Musicians: What acoustic guitar should I learn on?

[novon]

Any good places to purchase it online? Any books you recommend?

thanks

 

[CronicallyImpared]

Go to music123.com, they have great deals and often offer freebees such as cases, tshirts, etc.

I would suggest any Takamine electric/acoustic is a well priced, high quality guitar to learn on.

 

[novon]

Thanks, is there a reason to get an electric/acoustic guitar or will just an acoustic work?

 

[novon]

bump

 

[Pikachu]

I'll be damned, what a coincidence! I was looking for a PIGNOSE 30 Watt Portable Amp for my son, who is just now taking up the guitar. Trying to find the best possible price, of course. Saw your post about the guitar and decided to see if there were any good recommendations for vendors. Too bad music123.com doesn't carry Pignose, but the Takamine prices look very good!

I don't play a lick, but purchased a Takamine G-334B for my wife a few years ago. Paid almost $300.00 for it used. It's got a beautiful black finish with gold tuners, mother-of-pearl inlay around the binding and sound-hole. Sounds awesome! I can't play, but I know great sound!

Looks like you can get that same sound for at least $100.00 less including the case and free shipping. Tack on another $100.00 and you'll have the electric pick-up built in.

I just thought it was funny that CronicallyImpared recommended the same brand that I was going to tell you about. No sense buying a used one if Music123.Com is selling them that cheap!

If anyone else can point me to that Hog 30 for less than $134.00 + shipping, I'd appreciate it

 

[mastertech01]

Im not an expert, but in acoustical guitars I like Ovation for the pricepoint and quality and Martin for when you get good at it and want something special.

My personal favorite was my Martin D35 12 string, but you wont want to learn on a 12 string.

 

[Vadatajs]

I'd try and stick with name brands like Fender, Alvarez, Ovation, takamine,...etc. Of them all, an Ovation will probably be the easiest to get a feel for. Go to a guitar shop and give them a try, you don't have to play, just hold the neck and feel how close or far the strings are and whether or not you find it comfortable. Then try to find them online. There is no subsititue for holding and playing with a guitar before you buy it so you know exactly what you are getting.

 

[johneetrash]

if you're gonna play rock stuff, get an electric guitar

if you're gonna play acoustic stuff, get an um... acoustic

 

[novon]

But is there a reason to get an acoustic guitar with electronics built in, or for learning will a regular acoustic guitar do? It's much cheaper.

 

[zsir]

If you are just starting don't worry so much about getting a acustic with electric pickup........

You need tone quality at a reasonable price..........

I would reccomend a Taylor "Big Baby Taylor"



Here

It has a solid spruce top , laminite sides and back, but the tone is amazing for the price @$300.00

 

[SludgeFactory]

My friend's Taylor guitar is awesome, although he did pay $1000 for it. Whatever you buy, it's best to bring a guitar-playing friend with you to help you pick it out. Some guitars you can just tell as you soon as you pick them up that they suck. And there's nothing worse than trying to learn on a guitar that's hard to play.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Electric will be easier to learn on b/c with an accoustic you have to worry about pressing down hard on the strings and such. Plus an electric is funner. But if you want a good beginner accoustic a Takamine is pretty hard to beat.

 

[Harvey]

NovoN -- Unless you live so far from a music store, pawn shop, or other place to buy an instrument, do not buy it on line. Every acoustic guitar, even from the same manufacturer, is different from every other one. You want to buy the one that sounds good and plays well.

Also, there are good instruments that need to be set up by a skilled guitar technician. That is, the instrument is sound, but it is not adjusted properly. Playing well means that the action and intonation are good Intonation means it plays in tune, up and down the neck. If you are inexperienced, have an experienced guitar player help you. Some acoustics have an adjustable neck. My Martin does not, but I had it worked on when I first bought it, and it has been beautiful for all the years since then. All I have needed was a fret replacement, which also requires an expert tech for a good instrument.

I play keyboards and guitar. My acoustic is a 1971 Martin D-28. At a party, I once tried another Martin D-28. I was stunned that it felt, sounded, and played exactly like mine, although the coloring was very different. I then handed my guitar to the lady who owned the one I had tried. She took it without looking closely, and I casually asked her, "What is this?" She smiled and said, "A guitar." I then asked, "What guitar?" She replied, "My guitar." She about fell away when I told her to look again as I told her it was mine.

The point is that each guitar is different, and playing it is a very personal experience based on everything from how it plays to the size of your hands and the relative lenth and thickness of your fingers.

An electified acoustic is good for playing acoustic styles when you need to play louder, such as jamming with electric instruments. I have never heard a "perfect" pickup that sounds exactly like the acoustic guitar, so it will sound different. It really depends on your needs. If you want one, make sure it sounds good as an acoustic guitar, first. Then listen to it through an amp. Again, an experienced friend will be helpful.

RagingBITCH -- << Electric will be easier to learn on b/c with an accoustic you have to worry about pressing down hard on the strings and such. >>

BULL! If you're playing steel strings, you need the same strength and the same callouses on your fingertips for good control.

OTOH, I have seen some decent Takamine and Yamahas. I'll still take my Martin over any of them, or any of the high end guitars or any other Martin I have ever played.

The choice for a first guitar should be based on the music styles you want to play. Once you're hooked, you can always get other guitars. Happy playing.

 

[novon]

How are Washburns? I'm looking at a Washburn D100S with soft case for $100, "excellent condition"

I really don't want to invest too much initially until I know if it's for me. Is this a good guitar?

Thanks

 

[bandXtrb]

Yamaha F314 is a good beginnner guitar.

 

[Harvey]

A better investment may be a good used guitar, if you can find one. It has already lost it's "new" value, but a really good instrument plays better and keeps its "real" value far longer. As long as you take care of the instrument, if you decide to quit, it will be worth more, and you can probably get your money out of it.

 

[Siva]

I've heard very good things about Takamines and Yamahas for acoustic. I just started out learning myself, but I got an electric, plain ol' Mex strat. She's soooooo beautiful though. I'm just playing chords over and over right now, trying to get them down, bars are so hard though I'm gonna get lessons soon. I've heard electric is easier to learn on cause there is less action from the people that I know who play, but Harvey says no and I figure he knows better than I do.

my guitar (aka baby)

any recommendations on where/how to learn online as a supliment to my future lessons

 

[erikistired]

i've got an alvarez acoustic i'm pretty fond of. but guitars are like anything else, you should go into a guitar shop and find one you like. if all you plan on doing is learning on it, pretty much anything will work. but find one that fits your body type and fingers. i have shorter fingers, so i went with a slimmer fretboard on both of my guitars. anyway, good luck with it.

~erik

 

[TheShiz]

I can't believe no one mentioned getting a Gibson, guess not in the price range. I love my Gibson Gospel.

Tim

 

[Androck99]

I don't see why everyone is so obsessed with getting a good guitar when just starting out. There isn't really any reason you couldn't just get some ghetto generic one from the pawn shop and learn. When you're just staring, you don't have to have the fantastic tonal qualities, or the fancy pants inlays or anything like that. I just started about a year and a half ago and wanted to play some rock/punk riffs and stuff so I got myself a Squier Strat for about $120 at Musician's Friend. Also check out their Scratch & Dent section for good deals because they'll knock off $50, $100 or more just because it has a scratch or some little ding that will most likely happen within a couple of months of use anyway.

 

[bleeb]

Buy a Taylor 514 CE. It would make any acoustic musician cream his/her pants. That guitar rocks!!! I think that is the lowest model that comes with the "dreamy" Taylor case.

 

[novon]

Well, I ended up getting THIS and a bunch of guitar books and software, anyone know anything about this guitar? couldn't find much about it on the web.

thanks