Beginning Guitar

[S Freud]

So I am looking at taking up a hobby since my GF and I broke up and I have a lot of free time on my hands.

So what is a good acoustic guitar brand? I'm not looking to spend a huge amount of money here, but I want something good for a beginner too.

any recs?

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Can you be more specific about your price range?

 

[S Freud]

Originally posted by: Garth
Can you be more specific about your price range?

Well its really hard to set one since I don't know the price of a good beginner guitar, like I said. I don't want to overspend if I can get something nice that meets my needs.

 

[bloodugly]

Seagull makes some decent cheap acoustics. Also, cheap Washburns and Epiphones are decent too.

 

[S Freud]

What do you think of This?

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: S Freud
What do you think of This?

Epiphone DR-100 Acoustic Guitar Features:

* Select spruce top
* Mahogany body and neck
* Chrome hardware
* Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays

Don't. I've got a Cort Earth.. I like it a lot, didn't run me too much .

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

It's my opinion that you shouldn't cheap out too much even on your first guitar. Once you get good enough to actually play some tunes, you'll very quickly want to upgrade if you're playing on a cheap guitar. Learning is going to be frustrating enough, you don't need to be frustrated by your hardware too.

I would also dissuade you from purchasing your first guitar online--especially an acoustic. Find yourself a store with a good selection of guitars and go play them. Yeah, I know you're still learning, but all you really want to do is listen to their tones, get a feel for them in your lap, and fret some notes/chords to feel the action (i.e. the distance from the string to the fingerboard). Talk to the store clerks and have them make some suggestions. Get one of them to strum a few chords on the guitars in your price range. Don't buy a guitar on your first visit. <--- That's not a hard-and-fast rule, but a generally good suggestion, IMO.

Good luck!

 

[alkemyst]

As many people as I know of that have started an instrument and then given up...go with a decent but cheap guitar...used is great usually as well as you can get more guitar for the money.

Most of the major guitar brands have some decent entry guitars around the $100 esp on sale.

If you decide to keep going then the sky is the limit with acoustics....I loved my Martin HD28.

I started with a $100 something electric and later used it for classical guitar. The string spacing is closer on an electric so it was a bit more challenging...

 

[stars]

If you must go acoustic go with a Taylor Big Baby and pay to have it professionally setup (intonation lowered).

http://www.zzounds.com/item--TAY307

Or if you would like a decent electric that is practically new for 200 plus shipping send me a message for actual pictures and more information. I'm currently selling one on Harmony Central.

http://ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=RG321MH&color=1

 

[Kelnoen]

I'd reccomend just going to a good music store and telling them your taking up guitar and they should be able to recommend some good makes/models and also some good dvd's or books to start from.

 

[49erinnc]

If you don't want to spend much, just check some local pawn shops. While I do understand the stance of not buying a crappy guitar, I also understand that tons of people blow big bucks only to lose interest in playing after a few months. Until you're committed to playing, I just think it's irrational to drop several hundred bucks. With a cheap guitar, you can still learn the frets, finger placement, chords, how to tune it, how to restring it, etc. Once you learn all the basics, then you can invest in a quality guitar. Most pawn shops have several to choose from and have no problem letting you play them before purchasing. Just my opinion, but I'd give it at least 6 months because that's usually when people plateau and either keep digging or totally lose interest.

For me, I picked up an electric guitar/amp combo for about $125 at a pawn shop. After playing that for about 6 months, I then decided to get a nice acoustic. Something else I'll suggest is to find someone who plays guitar and take them with you. I took my friend, who's been playing for 15 years, with me and he was able to tell me pros/cons of every guitar we found. It was very helpful.

Good luck OP. When my marriage fell apart, I found a ton of solace with my guitar.

 

[stars]

Originally posted by: Kelnoen
I'd reccomend just going to a good music store and telling them your taking up guitar and they should be able to recommend some good makes/models and also some good dvd's or books to start from.

Never buy a guitar using this method unless you bring along someone that knows alot about guitars with you. 9 times out of 10 they will sell you something you dont need if you go alone.

Pawn shops are another great way in finding a decent cheap instrument.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: stars

Originally posted by: Kelnoen
I'd reccomend just going to a good music store and telling them your taking up guitar and they should be able to recommend some good makes/models and also some good dvd's or books to start from.

Never buy a guitar using this method unless you bring along someone that knows alot about guitars with you. 9 times out of 10 they will sell you something you dont need if you go alone.

Pawn shops are another great way in finding a decent cheap instrument.

No, chain stores will do this. Ma & Pa music stores have people that genuinely care about you wanting to learn. It's hard to believe, but if you run a music store, you don't do it for money.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Rule #1) Don't ever buy a guitar online. Go to your local music shop and pick up guitars, get a feel for them, and then choose which one you like.

As for brand, I started with an Alvarez acoustic... ~$220

 

[GeneValgene]

hands down best guitar for the price