Good beginner's acoustic
Question:
Tony, I started on a Seagull S6+ which is handmade in Canada. Over the past 3 or so years, I have aquired (GAS) a Guild and a Taylor, but my "Gull" still gets lots of playing time. In any case, don’t buy on name only. Have your daughter try a few out and see what she likes. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi, > Daughter wants to learn acoustic guitar. > Can you experts, recommend a good specific brand/model for us? > New or used, budget is 500.00 – 1,000.00. > She is an accomplished piano player(graduated conservatory grade 12) > Also plays flute at intermediate level. > TIA, > Tony
Response:
Have her try out the Martin D-15. It’s exceptional for fingerpicking. List is $979 these days; street price is up to 40% less. It’s perhaps the biggest bargain in the Martin product line. An exceptional guitar at a "bargain" price. And don’t think it is a "beginner’s" guitar. It isn’t. If you visit my friend Cathy Cowette’s web site at http://cathycowette.com and download something from her music page, you can see how it sounds in capable hands. The last three songs are her solo; in the first eight, you should be able to hear her fingerpicking in most of them (including the lead on Don Quixote). The other guitar is a Taylor 310. > Hi, > Daughter wants to learn acoustic guitar. > Can you experts, recommend a good specific brand/model for us? > New or used, budget is 500.00 – 1,000.00. > She is an accomplished piano player(graduated conservatory grade 12) > Also plays flute at intermediate level. > TIA, > Tony
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Response:
nevermind a Martin or Taylor or whatever, for a young girl just beginning on acoustic guitar or electric, they often have (girls in general apparently) serious trouble with steel string guitars. Have your daughter try several including a student classical with nylon strings, if she can handle a steel string, go for that, if not, start her with a classical style guitar. I recommend something like a Washburn, Fender, Yamaha, or Ibanez for a basic beginning acoustic steel-string, classical could be any reasonably priced model that sounds good. Also invest in a good tuner, a capo that’s easy to use, and picks. And a good cloth or two to wipe down the strings and clean the guitar body. Scott Briggs NYC – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > Daughter wants to learn acoustic guitar. > Can you experts, recommend a good specific brand/model for us? > New or used, budget is 500.00 – 1,000.00. > She is an accomplished piano player(graduated conservatory grade 12) > Also plays flute at intermediate level. > TIA, > Tony >In the future you might want to let your readers know those dollars are >Canadian instead of US so they don’t get too excited. My recommendations >would be Martin or Ibanez. Gibson is making some fine guitars lately but >they are a bit out of your price range, at least the nice ones are. Martin >has been in business since the 1830’s, and they are generally considered the >cream of the crop. I’ve heard great things about Seagull but I’ve never >personally tried them out. >You can visit http://www.musiciansfriend.com and also http://www.samash.com >and order free catalogs from both places. Even if you choose to purchase >locally, you’ll at least have a good idea of what prices guitars run by >checking these two out. I would stay away from HPL guitars (high pressure >laminate). This means the guitar is made from plywood instead of solid wood >and IMHO they don’t have as good of a sound. The Martin DXM is HPL. The >DCX-1E and DM both have solid wood tops but laminated sides and back. The >D-15 Dreadnought ($699.99 USD) is a great guitar at the top end of your >range. My first guitar was an Ibanez PF-3. I don’t think they make the >PF-3 any more but I’ve seen a PF-6 at Musician’s Friend for $179.99 USD. >Eight years later mine still plays at least as good as it did the day I >bought it. >The basic things I think you should look for are: >Solid top >Solid sides and back >good quality tuners >Both of the guitars I have recommended have these features. >While the Martin is at or a little bit above your $1000.00 Canadian, it does >come with a hardshell case which is a must for a youngster with a guitar. >If you go with the Ibanez or any other guitar that does not come with a >hardshell case, you’ll want to go ahead and buy one. They cost around >$100.00USD. >There are literally thousands of great guitars within your price range. >These aren’t the only two you should look at but rather the two I’m >recommending. >I think there are a ton of great deals to be had in the used market but I >also think you could be "had" if you don’t know what you are looking for in >a used instrument. Stay away from used unless you can take someone with you >that knows guitars and can find a deal for you with your best interest in >mind. >HTH, >Brian
Response:
Hi, Daughter wants to learn acoustic guitar. Can you experts, recommend a good specific brand/model for us? New or used, budget is 500.00 – 1,000.00. She is an accomplished piano player(graduated conservatory grade 12) Also plays flute at intermediate level. TIA, Tony
Response:
> Hi, > Daughter wants to learn acoustic guitar. > Can you experts, recommend a good specific brand/model for us? > New or used, budget is 500.00 – 1,000.00. > She is an accomplished piano player(graduated conservatory grade 12) > Also plays flute at intermediate level. > TIA, > Tony
that’s a heck of a nice beginner guitar! Lots of really great guitars in that range… I’d say go try a bunch. Seagull Artist models are wonderful, Larivee makes some sweet guitars (Perhaps a used d-05?), Of course Martin and Taylor have some nice ones in that range as well. I’m also a big fan of guild, but I think of them as more of a big heavy boomy guitar, not as much of a female guitar (although Bonnie raitt has used a D-50 for years). I’m a big believer in used guitars over new, but you can shop around at the GC’s and other store looking at the $1200 new guitars and expect to find used the same thing for $800 or so. This is a really fun price range to shop in…lots of superb guitars with very different feels and sounds.
Response:
>I’m a big believer in used guitars over new, but you can shop around at the >GC’s and other store looking at the $1200 new guitars and expect to find >used the same thing for $800 or so. This is a really fun price range to >shop in…lots of superb guitars with very different feels and sounds.
*nodding head* I also would go for a used acoustic, simply because the tone changes as the wood "warms" over time, but that’s just me. I would highly suggest though that you bring her with you when you shop around, especially if she has never played guitar before. That way, she can find a neck that fits her hand.
Response:
> Hi, > Daughter wants to learn acoustic guitar. > Can you experts, recommend a good specific brand/model for us? > New or used, budget is 500.00 – 1,000.00. > She is an accomplished piano player(graduated conservatory grade 12) > Also plays flute at intermediate level. > TIA, > Tony
In the future you might want to let your readers know those dollars are Canadian instead of US so they don’t get too excited. My recommendations would be Martin or Ibanez. Gibson is making some fine guitars lately but they are a bit out of your price range, at least the nice ones are. Martin has been in business since the 1830’s, and they are generally considered the cream of the crop. I’ve heard great things about Seagull but I’ve never personally tried them out. You can visit http://www.musiciansfriend.com and also http://www.samash.com and order free catalogs from both places. Even if you choose to purchase locally, you’ll at least have a good idea of what prices guitars run by checking these two out. I would stay away from HPL guitars (high pressure laminate). This means the guitar is made from plywood instead of solid wood and IMHO they don’t have as good of a sound. The Martin DXM is HPL. The DCX-1E and DM both have solid wood tops but laminated sides and back. The D-15 Dreadnought ($699.99 USD) is a great guitar at the top end of your range. My first guitar was an Ibanez PF-3. I don’t think they make the PF-3 any more but I’ve seen a PF-6 at Musician’s Friend for $179.99 USD. Eight years later mine still plays at least as good as it did the day I bought it. The basic things I think you should look for are: Solid top Solid sides and back good quality tuners Both of the guitars I have recommended have these features. While the Martin is at or a little bit above your $1000.00 Canadian, it does come with a hardshell case which is a must for a youngster with a guitar. If you go with the Ibanez or any other guitar that does not come with a hardshell case, you’ll want to go ahead and buy one. They cost around $100.00USD. There are literally thousands of great guitars within your price range. These aren’t the only two you should look at but rather the two I’m recommending. I think there are a ton of great deals to be had in the used market but I also think you could be "had" if you don’t know what you are looking for in a used instrument. Stay away from used unless you can take someone with you that knows guitars and can find a deal for you with your best interest in mind. HTH, Brian
Response:
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