Good beginner guitar

[pookie]

I'm getting ready to hit 29 and I figured a gift to myself might be to finally pick up a guitar and learn how to play. I've wanted to for years and never been able too thanks to time constraints. I saw the thread about guitars for someone who already knows how to play and it made me think about this. I'm thinking an acoustic, but that's about all I got. So any recommendations or ones I should stay away from?

[nineoneone]

I would do the accoustic guitar . I play and have for 30+ yrs and still play accoustic. Don't hurry into one guitar, look around play different kinds and see what you like and how they feel. I'm not a equipment buff. I just purchased a Mandolin and I'm enjoying learning the new stuff. I love the sound. Play around with it. If you go electric you'll need amps and cords and picks and roadies...... have fun.

[spencejm]

For many years the Washburn D-10S was the most recommended acoustic guitar for beginners. I also really like the Seagull guitars. For your money you'll get a solid wood top and laminate back and sides. It's been my experience you'll need to spend over $700.00 to get solid back and sides. If the ad copy does not specify SOLID, it's not. It will be a laminate.

The most important thing is to get a good set up done. A good set up will get the strings down lower to the fret board and just generally help the guitar play better and easier.

Electrics are generally easier to play but you have to deal with an amp, etc. and the need for a set up still applies.

The main thing is to play! Lessons are also a good idea.

Joe

[Les Paul]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Roland-Micro-Cube-Battery-Powered-Amp-with-COSM-and-Effects?sku=480196

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/fender--electric-guitar?N=100001+304275+200984

I would start with that first Fender there. That little Roland has some effects built in, is very portable, light and cool.

If you don't have the patience to stick with guitar you can hang it on your wall easier than an acoustic.

They haven't been making Strats for 52 years for no reason. And when you get good you need one of these.http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Premium-Plus-Electric-Guitar?sku=517185

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-1959SLPX-Head-and-1960AV1960BV-Cab-Full-Stack-Package?sku=482702

And you'll be a rock and roll star.

[nostatic]

you have some decisions to make. First:

electric or acoustic?

pick the one you think you'll want to pick up. If you're leaning acoustic, then you have another choice:

steel or nylon strings?

nylon is easier on the fingers and generally is easier to play. Traditional "classical" guitars are nylon string (usually with a wide neck). Steel string acoustics vary according to body shape/style (with dreadnaught being the most common) and neck width. In general finger style guitars have wider necks than strumming guitars.

Don't skimp buying your first one. There is nothing worse than trying to learn on a crappy acoustic with a terrible setup. You can get a perfectly servicable guitar for about $500. But $100? Probably not. If you know someone who has been playing for a long time they might have a used one, or could help you look for one. Also, if you find a teacher (highly recommended), they can help you find a guitar. BUT if they are associated with a store, beware being sold something for more than you should pay.

[HardDrive]

Dunno guys. I started last fall with a $150 Yamaha, and it has been fine for me. I have played more expensive guitars, and the tone is certainly sweeter, action is lower. But I don't feel like my cheapie holds me back at all.

[john walker's workshop]

electrics are a lot easier on the fingers. find a US tele on craigslist if you have large hands, a mex strat if you don't. get some headphones to plug into it so you don't drive everyone crazy. and have fun. a cheap drum machine is a cool learning tool also.

[on2wheels52]

I've been waiting for the tape where you learn to play in your sleep.
Have had hundreds come through the pawn shop, I'd sell a good starter for $100-150 (X 2 or 3 new). Nice if you can have a friend who plays check out the one's you're interested in.
Jim

[Nostril Cheese]

Just dont buy one of those Esteban guitars.....

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally posted by john walker's workshop
find a US tele on craigslist if you have large hands, a mex strat if you don't. .

funny, I found it the other way around.

[craigster59]

I would start acoustic and pick up either a Seagull as mentioned before or try a Blueridge from musiciansfriend.com. It's never too late to pickup an instrument and relax and pick after a hard day on the job. Good luck.

[stuartj]

IMHO- Get an accoustic. Anything by Yamaha for example, in their lower or midrange end. May as well get a steel string and earn your callouses. Id find a guiatr playing friend and find a good 2nd hand one. There is always a ready supply of good instrumnents from people who buy them and then realise it takes time and application, and after all, the Simpsons is on TV.

Dont get caught up on solid timbers, just find one that plays nice. All solid wood guitars are very expensive, and uneccessary for a beginner. Two of my fav guitars are from Yairi (JPN) a maker that specialises and prefers laminates with solid tops.

Dont learn on an electric. It teaches bad, lazy habits. You can tell when someone has. They struggle with acoustics, and attempt to cover a multitude of sins with distortion, volume and and dodgy Warrant licks.

The acoustic is just a box with strings. You must learn to use your hands, or the sound just wont come out. Those skills translate directly to the electric guitar- the opposite aint neccessarily so....

Lessons are recommended. Starting can be frustrating.

[pookie]

Thanks guys I like both acoustic and electric. I was leaning more towards acoustic in the beginning. So is it a good thing to go to a store and just check things out see what I like and don't like see what feels good? What if I tell you what I want to play? I want to play gasp...country, reggae, the blues, and maybe some old hair band stuff an odd combination I know. Ha typing it even made me laugh. Guess that really doesn't help huh?

None of the friends I have around me now play I already asked. Two real close buddies of mine play, one is in SC and the other is in FL though.

There is a shop just up the street from me maybe I will stop in there tommorw on the way home.

What about buying used is that considered ok? Or should I stay away from used stuff?

[jim72911t]

I'd say start with an acoustic, as well. An electric will be much easier to fret but you will probably (like others have said) pick up some bad habits. Plus, there is nothing quite as relaxing as grabbing your acoustic when you get home from work and plopping down on the couch and strumming a few chords. The electric seems to be more of a "commitment."

I see nothing wrong with buying used, just make sure you buy something decent. I've bought nice used instruments, as well as crappy ones. Same can be said for new. Most importantly, buy something that feels good in your hands and makes you want to play. Have it properly set up for action and intonation and you'll be good.

Jim

[R Wilco]

Check out your local Guitar Center. They have consignment gits out the kazoo. Name brands at decent prices. And they have any new electric or acoustic if you have that inclination. Here is the way I look at it. After being around guitars and players for 40+ years I would say 8 out of 10 give it up after the first year. Get an electric. All these guys telling you to buy this or that acoustic have stuck with it obviously. All well and good but short term go electric. If you like it and want to stick with it then you can buy the Martin or Taylor acoustics.

[Shuie]

What is your goal? At the end of the day, what kind of music do you want to be able to play? Do you even want to play music, or do you just want to own gear? While searching out vintage guitars, I've met and heard stories of plenty of older people that never learned to fret a chord and owned specific guitars just to own them because thats what kids were into.

Safest answer given the info thats been provided is to buy or even borrow a decent full scale acoustic and to take some lessons. Learn basic theory and develop your ear first. Worry about the gear later.

If you don't know what guitar you might want to learn on, go to your local Guitar Center, tell a salesperson your situation, and let them guide you through a test drive of some of the guitars. Write down the make, model, name of something that feels comfortable to you and look for a used one on ebay.

I'll stress the 'get an acoustic first' theory again. If you learn on an electric and then go to an acoustic, you're going to find out really quickly that your hands will not be conditioned to the heavier strings and picking or fretting techniques.

[pookie]

In the end I'd like to be able to play music. I'm thinking more sitting around the campfire or BBQ for a little playing laughing, a good time. Getting up and playing in a band isn't a goal for me. Don't get me wrong I want to practice and be good, I've just got no inclination to play for money or in front of crowds. Besides I can't sing worth a fart so I'm pretty sure I won't be having a musical career. I would like to be able to play and play well though.

What about some of these???

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/msg/241595646.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/msg/241028790.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/msg/240033618.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/msg/240994368.html

[Shuie]

OK, cool. An acoustic will be perfect. The Yamaha looks good. Don't buy anything that doesn't have a hard case. Check your local newspaper also. Im always surprised at the stuff I find in the newspaper classifieds.

[azasadny]

Originally posted by Nostril Cheese
Just dont buy one of those Esteban guitars.....

Or an Ovation, either...

[craigster59]

That Blueridge on Craigslist is a nice guitar. I have one and they are modeled after a pre-war Martin. Great tone and playability mostly for blues and bluegrass fingerpicking. Retail is $900 new, but can be found at musiciansfriend and maurysmusic for around $675.