A learner's guitar?

csbassplayer · 12-08-2003, 11:16 PM

I have been playing bass for 2 years(The P&W band needed one so i signed on) and I am familiar with playing that, and music theory (college classes), but now i am interested in playing regular 6 string guitar, and i need something to learn on. Price is probably the biggest factor, as I am a student and have very little money. I am mainly looking for a learning guitar to teach myself. Acoustic or electric does not matter as I can accomodate both. I am looking for one around $150 and I would prefer even cheaper than that. Like i said before this is not a performance instrument, it is a learning one. Any help is appreciated. Thanks a lot.

LittleBassMan · 12-08-2003, 11:24 PM

my advice would be to go to a music store and play everything in your price range. pick whatever you like best.
i have an epiphone acoustic that i picked up for about $150 at guitar center and i like it alot.

DarylB · 12-08-2003, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleBassMan

my advice would be to go to a music store and play everything in your price range. pick whatever you like best.
i have an epiphone acoustic that i picked up for about $150 at guitar center and i like it alot.

I disagree unless you know what you want in a guitar. Get a friend or anyone who knows alot about guitars to go with you and help you pick one.

csbassplayer · 12-09-2003, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarylB

I disagree unless you know what you want in a guitar. Get a friend or anyone who knows alot about guitars to go with you and help you pick one.

I know plenty about guitars, but i was asking more of personal experience than numbers(numbers and stat lines can be decieving). Like when i bought my bass, all the numbers said there were better ones to buy, but the one i bought proved to be the better choice, not to mention trying all the guitars in my price range takes a lot of time, and even then, with a low price range my choices are going to be limited. They will probably say many of the same things, so i am looking mainly for experiences, or if there is a website that does reviews on beginner guitars that would help also. Thanks for the input

CheshireCat · 12-09-2003, 12:51 AM

Quote:

my advice would be to go to a music store and play everything in your price range. pick whatever you like best.

Well, with all due respect, that's not very good advice.

Go see the sticky thread entitled: This must be the worst advice you could ever get in the entire world of guitar buying and you'll see what I mean.

http://www.christianguitar.org/forum...ad.php?t=63955

Like I said, no offense intended, but go there and you'll see. It's well meaning advice, and I have given it several times myself, but then I really got to thinking about it, and a lot of problems came up. I go into them indepth in the thread.

Chesh

csbassplayer · 12-09-2003, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheshireCat

Well, with all due respect, that's not very good advice.

Go see the sticky thread entitled: This must be the worst advice you could ever get in the entire world of guitar buying and you'll see what I mean.

http://www.christianguitar.org/forum...ad.php?t=63955

Like I said, no offense intended, but go there and you'll see. It's well meaning advice, and I have given it several times myself, but then I really got to thinking about it, and a lot of problems came up. I go into them indepth in the thread.

Chesh

I know it is well meaning, but shooting down someone else's advice doesn't answer my question really. So if you could make a reccomendation as to where to start, what brand or whatever that would be most appreciated.

CheshireCat · 12-09-2003, 02:47 PM

Normally, I don't. But that one needed it's own post.

If cost is an issue, best bet would be a MIM Strat or Ibanez RG. Cost-effective, and solid guitars, plus, you can hot-rod them effectively.

BTW,did you read that post I linked?

Chesh

csbassplayer · 12-09-2003, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheshireCat

Normally, I don't. But that one needed it's own post.

If cost is an issue, best bet would be a MIM Strat or Ibanez RG. Cost-effective, and solid guitars, plus, you can hot-rod them effectively.

BTW,did you read that post I linked?

Chesh

Yes i did, i try to read most of the posts on the forum, you never know when the info will come in useful, as yes it has a lot of sound information. And thanks for the guitar reccomendations, unfortunately the both of them are 350-$400 which is way out of my price range(100-150). Thanks anyways.

CheshireCat · 12-09-2003, 03:51 PM

Well, next best bet would be a higher quality Squier, maybe used.

Chesh

gchord · 12-09-2003, 08:39 PM

You might want to check out a Fender D-7 if you a acoustic,they're pretty good for beginners and have a decent sound,they're not Martins or Taylors,but for $150,it's not a bad buy,our church bought a couple and I think it's a ideal guitar for a beginner. For electric,you might want to visit Musician's Freind,visit the website,and get their catalog,I heard a lot of people ordered guitars for $200-250, OLP,Ibenez,yamaha's,etc.That would be my choice,right now I got my eye on a OLP MM1,it looks like a Wolfgang,or a Music Man,for $200,I don't think you can beat that deal.

astromonkeyx · 12-09-2003, 08:47 PM

i don't currently own one myself, but i'd reccommend a yamaha package, sold at costco. more specifically, either the F310 (i think that's the number) or the eg112. the f310 is an acoustic solid top, and sounds great at its price and even without the price...just a little over your price range ($180 or so) but it comes with your gig bag, strap, tuner, book, pegwinder etc. the eg112 is a indonesian (ibelieve) copy of the pacifica 112, and at a much lower price. it goes for about 180 as well at costco, with a practice amp, gig bag, and all the other goodies (i think it comes with a stand as well). you can order the electric for sure online, the acoustic may take alittle searching, and i think they have it at sams club too.

that's the best i can think of in the under 200 category...yamaha seems to be pretty consistent and have good value in beginners

Rhythm_guy · 12-09-2003, 10:44 PM

Look for a 1970's Japanese-made guitar for the most value for your money. They go for $100 & less all the time. A pawn shop or a guitar shop that takes trades or deals in used equipment may have something, but you need to know what you're looking for to make sure you don't get ripped.

**PianoMan** · 12-09-2003, 10:49 PM

I would definitly recommend going with an acoustic. They are cheaper to start with, and because of the thicker string gauge it's easier to switch to electric later on. (it's much harder the other way)

As for recommendations, I started on a Yamaha F335 that I got for around $150 I think. Even once I started learning about what sounded good and what didn't, I realized it was a great deal for the price. I would also recommend looking into the Epiphone acoustics, as they have some pretty good ones too.

Edit: 1,400th post

csbassplayer · 12-09-2003, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PianoMan

I would definitly recommend going with an acoustic. They are cheaper to start with, and because of the thicker string gauge it's easier to switch to electric later on. (it's much harder the other way)

As for recommendations, I started on a Yamaha F335 that I got for around $150 I think. Even once I started learning about what sounded good and what didn't, I realized it was a great deal for the price. I would also recommend looking into the Epiphone acoustics, as they have some pretty good ones too.

Edit: 1,400th post

Yeah it seems the general consenses is that Yamaha acoustics are the way to go for learning(talked to a guy that bought one for $100 bucks) The only reason i was considereing electric is that i already have an amp that plays elect guitar pretty well so i wouldnt' need to spring for one(Ibanez soundwave 31watt) I plugged in my friend's telecaster and it sounded pretty good once i tweated the eq some. Thanks for all the input guys I really appreciate it.

DarylB · 12-10-2003, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhythm_guy

Look for a 1970's Japanese-made guitar for the most value for your money. They go for $100 & less all the time. A pawn shop or a guitar shop that takes trades or deals in used equipment may have something, but you need to know what you're looking for to make sure you don't get ripped.

Again i would tend to disagree in the fact that the odds of you getting a good Japanese made guitar, nevertheless from the 70's and to top it off in a pawn shop are staggering.