Thinking about learning how to play guitar... (questions)

[Mutilator]

After visiting with family over Thanksgiving and finding out that most of my cousins can play at least some guitar I decided maybe I'll give it a shot too.

Last night I was looking around at MusiciansFriend.com and saw the Fender Stratacoustic Acoustic-Electric guitar for $270. Is that a decent guitar to learn on? Most of the reviews I've seen for it seem to be positive. I just don't want to spend a fortune on something I might not like but I also don't want to spend $40 and get an el-cheapo steel string guitar from Walmart in case I enjoy playing.
I also saw the Fender getting started on acoustic guitar DVD. Is that a good way to go to learn the basics or should I look in to other options like books, classes, videos, PC CDROMs, etc?

If I decide to do this what all will I need to get started?
- Guitar w/case obviously
- Tutorial DVD
- Picks (I was looking at the Fender 351 premium celluloid picks... what's the dif between thin, medium, and heavy? Sound? Feel? Personal preference only?)

Anything else? Is it by chance possible to hook this guitar up to my PC (A7N8X deluxe onboard sound) and listen to it through my Sennheiser headphones or will I need an amp? I'll probably spend most (if not all) of the time unplugged just playing it... that way it shouldn't be loud enough for the neighbors to hear how good or bad I am.

 

[Mutilator]

Anybody?

 

[SackOfAllTrades]

not getting enough sex?
everything looks good, get yourself an electric tuner if you don't have one.

 

[Siddhartha]

Get some type of electronic tuner. Believe me using one will make your guitar playing life a lot easier.

 

[ThePresence]

I hope you have alot of patience.

 

[yellowperil]

I'm selling a couple guitars...

 

[ITJunkie]

Actually a good way to go is find a local music store that rents guitars. When I got my first acoustic many moons ago the music store applied the first 3 months rent towards purchase price.

If you rent it and don't like it you shouldn't be out any real dough. So many nice guitars wasting away in a closet somewhere

Just my opinion.

 

[gistech1978]

that stratacoustic wouldnt be bad. i dont know, i might look for something cheaper. if you dont think youre gonna stay with it, why spend that money?
play the guitar first, find a local shop and play around on it.

picks are personal preference really. there are some sound changes but pretty minimal.
i like really hard picks, i hate the flimsy ones. but thats just me.

yeah a tuner wouldnt be a bad idea, either. you can get one for free on the net and use your computer's mic, though. just put the mic up close enough to pick up the sound.

 

[slightlyhuman]

if ya need an amp

i have a small one and a big peavy bandit 112-100 watts

or i have likea 15 watt ones for beginners, would be has distortion and clean.




sooner or later by a PRS(paul reed smith)

i love mine

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: gistech1978
yeah a tuner wouldnt be a bad idea, either. you can get one for free on the net and use your computer's mic, though. just put the mic up close enough to pick up the sound.

Like this one?
Thanks for the replies guys... I knew there had to be some guitar players here.

 

[Mutilator]

New question... for electric guitars - If you want to play them through your PC speakers/headphones do you still need an amp or do you just run the cable from the guitar to the line in on your PC?

I might go to Guitar Center at lunch and have a look around. Maybe learn a thing or two.

 

[shekondar]

I've been thinking about learning to play too... Sam's Club has a Yamaha electric with amp, case, & everything for about $190 - are these any good? I've also thought about checking pawn shops...might be able to find a good deal there.

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: shekondar
I've been thinking about learning to play too... Sam's Club has a Yamaha electric with amp, case, & everything for about $190 - are these any good? I've also thought about checking pawn shops...might be able to find a good deal there.

From what I've been reading the last few days typically Fender and Gibson are high quality guitars... Yamaha and Ibanez are medium quality guitars. I'm beginning to think that maybe guitars are kinda like golf clubs... buy a crappy one first because you won't know it's crappy... and then move up to the good guitar once your "game" improves.