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Need some advice on buying a guitar for a beginner
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| b1_ |
I'm about to buy my first guitar. All I'll be using it for is learning. Can I get the cheapest piece of wood out there or should I try for a little quality because it will be
a. easier to learn with
b. won't encourage bad habits
c. nicer sound will keep you motivated
d. bla blah bla blah blah blaaah.
Should I get a 6 strng acoustic, or electric? Metal strings or nylon? What's a good brand? What should I watch for in the store so I don't get ripped off.
Any advice welcome |
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| DJ 00 Tommy |
I dont play guitar but alot of my friends do.
I would suggest starting on a spanish guitar (yes, just a normal 6 string acoustic guitar).
Im not to sure but i think metal strings hold their tune longer but metal strings are bad if guitars have a weak neck/bridge/whatever you call the long part. |
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| KilldaDJ |
i play the guitar and i suggest either a steel string acoustic dreadnought for learning chords and such and u dont need an amp
or a cheap stratocaster for the electric sound, gathered with an amp and perhaps cheap multi FX pedal, u can more or less achieve any sound u want (also the stratocaster that i got has a lovely string action so it wont hurt ur fingers if u play for extended periods)
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| BOOsTER |
Nylon strings won't cut as much into your fingers.
one of the advantages of electric guitar is also that the strings aren't so high above the fretboard, therefore less presure is required to fret them...and also the neck of electric guitars is usually a lot thinner...that makes it easier to fret some of the more complicated chords...
The other things is, that when you have an electric...when you want to play you always have to plug it in an amp, have to have electricity etc...
Acoustic on the other side is just "take me and play me", also you can take it wherever you want to...usually taking an electric guitars to camping or something...is kinda trouble...
What I would suggest is that you should go and try out as many guitars as you can...just hold them...maybe try to pick an easy chord (someone can teach you I'm sure) and see which you like better, if electric or acoustic.
One more thing is that you really have to love your guitar...because when you don't you'll abandon it very fast...The guitar even it's design and everything must be something you love...so you have always passion to play it! :)
I myself have three guitars...one is an acoustic one built in 1912 by a german guitar-maker, the other 2 are Epiphone Les Paul (Sunburst) and a cheap stratocaster...(which I love even more than the expensive LP). |
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| b1_ |
Thx for your help.
Definately I'll go in a get the guy to play a cord on a few so I can listen and choose acordingly.
I think I'll just go with the dreadnought acoustic. Electric maybe later. I probably prefer the electric sounds and the music it makes but for now let's just see if I can play.
What would be a good brand? What about Fenders? And what is the difference between a AU$200 (about US$150) acoustic guitar and a AU$400 and a AU$600. Is there a noticeable sound quality difference? |
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| Pjotr G |
just start out with cheap nylon spanish guitar. Even if you move up some time, it's good to have a cheap one around you can take to bonfires and sing kumbayaa on.
75$ oughtta do it |
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| KilldaDJ |
| quote: | Originally posted by Pjotr G
just start out with cheap nylon spanish guitar. Even if you move up some time, it's good to have a cheap one around you can take to bonfires and sing kumbayaa on.
75$ oughtta do it |
i disagree with nylon acoustics, the strings are just crappy! they go out of tune so easily, though the strings dont break as often as steel strings (they get rusty and worn) but nylon acoustics have such ty frets and restringing them is a bitch too as u gotta loop it a certain way
-1 for the record |
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| b1_ |
I don't think the guitar I get really matters all that much at this stage. I definately won't be buying a $600 guitar I just wanted to know why it's priced higher because it looked the same in the shop.
For a beginner I'm guessing it's more about getting used to the finger movements and learning where the notes are.
If I could find a $75 guitar I'd buy it but even nylon stringed ones are AU$150 minimum, well that's all I can find so far anyway.
And one more thing, can anyone recommend a learning Guitar for Beginners book or DVD, or a link to some free guitar tutorials on the net, especially if they're highly rated by others. |
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| Pjotr G |
| quote: | Originally posted by KilldaDJ
i disagree with nylon acoustics, the strings are just crappy! they go out of tune so easily, though the strings dont break as often as steel strings (they get rusty and worn) but nylon acoustics have such ty frets and restringing them is a bitch too as u gotta loop it a certain way
-1 for the record |
well, steel strings are very wearing on the un-guitar-trained fingers. Playing with blisters sucks. |
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| KilldaDJ |
| quote: | Originally posted by Pjotr G
well, steel strings are very wearing on the un-guitar-trained fingers. Playing with blisters sucks. |
thats true my 4 fingers on my left hand have callouses on top of existing callouses LOL |
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| kitphillips |
I've been playing seriously 3 years and mucking around for 8 or so probably, the only thing I can say is to buy the best you can! If you're serious and actually wanna put it in recordings (esp. with synths) your looking at AU$ 1500 for electric. Or more. Trust me, you don't wanna try and mix a crappy guitar.
If you want something to "sing kumbaya" or whatever the hell, then yeah sure go for a $150 nylon because it wont hurt your fingers and you don't really know any better so you wont miss the quality of something pricier.
If doing electric amps are more than half the sound for a beginner. I recommend a ibanez acoustic or a much more expensive electric (pref fender NOT SQUIER).
DO NOT just let the guy in the shop play it, learn a song yourself!!! Don't worry if it hurts at first, you get to enjoy the feeling, or maybe I'm just sadistic :) Don't buy a flamenco guitar the necks are too wide and the techniques aren't applicable to electrics. Try for an acoustic with a small neck profile but with strings spaced comfortably for YOUR sized hands. Most important is to make sure you love it! |
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