Pelican Parts Forums - I want to take up guitar. Where do I go and what to buy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puma (Post 9325843)

I've played guitar for thirty years I've probably helped at least one hundred people start. Here's what you need:

1. A cheap, ideally 70's era acoustic guitar of any recognizable brand and is made of real wood. Last guitar I bought cost $36 dollars. Don't get an electric, you'll spend too much time fiddling and no time learning. Note that only very high dollar new guitars are made of wood.

2. Take said guitar to a Luthier and have him cut you a bone nut and bone saddle. Don't settle for any other type of material. Have the Luthier set the neck, action, and string the guitar. This should be at least $100-200. If the Luthier tries to sell you some newfangled "bone" find another Luthier. Good luthiers are older guys. Use ultra light strings.

3. Take at least one professional lesson so you can learn at least one strum pattern, circular picking, finger targeting, basic chords, and practice techniques.

4. Practice every other day and do it with intent. Good practicing leads to good habits. In six months you'll be rockin'. Playing guitar is really easy.

5. Wash your hands before playing, it'll make your strings sing longer.

6. Download a free guitar tuner for your phone. Easy.

Have fun!

Excellent advice, but with respect, I disagree with about point one. A 40 year old guitar is a hit or miss proposition for a beginner. IMHO- what the OP has done is exactly right. New entry level guitars are generally superior (for the price) thanks to modern mfr, and will come out the box playable, stable, sounding OK, and thats what matters for a learner.

Next time around, there is certainly much joy in elderly guitars. And yes youre right. Guitar is easy!

EDIT: Puma's post may be a bit confusing. Most acoustic guitars are made of wood. Puma is referring to is "solid wood". Solid wood guitars, where the soundboard, sides and back are made from solid timbers, rather than laminated woods tend, these days to expensive. One reason is because of the difficulty and time required in bending solid woods to the shape of a guitar (especially cut out guitars). Laminates are much easier and cheaper to work.

Most inexpensive guitars are made entirely of laminates. Better guitar have a solid top and laminated sides/back. The specs on BillyBeks Yamaha - "The 730S has a Solid Sitka Spruce Top, Rosewood Back and Sides and a Rosewood Fingerboard." That means sides/back are made of laminated Rosewood.