Guitar n00b with questions!

audiobliss

Ok, so I've decided I want a guitar for Christmas. And after talking to a few people I realize this is waaay too late to start doing research on them, as it seems there are just so many different options and combinations.

I'm pretty sure I want an acoustic (electric/acoustic, that is). At some point I'll definitely want a straight electric, a 12-string, a bass, and maybe a mandolin or banjo (all of this assuming, of course, I really get into guitar). I know it's easier to play the electric than it is to play the acoustic, so I'm kind of tempted to go with an electric first. I know the transition to acoustic still wouldn't be easy, but it'd have to be easier than just starting out on an acoustic. However, most of the music I'll probably be playing on it is country, and while you can do a lot with country and an electric, I think an acoustic still pulls that off better. Not to mention the acoustic is more portable since you don't have to worry about any amplification.

So, if you're still with me...Thank you!!

What do I need to know? What should I look for? What to stay away from? Etc etc.

I do NOT want a cheap guitar. Two years ago I researched guitars a little bit, shopped around, and picked out a Takamine electric/acoustic that I really loved, and it with the case and all the other 'essentials' came out to around $700. The parents decided I should try out playing the guitar before spending that much, so I borrowed an el cheapo to play on and gave it up in about three weeks. I don't wanna go that route again. I don't know what the xmas budget looks like, but lets keep it around $600 - $1k for everything; I'll fork out the difference if there is any.

So, anyhoo, all I know is that, assuming I go with an electric/acoustic, I want one with the cutout on the bottom of the body. I have no idea what that's called, but I think it looks cool. And at this point, if it looks cool to me, that's just another reason to pick it up and play with it. I remember something about laminate and spruce tops and so forth, and that the laminate tops were far inferior. I obviously don't want that, but I'm not sure if that's even an issue in this price range.

So, ok, I've gone on and said WAY more than I know on this subject, so I'll let the experts chime in now.

ANY comments and recommendations are VERY welcome!!

Moochas grassias!!

audiobliss

Oh, and are there any really great websites I should be reading that will help explain all the options, parts, functions, sounds, affects, etc?

Poee7R

As a beginner i would suggest either an Epiphone or Ovation (celebrity/applause) as a first. The Epiphone are just good bang for the money, good looks, sound and feel. But the Ovation's are a step above in tone and playability. You can adjust the action on just about any of them so no worries about any feeling cheap/rough.

I would stay away from something new unless you really want something new. Look on the used market and try to score a deal, you might even find something on craigslist local to you.

Definately try to score something with a spruce top, has a good sound. And the hole you mentioned is call an F-Hole. They are there for acoustic as well as esthetic reasons. Also no matter what you get try to get a set of "lite" strings for it, your fingers will thank you later.

Good luck and stay with it, playing a guitar (any instrument) can do many things for you, specially at the end of a long hard day.


Dave

Dennis Gardner

As a Takamine dealer myself, I like what they have in your price range. The EG 540 series can be had for the $$$ you are looking at and I personally like the Nexis body size and shape over the full size dreadnoughts.http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=875&sid=352
The EF340 is a really nice step up guitar under the $500 level that is popular too.http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=140&sid=352

If you can stretch your $$$ upwards to just under $1k I would look at the Santa Fe "SF" series. They are really full sounding models with great inlay details.http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=1121&sid=352


Another brand that I have really been impressed with is Crafter. The D series and GAE are both favorites in our store.http://www.crafterusa.com/gallery/gae_series_main.php

Enjoy your search.

audiobliss

Thank you both very much for your input. I had someone recomend an Epiphone electric tonight as being a great cheap version of a Les Paul.

As far as the budget, I think anything under a grand is acceptable. However, $900 for a first guitar does seem a bit excessive; somehow $700 or $800 just doesn't sound as bad!

That Santa Fe SF series guitar reminds me, I saw Travis Tritt demoing some new guitar on youtube, and it was a shollower bodied guitar that he said was really good for shows because it was lighter and smaller, and just all around easier to juggle on a stage and while traveling. How many different thicknesses are there, and should I worry about that too much?

I had a few shops recommended to me tonight that sell used guitars, too, so I'll definitely check them out at some point. However, I really should know SOMEthing about guitars before I can go out trying to find a good deal! Are there any really good online resources? So far I'm just using google.

Again, thanks for all the input; it's very much appreciated!

John in MA

Just skip straight to the bass, you know you want to. Become the next Jack Casady.

Serendipity

Are your parents buying the guitar for you? If so, you are extremely lucky! For Christmas I hope my dad will get me a 25ft. subwoofer cable

John in MA

appadv wrote: »

Are your parents buying the guitar for you? If so, you are extremely lucky! For Christmas I hope my dad will get me a 25ft. subwoofer cable

Now, that's just the kind of thing I have a hard time getting friends or family to buy as gifts. I guess they understand shirts and books more than hifi accessories.

Dennis Gardner

Guitars are like speakers. They are so personally individualized that you have to get your hands on one to know if it feels right. Internet price shopping is a good way to get yourself a start knowledge wise, but don't forget that anything bought online may need to be adjusted/setup properly and your savings could go up in smoke buying a "second" or blem guitar that might need alot of fretboard work.

The slimmer models won't project as nice as the full size models, but if you plan on using an amp that won't matter as much. With the amp mentioned, you can go with a mid level guitar as long as you don't skimp on the amp.

I absolutely love what Genz Benz has to offer in their acoustic series amps. The Shen 60 is really a killer amp. A boutique brand for realistic $$$.http://www.genzbenz.com/?fa=detail&mid=1834&sid=420&cid=94

Dennis Gardner

For a really great electric guitar, we became one of the few USA dealers for Sparrow Guitars. They are causing quite a stir in the guitar industry with fabulous product quality and cool customizing/hand painting. Their Rat Rod model will stand with a LP Custom at a third of the cost. The best value in a real player's guitar we've found.

http://www.sparrowguitars.com/ratrod

audiobliss

Ha, I might have been misleading with the desire to have an acoustic/electric. I want the flexibility, the ability to run an amp, but it'll definitely be quite a while before I buy one. I can't readily foresee me having a use for it for a while.

I'm definitely not buying online for the reasons mentioned here, and those are still valid points with buying used, too. I would definitely prefer new, but if I come across a smoking good used deal...and yes, I'll get someone who knows more about them than me to look at them with me.

RuSsMaN

The Ibanez AEL20E is a great axe at a great price. The Takamine EG540 as Dennis suggested is a SOLID choice. I've always like the sound of the Dean Exotica Dao - really warm tone, with a slight bump in the midrange.

As far as the amp goes, you have to love Marshall and Crate. This is definately a spot to go tubes, even if you build it yourself - some Celestion drivers, a good 6550 mono push-pull amp? Hell yeah.

Cheers,
Russ

audiobliss

A pair of Wave 8's, maybe? :D

RuSsMaN

No, but maybe a single Dyanco MKIII....

Pablo

There are a ton of choices out there and it is something of personal preference. Go over to your nearest Guitar Center and try out a bunch to see what feels and sounds good to you. When I was looking, I played some $600 guitars that sounded and felt better to me than the $2000 Martin.

If you want to be quite, I don't think an acoustic will work (they are always for the world to hear). I have an Epiphone Sheraton II, which is a semi-hollow body that is plenty loud when played unpluged and sounds and plays fantastic pluged in. It always gets great reviews and is probably in your price range.

My original acoustic was an washburn that my wife got me '86. It was about $180 and is one of the best sounding inexpensive guitars I have ever heard. But since then, washburn has changed hands a bunch of times and started putting out crap. But recently started coming back with quality instruments. I considered them, didn't really find anything I liked.

Myself, I ended up with a Garrison for a cut away electric acoustic. It's a canadian company that makes a composite frame (this helps eliminate some of the structure issues with mosture). It was about $1200, but I only spent the boat load of quaters I had been saving for the last few years (It was actually exactly .38 cents more than I had, but he gave me a break).

Anything you get will be great if you keep up with your playing (the problem that plauges most of us). So just get an axe, keep it laying close by (I just recently left one on the couch at all times), and have fun!

carpenter

Dennis Gardner wrote: »

If you can stretch your $$$ upwards to just under $1k I would look at the Santa Fe "SF" series. They are really full sounding models with great inlay details.http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=1121&sid=352

The Takamine small body models are just fantastic.
I have an earlier (discontinued) model fp460sc,
which also came with the Accuracoustic pre amp. terrific.
after 7 years I can say those blessed things age wonderfully.
The finish looks mint and it stays in tune, as if it was bought yesterday.
It is a little costly (I don't think it is, but it was posted as such) but worth it (that is if you'll keep playing, otherwise forget it. buy a new amp).

of course with a precious jam like this, you'll need a good solid case, and because of
the smallish body, you might feel you need an acoustic amp (a topic worthy of a
separate thread). so overall we are talking 1500$ here (MSRP) .

one thing though. When you play a Tamamine you WILL sound like a country player
Lea

sda2mike

the applause acoustics are good. they're the down-market ovation. they have the roundback design. easy fingerboard too. i've had mine for 16 years. it aint no martin, thats for sure. but its a good bang around guitar. i reccomend it for beginners! i think you can get one for aroung 3-350 clams.. have fun!:cool:

VR3

In acoustics --

Seems to be that the big hitters this year for us is Ibanez and Sierra --

Sierra is a Kaman/Ovation company that came out late last year. We have sold them like candy just about - fantastic low action...

But on guitars keep your eye on the action (how low the strings are to the fretboard) you don't want any rattles on the frets, and you don't want them to far away. I think the standard acceptance is around 1/8" from the fretboard for most guitar players -- and the neck should have a slight dip downward (very minor) --- make sure the neck isnt bowing up or down in any direction...

Best way to check for this is hold the guitar up to your eye -- with the neck flat so you can see down the neck in relation to the strings....

Other than that, for a beginner -- if you want to invest alot in it...

Epiphone masterbuilts are all solid wood guitars and pack a PUNCH in value. Hard shell case is included with them - I think they run around 799.99 or so ---

With electric, pretty much the same applies -- but it comes more down to taste...

Generally accepted is single coils give you that clean sound (one row)

Humbuckers (two rows) give you that warm, what some consider to be more towards rock..

However some manufactures have a single row -- but is stacked, which is called pole tapping... the way to check for this is to see if one of the knobs pull up ---

But just check for quality in an electric...

Stay away from your beginner brands -- if you stay in the 3-400 dollar range in alot of this stuff, you will get some fantastic stuff..

carpenter

I'm sorry I couldn't help myself.. just took these ...

audiobliss

Hahahahahahahaha! I clicked on the first picture and was like, "What the heck?! Why in the world did he hang his guitar on the back of a couch?!"

Then I realized you didn't...and felt stupid...hahaha

audiobliss

That's a great looking guitar, btw. Is that a Takamine? I like that cutout, but I don't like that shape. I like what I guess is the more conventional shape? Something like this:

carpenter

Yup its a takamine. model name is FP460SC.
Its a their small body shape, Takamine calls it FXC body
the still release models with this bodytype.
just about the finest Acoustic I have ever owned.

Its Basicaly this with an upgraded preamp.
I love this thing.

MillerLiteScott

My ax from days gone by. Kramer Specter one piece body and neck.

Demiurge

audiobliss wrote: »

That's a great looking guitar, btw. Is that a Takamine? I like that cutout, but I don't like that shape. I like what I guess is the more conventional shape? Something like this:

There are no inlays on that guitar. May be a little rough on a beginner. Generally, I find electrics to be easier to play than acoustics, and thus better to learn on. Distortion does a lot for developing speed and you can always use headphones and be as loud as you want. Besides, if you really want acoustic sound, most combo amps/pedals have Acoustic simulators and modeling.

I said this is another thead, and agree with Sid, stay away from the super cheap guitars. Their sound is limited and will lead to more frustration than pleasure. If you're someone that will stick with something, splurge a little bit for a more quality instrument. It will pay off in the long run.

audiobliss

I quickly grabbed that pic just to represent the general shape I like to see in acoustics; wasn't planning on getting it. I didn't notice that about the inlays, though...good point.

I'm afraid I'm beginning to agree with you on the electric part. I really really want an acoustic, and that's what I've always planned on getting, but I can definitely see that the electrics are easier to play, and being able to play quietly or with headphones would be a HUGE plus.

What do you mean about the distortion being good for developing speed? How so? I don't know much about acoustics, and I know NOTHING about electrics.

How well can an electric approximate the sound of an acoustic? Would a good quality electric along with an equally good quality amp (and any pedals I would need?) be more expensive than the acoustics I'm looking at?

Thanks!

audiobliss

If I do end up getting an electric (and do really get into playing guitar), I'll be wanting to buy a nice acoustic within a year to take to college, since they are more portable.

carpenter

audiobliss wrote: »

What do you mean about the distortion being good for developing speed? How so? I don't know much about acoustics, and I know NOTHING about electrics.

general electrics and speed:
Lower action, thiner strings , usually wider neck.
I'm not sure about the distortion part but from my experience:
More gain = easier to get sound = less finger pressure on the neck = you can move fingers faster.

audiobliss wrote: »

How well can an electric approximate the sound of an acoustic?

well ... its different. as an audiophile you can answer yourself.
an electric, even in clean (no effects )has a fatter and more compressed sound, more midish.
an acoustic has more of a natural sound. much more defined overtones as you move your fingers over the neck. more airy.

audiobliss wrote: »

Would a good quality electric along with an equally good quality amp (and any pedals I would need?) be more expensive than the acoustics I'm looking at?

Thanks!

quality is a very difficult thing to define here. in principle,
I can't see you spend less then 1200$ for a quality setup (something nice, not a started kit).
a Fender "hot rod de lux" amp, and an entry level American Fender.
or a nice Gibson from the "Studio" line.
IMHO a good acoustic will set you back something in that area, but thats just me.

exalted512

I started off with one of these

-Cody

hockeyboy

I have been playing on and off for about 15 years. I would recommend that if you want an acoustic get a cutaway so you have the extra fret access. If you start getting good and don't have a cutaway you will likely just go buy one. Also, don't feel the need to make it an acoustic/electric right away. You can always buy a pickup and have it installed in your acoustic guitar down the line at Guitar Center or similiar.

audiobliss

Thanks for all the info, folks. I think at this point in time I'm leaning towards an electric. But I can't really say which way I want to go until I go look at a few of them.

I have a friend who has an electric and an acoustic...maybe I should pay him a visit.

JimBRICK

audiobliss wrote: »

Ok, so I've decided I want a guitar for Christmas. And after talking to a few people I realize this is waaay too late to start doing research on them, as it seems there are just so many different options and combinations.

I'm pretty sure I want an acoustic (electric/acoustic, that is). At some point I'll definitely want a straight electric, a 12-string, a bass, and maybe a mandolin or banjo (all of this assuming, of course, I really get into guitar). I know it's easier to play the electric than it is to play the acoustic, so I'm kind of tempted to go with an electric first. I know the transition to acoustic still wouldn't be easy, but it'd have to be easier than just starting out on an acoustic. However, most of the music I'll probably be playing on it is country, and while you can do a lot with country and an electric, I think an acoustic still pulls that off better. Not to mention the acoustic is more portable since you don't have to worry about any amplification.

So, if you're still with me...Thank you!!

What do I need to know? What should I look for? What to stay away from? Etc etc.

I do NOT want a cheap guitar. Two years ago I researched guitars a little bit, shopped around, and picked out a Takamine electric/acoustic that I really loved, and it with the case and all the other 'essentials' came out to around $700. The parents decided I should try out playing the guitar before spending that much, so I borrowed an el cheapo to play on and gave it up in about three weeks. I don't wanna go that route again. I don't know what the xmas budget looks like, but lets keep it around $600 - $1k for everything; I'll fork out the difference if there is any.

So, anyhoo, all I know is that, assuming I go with an electric/acoustic, I want one with the cutout on the bottom of the body. I have no idea what that's called, but I think it looks cool. And at this point, if it looks cool to me, that's just another reason to pick it up and play with it. I remember something about laminate and spruce tops and so forth, and that the laminate tops were far inferior. I obviously don't want that, but I'm not sure if that's even an issue in this price range.

So, ok, I've gone on and said WAY more than I know on this subject, so I'll let the experts chime in now.

ANY comments and recommendations are VERY welcome!!

Moochas grassias!!

MArtin has a line of acoustic guitars now in the 500-900 region. If you have a place in town to try one out this is what you want