Author Topic: Guitar Info (non-BB) (Read 5487 times)

EasTexAstro · « **on:** December 01, 2006, 05:29:59 pm »

I seem to remember a discussion a few weeks ago about purchasing a guitar. Either my search skills are really poor, or...well...

So my 16-year old would like a guitar for Christmas. I'm poor, no nothing of guitars, and he is a beginner. Any suggestions?

Phil_in_CS · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2006, 05:37:16 pm »

you need to get him an entry level acoustic first. If he practices, if he likes it, etc, you/he can upgrade later. That's the main bit.

I play bass, not guitar, so I couldn't give you a more specific recommendation.

Holly · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2006, 05:43:21 pm »

I have owned a few dreadnought body acoustics (those are the guitar shapes you think of, when you think "acoustic guitar"), and the first one I got as a beginner -- a Washburn -- was a nice starter guitar. I'd recommend investing in a hard shell case, if the guitar you settle on doesn't come with one. They might come with these kind of alligator-skin cardboardy cases, but those are only good for keeping scratches off the thing. Tuxedo cases (soft shell) are nice, but pricier, and I wouldn't bother with one for a beginner guitar.

Get a couple extra sets of strings with it (medium gauge to start... I prefer the 80-20 or 85-15 phosphor-bronze combo... brighter sound), a tuner (it could be the harmonica type that you blow on, rather than an electric tuner), a few picks (nylon and plastic, so he can figure out what kind he likes), maybe a capo (that can come later, after learning some -- ask a store salesman to show you a Kyser brand capo, if possible, because they have this hole on the end that makes it easy to remove the pegs which hold the strings into the body of the guitar at the bridge), and also pick up a couple "fake books" -- sheet music books with guitar chords in them, for learning.

If he wants electric, someone else will have to chime in.

OldBlevins · « **Reply #3 on:** December 01, 2006, 05:48:28 pm »

A reputable music store should have some good advice. I've actually found Guitar Center to be helpful, even though they're a chain, but any reputable local store should be able to help. I didn't look to see where you are, but if you're in Austin, I also recommend South Austin Music.

It's been awhile since I bought a guitar, but Takemines are good and usually have a pretty wide price range, if I recall. I also like Guilds.

EasTexAstro · « **Reply #4 on:** December 01, 2006, 05:50:15 pm »

Thank Phil, Holly.

That is what I am looking for. I was looking for a beginner guitar (the thoughts on recommended accessories is wonderful...I don't know where to start.) I figured I would go with a begginner, like Phil said, and if he sticks with it, he can use his own money to go with an electric setup later on.

Holly · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2006, 05:55:24 pm »

Also, let him know that his fingertips will hurt like hell, at first... until the callouses build up. That'll take a couple weeks of daily use. Fingerprint him now, if he has criminal tendencies, because playing acoustics *will* rub off the ridges at the tips of the fingers

(don't worry, though... they mostly grow back... mostly)

HudsonHawk · « **Reply #6 on:** December 01, 2006, 05:55:37 pm »

Quote:

I seem to remember a discussion a few weeks ago about purchasing a guitar. Either my search skills are really poor, or...well...

So my 16-year old would like a guitar for Christmas. I'm poor, no nothing of guitars, and he is a beginner. Any suggestions?

I would agree that an entry level acoustic is appropriate. Depends on how much you want to spend, but they can range anywhere from $100 to $1,000. I've pimped Seagulls many times on here, and I gotta tell ya, there is no better value in acoustic guitars. They start at about $350, but sound like a $2,000 guitar. If you're looking for $200 or under, most of the major manufacturers offer an entry level budget guitar. Guitar Center is a good resource for the major manufacturers, but they dont' sell Seagulls. If you have any more specific questions, let me know.

Oh, and if he really wants to play, I'd recommend finding an instructor and taking some lessons. They can usually be had for like $15 a lesson, and it'll really start him off in the right direction.

EasTexAstro · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2006, 05:58:05 pm »

I'm around Nacogdoches/Lufkin. I should make my way through Houston before too long. If anyone knows a good place to look on 59 or 45 south, let me know.

Holly · « **Reply #17 on:** December 01, 2006, 06:05:17 pm »

Concur on the lessons. Maybe even check to see if there are some continuing-ed or non-credit classes he can take at SFA or Angelina CC? I took one at UT (it was a night "class" just for fun) and that made all the difference in the world, for starting out.

Holly · « **Reply #19 on:** December 01, 2006, 06:14:30 pm »

Never tried coated strings... what an odd concept

I did have this powdery rub-on stuff that cut down on corrosion. Nothing worse than that green junk collecting on the back side of the wound strings. Yech. It's been so long since I played, that I can't remember the brand name I preferred. They weren't D'Addario, but I can picture the package in my head. Maybe John Pearse? Had kind of an old-timey look to the packaging artwork. They got hard to find, is all I can remember for sure.

As for bending the neck... never had that happen with either of the wood-bodies or my Ovation knockoff, using mediums. Maybe I just got lucky?

You've mentioned Seagulls... I assume that is your guitar of choice beyond beginner, as well? My poor ol Alvarez Yairi is severely under-used. Maybe I'll take it back up again in the new year. I sure liked just playing along with recordings

That thing, btw, is just lovely... burled mahogany back, nice clean simple ebony fretboard, no pick-guard on the front so it's got a clean cedar face, and the tuning pegs are smooth and true as the day I bought it.

I put a Bartolini pickup in the soundhole -- plug is where the neck strap would attach at the "butt" of the guitar. That thing is awesome! It tones down the overbearing B string, and is much better than those crappy piezo chips that some pickups use when they just take sound off the bridge. Unfortunately, the Ovation knockoff (a 12-string) used the piezo/bridge pickup. Bleagh.

NeilT · « **Reply #25 on:** December 02, 2006, 09:32:32 pm »

Rockin Robin useta sell seagulls, and there's not a better steel string acoustic at a low price. Plus they're made in Canada, which is almost like Oklahoma in my book. Make sure though, that he wants an acoustic. He may see himself as Jimi Hendrix (or who knows, Andres Segovia). Make sure, too, that whenever you buy a guitar you remember, you're shopping in a border town. The stated price may not be the real price, and they may make a deal (though with lower price guitars there's probably not much margin--you should still ask). I wouldn't hesitate to buy a pretty good used guitar instead of new. There's a shop on north 610 that sells lots of used guitars, and I'm sure someone here will remember the name. It's just north of the Spanish Flower.

If your kid is a musician anyway, he can pick up a lot on his own without lessons. You might buy a couple of how-to videos in the kind of music he's interested in. I played for years before I had any lessons, and if videos would have been around when I was a kid I would have really liked them. There's a website called Guitar Gallery that sells mostly classical music, but has videos for everything.

I don't know that I have much to add to the string discussion, except buy lights (if he wants to be Andres Segovia mediums are hards are ok, but don't buy a steel string). What stuns me about steel strings is how often the strings have to be changed. The newer coated strings may help, but I don't know.

A 16 year-old won't notice anyway.

Buying guitars is a bit weird, because it's not like buying widgets. Every guitar is different, a bit, and if you don't play, and want someone to comment on the playability of the guitars you're looking at, many of us would be more than glad to. It's shit to buy a guitar that just isn't playable, and what you really want more than all else is to avoid that . . . A nice little nylon string (which is all me, andres segovia, willy nelson, the Gipsy Kings, and Chet Atkins in his later years ever play) can be a much better buy at $300 than a steel string.

NeilT · « **Reply #26 on:** December 02, 2006, 09:35:34 pm »

So when are we gonna kick up the OWA garage band? Jim surely plays the drums.

We could send in a video of the national anthem to the Astros.

Rammer33 · « **Reply #30 on:** December 04, 2006, 12:29:56 am »

who'd a thunk my first OWA post would be on guitars ... then again maybe it makes sense ...

I usually tell folks trying to learn to get a mid level epiphone acoustic (prol around 400) ... they are well made and easily good enough to keep beyond beginner levels (also what ever guitar you get make sure they set it up for you - it makes a huge difference) ... I also think Alvarez is a really underrated inexpensive mid level guitar that plays very well ... shoot I?ve recorded with Alvarez?s before and use one live fairly frequently ? each guitar is different though if you find something you like and it plays well / feels good then go with it ?

buy used if you can ... for the kind of guitar you want you?ll get more guitar for the buck ?

on strings I always play john pearse lights ... most shops have them and they are the best sounding, personally I can't stand the coated strings but someone just learning won't be able to tell the difference ... so strings aren't a huge deal

anyway that?s my two cents ?

Guinness · « **Reply #32 on:** December 04, 2006, 04:06:49 am »

I'll chime in here to my 2 cents...
It would be a good idea to pay attention to the music he listens to, as someone up the page said, since he might want to lean more toward an electric; if his music taste runs toward heavier teenage music, he might be more keen to learn on an electric and keep learning. My first guitar was an electric back in the day, and I don't think I suffered because of it (it was a Univox Les Paul copy, with the bridge pick-up missing--at $35, it was the cheapest guitar in the pawn shop, which is why I bought it those many years ago

). The key is retaining interest, and playing songs you know helps (in addition to the 'show off' value of playing for yer mates).
I also highly highly highly recommend the Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer, The Link . It really helps in understanding music theory, etc, in a way that is useful for the beginner, but even after 20 odd years of playing, I still find it a handy reference. It covers everything from basic chords, to fancy pants modulation stuff, to how to repair or build a guitar.
I was always a Telecaster guy, and Fender's range of Squire guitars are fine for a beginner. Epiphone makes nice electrics in the lower range. Places like the Guitar Center usually sell nice package deals around Christmas, with a guitar, amp, soft case, etc. I would, however, very highly recommend Texas Music Emporium ('The Music Store That Ate My Brain'), although I admit I haven't been there for years, but in the past it was a great store, locally owned.
Current guitar is something called a Fleetwood that I bought in the UK 6 or 7 years ago, a mass produced version of an acoustic built by a luthier in West Sussex, kind of like a standard Takamine; has nice mother of pearl inlays, a built in pickup, equalizer, etc. Nicest guitar I ever had, and has been pretty well wearing: moved from England to Ireland to the US and back to England again. Never saw one anywhere outside of the shop I bought it...Fleetwood guitars ring a bell with anyone?

astrox · « **Reply #33 on:** December 04, 2006, 03:10:39 pm »

Since you've already gotten some pretty sound advice, I'll just add that there's a relatively new music store in Porter just East of 59 on 1314 called Andrew's Music. Andrew is a great guy and he has a good variety of guitars for sale both acoustic and electric. He has lots of Takamines and Johnsons. It's in the same shopping center as Hot Biscuit and Big Lots. It's on the side facing 1314 a few doors down from Subway.

Rammer33 · « **Reply #34 on:** December 04, 2006, 04:39:18 pm »

another nice find is to buy any mid early 70's Ventura guitars ? semi hard to find but they will surface now and again ?

Ventura is a japanese company that bought a ton of the top gibson?s, martins, and fender?s in the late 60?s and dissected / them figured out exactly how they where made and reproduced them to the T? then sold them for next to nothing (Gibson/fender sued them and put them out of business) ? the models they made are great and for all practical purposes generally very close the guitars they emulate ? they are often referred to as the lawsuit guitars ?

if you ever come across one buy it, they are usually very inexpensive because most folks don?t pay attention to them ...

I have an early 70 ventura EB-3 model bass and play it more than anything I own (cost me 80 bucks) ... and I also have a ventura V-25 I came across for about 150 bucks (Martin knock off) ? and it plays nearly as good as my 1969 Gibson J-160e ? they?re the best secret in guitars IMO (if you can find them) ?

Rammer33 · « **Reply #36 on:** December 10, 2006, 10:38:44 pm »

cool ... hopefully it'll work out; sight unseen is always fun but for 60 bucks its not like there is a risk, really have enjoyed mine ... I actually recorded with the Bass yesterday and its funny because I get comments on the bass everytime I bring it out (its a shortscale/thin neck gibson SG body style that doesn't sound like a short scale) ... anyway hope you get a good one ... let me know how it sounds ...

side note i would expect some easy tweeks (tuners or set up or something) ... for instance on both of my ventura's I replaced the tuners ... not sure if it is something specific to all ventura's but its an easy tweek - that helped both ...

Holly · « **Reply #37 on:** December 10, 2006, 10:40:42 pm »

Even more of a sidenote here, but... are there any Chapman Stick players here? I've wanted to learn that for YEARS now, but never actually know anyone who's learned it.

Rammer33 · « **Reply #38 on:** December 10, 2006, 10:56:18 pm »

used to know a guy here in town that was REAL good at the stick ... can't remember his name but he used to play at rhythm room quite bit ... not sure of anyone that teaches it - folks a rockin robin wold know if there was or not - i'd give them a call

Phil_in_CS · « **Reply #40 on:** December 11, 2006, 12:10:51 pm »

I've worked at avoiding the idea of a Chapman stick. I went fretless about 2 years ago and that's the project for this decade.

I'd sink way too much time and money into a stick if I went that way.

Holly · « **Reply #41 on:** December 11, 2006, 01:09:05 pm »

But the range of sound you can get out of one Grand Stick is... umm. Where's that towel boy? Geez.

Author Topic: Guitar Info (non-BB) (Read 5487 times)

Guinness