Maggie
I am 14 years old. I want to buy an acoustic guitar. I have always wanted to play the guitar since I can remember. But my dad got a piano for free and wanted me and my sister and brother to play it. So I played to piano for like 7 years. We just quit with our piano teacher, b/c she was absolutely crazy (and are taking a little break and are going to find a new one soon).
I have been seriously thinking about playing guitar since November 2012. I've looked up everything about them and the best ones to get for a beginner. I have saved a bunch of money up and am prepared to spend like $200, plus picks, tuner, case, ect... I'm not asking my parents to pay anything; not even lessons. I plan to buy books and watch online lessons to teach myself. My dad told my mom he doesn't want me spending this much and he doesn't want me to get a guitar (meanwhile he acts cool about it when I told him and talk about it). My brother bought himself an iPod Touch (which cost $200) when he was 14. But my dad is a freak about money, I mean I have like 700+ in the bank. I have saved and never made any big purchases. I just want to buy a guitar before I have to get a job, get my licensee, and car. My brother(now older), has a car, which needs repairs, bills to pay, and he keeps making purchases, and my dad is all worried about that.
I just broke the news to my sister that I am going to buy a guitar and now she wants one. She is one of those competitive, "You're not going to do anything I can't do, and your not going to do it better than me" type of person. I can't do anything without her doing it and doing it better. She even admitted to me wouldn't buy a guitar if I wasn't!!!!!
So my dad was arrested almost a year ago for domestic abuse. He was gone for basically a month, but we gave him a second chance and let him back home. He went to therapy and mom and him went to couples therapy. But then he stopped. He slowly slipped back into his old self. And even though he hasn't flipped out and hurt us yet. He is depressed, anxiety ridden, mean, grumpy, and he is emotionally abusive. We don't know how to get away from him, there is no one to help us. We are building a house with him and don't know what to do. We truly thought he was getting better, but he isn't even trying to get better. We are stuck with him now.
My dad is stressed, making my mom stressed, and my sister is breathing down my neck every second of everyday, making me stressed. My bro is stressed from my dad and growing up and bills that need to be paid. I don't know what to do.
Anyways, I feel guitar is my passion and I really want to play. But should I not buy a guitar and just save my money since my family and I are moving and between my dad and everything should I just save? Or should I drop $200 bucks for a guitar? What should I do? What would you do?
Also if you could give me any advice to talk to my dad about everything and pray my dad starts going to therapy. B/c when he is doing better he is a good guy. I just need advice. Thank you in advance.
(This felt good to write and get off my chest.) (Also, my sister is pretty cool, just really competitive.)
Answer
Hey, sorry to hear about what you have been through with your family. It seems extremely tough and I can't imagine how stressed you must feel. I really am sorry.
As far as your dad goes: Have you told him how passionate you are about playing the guitar. Does he know that this is what you live and breathe for? If he does and still says "no" to the idea, try looking for guitars that are cheaper than $200. Maybe a used one from a pawn shop, amazon, ebay would make him sway towards your way.
Having a guitar of my own, I say you should definitely get your own. It's so much fun to play songs and make your own! You would love it. However, I would not go against your father's wishes -unless you KNOW he will not get mad.
As for your sister: she may be competitive. she may even get a guitar. But, know that if you are the only one that is really interested in it, you will be the only one to excel. You will learn the notes, chords, and strumming patterns. Not her. :)
For your mother: Let her know that she is in control. Your dad came to her after being arrested. He needs her. She should be the one to call the shots in the relationship. If she wants him in therapy, she should give him an ultimatum. But, then again, your dad might be a control freak (it sounds like he is) and this could anger him more...I just wish your mother would realize how stressed you are. Let her know how you feel. How you REALLY feel. If tears start falling, let them fall. I don't think she understands what you are going through and she can help you more than anyone here.
A last thing: Congrats on saving so much money! You're only 14, do you work or are you saving money that your parents give you? Either way, you have excellent money management skills that you should be proud of. It will come in handy when you get a job, go to college, and become whatever you want to be.
Another thing, don't worry about money. Your parents may like to be tight with their money, but it doesn't mean they are having money problems. Just think about it...they are building a home. They have to have money somewhere. Don't worry. You are too young to worry.
Final thing. I promise :) If you ever feel like you need to get something "off your chest", talk to someone. Don't keep it in. You can even message me if you want.
Hey, sorry to hear about what you have been through with your family. It seems extremely tough and I can't imagine how stressed you must feel. I really am sorry.
As far as your dad goes: Have you told him how passionate you are about playing the guitar. Does he know that this is what you live and breathe for? If he does and still says "no" to the idea, try looking for guitars that are cheaper than $200. Maybe a used one from a pawn shop, amazon, ebay would make him sway towards your way.
Having a guitar of my own, I say you should definitely get your own. It's so much fun to play songs and make your own! You would love it. However, I would not go against your father's wishes -unless you KNOW he will not get mad.
As for your sister: she may be competitive. she may even get a guitar. But, know that if you are the only one that is really interested in it, you will be the only one to excel. You will learn the notes, chords, and strumming patterns. Not her. :)
For your mother: Let her know that she is in control. Your dad came to her after being arrested. He needs her. She should be the one to call the shots in the relationship. If she wants him in therapy, she should give him an ultimatum. But, then again, your dad might be a control freak (it sounds like he is) and this could anger him more...I just wish your mother would realize how stressed you are. Let her know how you feel. How you REALLY feel. If tears start falling, let them fall. I don't think she understands what you are going through and she can help you more than anyone here.
A last thing: Congrats on saving so much money! You're only 14, do you work or are you saving money that your parents give you? Either way, you have excellent money management skills that you should be proud of. It will come in handy when you get a job, go to college, and become whatever you want to be.
Another thing, don't worry about money. Your parents may like to be tight with their money, but it doesn't mean they are having money problems. Just think about it...they are building a home. They have to have money somewhere. Don't worry. You are too young to worry.
Final thing. I promise :) If you ever feel like you need to get something "off your chest", talk to someone. Don't keep it in. You can even message me if you want.
what is the diff with these strats?
Salvatore
Im interested in a Fender strat but there are some ranging from $200 to $4000. So whats the main differences between the $180 Fender Squire affinity strat http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/squier-affinity-series-stratocaster-electric-guitar/510423000001069
the $450 Fender Std Strat www.musiciansfriend.com
/guitars/fender-standard-stratocaster
-electric-guitar/h76525000001001
then of course the Fender Standard American Strat.$999
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/fender-2012-american-standard-stratocaster-electric-guitar-with-rosewood-fingerboard
Thank you for those who respond. and Im only 16 years old. I love playing guitar, I've taken lessons on acoustic when I was ten but that only lasted a few months. So a few weeks ago I've started practicing on my cheap symphonics acoustic (it was a free gift 6 string acoustic so I cant complain, and ive put d'adarrio strings on it) and I've been on youtube learning to play some songs from John Mayer and Beatles, Eric Clapton etc.... (some musicians I like) and Ive developed the callouses on my fingers, and what not, but I've heard its better to start on an electric, and of course im not so so great on the cheap little acoustic but Ive been practicing chords on it etc....etc..SO Im saving up some money and I particularly like Fender guitars for some reason (prob cause Eric Clapton,Jeff Beck and John Mayer use them) so yea my point is, im a little more advanced then a beginner so like intermediate. Im just looking for a good Fender strat I can learn to practice and play on
Answer
Hello there,
The difference is in how they feel to play, how they sound and how well they will stand up to the rigors of gigging.
Not all Squier Strats have a body made from alder. I think the Afiinity still does. Most cheaper Squiers are either basswood or agathis. Even thought the Affinity body may be alder, the MIM Standard is alder and the American Standard is alder, the woods are not of equal quality. Fender uses higher grade lumber in its more expensive guitars. The manner of making the bodies is not the same. Sure they have the same general shape. But the similarity ends there. The Affinity body is made from several pieces of alder. I have seen up to 5 used. Using up the smaller scraps of lumber reduces the amount of wood wasted and lowers the production cost. It also lowers the tone of the body. MIM Standard is made from 2 or maybe 3 pieces. The American Standard is 2 piece. The Affinity body is not made to Fender specs. It is much thinner than a Fender Stratocaster.
The neck is a similar matter. All are made from maple. All can have either a maple or rosewood fretboard. The higher grade lumber is used for the Fender Strats and the lower grade goes into the Squier. The grain pattern in most Squier necks is not nearly as attractive as the grain pattern in most Fender necks. The Squier neck simply will not sound as good as the Fender neck because it is made from lower grade maple. The MIM Standard will have a better job of beveling, dressing and polishing the ends of the frets. The American Standard is better yet. The American Standard will have a higher quality nut and more detailed in its shaping than a MIM Standard. The Squier has a molded plastic nut. The American Standard will have hand rolled edges to the fretboard. An experienced player will appreciate all the small details of the American Standard. A beginner will not notice them. Those small details are hand labor and raises the cost.
The American Standard has pickups with Alinco magnets. The MIM Standard has pickups that have ceramic magnets, They are slightly hotter than the American pickups, but sound very good. The Squier will have cheaply constructed pickups with ceramic magnets. Most are hotter to compensate for the lack of tone. To an inexperienced ear, they may sound decent. To an ear that has played for thousands of hours, that lack of tone is intolerable. The electronics in the American Standard are first rate. CTS pots and a CRL switch. The MIM Standard will have good electronics. I have even seen CTS pots (American made) in some MIM Strats. The Squier has low quality electronics. The pots are absolutely terrible. Beginners don't rely on the tone controls all that much, so they may not even realize how bad the pots are.
The Squier Affinity is mass produced. The MIM Standard is mostly mass produced. The American Standard has a little mass production and a significant amount of hand fitting of the parts. The more hand labor involved in the assembly, the higher the cost.
Every little part on the Squier Affinity is cheaper and lower quality than on the Fender Strats. The 2 screws that hold the claw in place are shorter and thinner than a Fender screw. They are some soft alloy. If they save a penny or two on the two cheap claw screws, you know they scrimped on everything else.
Overall, the Squier Affinity is suitable for a beginner to learn on. Maybe a casual player will use one. It is not built well enough to gig with. It will not hold up to that sort of use. The MIM Standard is a work horse. It is sturdy and well made. Guys I know refer to the MIM Standard as the working man's caster.
The Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster does cost several thousand dollars. On mine, the neck and body were made by one person. Both signed and dated. Hand selected the lumber. He hand fiited the parts together. One of the pickup makers made the pickups. Hand wound (not machine wound like the regular production guitars). The pickups were wound as a matched set. Then the guy building my CS Strat put them into the guitar he had assembled. The Custom Shop has craftsmen who are proud of their work. To me, it is definitely worth the difference. I appreciate and recognize the work someone put into the building of that Strat. The builder's skill and his pride in his work product are evident.
Which Strat is best for you depends on how you plan to use it. To learn to play on and to jam with friends a Squier Stratocaster will fit your needs. There are several models of Squier Strats.The quality increases along with the price. There is a difference between a $120 Bullet, a $180 Affinity, a $220 Standard and a $350 Classic Vibe. The MIM Standard has been around since about 1990. There are a lot of used ones on the market. You can get them for $225 to $285 in very good condition.If you are considering one of the more expensive Squier models, seriously consider getting a used MIM Strat.
Later,
Hello there,
The difference is in how they feel to play, how they sound and how well they will stand up to the rigors of gigging.
Not all Squier Strats have a body made from alder. I think the Afiinity still does. Most cheaper Squiers are either basswood or agathis. Even thought the Affinity body may be alder, the MIM Standard is alder and the American Standard is alder, the woods are not of equal quality. Fender uses higher grade lumber in its more expensive guitars. The manner of making the bodies is not the same. Sure they have the same general shape. But the similarity ends there. The Affinity body is made from several pieces of alder. I have seen up to 5 used. Using up the smaller scraps of lumber reduces the amount of wood wasted and lowers the production cost. It also lowers the tone of the body. MIM Standard is made from 2 or maybe 3 pieces. The American Standard is 2 piece. The Affinity body is not made to Fender specs. It is much thinner than a Fender Stratocaster.
The neck is a similar matter. All are made from maple. All can have either a maple or rosewood fretboard. The higher grade lumber is used for the Fender Strats and the lower grade goes into the Squier. The grain pattern in most Squier necks is not nearly as attractive as the grain pattern in most Fender necks. The Squier neck simply will not sound as good as the Fender neck because it is made from lower grade maple. The MIM Standard will have a better job of beveling, dressing and polishing the ends of the frets. The American Standard is better yet. The American Standard will have a higher quality nut and more detailed in its shaping than a MIM Standard. The Squier has a molded plastic nut. The American Standard will have hand rolled edges to the fretboard. An experienced player will appreciate all the small details of the American Standard. A beginner will not notice them. Those small details are hand labor and raises the cost.
The American Standard has pickups with Alinco magnets. The MIM Standard has pickups that have ceramic magnets, They are slightly hotter than the American pickups, but sound very good. The Squier will have cheaply constructed pickups with ceramic magnets. Most are hotter to compensate for the lack of tone. To an inexperienced ear, they may sound decent. To an ear that has played for thousands of hours, that lack of tone is intolerable. The electronics in the American Standard are first rate. CTS pots and a CRL switch. The MIM Standard will have good electronics. I have even seen CTS pots (American made) in some MIM Strats. The Squier has low quality electronics. The pots are absolutely terrible. Beginners don't rely on the tone controls all that much, so they may not even realize how bad the pots are.
The Squier Affinity is mass produced. The MIM Standard is mostly mass produced. The American Standard has a little mass production and a significant amount of hand fitting of the parts. The more hand labor involved in the assembly, the higher the cost.
Every little part on the Squier Affinity is cheaper and lower quality than on the Fender Strats. The 2 screws that hold the claw in place are shorter and thinner than a Fender screw. They are some soft alloy. If they save a penny or two on the two cheap claw screws, you know they scrimped on everything else.
Overall, the Squier Affinity is suitable for a beginner to learn on. Maybe a casual player will use one. It is not built well enough to gig with. It will not hold up to that sort of use. The MIM Standard is a work horse. It is sturdy and well made. Guys I know refer to the MIM Standard as the working man's caster.
The Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster does cost several thousand dollars. On mine, the neck and body were made by one person. Both signed and dated. Hand selected the lumber. He hand fiited the parts together. One of the pickup makers made the pickups. Hand wound (not machine wound like the regular production guitars). The pickups were wound as a matched set. Then the guy building my CS Strat put them into the guitar he had assembled. The Custom Shop has craftsmen who are proud of their work. To me, it is definitely worth the difference. I appreciate and recognize the work someone put into the building of that Strat. The builder's skill and his pride in his work product are evident.
Which Strat is best for you depends on how you plan to use it. To learn to play on and to jam with friends a Squier Stratocaster will fit your needs. There are several models of Squier Strats.The quality increases along with the price. There is a difference between a $120 Bullet, a $180 Affinity, a $220 Standard and a $350 Classic Vibe. The MIM Standard has been around since about 1990. There are a lot of used ones on the market. You can get them for $225 to $285 in very good condition.If you are considering one of the more expensive Squier models, seriously consider getting a used MIM Strat.
Later,
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Title Post: Am I being selfish and/or stupid?
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment