People who know about guitars:
Posted by KissMeKate on Dec 07, 2008 · Member since Aug 2007 · 7322 posts
If I were going to buy myself a cheaper but functional/decent acoustic guitar to learn on, how would I go about finding one? Where would I look? How do I know if it's good or shitty? How much money should I spend if it's just for fun?
Thank you!
:)
I think men and women who play guitar are HOT.
that's all I know.
Yeah, that's all I know too. Thus my aspiration to obtain said guitar. :)
musiciansfriend.com
my husband is a guitar freak, and he said this site should be useful.
;)b hope that helps!
Yeah, that's all I know too. Thus my aspiration to obtain said guitar. :)
Stop getting hotter.
musiciansfriend.com
my husband is a guitar freak, and he said this site should be useful.
;)b hope that helps!
Thanks!
There's a guitar/mandolin combo purchase on there for $100, and it has loads of really high reviews. It is my lifelong goal to play mandolin. I might have to get them!
Yeah, that's all I know too. Thus my aspiration to obtain said guitar. :)
Stop getting hotter.
No, you!
Don't worry about brand name. I'd check second-hand places. Play a bunch of them, even if it's just strumming. If you like the sound then strum at each fret to make sure the neck is fine. I wouldn't spend more than $300 on an entry-level guitar.
eta: When I say strum at each fret, what I mean is play the string, don't strum. So, if you're on the six string, check how it sounds at each fret to make sure your frets are okay. The frets were jacked on my first guitar and I couldn't play using the 8th & 9th fret with the 1st string.
Yeah, definitely no more than $300 for me. Let's see, I'll have to look up secondhand stores in my area.
It is my lifelong goal to play mandolin. I might have to get them!
I have a friend who plays mandolin. It's pretty rad.
Yeah, that's all I know too. Thus my aspiration to obtain said guitar. :)
Stop getting hotter.
No, you!
We could do this for days, except for the fact that I am not doing anything to perpetuate hotness, whereas you are actively searching out ways to, in fact, raise your hotness level.
musiciansfriend is a great place to look as it's prices are pretty comparable to guitar center..and if I'm not mistaken, guitarcenter might OWN or be associated with musiciansfriend. My Fender acoustic was $380 I believe and I've thrashed the SHIT out of it, and it still sounds awesome..you could find some decent Yamaha's for around $200 I think..might even find a used Fender on craigslist for about the same..
I knew you'd come through here, bh.
:)
eta: I think there is prolly a guitarcentar near me. I gots to check.
Go into a Guitar Center and buy something like the strings for your eventual guitar. They take your name and address info and have to look you up each time you buy something from them, but then you get on their mailing list.
I believe and I've thrashed the SHIT out of it
See, right there- just freaking HOT.
I believe and I've thrashed the SHIT out of it
See, right there- just freaking HOT.
blueheeler is mine. back off.
;)
But yes, thrashing the shit out of something is uber hot.
should've posted this wednesday. sellout.woot.com was selling one for $55 shipped.
http://sellout.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=2795443
I believe and I've thrashed the SHIT out of it
See, right there- just freaking HOT.
blueheeler is mine. back off.
::)
Yes, yes, KMK. You ARE the hotter one anyway, with your impending guitar skillz and all.
alvarez's are my favorite. theyre a decent price for a really well made guitar.
http://www.alvarezgtr.com/prod_page.php?SeriesID=5&ItemID=91
What I like to do is go to guitar center, just look around and try out as many guitars as you want, find out what you like, do you want nylon or steel string, do you want a large body or smaller body, how important is a neck width to you.. things like that. I would also print out tabs for a chord or two, so you can go in with something to play, starting with AM would be easiest, its the easiest formation to remember in my opinion. I think looking at brands is important, because some brands are made like crap, like first act... awful... washburn, not my favorite, and then when you look on craigslist, pawn shops and thrift stores, you have an idea of what to look for. so heres a list of things to check...
Is the neck bolted to the body? If so... don't get it.
Does it feel right on you? Is it too small... too big.
Can you easily wrap your hand around the neck?
Can you reach the end of the neck?
Does it have a nice clear sound?
Is it electric acoustic? (I would not suggest getting one of these in the beginning, the strings need to be for an electric to work with the pickups, and they just dont sound as good accoustic, I think)
Michael says "look for a sound hole" haha, i didnt know there were acoustics without a sound hole.. that would be pretty awful.
Are any of the tuners difficult to turn or wobbly?
Are the grooves on the bridge and the top of the neck worn down?
Thats all i've got for now. It's really fun looking at guitars, the people at guitar center are really nice and have actually remembered me from trip one to trip two. ha.
Thanks kelsi! I know a teensy bit of guitar (maybe like 5 chords) so I should be able to test them comfortably.
Trying guitars will be really fun. I'll make a day of it. :)
alvarez's are my favorite. theyre a decent price for a really well made guitar.
http://www.alvarezgtr.com/prod_page.php?SeriesID=5&ItemID=91
What I like to do is go to guitar center, just look around and try out as many guitars as you want, find out what you like, do you want nylon or steel string, do you want a large body or smaller body, how important is a neck width to you.. things like that. I would also print out tabs for a chord or two, so you can go in with something to play, starting with AM would be easiest, its the easiest formation to remember in my opinion. I think looking at brands is important, because some brands are made like crap, like first act... awful... washburn, not my favorite, and then when you look on craigslist, pawn shops and thrift stores, you have an idea of what to look for. so heres a list of things to check...
Is the neck bolted to the body? If so... don't get it.
Does it feel right on you? Is it too small... too big.
Can you easily wrap your hand around the neck?
Can you reach the end of the neck?
Does it have a nice clear sound?
Is it electric acoustic? (I would not suggest getting one of these in the beginning, the strings need to be for an electric to work with the pickups, and they just dont sound as good accoustic, I think)
Michael says "look for a sound hole" haha, i didnt know there were acoustics without a sound hole.. that would be pretty awful.
Are any of the tuners difficult to turn or wobbly?
Are the grooves on the bridge and the top of the neck worn down?
Thats all i've got for now. It's really fun looking at guitars, the people at guitar center are really nice and have actually remembered me from trip one to trip two. ha.
Kelsi plays guitar. Kelsi is cool. Kelsi has TIPS for picking out a guitar. Kelsi ROCKS.
I'm totes jeal.
P has a jasmine takamine (so he says) that he's had since 2002, and he's really liked it. He payed $180 for it. That's all I have.
I've always wanted to play banjo.
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