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Post by foxglove on Feb 16, 2011 1:06:59 GMT -5
I'm new to these boards. So hello all! ;D I've loved guitars since I was little and I've decided that it is time to finally buy an acoustic and learn how to play. I know nothing about guitars and am overwhelmed at thought of trying to search for one to purchase. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money, as I'd be a beginner and don't want to invest a lot at this point in time. I am looking to purchase something around the $200-300 range, I think that is a fair price. I'm hoping coin like that could get me a decent guitar. Any help would be greatly appreciated on what I should look for, good brand names and the like. Thanks in advance.
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Post by Mojo on Feb 16, 2011 9:28:48 GMT -5
hi there! 1. buying used gets you more guitar for your money 2. Ovations can be a great first guitar to buy. Not too expensive, and thin necks. 3. Also look into entry-level Yamahas - good quality at reasonable prices. 4. If you can put a little more money into the purchase, look into Breedlove and Takamine. We're glad you're here
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Post by foxglove on Feb 16, 2011 18:27:20 GMT -5
There was one guitar I found, a Yamaha, but I don't want to get sucked in by a "good deal" lol, especially since I don't know a lot. YAMAHA F310P Acoustic Guitar Package F310 full size acoustic guitar Gig bag Capo Extra set of guitar strings Pitch pipe Strap It's a $250 list price on for $180. AND FENDER DG8S Acoustic Guitar Package Solid top dreadnaught guitar Soft case Chromatic electronic tuner Instructional dvd Extra strings Picks Strap It's a $408 list price on for $200. AND YAMAHA FX310A Acoustic Electric Guitar With Pickup Product Features: Spruce top Meranti back and sides Nato neck Rosewood fingerborad Rosewood bridge Chrome tuners Natural finish Built-in piezo electric pickup List price $360 on for $200. I've just started my search, but any opinions?
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jason
New Member
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Post by jason on Feb 16, 2011 20:47:05 GMT -5
The only thing I could add is pick up the guitar and just see which one feels,sounds right to you. I have also just started to learn and I got just a cheap 50$ one to plink on but after going to my local shop and tinkering with guitars my wife want let me buy some just feel right no matter what the brand is..just my 2 cents
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Post by foxglove on Feb 16, 2011 20:50:20 GMT -5
Tis very true. Makes me think of the scene from Stranger than Fiction when Will Farrel sees a seafoam green guitar and buys it, lol. It can't hurt to do research first though, although I know I'll end up picking something entirely different, lol.
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jason
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Post by jason on Feb 16, 2011 20:55:16 GMT -5
yes research is a good thing. I bought mine thinking, hey if I never learn it's only 50$ but now I find myself learning more I want to step up to something better but until then I'll keep plinking away. I had a guy show me how good my guitar could sound now all I got to do is figure out how the heck he did it
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Post by 469roadking on Feb 16, 2011 23:25:57 GMT -5
Hi there and welcome to the forum. As a suggestion there are several magazine websites where they will do "shootouts" of guitars in a certain price range. You might check to see what you can find there. Mojo is right. Buying used for the most part will get you more for your money (unless you happen to be looking for say a pre war Martin ;D). Definitely try before you buy if at all possible. A comfortable neck and string height should probably be paramount at this juncture. The easier it is to play the less problems you will have getting used to making chords and so forth. If you find something used at a good price you can probably flip it later without losing too much cash and graduate to a better sounding instrument. Above all, have fun, shopping and learning. I'm 47 and have been doing this since I was 14 and I can honestly say it's more fun and meaningful to me now than ever. Hang in there through those first frustrating lessons. It WILL get easier as you go. BTW, it's been about 14 or 15 years since I've been to Vancouver Island but it's one of the most striking places I've ever been. Absolutely beautiful! I can't think of any better place to sit on the porch and play a tune on an acoustic guitar.
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Post by foxglove on Feb 17, 2011 0:29:54 GMT -5
I'm so very picky when it comes to buying things. It definitely has to be a "new" guitar. I want an instrument that is untouched by someones energy. I'm spiritual and weird that way, haha. I need a clean slate of an instrument that I can put my heart into so it will have my sound and play for me. My other instruments were bought brand new. I bought my Djembe and my Flute was a gift back when I was in Grade 10. I just get connected to instruments and make them mine with my energy. May sound kind of crazy, but, it just is. Yeah I most definitely have to try them out in the store. I think I would need a skinnier neck just because I don't have big man hands, haha. Yeah the lessons will most definitely be frustrating I'm sure. I think I may just cave and get someone to teach me instead of learning it on my own, sometimes it's easier that way. Vancouver Island is so gorgeous! I lived in Ontario and then one day decided to pack my suitcases and I flew over with my cats and started fresh. Everyone asked me why I moved across country and I was like, I felt like it, haha. Best thing I ever did for myself. It's such an adventure out here. I'm in Nanaimo, so I'm right in the center of the island which is pretty sweet. Only been here 10 months and looking forward to spending the rest of my life on the Island. I completely agree, what better place to play a guitar than on the Island. I think I'd rather be by a waterfall instead of a porch though.
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Post by lesblues on Feb 17, 2011 5:26:51 GMT -5
Mojo is right. Buying used for the most part will get you more for your money (unless you happen to be looking for say a pre war Martin ;D). Just wondering which war you refer to RK, WW1, the American Civil War or the American War of Independence? After all you did play guitar with Robert Johnson's dad. didn't you?
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Post by pwfirst on Feb 17, 2011 8:48:29 GMT -5
Welcome to the group. As always great advice from the guys. For newbe a thinner neck will be come your friend in a hurry. Mojo give my top 2 picks as well. Ovations are much easier to play and are resilient guitars. But you will need to go " used " to get into your price point. Most used guitars that have been played often have a better sound. Guitars like wine often get better with time. But I like new and shinny too. Pick up a guitar wrap your fingers around the neck and strum it. You don't need to know how to play to try out guitars. Different guitars have different sounds find one that you like. When I go looking for a new buy, I pick it up grab the neck and just give it a light strum without a chord Pick up many guitars cheep to expensive and find that sound you like.
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Post by Mojo on Feb 17, 2011 13:00:27 GMT -5
one thing to be on the lookout for is the action, which is the height between the strings and the fretboard. You want it to be constant all through the neck and not too high.
THe risk of buying a low-cost instrument is that 1. most of them don't stay in tune, which is very frustrating, and 2. the neck is often bowed and makes pushing the strings down onto the fretboard without the guitar buzzing difficult, tiring and sometimes painful. So picking up the guitar and playing it first is a must.
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Post by 469roadking on Feb 17, 2011 15:23:16 GMT -5
Mojo is right. Buying used for the most part will get you more for your money (unless you happen to be looking for say a pre war Martin ;D). Just wondering which war you refer to RK, WW1, the American Civil War or the American War of Independence? After all you did play guitar with Robert Johnson's dad. didn't you? LOL, WW2 and it wasn't his Dad..........it was his Uncle.
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Post by foxglove on Feb 17, 2011 20:43:46 GMT -5
Welcome to the group. As always great advice from the guys. For newbe a thinner neck will be come your friend in a hurry. Mojo give my top 2 picks as well. Ovations are much easier to play and are resilient guitars. But you will need to go " used " to get into your price point. Most used guitars that have been played often have a better sound. Guitars like wine often get better with time. But I like new and shinny too. Pick up a guitar wrap your fingers around the neck and strum it. You don't need to know how to play to try out guitars. Different guitars have different sounds find one that you like. When I go looking for a new buy, I pick it up grab the neck and just give it a light strum without a chord Pick up many guitars cheep to expensive and find that sound you like. I think I'm going to save up more money. If I don't price ask and go by sound and feel alone...I have a knack for expensive things, it just happens, haha. So we shall see. It may be a couple months before I buy, unless I get a decent tax return this year.
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Post by foxglove on Feb 17, 2011 20:47:03 GMT -5
one thing to be on the lookout for is the action, which is the height between the strings and the fretboard. You want it to be constant all through the neck and not too high. THe risk of buying a low-cost instrument is that 1. most of them don't stay in tune, which is very frustrating, and 2. the neck is often bowed and makes pushing the strings down onto the fretboard without the guitar buzzing difficult, tiring and sometimes painful. So picking up the guitar and playing it first is a must. You make a great point. I don't want to have to keep tuning a guitar all the time. It would get tres annoying. Do most people use picks or their fingers to play? Is there a preference or difference in sound? I do understand that my fingers would get blistered and form calluses, lol.
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Post by Mojo on Feb 17, 2011 22:24:13 GMT -5
I think most use a pick. I use my fingers for two reasons: 1. I can't play with a pick to save my life, and 2. I like the tone I guess from playing w. my fingers. No wrong answer here, just do what's natural for you and what the music you like calls for
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