The other thread got me thinking about how I had always wanted to learn how to play an instrument. I have decided I am going to ask for a guitar for Christmas. Can anyone reccomend a good starter guitar? Also any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.

best guitar in my opinion is an ibanez....i play guitar....but to start out get an acoustic guitar that is unless your going to get an amp too then i'd suggest an ibanez....good luck

A cheap Fender Stratocaster may be good - if they still make them decent... :nod: (or a better quality Strat. if you can afford it)

Choosing a starter guitar is very important. But you need to tell us more... how dedicated are you to learning? What style do you enjoy playing? What do you want to learn to do with a guitar? I can't tell you what to look into until I know this information.

-R

Rickenbacker, Taylor, Gibson, Martin, Fender, Seagull, Takamine... some favs.

I agree with Bluestreak, good point.

I myself learned on a 12-string, and I don't recommend you go that route. :)

I still suck at it, but I can play D, A, and G chords great! :-)

Choosing a starter guitar is very important. But you need to tell us more... how dedicated are you to learning? What style do you enjoy playing? What do you want to learn to do with a guitar? I can't tell you what to look into until I know this information.

-R

I plan on taking around 2-3 lessons a month and a couple hours a week of time will be dedicated to it. I dont really know what style I enjoy playing since I have never played. I like all kinds of music. As far as what I want to learn, I guess enough to play along to a song. Im not intrested in being the next Clapton but wouldnt mind being able to play along with one of his songs. Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

For electric I'd have to go Strat...just all around good sound for blues,
jazz, rock, you name it! Get some light strings and a low action to start; it will be easier on your fingers while you learn. If you want to take guitar seriously, invest in a nice accoustic, as this will train your fingers to get your roots in classical/jazz pieces that you'll be forced to learn in any music school. I'd go with a low-end Takamine;not the best guitar but great bang for your buck:

check out http://www.geartree.com/Shop/Control/fp/cat/25100/SFV/29865/field/1/search/takamine

the Jasmine is a great deal for $135

It sounds like a typical Stratocaster or one of the many knock-offs would do you just fine to start, or perhaps as was suggested, a low-end Taka acoustic. If you decide to stick with it, then we'll talk about getting some more serious equipment, perhaps a good super-strat (Ibanez, Charvel/Jackson, Carvin, etc) and/or an Ovation acoustic.

Actually, what you really need to do is find a large superstore near your home, go visit, sit down, plug in and try every guitar out that you like - pick ones you like the looks of as well as how they feel, sound, and play. Give some thought to weight, because if you ever stand to play, that sucker will be firmly planted on your shoulder and they can feel quite heavy if you play standing for any appreciable length of time.

Once you've picked a guitar, I suggest you write down the specifics (manufacturer, color, model number and options) then go home and do some comparison shopping via the Internet before deciding to buy from a superstore. Most superstores have overpriced, poorly set up guitars in stock and I have yet to find a good luthier worth a damn at any superstore who can set up a guitar to my liking... so you're unlikely to find much help there. Well, I take that back. You're likely to find useful, very basic help... once you get to be a more advanced player and you know exactly what you like in a guitar setup, you either learn to do it yourself, or you're outta luck. It's hard to find some one who can help you with detailed specifics of advanced guitar setups.

If I can be of further assistance, just ask.

-R

I don't know why but I've always noticed that people who start out with an Acoustic seem to have a better time transitioning to an Electric later. If they start out on an Electric, it's harder to get the Acoustic style down pat. String thickness plays a big role for the individual. Also type of metal used for string. Some Acoustics are a combo of metal strings and nylon. I used to spend a lot of time matching string diameters for optimal sound and comfort. Speed of play isn't everything. Electrics tend to have "faster" necks and frets. The size of your hands and fingers will color the equation remarkably. A lot of people will "trade-off" by buying an Electric/Acoustic or f-hole Electric. There's some very good Acoustics with built-in pickups in them. I don't think a Strat is a good beginner guitar, but that's just my opinion. I've always tended toward Gibson. If you've got the coin, Martin and Ovation make some admirable Acoustics. And yes, Ibanez is great. Washburn has had some moments of brilliance too. Ditto for Epiphone. Ditto for Yamaha.

I don't know why but I've always noticed that people who start out with an Acoustic seem to have a better time transitioning to an Electric later. If they start out on an Electric, it's harder to get the Acoustic style down pat. String thickness plays a big role for the individual. Also type of metal used for string. Some Acoustics are a combo of metal strings and nylon. I used to spend a lot of time matching string diameters for optimal sound and comfort. Speed of play isn't everything. Electrics tend to have "faster" necks and frets. The size of your hands and fingers will color the equation remarkably. A lot of people will "trade-off" by buying an Electric/Acoustic or f-hole Electric. There's some very good Acoustics with built-in pickups in them. I don't think a Strat is a good beginner guitar, but that's just my opinion. I've always tended toward Gibson. If you've got the coin, Martin and Ovation make some admirable Acoustics. And yes, Ibanez is great. Washburn has had some moments of brilliance too. Ditto for Epiphone. Ditto for Yamaha.

Hevy -- you are right about the transition from electric to acoustic being harder. I think not only the string thickness and playability are issues, but also that when you own an electric first your expectations as a new guitar player are often that you will be shredding Van Halen style in 3 weeks and when you are not you get discouraged and the guitar just becomes a novelty taking up corner space in some room or closet. Where as an acoustic requires a bit more stick-to-it-iveness and you learn more of the basics and you learn patience with the guitar because you are more limited in terms of versatility and effects that you can add to it. When you later make the switch from acoustic to electric the electric seems very easy to play and for a lot of people they have the basics down enough to be able to find their way around the frets/scales/chords.

I think not only the string thickness and playability are issues, but also that when you own an electric first your expectations as a new guitar player are often that you will be shredding Van Halen style in 3 weeks and when you are not you get discouraged and the guitar just becomes a novelty taking up corner space in some room or closet.


Exactly :tu:

Or you could spend 12 years studying the finer points of Baroque Classical lute suites first, like Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai. :lol:

Acoustic or electric shouldn't matter. How good your teacher is, and how well you study what you learn do matter. The instrument you choose should excite you to play it; you should love to play the instrument you buy. Acoustic or electric? It matters very little. I started on a 3/4 scale jazz electric and didn't have a lick of a problem transitioning to acoustic guitars. I prefer smaller bodied acoustics (a la Ovation) to dreadnought bodies as they don't offer as much neck access and the bodies are cumbersome, especially for a smaller guy like me. I can play just about any type or brand of guitar known to man... but the list of guitars that are comfortable and truly excite me to play is very short.

Bottom line: get a guitar you like. Get a guitar that has decent hardware, solid construction, and go from there. About the only caveat I'd propose is that you learn on a steel string guitar.

-R

Acoustic or electric shouldn't matter. How good your teacher is, and how well you study what you learn do matter. The instrument you choose should excite you to play it; you should love to play the instrument you buy. Acoustic or electric? It matters very little. I started on a 3/4 scale jazz electric and didn't have a lick of a problem transitioning to acoustic guitars. I prefer smaller bodied acoustics (a la Ovation) to dreadnought bodies as they don't offer as much neck access and the bodies are cumbersome, especially for a smaller guy like me. I can play just about any type or brand of guitar known to man... but the list of guitars that are comfortable and truly excite me to play is very short.

Bottom line: get a guitar you like. Get a guitar that has decent hardware, solid construction, and go from there. About the only caveat I'd propose is that you learn on a steel string guitar.

-R

Gotta dis-agree with you there Blue (which I know you are not accustomed to people doing ;) ) but from my personal experience and also what I have seen with others and students, I think the acoustic really is best for the reasons I mentioned. You are an exceptional guitar player from the tracks I have heard of yours that you posted a while back, so perhaps some natural ability trumped the handi-cap for you that many have when transitioning from electric to acoustic, not saying you haven't worked your fingertips off to become as accomplished as you are...plus if someone has the stick-to-it-iveness I mentioned (which I imagine you have) then I would definitely say it matters less what they start on. However, if someone is just starting out, especially if they are teaching themselves I believe acoustic to be the best option, though not that starting on acoustic does not mean you are doomed, it really is a "better vs. best" debate in my mind. Plus for a beginner acoustic just has more versatility in terms of self-amplification (can play anywhere...meaning you practice more).

All of that to say (not confuse hopefully), do what Blue said and go to a large guitar store and play several different makes and models along the lines of what has been mentioned in the thread and decide for yourself what you are comfortable with sound wise, comfort wise and price wise. If you have an instructor, ask their input on what you should get based on your current needs.

Get an Esteban on HSN. ;)

Seriously, I agree with the advice to go to a supercenter and try out guitars. If you're an absolute beginner, take someone with you who knows something about guitars.

I know nothing about electrics. If you buy an acoustic, you'll need to get something that's playable. A very cheap acoustic will be nearly impossible to play, will hurt your fingers miserably, and will cause you to quit in no time. You should be Ok if you pick something from a quality manufacturer. Just don't go to Wal Mart and pick out an $89 guitar.