Salma Syed
It's gotta be reasonably priced. I want an acoustic that looks like wood, and a good size. It has to be thin though, because I have to sell my guitar because I can't get my arm around it barely! So, I appreciate your help! I would also appreciate links if you guys have any. :)
Answer
Epiphone El-00 Vintage Sunburst Acoustic guitar $300
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-EL-00-Acoustic-Guitar-102022548-i1150010.gc
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Small-Body/Epiphone/EL-00.aspx
It's a small body but still has a great sound. It's not natural but it has as a beautiful finishing, I love sunburst guitars. You will definately be able to get your arm around it. The quality of this guitar is far more than $300 in my opinion, It's very similar to the Gibson Blue King which is nearly $3000 (way to much for me).
That^ my first recommendation.
Here is another small body acoustics with a more natural finishing. I can't say anything about it since I haven't played it.
Ibanez Daytripper Series DT100E Acoustic Guitar $200
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-Daytripper-Series-DT100E-Acoustic-Guitar-520144-i1441102.gc
Thats all that I know of.
Epiphone El-00 Vintage Sunburst Acoustic guitar $300
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-EL-00-Acoustic-Guitar-102022548-i1150010.gc
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Small-Body/Epiphone/EL-00.aspx
It's a small body but still has a great sound. It's not natural but it has as a beautiful finishing, I love sunburst guitars. You will definately be able to get your arm around it. The quality of this guitar is far more than $300 in my opinion, It's very similar to the Gibson Blue King which is nearly $3000 (way to much for me).
That^ my first recommendation.
Here is another small body acoustics with a more natural finishing. I can't say anything about it since I haven't played it.
Ibanez Daytripper Series DT100E Acoustic Guitar $200
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-Daytripper-Series-DT100E-Acoustic-Guitar-520144-i1441102.gc
Thats all that I know of.
Acoustic guitar brands?
Q. I am very interested in purchasing an acoustic guitar. I don't want to buy some $80 piece of crap, but I also don't want to spend $3000 on one. It would be the first guitar I've ever bought and I would be learning from it. Are there any particular brands I should go towards or avoid? Is there anything I need to know before purchasing one? Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Answer
If you don't know how to play yet, you might find out you don't really want to after you buy one and try some learning. That is a real good reason to get a cheapo player. I've got one of those Esteban guitars from the TV commercial when they first came out. It still plays fine, it's the finish on the fretboard that has been worn away. It still looks and plays fine. I think I paid $100 for it and it came with a soft case, three picks, two sets of strings and a strap. Pretty good deal.
Another place you can get a better deal is from Heartlandamerica.com. They have different cheap guitars that probably play decent enough. They always have them and they are always changing. But they are made in China just like the Fenders' and Takaminis'(Japan? maybe). Most acoustics are made in China or other orient Asia I believe. Because of the availability of the kinds of wood used. They will of course use the better looking wood grains on the higher end products. Gibson is made in the USA still, or at least the electric line is. Anyway the cost difference between the names respective to themselves and each other will be huge. Fender and Gibson make a common series that will be cheapest and a mid-grade and high-end and a ultra sweet it almost plays itself models. Takamini makes all high-mid grade and up. Same with other names. Yamaha can be seen selling crap and greatness. You'll get what you pay for but this is a fact what I tell you next. The salespeople at the music stores will tell you how well a guitar is made and blah blah blah. Until you yourself have actually been around a few guitars and inspect them yourself in private without being rushed, you just don't know. The quality is in the way the woods are glued together and finished and the way key parts fit not only together as the instrument but in your hands. Inspect the fret-board and neck for flatness and warping and that the frets all lay correctly as in they have no gaps at their ends where they are tapered down onto/into the neck. If they do, when you play the high E string or bottom string and bend a note, the string can slip past the edge of the fret and hang up under the fret. Very annoying when that happens. Also, each note played should not emit any buzzing from vibrating on any of the next frets in front of it. There's alot to know when looking for a second or third guitar vs. a first guitar. My advice is to keep it simple until you get an idea of what you want in the next guitar you buy if there is to be such an event. One last thing on acoustics. Or two. If you are planning on doing some lead stuff, look at the acoustics that have what is called a cutaway. That is the part of the body of the guitar where it meets the neck. The top will be there, the bottom will be "cutaway" to allow easier access to the upper frets and higher notes. Also, this one is a personal favorite thing to do but you will hear about it and possibly take some gruff, but to save your fingertips and to get a sharper more razzta razzta zing sharp cleaner sound from your acoustic is to use electric guitar strings. They sound great in my opinion and every acoustic should come with those installed instead of the old fat flumbflumbflumbphmmm sounding acoustic strings. What ever you decide have fun, but also go with a cheapy guitar first. $80-$125 is cheap but that heartlandamerica.com place will have the $200- $300 ones for the $50 - $150 price. Can't beat it for a first guitar. No sales pressure and a crowd of other buyers watching you try playing for the first time. Although most of them won't even be paying attention to you unless your some drop dead gorgeous babe or some high profile rocker in spandex and an entourage in tow.
If you don't know how to play yet, you might find out you don't really want to after you buy one and try some learning. That is a real good reason to get a cheapo player. I've got one of those Esteban guitars from the TV commercial when they first came out. It still plays fine, it's the finish on the fretboard that has been worn away. It still looks and plays fine. I think I paid $100 for it and it came with a soft case, three picks, two sets of strings and a strap. Pretty good deal.
Another place you can get a better deal is from Heartlandamerica.com. They have different cheap guitars that probably play decent enough. They always have them and they are always changing. But they are made in China just like the Fenders' and Takaminis'(Japan? maybe). Most acoustics are made in China or other orient Asia I believe. Because of the availability of the kinds of wood used. They will of course use the better looking wood grains on the higher end products. Gibson is made in the USA still, or at least the electric line is. Anyway the cost difference between the names respective to themselves and each other will be huge. Fender and Gibson make a common series that will be cheapest and a mid-grade and high-end and a ultra sweet it almost plays itself models. Takamini makes all high-mid grade and up. Same with other names. Yamaha can be seen selling crap and greatness. You'll get what you pay for but this is a fact what I tell you next. The salespeople at the music stores will tell you how well a guitar is made and blah blah blah. Until you yourself have actually been around a few guitars and inspect them yourself in private without being rushed, you just don't know. The quality is in the way the woods are glued together and finished and the way key parts fit not only together as the instrument but in your hands. Inspect the fret-board and neck for flatness and warping and that the frets all lay correctly as in they have no gaps at their ends where they are tapered down onto/into the neck. If they do, when you play the high E string or bottom string and bend a note, the string can slip past the edge of the fret and hang up under the fret. Very annoying when that happens. Also, each note played should not emit any buzzing from vibrating on any of the next frets in front of it. There's alot to know when looking for a second or third guitar vs. a first guitar. My advice is to keep it simple until you get an idea of what you want in the next guitar you buy if there is to be such an event. One last thing on acoustics. Or two. If you are planning on doing some lead stuff, look at the acoustics that have what is called a cutaway. That is the part of the body of the guitar where it meets the neck. The top will be there, the bottom will be "cutaway" to allow easier access to the upper frets and higher notes. Also, this one is a personal favorite thing to do but you will hear about it and possibly take some gruff, but to save your fingertips and to get a sharper more razzta razzta zing sharp cleaner sound from your acoustic is to use electric guitar strings. They sound great in my opinion and every acoustic should come with those installed instead of the old fat flumbflumbflumbphmmm sounding acoustic strings. What ever you decide have fun, but also go with a cheapy guitar first. $80-$125 is cheap but that heartlandamerica.com place will have the $200- $300 ones for the $50 - $150 price. Can't beat it for a first guitar. No sales pressure and a crowd of other buyers watching you try playing for the first time. Although most of them won't even be paying attention to you unless your some drop dead gorgeous babe or some high profile rocker in spandex and an entourage in tow.
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