cheap quality acoustic guitars image
jamestar89
I got a 3/4 size guitar at a yard sale real cheap about a year ago, but I've been practicing and would like to get a better quality acoustic guitar now, but I have no clue what type I should get. If anyone is into guitars and knows anything about them, can you give me any good make/models of guitars and basic price ranges for them? Thank you!
Answer
It kinda depends on how much you wanna spend and how much stuff you want with it. I would look on the musicians friend or guitar center. I got one from Costco actually. It was a Yamaha FD01 and I really like it. You can browse through stuff by price range on websites to look for yourself, but on Musicans Friend they have a yamaha EDF01 for 200, an Ibanez SGT120NT for 180. When you get in the more expensive price ranges, an Taylor is gonna be nice, Martins are nice, Alvarez, Ibanez, Fender, Epiphone. Really it's a preference of sound and feel. The best thing to do would be to go to a local music store and see what feels and sounds best to you. If you have a guitar center nearby go there. You can wheel and deal the workers like at a yard sale, compare prices and what not. When I was shopping for an acoustic I told them about the one at Costco and the sales rep said she'd throw in a gig bag, strings, pics, and a tuner for free. It might be a little awkward doing it but the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Also, if you're looking to go Acoustic Electric look at the same brands.
It kinda depends on how much you wanna spend and how much stuff you want with it. I would look on the musicians friend or guitar center. I got one from Costco actually. It was a Yamaha FD01 and I really like it. You can browse through stuff by price range on websites to look for yourself, but on Musicans Friend they have a yamaha EDF01 for 200, an Ibanez SGT120NT for 180. When you get in the more expensive price ranges, an Taylor is gonna be nice, Martins are nice, Alvarez, Ibanez, Fender, Epiphone. Really it's a preference of sound and feel. The best thing to do would be to go to a local music store and see what feels and sounds best to you. If you have a guitar center nearby go there. You can wheel and deal the workers like at a yard sale, compare prices and what not. When I was shopping for an acoustic I told them about the one at Costco and the sales rep said she'd throw in a gig bag, strings, pics, and a tuner for free. It might be a little awkward doing it but the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Also, if you're looking to go Acoustic Electric look at the same brands.
How big should a guitar be for an adult?
Q. I'm buying a cheap acoustic guitar for my boyfriend and I've looked online and all the ones that are 36 inches say they are "Children's" guitars. How big should a guitar for an adult be?
I know nothing about guitars so any help is welcome.
I know nothing about guitars so any help is welcome.
Answer
I don't know what stores you are looking at, but real guitars for adults are never sold in "inches".
They are sold with no labeling at all referring to size OR they may be "3/4 size" for children.
Do NOT buy a cheap guitar from a place like Wal-Mart or Target for like, $100. They will be awful to play. They are hard to play because of the cheap construction of the neck and bridge, and they cannot be tuned.
I'm not joking. They are made so imprecisely (the location and spacing of the frets on the neck), that they will always sound out of tune.
Having played guitar as a serious hobby and in a few bands for the past 30 years, let me give you some honest advice. Expect to pay about $300, for an acoustic guitar that is at least playable, meaning the strings won't be absolute agony to hold down, it will stay in tune, and will have a pleasant sound. Anything cheaper is total frustration.
If you are looking on-line, you can look at Musicians Friend or American Musical Supply (google them, they are easy to find), and look for something in the $250to $350 price range.
I have bought from both of those on-line places before, and they have always been reliable, even buying instruments through the mail. If he is serious about playing, it is much MUCH better to go to a local music store where you can try out the guitars, because there is a lot of variation in what you'll get for your 300 bucks.
(Of course, if your budget is bigger, you'll get a BIG jump in quality if you can get into the $700 guitars, and still other big jumps at the $1200, $1600, and so on, level. Yes, good guitars really do cost that much, and with good reason).
If you have a choice, TRY to get ones with a SOLID top (not laminated). Unless the description SAYS it has a solid top, it doesn't, believe me. Next up, you want solid back and sides (again, it will say if it has this). But now you are getting up into the $700 and up range.
Brands in $300 price range that make decent instruments, that I have actually tested out, are Guild, Yamaha, Ibanez, Takamine, and Epiphone (there are others). I have NOT been pleased with Fender's acoustic guitars, so I'd stay away from them, despite their well-respected name in amplifiers and electric guitars.
The really good stuff, like Martin, Taylor, Seagull (cheaper than the other two!) are $800 - $3000.
Oh, and for historical information, my first guitar was an Ovation (I don't care for them anymore, but they do still make fine guitars). It cost $200 in 1978, so today, it would be
$750. Next was a Seagull around year 2000 that cost $600, and just recently, a BEAUTIFUL Taylor that cost about $1700.
I don't know what stores you are looking at, but real guitars for adults are never sold in "inches".
They are sold with no labeling at all referring to size OR they may be "3/4 size" for children.
Do NOT buy a cheap guitar from a place like Wal-Mart or Target for like, $100. They will be awful to play. They are hard to play because of the cheap construction of the neck and bridge, and they cannot be tuned.
I'm not joking. They are made so imprecisely (the location and spacing of the frets on the neck), that they will always sound out of tune.
Having played guitar as a serious hobby and in a few bands for the past 30 years, let me give you some honest advice. Expect to pay about $300, for an acoustic guitar that is at least playable, meaning the strings won't be absolute agony to hold down, it will stay in tune, and will have a pleasant sound. Anything cheaper is total frustration.
If you are looking on-line, you can look at Musicians Friend or American Musical Supply (google them, they are easy to find), and look for something in the $250to $350 price range.
I have bought from both of those on-line places before, and they have always been reliable, even buying instruments through the mail. If he is serious about playing, it is much MUCH better to go to a local music store where you can try out the guitars, because there is a lot of variation in what you'll get for your 300 bucks.
(Of course, if your budget is bigger, you'll get a BIG jump in quality if you can get into the $700 guitars, and still other big jumps at the $1200, $1600, and so on, level. Yes, good guitars really do cost that much, and with good reason).
If you have a choice, TRY to get ones with a SOLID top (not laminated). Unless the description SAYS it has a solid top, it doesn't, believe me. Next up, you want solid back and sides (again, it will say if it has this). But now you are getting up into the $700 and up range.
Brands in $300 price range that make decent instruments, that I have actually tested out, are Guild, Yamaha, Ibanez, Takamine, and Epiphone (there are others). I have NOT been pleased with Fender's acoustic guitars, so I'd stay away from them, despite their well-respected name in amplifiers and electric guitars.
The really good stuff, like Martin, Taylor, Seagull (cheaper than the other two!) are $800 - $3000.
Oh, and for historical information, my first guitar was an Ovation (I don't care for them anymore, but they do still make fine guitars). It cost $200 in 1978, so today, it would be
$750. Next was a Seagull around year 2000 that cost $600, and just recently, a BEAUTIFUL Taylor that cost about $1700.
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Title Post: Buying a new acoustic guitar and need advice?
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Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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