Guitar Newbie

[LobWedge]

Okay, so I haven't started yet but, I've always wanted to learn, and I want something different to do over the winter, rather than sit at the computer, or watch the tube. My wife has promised to buy me one for my birthday next month. I'm looking for advice on a decent quality acoustic. Something that sounds, and feels good. Something that won't break the bank, yet will allow me to grow with it.

Coincidentally, I'm heading down to Nashville next week (I hear guitars are popular there ) and I'm going to have a look at what's available.

There seem to be a lot of players here, and I'd appreciate any feedback you pickers and strummers can give me.

Cheers.

[jonf]

I'm sure some of the more experienced guitarists in here will be able to give you advice on the specifics of each brand and model. They've certainly helped me out in the last couple weeks. But I'll throw in my 2 cents as well, as I've been in the beginner boat more recently than most.

It's hard to know what you will like without having played before. When I've bought acoustics (especially when it's for personal use, as opposed to gig use), I've found the biggest factor is 'feel'. To really know what's best, you have to have it in your hands and play with it. The last thing you want in an acoustic is to get something where the action (the distance between the strings and the neck) is too high, and uncomfortable to play. But, what is comfortable for you will not be what is comfortable for me.

That being said...it's tough to have a 'feel' for a guitar without ever having played one. I might recommend renting one for a couple of weeks just to get the feel for playing a few chords. Then it will be a lot easier to go into a store and try a few out.

You wouldn't bother taking a driver into a launch monitor if you couldn't even hit the ball, right?

[Marcos]

LobWedge,you are going to the best spot to try out some guitars.You will probably pay less and find something good quality down there.Look into the used guitar shops they are your best bet.The older Yamahas,Guilds,Washburns,Takamine etc... are very good quality and wont break your budget.Like Jonf said,you must try before you buy.Make sure that the neck is fairly straight and that the internal bracing is o.k.There are a lot of good shops and excellent musicians that will be able to help you out.I would stay away from the newer Korean,Chinese and Mexican models.If the guitar has aged well you should have no problem.Good luck and let us know what you got when you come back.

[one under]

Learning the guitar is indeed a great way to spend the winter. Like golf, the learning curve tends to be fairly shallow, but if you keep with it you'll see some noticeable, and rewarding results before you know it.

As far as guitars, the one you want is the one that sounds and feels good in your hands. That being said, I've got both a Martin dreadnought and a Taylor Grand Auditorium, and if your budget allows I would recommend one of the entry level models from these makers, simply because of the superior build quality and the re-sale value that you can get with these names. (FWIW -I gravitate towards the Taylor 80% of the time because it's shape is a bit more "comfortable for noodling" than a full-size dreadnought).

Love Nashville. Awesome live music and atmosphere at Roberts Western World and historic Tootsies. I remember guitar prices in Nashville to be quite expensive, but be sure to stop by Gruhns guitars to look around at some of the serious acoustic stuff ($$) that they stock....

[LobWedge]

Hey, thanks for the guidance folks. jonf, that's a great idea. I'll definitely look into the rental idea when I get back. For now, I'm going to have to satisfy myself with a visit to guitar "Mecca".

I've heard a few folks mention Takamine, and I'm intrigued. I've always been a Glenn Frey fan, and that's what he plays. I've checked out some prices, and their entry-level stuff is very reasonable, but I'm keeping an open mind, and I'm sure I'll have even more info when I get back.

Thanks again.

[LobWedge]

Wow! I just had a look around the Gruhn website. Waaaaay out of my price range, LOL! But absolutely beautiful guitars. Lots of collector stuff. There's an "as is" 1940 Martin D-45 for $110,000!!

[Marcos]

Gruhn has been The guitar shop for a long time.They do specialise in vintage a lot.I would check out the other shops first and then just go and sneak a peek at some classic axes.Enjoy your trip out there.

[Mattchew]

Rich...there were some good ideas but im guessing you have little to no experience with a guitar so how it feels and sounds to you are not really applying right now.....go to a couple of shops and see what fits your budget and then go from there. Get something that is easy to play and looks good to you...if you stay with it then get into the Martins,taylors and upper end beauties. Fender, Epiphone, Yamaha adn Ovation all make good quality cheaper guitars. good luck and LMK what ya get!

[TWoody]

I've found the biggest factor is 'feel'. To really know what's best, you have to have it in your hands and play with it. The last thing you want in an acoustic is to get something where the action (the distance between the strings and the neck) is too high, and uncomfortable to play. But, what is comfortable for you will not be what is comfortable for me.

LW - There is the best advice so far. Being a beginner you are likely not to have the finger/hand strength of a seasoned player. Heck I even go through spells were my acoustic tires my hand out real fast.
When buying that first one you need to do one test. Lay your index finger across all 6 strings on the 3 fret and strum. Now move up to the 5 fret and so on. If you can lay the strings down with little effort (all the way to the 12th fret) and without getting a buzz on any one string, the action is right for you.
What I recommend for any beginner is not to buy high end. As an old friend of mine told another friend, I can teach you how to pick notes and finger chords, but if you don't have natural rhythm, you'll never get it. It's a shame to watch people realize the $2000.00+ axe is a better dust collector than a Swiffer

[J Arthur]

For about $200 bucks you can get a nice sounding Art & Lutherie right here in Ottawa.

[iggsplode]

when my woman wanted to learn how to play i went to long and mcquade and bought her a fender starter kit. came with a suprisingly decent guitar, gig bag, string winder, tuner, few packs of strings, some books, a strap, picks, etc. cost 300.00. gets you everything you need to start and will give you something to learn on without spending a ton of cash.

[Marcos]

Iggsplode,i dont know if you noticed but Jonf has a 400 certificate from Steves worth a bit more.Maybe this is what you are looking for.Did not want to hijack this thread but just trying to help out.

[CanuckDuck]

I would recommend to start learning on an acoustic guitar rather than an electric. Once you get going it's much easier to transition to an electric from acoustic versus the other way around. I picked up an entry level Seagull and it's a great guitar for the price. I think they are made in Quebec at the same place where they make Norman's, so the quality is excellent. Remember to take care of your guitar in these cold dry winters with some sort of humidification.

http://www.seagullguitars.com/intro.htm

[iggsplode]

I would recommend to start learning on an acoustic guitar rather than an electric. Once you get going it's much easier to transition to an electric from acoustic versus the other way around. I picked up an entry level Seagull and it's a great guitar for the price. I think they are made in Quebec at the same place where they make Norman's, so the quality is excellent. Remember to take care of your guitar in these cold dry winters with some sort of humidification.

http://www.seagullguitars.com/intro.htm

i totally agree with that.. hence my post for the 300.00 fender kit (or any other starter kit for that matter).. not having to buy an amp in order to play it is more than enough reason to stick with an acoustic starting off..

also, take your time to shop around. dont be afraid of looking "dumb" when sitting down to try a guitar before you buy them either regardless how good you are.. you need something that feels right as well. if it feels big and awkward you'll have a much harder time learning and certainly won't get as much enjoyment out of it as you should..

and good luck! stick with it and you'll enjoy it..

[LobWedge]

I would recommend to start learning on an acoustic guitar rather than an electric. Once you get going it's much easier to transition to an electric from acoustic versus the other way around. I picked up an entry level Seagull and it's a great guitar for the price. I think they are made in Quebec at the same place where they make Norman's, so the quality is excellent. Remember to take care of your guitar in these cold dry winters with some sort of humidification.

http://www.seagullguitars.com/intro.htm

Agreed. I'm interested in acoustic anyway. If I ever get good enough to warrant purchasing and electric (ie. my wife letting me purchase one ) then I'll probably lean towards a hollow-body/semi-acoustic, such as a Gretsch, Epiphone, Gibson, etc. I just love the sound that comes out of them. I'm a big fan of guys like Chris Isaak, Brian Setzer, Chet Atkins, etc. Hell, I'm even intrigued by lap steel/pedal steel guitars. I love the tonal quality of that type of instrument. Big sound, but with real depth.

I know, I'm getting ahead of myself. Baby steps. LOL!

Thanks for the link, BTW.

[MusicMan]

Good to hear you are venturing into the world of guitar. it is great!

"cheap" guitars sub $300 are pretty usless if you ask me. they dont sound too great and they are a pain to keep in tune. so if you want something to grow with I would suggest going a little higher in price, you will enjoy it more, and you will want to play more. buying a cheap guitar it will just sit in the corner. buying a more expensive guitar you will want to pick it up everychange you get.

I am trying to thin my collection a little bit before the holidays. I have 4 guitars to sell, an amplifer, and a half dozen pedals.

I have my first acoustic that I am looking to sell. its a Taylor 110. dead mint condition with hard case.

Big expensive Taylor sound, but made without all the expensive materials. I tried to get Reid to buy one of these when he was looking at lesser expensive guitars. but he settled on the direct competition the Martin DX1 (right Reid?)

Taylors go from $600-$12000 at any music store. they are one of the best.

check it out. http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...tar?sku=514963

if you are serious maybe we could figure something out... PM me for more info

[1972Apex]

Good to hear you are venturing into the world of guitar. it is great!

"cheap" guitars sub $300 are pretty usless if you ask me. they dont sound too great and they are a pain to keep in tune. so if you want something to grow with I would suggest going a little higher in price, you will enjoy it more, and you will want to play more. buying a cheap guitar it will just sit in the corner. buying a more expensive guitar you will want to pick it up everychange you get.

I am trying to thin my collection a little bit before the holidays. I have 4 guitars to sell, an amplifer, and a half dozen pedals.

I have my first acoustic that I am looking to sell. its a Taylor 110. dead mint condition with hard case.

Big expensive Taylor sound, but made without all the expensive materials. I tried to get Reid to buy one of these when he was looking at lesser expensive guitars. but he settled on the direct competition the Martin DX1 (right Reid?)

Taylors go from $600-$12000 at any music store. they are one of the best.

check it out. http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...tar?sku=514963

if you are serious maybe we could figure something out... PM me for more info

Jarred is absolutely correct. I bought a Martin DX1 and absolutely love it. I may be one of the worst guitarists on the planet and this guitar actually makes me sound half decent
Grab his Taylor 110 that is for sale if you can. For the price it is an amazing guitar. I'd snap it up myself if I didn't already have the Martin.
I did start off with less expensive guitars. If you have to have a cheapie, you cannot go wrong with the $150 Yamaha that many music stores have. They are better than most inexpensive acoustics and very easy to play for the price range.
That said, my Martin is infinitely easier to play than the Yammie. I had the Martin for a month and the Yamaha was for sale. It was the best inexpensive guitar I ever had (and I had more than a few) but after a month on the Martin I couldn't even play the Yamaha without cringing when I missed a note.
The Taylor 110 is every bit as good as the low-end Martin, and might even be better. Before I bought the Martin I asked Jared if his 110 was for sale but it wasn't so I went ahead and got my guitar. I don't regret the decision but had I known he was going to put the 110 up for sale a couple of months later I would have held off for sure.
The Takamines are nice guitars, but there is a huge difference between the the starter level Taks and their high end models. If you can shell out the extra dough for a used Taylor or Martin I would not hesitate. You won't regret it.

[LobWedge]

Okay, so I've managed to borrow an Epiphone from a family member, and now the fun begins. I've already been trying some scale exercises, and some basic chords. Thank god there's more than one way to skin that cat, cuz I have stocky hands and stumpy-ish fingers. I thought my hand was going to fall off when I tried my first barre chord (F maj). I immediately started looking for a variation.

A friend of mine showed me a great website, ultimate-guitar.com, where there's thousands of tabs and instructional stuff for even the greenest of beginners (that would be me ). I stumbled across another really cool site, chordbook.com, that has a flash-based interface where you can play multiple chord variations from every key imaginable (including your own inventions), as well as scales, and a tuner that features a lot of alternative tuning. Really cool.

Thank goodness golf season is over. I don't think I'll be able to grip a club for a while anyway.

[jeffc]

who said the golf season is over? I am playing tomorrow and hopefully into November as well.