Robert asks…
A good brand/type/quality acoustic guitar for a first time player?
Even though I will be starting out, I want to invest in a good quality guitar that will last me a long time and through many levels of my learner. I’ve experienced in the past when starting out with instruments and using “beginner” type instruments and none of them worked out well, ending up with me going out to buying a better quality instrument anyway. All suggestions are appreciated, thanks!
Justin answers:
The same company that makes Seagulls, makes a guitar called a “Norman”.
They are Canadian, so you won’t be buying just another cheap Chinese guitar.
You can get a solid spruce top for about $400. They are perfect for your needs. Cheaper guitars use “music grade” plywood for the top. Sometimes called “Select Top”Avoid those. (unless it is a select SOLID top!)
I like the B-20 Folk. It’s not a folk guitar really, just smaller than a Dreadnought and more comfortable. They usually are set up good, but can benefit from a pro set up just like any other guitar.
Get the satin finish. It’s thinner and sounds better than the Gloss ones.
I recommend you switch whatever you get to “Silk ‘n Bronze” or “Silk ‘n Steel” strings. They sound sweet and are WAY easier to press down. Yes, pros use them.
I am a professional guitar instructor and was a Fender repair tech for 15 years. I have students who love theirs, and appreciate me recommending them.
This is about as nice a guitar as you can get unless you spend $700 to $1000.
You could also try to find a nice used Taylor or Guild or Martin. If you are careful, you can get a really nice guitar for half the price.
Only one of my 5 guitars was bought new. Used is a great way to go. More bang for your buck.
Mark asks…
Acoustic Guitar for Intermediate Electric Guitar Player?
I’m an intermediate guitar player. I’ve been playing electric guitar and i’m saving up for an acoustic guitar. So should i go for a cheap or decent guitar, and what would be some good guitar brands?
Justin answers:
I’d suggest you invest in a guitar in the $300-$500 range at least.
It’s not a good idea to buy an acoustic guitar online. Acoustics are very peculiar guitars and always seem to have their own personalities and qualities.
While you can buy almost any electric guitar and then set it up so it plays the way you like it, it’s a lot tougher to adjust an acoustic. There’s just not an easy way to lower the action other than filing down your bridge piece. And that’s a pain in the butt to do right.
It’s always a good idea to do what the other guy suggests and go in person to your local music store and play every guitar they have in your budget range,(Lester lists good guitars, but those brands he mentions are REALLY expensive, for example a McPherson will cost you well over $4000 for a cheap one!.)
I myself have always found Ovation guitars to have really nice neck action and playabilty very similar to a stratocaster (which I like because I have small hands for a guitar player.)
I have a music teacher friend who says that Ibanez acoustics in the range I mention are pretty nice guitars as well.
Guild and Martin guitars are more of a high end guitar.
What it really comes down to is how it feels to you.
Since you already play guitar you should have no trouble finding one that you will be able to tell if you like or not.
THEN…buy the exact guitar you like off the rack. Don’t let them switch you to a new version of the same model or one in a box. You could get a lemon that way. I bought a Fender acoustic like that (in the box)… I liked the demo model, but the one I got was literally painful to play. So you might not like another version of the same guitar.
Donald asks…
I want to learn to play the guitar, Is it hard to learn, is it fun, would $400 be enough?
and would I be able to teach/learn myself without a instructor?
Justin answers:
Yes, you can buy a pretty good guitar for $400. I would look at Takamine, Ibanez and Fender. If you go to a major like Gutiar center, you can probably get away with less.
If possible, go with a solid wood guitar rather than laminate. The salesperson should know. I have an Ibanez that I spent about $300 for that looks good, plays well, and has a built in pickup (a Fishman Matrix) I use that rather than my Martins or my Gibson when I’m playing it a less than ideal environment., like outdoors at night or in rough bars (it’s a solid guitar and makes a good drunk club)
If you have some experience on another instrument, you can learn to play on your own. If not, I would strongly suggest you invest in a few lessons. You need to know scales and chords, nothing too deep, just the principles of theory.
The chords you need to know right off the bat: C, D, E, F, G, A, B7th, A minor, D minor, Eminor. With those and a knowledge of scales, you should be able to play most popular music.
If you want to get a songbook, I would suggest Bob Dylan, since most of his songs have simple chord structures.
I’ve played for 40 years, self taught at first, but as I got older, I took lessons in specific styles like fingerpicking, flat picking, and jazz improvisation. I’m lucky to live in an area where several former national champions of finger style and flat picking style reside. The lessons have helped my improve. I’ve also taught guitar, harmony and arranging at the high school level.
If you apply yourself, you’ll find the guitar is a very rewarding instrument.
Good luck!
Ken asks…
Acoustic electro guitars are quite expensive?
This is obvious because of the electronics. What I have noticed is that the sound plugged in seems synthetic. It also seems you give up certain qualities on the guitar itself when it has electronics unless you spend a thousand dollars. My question is: would it be worth it to buy a lower end acoustic electric or just by an acoustic for the same price and just mic it if need be?
Justin answers:
I purchased an acoustic electric guitar after having certain difficulties recording with a microphone and picking up undesired ambient sounds in my home studio. I can use a sound hole cover and plug my Yamaha APX700 acoustic electric guitar directly into my BOSS GT-10 guitar effects processor with acoustic settings and plug the GT-10 directly into my computer and Pro Tools and get a great acoustic sound. In fact, I can use my Roland Juno-G keyboard to emulate an acoustic guitar and it sounds so much like a real classical guitar (for instance) that friends and family members have asked me what kind of classical guitar I bought after hearing my recordings. So yes there are advantages to having an acoustic electric guitar but, if you decide to get one, make sure you use BOSS acoustic effects to avoid that synthetic sound. I only paid about $700 for my acoustic electric. If you invest more and buy a Martin or a Taylor, it will likely sound better. My Yamaha was the best sounding acoustic electric I could find for the price. Using the GT-10, I can make it sound like a more expensive acoustic guitar. When you record, you have all kinds of options open to you that are different from playing live. For instance I can us a variety of picks that won’t work in a live setting or even use my thumb to strum with and on the finished recording I can have all the volume I need and sound just great. So, before you decide, you might shop around and listen to a variety of acoustic electrics and even go to a store that sells BOSS and connect the guitar to the BOSS and listen to it though a good set of headphones and you’ll be able to hear what I’m talking about hear.
Thomas asks…
i know there are many types of guitars but does anyone know what would be a good acoustic guitar to invest in?
i really want to learn how to play guitar. and i know if i dont ask for a specific kind of guitar, my parents will get me a shitty one lol so if anyone has an opinion or whatever, plz let me know <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2/72x72/1f642.png" alt="