I went with the gift certificate.....large discount retailer with a good reputation who will allow returns and has the Gretch 'Historic Series' G3700 in stock.

Seasons Greetings to all.....

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: DougR
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:40 AM

John:

I think you got a lot of good advice, and arrived and made a super decision!

DougR

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: JamesJimFolk
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 02:41 PM

John, glad to hear of your decision. Let us know what your son decides on. Happy Holidays!

Subject: RE: First New Guitar
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 02:49 PM

Lucky lad!