Buying a guitar

**robtonya** · 05-23-2009, 08:23 AM

I got one I'd sell, but it's full size and electric, and I'd want about $300 for it. The best thing is to talk to musicians, and see what they look for in one. If you get a good one, you will be able to pass it down to the grandchildren. Just a few days ago, my oldest daughter was trying out for band, and I knew my sister had a 30 year old clarinet, but I never mentioned it to any one to see if that was the instrument she picked. That way she wouldn't be pressured into picking one instrument over the other. Anyway, she ended up with a clarinet, and after sitting down with the local music shop that was there, and there prices was gonna be about $1,000, so I called my sister up, and she gave it to her. It wouldn't of been possible had my Mom not got a good used clarinet about twenty years ago.

**Shep** · 05-23-2009, 09:22 AM

Radhak,

Stay away from the marts; Kmart, Walmart, ETC. There are plenty of good guitar shops out there. Most everyone that works there plays the instrument, so you should have no trouble getting good advice. For most practical purposes a lower end $100 plus guitar should be fine for her to start out on. Once she gets bigger and moves up to a full size guitar is when I would get a better instrument that she will hang onto forever. A decent low-cost/good-value brand is Taylor. The price is usually right and the tone is decent.

From there I would look at a Epiphone (made by gibson). They range in price from $250 on up, but they have a good sound to them.

Also, make sure you get a sturdy case. Don't buy a cheap cardboard type case. A solid case doesn't cost too much more and will come in handy when she drops it.

Good luck.

**Wood_workur** · 05-23-2009, 10:11 AM

Defiantly go with the guitar shops. When my brother wanted to try guitar, he got one for $100 3/4 size complete with the amp. It is actually an okay guitar. Doesn't sound that great, but the action (how the strings play) was great with a little tweaking, and it held its tuning pretty well.

**Alex Franke** · 05-23-2009, 10:28 AM

You might want to check out Amazon's (relatively new) musical instrument store. They have a pretty big selection so you can see what all the options are. Also be sure to ask what type of strings he wants her to have -- mind as well try to get them with the guitar instead of just having to buy a new set.

I've also purchased quality, high-ticket music gear from Sweetwater, and from Musician's Friend.

Example from Amazon:
Oscar Schmidt OC1 3/4 Size Classical Guitar
New: $89.00 (41% savings)
Rating: 4.0 of 5, 1 review(s)

**Thalermade** · 05-23-2009, 10:38 AM

A little different idea. When my son wanted a guitar I spoke with 3 different guitar players I knew, one once made a living playing guitar, one plays in bands for the fun of it, and my brother who is self-taught. They all made the same comment that an electric is actually easier to learn on because the strings are closer to the neck.

But as the others have mentioned - go to several guitar stores and get a basic education, or do a search for guitar on BT3 and ask those folks. I believe there are some pretty knowledgable guitar folk on this forum.

Russ

**Tom Slick** · 05-23-2009, 12:13 PM

The reason for the recommendation to stay away from the department store guitars is they are not "set up" correctly and are more difficult to play. The frets aren't level, the action is set too high, neck is excessively bowed, etc.

Yamaha probably makes what you are looking for.

Otherwise this taylor certainly fits the bill and has some decent rebates. It will also have some residual value when you want to sell it.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Taylor-B...67-i1148422.gc

**sparkeyjames** · 05-23-2009, 12:18 PM

I have a used Fender Squier Affinity strat that I would be more than willing to sell you. It was originally going to be a project guitar. I was going to sell the neck then rebuild it with better components. Project has been shelved for more than 8 months so I think maybe I should let someone who can use it have it. PM sent.

**bluzcat** · 05-23-2009, 12:44 PM

A first guitar is a lot like a first table saw, $100 benchtop or a 5 h.p. SawStop. When you're 10 years old, you may not be able to tell the difference between a $100 beginner model and an $8,000 Martin. I've been playing for 25 years and one thing I've learned is you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a nice, playable guitar. There are a ton of perfectly good guitars available without breaking the bank. Find a music store that caters to student musicians of all types (wood, brass, marching, etc.) and stay away from the guy trying to sell you a Les Paul with a Marshall stack. Buying a decent first guitar will pay dividends down the road. If your child decides he/she doesn't like guitar, it will be easier to recoup some of your investment. If your child turns out to be a prodigy, it's always nice to have a "beater" guitar for around the camp fire. Also, invest $20 on a electronic tuner. Money well spent. And plan on putting new strings on any guitar you buy. Strings are a "consumable" and age even on a guitar that hasn't been played much. A new guitar at music store may have strings that are a year old, with the hand oils of every person that has played it. The good news: strings are cheap. Top of the line Elixir's are about ~$15.

**Alex Franke** · 05-23-2009, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by bluzcat

Also, invest $20 on a electronic tuner. Money well spent.

Even better, invest $10 in a good tuning fork and teach her to tune with that. It never runs out of batteries, it's very portable and accurate, it helps her learn tuning, and if you touch it to the body of the guitar you'll hear the tone color of the guitar itself.

**Wood_workur** · 05-23-2009, 03:27 PM

Originally posted by bluzcat

stay away from the guy trying to sell you a Les Paul with a Marshall stack.

Yes, listen to the guy trying to sell you an ibanez and a mesa boogie stack.

**BadeMillsap** · 05-23-2009, 04:04 PM

My 2 cents ...

Advice is kinda like noses ,,, everyone has one ... (well pretty much everyone) ...

I got my first guitar when I was 12 ... a Sears Silvertone single pickup (made out of masonite like material) "solid body" (not!) electric guitar that had the 3 tube amp built into the case ... that was 45 years ago ... I learned to play on that guitar, have played professionally and now have a collection of 20 or so instruments including Gibsons, Ovations, Martins, homemades, handmades and collector items ... I also bought a guitar from a collector that was just like my first because ... well I learned on that one ...

Anyway ... my advice would be ... don't overspend ... you don't know if she will stick with it ... at the same time ... don't go the "cheapest route" simply because if it "hurts to play ..." she won't practice ... When my wife wanted to learn I took an old 3/4 Epiphone that is made for steel strings and strung it up with nylon ... I wasn't going for "tone" but "playability" ... and she still plays today (several years hence) and has long ago graduated to steel strings ... but she wouldn't have if it had hurt to practice.

If you have already engaged an instructor ... ask him/her for some buying advice ... he/she will have seen what does and doesn't work for beginners ...

I'd look for a used 3/4 acoustic guitar of a "known" make (Epiphone, Taylor, Gibson ...) but I'd also limit my expense to ~$250 ... guitar shops are definitely preferable although a good pawn shop can offer some good buys as well ...

BE SURE your daughter "likes" the instrument ... at 10 they don't generally appreciate tone/quality but if they don't "like" it they won't practice with it ...

I think you are getting good advice on this thread ... ~$250 is a pretty reasonable price for a beginner guitar nowadays ... (used to be $50) ... 3/4 is good advice for a smaller child ... I'd go Acoustic over electric but I'd also let the child (and the instructor) have some input on that point.

Good luck ...

Bade

**wardprobst** · 05-23-2009, 04:46 PM

Some good ideas above, mostly about seeking out a guitar store. You"ll want to find one that services what they sell. I'd suggest a conversation with the teacher also. Most of my students started out with instruments that were difficult to play and lacked tone. A decent guitar will save money in the long run if she stays with it and be easier to sell if she does not.
DP

**germdoc** · 05-23-2009, 07:20 PM

Given your woodworking skills I'd just make it yourself...

Joking--that's a path you probably don't want to go down for awhile...

Baby Taylor is excellent. Fender makes a decent entry-level 3/4 guitar for ~$100. If she is learning on nylon strings, I would look at this Yamaha:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...tar?sku=520138

Just for the sake of discussion, I used to have an Alvarez RC20SC acoustic-electric nylon string--has a narrow fretboard and light action, so it's easy to play. Plus you can plug it in, which expands the sounds one can get. I think it's a nice student guitar, but if she's serious about classical then she needs a traditional nylon-string guitar. Y ou might ask her prospective teacher what he/she would recommend.

**Tom Slick** · 05-23-2009, 08:59 PM

Another piece of advice: Always play Ernie Ball strings!

Besides the fact I used to work there, they are inexpensive.

Buying a guitar

Buying a guitar

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