Guitars...a friend of myne wants to learn to play one, but what guitar to get for starters?

[chiwawa626]

Guitars...a friend of myne wants to learn to play one, but what guitar to get for starters? We went to GuitarCenter and the sales guy recomended a 200 dollar guitar as something "inexpensive" and good for starters, he said if you get a cheaper one it will "Buzz"...well with that in mind can someone recomend a good sub 200 dollar guitar for my friend who is just starting out...oh yeah were talkin Acoustic here..

 

[newbiepcuser]

Your local paper might have something cheaper.

 

[Kango]

Get a Seagull. They're a bit above $200, but I think you can get one for $250-300. Mine was $289 plus money for a hardshell case a few years go.

It was great learning to play guitar on a guitar that my music teacher said sounded better than some $600-700 guitars he'd played. Learning to play guitar is frustrating enough because it sounds bad when you mess up... it really sucks when your guitar is so piss poor that it sounds bad even when you play things right.

I've since upgraded to a Taylor 314-CE, yummy.

 

[fooshkee]

Originally posted by: Kango
Get a Seagull. They're a bit above $200, but I think you can get one for $250-300. Mine was $289 plus money for a hardshell case a few years go.

It was great learning to play guitar on a guitar that my music teacher said sounded better than some $600-700 guitars he'd played. Learning to play guitar is frustrating enough because it sounds bad when you mess up... it really sucks when your guitar is so piss poor that it sounds bad even when you play things right.

I've since upgraded to a Taylor 314-CE, yummy.

<---Taylor 614ce... yea baby!

defintely go for the seagull... great buy for hte money.

 

[chiwawa626]

Well hes really going for something under 200, preferably around 150...i know you prolly cant get much with that, but he just needs something he can learn on, and if he likes playing then he will get somethin better...

 

[yellowperil]

If $200 is max then I'd look for a used Art & Lutherie with a solid top. They're made by the same company as Seagull and cost a little less.

 

[OITLadyOwl]

My first guitar was an electric Squier Stratocaster copy, I got it for Christmas when I was 15. It weighed a ton and hurt my back, but it was a great first guitar. I'd go with an electric as a first guitar, personally, since the strings are a LOT easier to push down, and most places have a Squier and amp Starter Package for pretty cheap.

Hope that helps!

 

[TubStain]

Musiciansfriend

CHeck out their line of products. THeir rates seem lower than GC and more inventory than them too.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Go for a piece of crap one. The resell value for beginner guitars is very low, so that way he doesn't feel like he has a lot of money tied up in it. Seagull guitars are nice, but I would go with a new or used Squier. You can easily find a new squier for $75 or so. If he feels like he wants to keep with it he can save for a better guitar, better amp.

 

[Lash444]

Id get him an air guitar. Once he has mastered that and shows that he indeed likes to play the guitar frequently, then you can get him an acoustic. If you hand him the air guitar and he laughs, then you know it just wasnt meant to be.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Originally posted by: Lash444
Id get him an air guitar. Once he has mastered that and shows that he indeed likes to play the guitar frequently, then you can get him an acoustic. If you hand him the air guitar and he laughs, then you know it just wasnt meant to be.

So true.

 

[ViperXX]

Well I just started to learn to play in May. I bought a Yamaha Acoustic. I paid about $150. So far it's a good learning guitar

 

[TheShiz]

this topic pops up at least once a month. I strongly recommend shopping around and taking a friend that plays along with you. If the person is serious about learning they should buy a pretty good one. A crappy guitar will discourage ever learning to play it. A couple of my friends bought crappy 100 dollar guitars and never learned. You'll prob have to pay at least 250-300 for something pretty good, but with guitars you usually get what you pay for if you shop around. Things to look for are buzzing frets, and string height (which greatly affects how comfortable and easy to play the guitar will be) While you shop around go ahead and play some more expensive guitars (500+) just so you'll get a feel for the difference the extra money makes.

my first acoustic was a 1,000 dollar Gibson, which I luckily got for a bargain (about half price) and once you play a quality guitar for a while it is hard to go back.