TJ
im a first time guitar buyer and i need to know what to consider when buying one
i cant afford lessons so what is a good book to teach me the basics?
whats better acoustic or electric?
whats a decent one thats cheap too?
Answer
To keep it simple, we're recommending a few good starter guitar/amp packages that are inexpensive and come with everything you need to begin playing...including instructional books or DVDs.
We've offered a few options, so that you have a few different prices to consider, and some choice in terms of looks and shapes. All of these are great for beginner, so you really can't go wrong. See which ones your local music store offers or Google them on-line to see what they look like and who will give you the best deal.
Les Paul Special II Player Pack
What's so special about the Les Paul Special II Player Pack? The super-low price for starters (around $199), and that's not all. This package also includes an Epiphone Studio 10 amplifier with 10W power through an 8" Electar Labs speaker; rugged gig bag; instructional video; super-accurate quartz tuner; plus a strap, cable, and picks to put it all together.
Street Price: around $199
The Fender Squier Stop Dreaming, Start Playing Package
This Squier Stop Dreaming, Start Playing guitar and amp package ($199) includes a Squier SE Special Strat and a SP-10 combo amp, plus an instrument cable, electronic tuner, instructional DVD, guitar stand, gig bag, and pick assortment.
The Squier SE Special Strat Electric Guitar combines 3 single-coils and 5-way switching for great tonal range. It also has a solid agathis body with shell pickguard, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot position inlays, die-cast chrome tuners, and standard fulcrum tremolo bridge.
The Squier SP-10 amp controls include volume, treble, bass, and an overdrive on/off button that delivers tube-like tone. A headphone output allows silent practice. 10 watts drive a 6" speaker and the amp has a tough textured vinyl exterior.
Street Price: around $199
Ibanez IJX40 Jumpstart Package
The IJX40 Jumpstart Package from Ibanez includes a GRX electric guitar, 15-watt GTA15 amplifier with reverb, cable, strap, picks, headphones, electronic tuner, and gig bag. Ibanez also includes an instruction DVD, book, and chord chart to teach you how to wail.
The Ibanez electric has a maple neck with the GRX sleek profile for fast and furious playability. It also has a rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, 22 medium frets, an alder body, three Powersound pickups with a humbucker at the bridge, and the FAT10 bridge for sustain and great intonation.
The GTA15 amp has 15W power, an 8" speaker, clean and overdrive sounds, reverb, an active 3-band EQ, and a CD input so you can play along with your favorite guitar jams.
Street Price: around $249
best guitar for beginner?
Lynny
ok, I am 13 years old, female, and I want to play a guitar. I really have no idea about guitar facts... so please help me and here is a list of questions:
1. for a beginner, which is better, classical or acoustic guitar? (yes, I am that clueless)
2. if so, which brand would be best BUT i dont want a very expensive one in case i stop. (I learned that nylon strings are the best for beginners??)
thanks for taking your time to help me! :)
Answer
Hi, and congratulations on joining the 6-string community. I will try to give you some general info on picking a good starter guitar but it is worth noting that there is no "best" guitar nor is there a "best" way to learn--quite simply guitars are getting better and cheaper and, since there are new people taking up the instrument every day there are literally thousands of ways to approach the instrument. That said there are 2 main families of guitar: Electric and Accoustic. Both options you mentioned are accoustic guitars. Classical guitar and it's related cousin, the Flamenco guitar, use nylon strings which don't put as much tension on the instument and therefore it can be made with lighter bracing. Classical and Flamenco guitars usually have a wider neck with the strings set further apart from each other to make it easier to play each string individually with your fingers. Additionally, the strings are higher off the fretboard (the height of the strings affects how difficult it is to press them down and is usually called the "action" of the guitar. Low action makes it easier to play, high action makes the guitar louder and, with enough technique, the notes sound more clearly) Nylon strings are easier on the fingers of both the fretting hand and the playing hand but most beginners find the wider and thicker neck of the classical/flamenco to be a bit of a chore to work with. "Regular" accoustic guitars are strung with metal strings (usually called "steel strings" despite the fact that they are usually made of bronze wound around a steel core) and are easier and cheaper to find than nylon. Additionally, nylon strings require actually being tied onto the bridge (the part that holds the strings on the body of the guitar) and take a long time to stretch out and settle in to their tuning. I have a lot of guitars and have found that sitting down with an absolute beginner and running through various types they ineveitably gravitate towards the electric. Solid-body electric guitars are cheap, plentiful, durable and can be practiced like an accoustic but MUCH more quietly as well as through headphones or an amplifier. If you just want to learn whether you have an aptitude for guitar I would suggest visiting a music store and explaining that you are planning to purchase your first guitar soon and could they show you entry-level Classical, accoustic steel-string and solidbody electric guitars. Electrics have slimmer necks that are more comfortable. They also use lighter-guage strings that are a good compromise between the stiff steel string accoustics and compliant but finicky nylon. Another factor to consider is scale-length. A shorter-scale guitar will be easier on you. A fantastic brand to consider is "DaisyRock" Dasiy Rock is a company that designs its products to tilt towards the feminine-size-wise and visually. The website for Musician's Friend (www.musiciansfriend.com) has a very good selection of their current offerings which include accoustics for about $100 and electrics starting at $150. A complete started pack with guitar, Amp and accesories runs $200 and is a steal-of-a-deal. Another brand to consider is Epiphone. Epiphone has been making guitars since the 1880's and offer both electrics and accoustics. For about $130 you can buy a "Junior" which is fairly loud even when strummed without an amp and also comes as a a starter pack that includes guitar, case and a few accessories for about $200. Squier (by Fender) is another well-regarded brand but it is worth noting that many of their instruments have a longer scale length and their electrics often have "tremolo" (Whammy-bar) bridges that can make it diffcult to tune the guitar. Ibanez makes some great starter guitars and if you can swing $300 for an accoustic the AEL10E has a built-in electronic tuner. But I keep circling round the idea that you are a 13 year-old female...If I were buying for a daughter/neice etc I would buy the debutante electric starter pack-it includes everything you need even a getting started DVD and a nice electronic tuner-unlike the Epiphone which doesn't have a DVD and usues a pitch-pipe instead of the more reliable electronic tuner. The axe itself is small and comfortable and can be played more quietly/privately than an accoustic of either type which benefits you (you won't feel as self-concious) and your family (they don't have to hear you struggle with a new instrument.) Let's face it-this is the 21st century and you DON'T have to start on a "Grandma Guitar." Last thing: the hardest part of playing guitar is the first 2 weeks. Give yourself permission to be terrible. Force yourself to practice/play 20-30 minutes a day until you can play for an hour or so without it hurting your hands too much. If you can stick with it a month you should be well on your way and if you can get your basic chords down could see yourself writing your own songs within another month or two. Millions of people can play the gu
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