GUITARISTS! Got any ideas for a beginners guitar?

Question

I'm going to buy a guitar from my local music shop, and i have no idea what to buy!

What would you recommend? Can you say why it is a good guitar and stuff like that :)

I'm 14 years old, i'm right handed, and i prefer acoustic still stringed guitars(but all guitar recommendations are appreciated!). My price range is £200-£300, but im prepared to pay a little more (up to £350) if the guitar is really good.

I'll rate 5 stars for the best answer :)

Thank you :)

Answer 1

I would recommend you get one that feels, looks, sounds comfortable to you. I say this because not everyone has the same taste in music, and not everyone's hands are the same size. When i bought my first guitar, i was 14 as well. i picked my guitar out simply because of the way it looked. Now i am 20 and im glad i chose the guitar i did. Because the looks of my first guitar, made me feel comfortable enough, and motivated to get as good as i play to this day.

Answer 2

I had the same problem last week. I originally thought of buying a Takamine (G-Series) or a Fender CD-60 (£90). I asked/looked around online and had some help but I think ultimately it will be much better, if you could, go and see the guitar/s that you like so that you could have a feel of it and listen to the sound of the guitar.

I actually went down to Denmark Street as they do have a wide selection of guitars there and tried the Takamine and Fender. Takamine (£149 Wunjo's, Denmark Street) was a bit small and the sound was a bit clangy (IMO). Same thing with Fender (£90). These guitars were the two guitars recommended by the staff as he said that they good for beginners size-wise. He said otherwise go for classical as they have a small body as well. He also suggested Corts (these just look so tacky IMO) and Crafter (as the name suggests LOL). I did not even consider them just by looking.

Then I moved on to Hanks Denmark Street. Staff there said that a beginner guitar does not necessarily have to be a small bodied guitar. He asked me to pick some guitars that I like and have a feel of them. I asked for his thoughts on the Takamine. He said that he was not a big fan of the Takamine (although they are a retailer). He said that he does not like the sound of the cheaper ones unless I buy the more expensive range so he said he would not recommend them for beginners. Then I asked him about the “cheaper Fenders”, he said that cheap Fender guitars you are only buying the name and not the quality apparently. He said that cheap fenders are actually manufactured by Cort. He then recommended 3 Turner guitars (£100-£200) which are British made guitars. I did like the feel (sized weight and fret board) but I did not like the finish and the whole look etc so moved on to another guitar. I then picked up a Tanglewood (£229, he said he would hack off £29 if I pay cash). It was a natural finish. Gloss. Dreadnought. I played a few chords. The sound was great and the fret board was comfortable. I just loved the whole look but I still looked around so went to Harrods as I know they had guitars there. I then found a similar Tanglewood (but better) which was reduced to £209!

If you have a look online about reviews on Denmark Street, theyre not great. Going there was daunting. All the pros go there and just show off but go for the sake of seeing the guitars. Buying a guitar needs a lot of thought and you might need to go back and forth shops etc. I went to go buy mine from Harrods (yup I bought it there!) because A. it was within my price range B. Service was ace C. I loved the guitar better here than Denmark Street D. I get points as I have a card.

I hope the above helps!

Answer 3

Some good quality brands that have good entry level instruments would be:

Takamine

Yamaha

Alvarez

Ibanez

Epiphone



You should go to a music store and look at them. Even if you don't play yet you can test them out anyway. Ask for a pick then just hold the guitar and pluck each string with the pick and listen for any buzzing. You don't want a guitar that buzzes. Then, push down at the 3rd fret on a string with your left ring finger and pluck the string again. Do that on all 6 strings. Compare how hard it is to push the strings down from one guitar to the next and again listen for any buzzing when you pluck the string with the pick. Ask the guys at the guitar store to play them for you so you can hear how they sound (they love showing off their playing ability anyway). Ask their opinion on which is a better guitar.



Personally, if it were me though, I'd look at Takamine first. They make very good quality guitars that play and sound great.



Good luck. Have fun with the guitar.



EDIT: I read vman's answer below. Tanglewood guitars are very good, just don't see them much here in the US. Sounds like good advice from him. I agree with him on the Cort guitars, but I think Crafter actually makes pretty good instruments so you might actually want to try one out. I've played the Crafter SAT (like a Taylor T5 - sort of) and it was a good guitar (not a T5 of course but 1/4 the price). Haven't played their acoustics though.

Answer 4

The secret is in the 'set up'. You can buy a reasonably priced guitar (£200 - £300) and have it set up (costs about £20-£30). Your strings will be lower to the arm of the guitar, making it easier to finger the strings & the neck will be set up (checked for straightness). Good quality makes are Yamaha, Fender, Washburn etc). Enjoy your guitar fella!

Answer 5

I would play a few different ones in the price range. See which one feels better in your hands. Is easy to play, and sounds good to you. No sense in buying a guitar you don't like to play or hear. Good luck, and play a lot!

Answer 6

ibanez duncan electric with light strings. its gonna be around 300 i would assume but great for starting with. the light strings and the neck of the guitar will be good for you starting out and help with caluses. spend more money cause everyone always keeps their first guitar, and nobody wants to hang on to a shtty guitar.

Answer 7

STEEL-stringed guitars, I think you mean.



I have several guitars, been playing for, umm, 33 years, but I would recommend, if you are only having the one, a Fender Stratacoustic. You get a slim-bodied electro-acoustic, styled like a Strat, with Fender quality, a really good active pick-up, VERY versatile sounds, it's compact, fits inside a Strat gig-bag just fine, and you can plug in and rock-out when you want. Don't be fooled how innocent it looks, with a touch of pre-gain, it can knock down small buildings.

It's the acoustic you truly can plug in and solo on!



This one is in a horrid flower design, but mine is Olympic White (a creamy colour). See what your local dealer has.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Stratacoustic-Electro-Acoustic-Flower-Guitar-NR-/250640409716?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a5b552474

Answer 8

TRy a fender, emulate Hank B Marvin, The Shadows.