Any Guitar players here?

[S Freud]

I've been thinking of starting to play as a new hobby, I've been checking out Here can anyone recommend me a good acoustic to start out on? I'm not looking to spend a fortune becuase I don't know if this may fall through and I don't want it to be a waste.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks
S Freud

 

[Platypus]

Check out Ovation for that price critera, good enough to be worth it but not too expensive if you don't like it.

 

[Gibson486]

If you are just learning, go to Guitar Center or daddy junky music and get any new one for $120. When you are in that range, you owuld be hard pressed to find something that good.

 

[SWScorch]

I really don't find there's that much difference in acoustics, but then again I'm not good enough that it matters whether I play a $50 or a $2000 guitar. I second Gibson's advice, just go to a store, find one that's not too much, and see if you like it.

 

[GeneValgene]

i wouldn't touch ovation

hands down best starter guitar

 

[S Freud]

Originally posted by: SWScorch
I really don't find there's that much difference in acoustics, but then again I'm not good enough that it matters whether I play a $50 or a $2000 guitar. I second Gibson's advice, just go to a store, find one that's not too much, and see if you like it.

The problem is I don't know what I am really looking for, I don't know what the criteria is for a good guitar.

 

[GeneValgene]

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: SWScorch
I really don't find there's that much difference in acoustics, but then again I'm not good enough that it matters whether I play a $50 or a $2000 guitar. I second Gibson's advice, just go to a store, find one that's not too much, and see if you like it.

The problem is I don't know what I am really looking for, I don't know what the criteria is for a good guitar.

as a beginner, don't worry about sound as much...just worry about playability

you can upgrade later if you stick with it

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: GeneValgene
i wouldn't touch ovation

hands down best starter guitar

Ovation makes some sweet guitars actually, I just wouldn't recommend them for a beginner.
I own an Ovation.

 

[Alienwho]

When I started playing, I couldn't tell a good acoustic from a bad one either, so i just picked up a cheapy. Now a year later, I inherited an excellent Taylor acoustic, and I can't stand to play anything less because it simply sounds or feels terrible.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: SWScorch
I really don't find there's that much difference in acoustics, but then again I'm not good enough that it matters whether I play a $50 or a $2000 guitar. I second Gibson's advice, just go to a store, find one that's not too much, and see if you like it.

The problem is I don't know what I am really looking for, I don't know what the criteria is for a good guitar.

That's why i said just go and buy one for $120.00 at the places I mentioned. If you go to those places and spend that much, it will be a good quality guitar for a beginner. I do not think those places sell mickey mouse instruments.

 

[buck]

I started off wtih a seagull guitar, they are rated the best guitars under $500. I wanted something better than a $100 junker (well not junk, but you get what you pay for) and didnt want to shell out 1k+ for a martin. Check out seagull's website and go to one of their dealers to try them out, amazing guitars.... Dont forget lessons if you are just starting out.

my .02 cents...

 

[iotone]

Originally posted by: buck
I started off wtih a seagull guitar, they are rated the best guitars under $500. I wanted something better than a $100 junker (well not junk, but you get what you pay for) and didnt want to shell out 1k+ for a martin. Check out seagull's website and go to one of their dealers to try them out, amazing guitars.... Dont forget lessons if you are just starting out.

my .02 cents...

i too own a seagull. sounds beautiful for the price. i also like the neck. not quite a taylor or martin, but i can't imagine anything nicer at that price.

 

[Alienwho]

I'm self taught, but I taught my self the same way they'd teach you in lessons (i'm assuming) I started off just learning simple chords and simple songs that that use those chords. Finds the chords to songs you know and like and play those to help memorize the chords. If you're forced to practice crap that you don't even care about you'll probably get frustrated and stop playing.

I think the first song I learned was Greensleeves in a guitar book I found with simple chords layed out. I learned those, then just by messing around on accident I ended up learning how to tab the entire tune of the song. Then from there I was able to kind of fuse the tabs and the chords together which ended up being my own little version of Greensleeves that is really cool and sounds nothing like the original that I learned from the book.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: GeneValgene
i wouldn't touch ovation

hands down best starter guitar

Heheheheh...won't touch an Ovation and yet recommends a Rogue.

That's funny.

 

[GeneValgene]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GeneValgene
i wouldn't touch ovation

hands down best starter guitar

Heheheheh...won't touch an Ovation and yet recommends a Rogue.

That's funny.

laugh all you want, i put my guarantee on it...i'm an avid acoustic guitar player, and i can tell you ovations are crap for the price you pay

i've played collings, thompsons, goodalls, mayes, everetts, breedloves, and other high end guitars. the guitar i have now is a larrivee d-03r...

that particular rogue guitar has good sound and high playability...it outperforms any sub $400 takamine, yamaha, or ovation. i guarantee it.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Originally posted by: GeneValgene

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GeneValgene
i wouldn't touch ovation

hands down best starter guitar

Heheheheh...won't touch an Ovation and yet recommends a Rogue.

That's funny.

laugh all you want, i put my guarantee on it...i'm an avid acoustic guitar player, and i can tell you ovations are crap for the price you pay

i've played collings, thompsons, goodalls, mayes, everetts, breedloves, and other high end guitars. the guitar i have now is a larrivee d-03r...

that particular rogue guitar has good sound and high playability...it outperforms any sub $400 takamine, yamaha, or ovation. i guarantee it.

I've played a cheap Rogue like that (might be the same one, it was like $120 a local music store) and didn't like it at all. It felt really cheap and I didn't like the neck at all. I'd recommend an Ovation (I've never played one but I've heard lots of good things about them) or a Seagull if you can spend a little more, around $450. A Seagull is a guitar you can learn on without investing a huge amount of money and if you like playing (i think you will, i love it) then it will serve you well and you can basically play it forever as long as you take care of it.

 

[Reckoner]

Find a cheap Fender Strat

 

[GeneValgene]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
I've played a cheap Rogue like that (might be the same one, it was like $120 a local music store) and didn't like it at all. It felt really cheap and I didn't like the neck at all. I'd recommend an Ovation (I've never played one but I've heard lots of good things about them) or a Seagull if you can spend a little more, around $450. A Seagull is a guitar you can learn on without investing a huge amount of money and if you like playing (i think you will, i love it) then it will serve you well and you can basically play it forever as long as you take care of it.

make sure it's the rogue A-100D, not the starter pack. unless they've changed their build, i can guarantee it's worth every penny of that 79.99

ovation is way overpriced. playable, but sound is crap for what you are paying. i would much rather buy a seagull, which feature solid wood construction if i'm not mistaken...not cheap laminates

just go into a guitar shop and play lots of guitars and see how you like it

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: GeneValgene

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GeneValgene
i wouldn't touch ovation

hands down best starter guitar

Heheheheh...won't touch an Ovation and yet recommends a Rogue.

That's funny.

laugh all you want, i put my guarantee on it...i'm an avid acoustic guitar player, and i can tell you ovations are crap for the price you pay

i've played collings, thompsons, goodalls, mayes, everetts, breedloves, and other high end guitars. the guitar i have now is a larrivee d-03r...

that particular rogue guitar has good sound and high playability...it outperforms any sub $400 takamine, yamaha, or ovation. i guarantee it.

Rogue is a glued together guitar made out of laminates. They're known as "department store" guitars becuase this is the brand you see at places like Sam Goode, Target, JC Penney, etc. Even stores that sell Rogue guitars don't recommend them

Ovation makes a high quality instrument out of woods (+plastic backs), metal reinforced necks, and high quality tuning machines for a very reasonable price. People may not like Ovation because of their unique shape (they backs are hard plastic domes that project the sound out the front), but you can't beat their build quality. I've still got my first Ovation Celebrity from 1982, and I still play it. It cost $180 back then (I think they're in the $300 range now).

Seagull makes fantastic guitars, and it's hard to believe they don't cost $500 more than they do.

 

[StevenYoo]

Originally posted by: GeneValgene
i wouldn't touch ovation

hands down best starter guitar

yeah man, i also second Rogue.

i got the Rogue cutaway acoustic/electric.

it's a superb guitar for the price you pay.

no shame in getting a Rogue

 

[Mr N8]

Buy a Taylor. Fall in love. Never put it down.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

I really suggest you plunk the cash down for a quality acoustic guitar. I didn't and sorely regret it. I got some cheapo Yamaha guitar and it sounds like crap, no matter what strings I put on it.

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

Originally posted by: Mr N8
Buy a Taylor. Fall in love. Never put it down.

I second that.

You can get a Mahogany Baby Taylor Acoustic for under $300 and you will have an instrument that will sound good forever and be a top notch instrument to learn on. My Daughter and I both learned to play on it and still pick it up on a weekly basis (or more) to play great sounding acoustic songs (Wish You Were Here, Tears In Heaven...etc).

You also have to look at your longterm goals. If your real goal is to learn electric guitar but you really don't know if you will like it, I would buy an electric first. If you already KNOW that you will stick with learning, go for the acoustic. Learning on an acoustic is actually tougher than an electric but once you learn acoustic (if you stick with it long enough), you will have a MUCH easier time with the electric.

Epiphone makes some great starter electrics in the $200-350 range that come close to the playability and quality of Gibsons.

Just my 2 cents

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

learning on an acoustic with thick guage strings is the best way to go IMHO. you build great finger strength and playing an electric afterwards will be cake.

 

[S Freud]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
learning on an acoustic with thick guage strings is the best way to go IMHO. you build great finger strength and playing an electric afterwards will be cake.

Yea this is what I've been told, thats why I decided to go this route first.