Another Music Thread, concerning guitars

So all you gee-tar players out there, what do you recommend for a newbie player with very little experience? Something that's not too expensive.


(The Musicians thread has inspired me.)

You know what, the best cheap guitar I've ever had the chance to play is a high end Yamahah. Now, by cheap, I mean around the $350 range. You really can't get a good flat-top for less than that. And Yamahah makes some pretty crappy low end guitars. Just take a look at the Sears catalogue to find those.

Anyway, the high end ones have a great low tone, and hold tune quite well. If you're learning, and have long enough fingers, you might like to try a classical style. The necks are wider and nylon strings are extremely easy on the fingers, as well as have very soft action, but they'll cost a bit more.

um...I am hoping for something less than $100 USD, just in case I lose interest.

ok. That's also in Canadian funds, which is sitting around $0.80 USD right now.

Here's a link to their acoustics, if you're interested. That's about what I paid for mine, but I'm sure they have some nice models at more reasonable prices.
yamaha guitars

ah, I just remembered. That was for an Acoustic Ellectric, so the prices for a standard flat-top are probably much better than that.

This post has been edited by oldraven on 14-Jan-2004, 03:16 PM

Thanks!

Ravenwing I don't want to contradict Oldie but there are some good guitars out there in your price range that he may not be aware of.

I work for a guitar company during the day so being on the inside I can definitely say that things have changed in the entry level guitar business in the last two years. What Oldie said was true before that. Also when you go with a highly advertised brand like Yamaha you are going to bump the price by almost double right out of the gate.

Most of your decent entry level guitars are made at one of 3 or 4 factories in China so you are better off getting a guitar that you are not paying for the name. (Particularly if your goal is to learn to play guitar as opposed to getting a fantastic sounding guitar, odds are you won't be able to tell or appreciate the difference in the beginning)

These are the most important things to look for in your guitar.
#1 is the store going to do a set up and make the guitar as playable as possible for you.
#2 regardless of the factory warranty how is the store going to stand behind the product - having had warranty issues in the past this is a very very important thing to know about up front.
#3 the guitar itself should have - sealed diecast tuning keys, nickel silver frets, a rosewood fretboard (avoid dyed boards as they will wear quickly), a mahaney neck. It's okay if the top is laminated - it is actually stronger than solid wood and on a less expensive guitar this means less likelyhood of buckle in later life and that the sound that you get on day one is the sound you will get years later. (laminated tops do not sound the best and they do not improve with age but as a beginner you want something playable)
#4 play several guitars as inexpensive guitars are all very handmade and the necks will problably all feel different.

Finally if the guitar does not come strung this way get them to put acoustic extra light strings on it. Guage 10 - 46 the most important number here is the 10 if the heavy string is a 47 or 48 don't worry about that.

As far as a brand name that fits this bill and that you should be able to buy at $100 (insert shameless plug here) the Indiana Scout is what I recommend (as I work for the company - just one of the brands we do ) Also a Johnson 620 would be the identical description but may cost $10 - 20 more.

If you have any other questions that I did not answer or that I made you think of just PM me and I will get right back with you.

I hope it all works out!

Peace

ooh, thanks for the info!

Wouldn't you rather learn to play DRUMS ????

I already can, some.

I'm not very knowledgeable about guitars, but maybe (with the info above) you might be able to find a good guitar second hand?

You should be fore warned Raven Wing that drummers seem to have an unusually high incidence of mental illness (present company excluded of course)

I'm not sure if this is a result of playing the instrument or an indication of the type of individual that is drawn to play it.

If you decide to buy a used instrument
1.) be sure that the instrument has no buzzing as you depress the frets and play them all the way up the neck
2.) be sure to check all of the joints - particularly where the neck joins the body to make sure they are tight and not coming apart. This may manifest itself as and apparent bubbling under the clear coat.
3.) inspect the neck for straightness, twisting and cracking it is okay if it has a bow that looks like a valley but if it has a bow going the other way do not buy it.
4.) run your hand down the side of the neck to be sure that the frets are not sticking out
5.) look at the bridge and try to slide a piece of paper underneath to see if it is lifting
6.) shake the guitar to make sure that it does not have any bracing rattleing.


That should give you a good idea of what it is.

The same has been said of French Horn players. We are a strange bunch. (take my avatar as an example )

hey, I like your avatar

The same has been said of French Horn players. We are a strange bunch. (take my avatar as an example )

I feel your voice changing

I do too