Question about acoustic/electric guitars.?

CutiePie:)

I know nothing about guitars... I'm new to all of this, but I really want to learn how to play.

But I found this really pretty and cheap guitar (like 200 dollars), but it's acoustic/electric. I just want to play acoustic... is it the same thing? or does it sound different? and what is the battery for it for?

please help, I'm so confused haha

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-V-Series-V70CE-Dreadnought-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-102567492-i1150613.gc#customer-reviews

would it sound the same as this one?
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Round-Shoulder/Epiphone/AJ-100.aspx

I just want a cut-away shape though, which is why i was thinking about that acoustic electric guitar.

I sound so lame.

Answer
An acoustic-electric guitar is an acoustic guitar with a pickup built in so you can play it like a regular acoustic guitar, but if you want you can also plug it into an amplifier and rattle the windows. (Some musicians, like some motorcyclists, just think louder is better). If you don't plug it into an amp, then it's exactly the same as an acoustic guitar.

These guitars look very similar, except for the cutouts. The brands are very good, but the prices make me suspicious. The thing is, a lot of 'starter' guitars are almost impossible to play, because beginners buy them based on price. They can't play anyway so a really good guitar and a really crappy one look about the same to them. But if you got a really bad one, really unplayable, you'd think it was -you-!

If I was buying a guitar and I didn't play, I would want to bring someone along who could play to evaluate the 'playability'. I don't understand how someone could buy a guitar over the Internet or mail order. I'd be very wary. If you go to a guitar store and pick up half a dozen guitars that are all the same price, you find that they all feel and sound different (Well, YOU might not notice, but a guitar player would.) It's the feel and sound that makes the difference, not the look or name or model number.

Anyway I don't mean to discourage you.

Best type of guitar pickup?

hope

I have a BlueRidge acoustic guitar and need a recommendation on what type of pickup to purchase.

Answer
Fishman, LR Baggs, Shadow and K&K are probably the best brands for acoustic guitar pickups. I have a Guild D4 guitar and got an LR Baggs Element piezo pickup put in under the saddle for about $125 and it works great and sounds great. It has a volume wheel that attaches inside the sound hole. I plugged into a K&K Pure Preamp and it was great. But you can get much better ones if you pay more.

If you want something quick, easy, and cheap that still sounds good though, I highly recommend the Fishman Rare Earth humbucking soundhole pickups (or the NeoD if you can't afford the Rare Earth). I had one of those before I got the LR Baggs installed. LR Baggs and Shadow also make good sound hole pickups, but I'd avoid the Dean Markley ones. I tried one of those and it hummed a lot and really didn't sound very good.

Since you didn't mention anything about price limits though, there are much better systems such as the Fisman Aura and Expression systems, which combine and blend various inputs such as piezos under the saddle, transducers on the soundboard, and internal microphones to allow you to get more realistic reproduction of the acoustic sound. You could spend several hundred dollars on some of those and the system is not just the pickups, but the internal preamp and electronics as well.

The best thing to do would be to try out some guitars that have the type of electronics you're thinking about. Granted they won't be exactly the same as your guitar, but it will give you an idea. Once you have a few in mind (there are hundreds to choose from), then do some research and read reviews on those specific ones.

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What type of electric guitar would be best for a beginner?

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Brittany

I'm going to be getting a new electric guitar soon, (my first one). And I'm not sure what too look for. So what is a good type? What sort of equipment do I need to look for? And just any other info I need.
Thanks a bunch!
I played a little acoustic but thats about it.

Answer
The best thing you could do is go to a guitar store and test drive a bunch of different ones, since each will have its own feel. Since you've played acoustic, the width of the neck probably won't be a big issue for you. Generally speaking, the thinner the neck and the lower the action, the more comfortable a guitar is to play, especially if you've got smallish hands. But since acoustics tend to have fatter necks, you'll have a lot more options.

Ibanez makes fantastic guitars that are built like rocks, sound great, and are often nicer than guitars at twice the price. They tend to have really thin necks and low action, too, which makes them great for fast players. Fender and Squier by Fender guitars are great, too. The pickup configurations are adaptable to just about any style of music and they're really comfortable for most people to play. Epiphone makes great guitars, as well, though the necks are rather fat and the guitars weigh a lot more than Fender (and Squier) and Ibanez ones.

It's worth considering a starter pack, since that will contain everything you need to play. Most of them contain the guitar, a small amp, cable, strap and picks. Both Fender and Ibanez offer those, so all you'd need to do when you decide to start a band is get a larger amp.

If you want to do some research before going to a store, Musician's Friend is a great resource. You can search by brand, price or customer rating. Customers also post reviews that will give you a good idea which guitars are great and which ones have "issues" that make them difficult to play or keep in tune. Here's a link:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/electric-guitars/solid-body

And here's a link to the starter packs:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/value-packages/electric-guitar

The most important thing is to choose a guitar that feels really natural in your hands. The reason there are so many brands is that guitars are very personal and no guitar is ideal for everyone. Trust your instincts, since the way you feel about your guitar is more important than anyone else's opinion. And the more comfortable your guitar is to you, the more you'll love playing it. Good luck!

im trying to get into recording my own music, whats a good beginners audio interface?

Hector Her

anything else i need to get? something i can build up on little by little as i learn the art of recording music. its only for recording acoustic guitar maybe piano and vocals, whats ALL the equipment ill be needing to start?

Answer
Get a USB audio interface, If you are low on cash or doing this for the first time I recommend the "Roland Cakewalk UA 1G USB Audio Interface".
Pretty standard stuff, and worth every dollar. It Comes with a port each for a guitar lead, mic, and
keys. One for the Phone/headset. An external volume control and Sonar LE software interface.

Next you'll need a Mic, if your guitar ain't got pickups. Get two.

Apart from the Audio interface and a pair of microphone, you'll obviously need a fast enough PC or laptop.

This will do for an amateur recording rig.

Check out the link

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/07/08/cakewalk-ua-1g-usb-audio-interface-review/

Do Email me if you need further help!! :)

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Beginning guitar, epiphone les paul special 2 or squier stratocaster?

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Chasing Ca

I'm new to guitar, and i've played acoustic for a little.

I wanted some opinions on whether to get the epiphone les paul special 2 or the squier stratocaster.

Thanks.

Answer
Well, it is mostly about the feel you get for it when you hold it, but there are some factors.

The Les Paul models, be it Gibson or Epiphone, tend to be heavier than a strat. If you want to play more standing then the strat might be a good option, but if you get a good strap, the the Epiphone would be O.K. too.

I'm currently looking at buying an Epiphone Les Paul studio, and I've heard good and bad reviews. A lot of players really like it, because it is lighter than a Gibson, and they say it plays well. I have also heard that Epiphone went cheap on the electronics, and most of the people replaced the wiring with better pickups and wiring for better sound and had no complaints after that.

As for Squire, I haven't heard anything good about them. I have heard that the body is often shoddy and cheaply put together, and the wiring and pickups are bad too.

If you really want a stratocaster, maybe look up the Fender Starcaster. It was my first electric guitar, and it is fairly cheap. The set includes a strat guitar, a cable, an amp, 3 picks, and electric tuner, and gig bag, and a DVD. It is still a stratocaster, but I will admit that the pickups aren't great. Style wise the guitar is actually pretty slick looking and is fairly lightweight. I got my set for somewhere around 125 bucks, and it is worth it for a first guitar.

Sorry for the length, but I hope I helped out a little.

What are the laymans terms for a guitar pickup?

Im just starting out as a guitarist and I'll look at reviews for guitars and sometimes it'll say that the pickup is good/bad. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEIR TALKIN ABOUT! I know it has something to do with the sound though. I'll google it, but then all this stuff about electromagnet waves comes up. I just need a simple explanation. PLEASE!!!!!!

Answer
A guitar pickup is the thing below your fretboard. it picks up the strings sounds so they will come through your Amp in electric guitars. Humbuckers are pickups with two strips to them and are more suited to heavier music, since they make the strings sound deeper and have more bass, while standards only have 1 strip and are suited to rock and acoustic stuff. different pickups will make a guitar sound different through an amplifier. Hope i could help :)

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I need advice on buying an electric guitar?

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III Skin

I need some advice when it comes to buying an electric guitar. I have been playing acoustic for a while and I'd love to now get an electric guitar. However, I have never owned or even played one. I have seen the stereotypes, the Gibson Les Paul, the Gibson SG and the Fender Stratocaster, and those all LOOK good, but if someone could explain about the different sounds produced by different electrics (not necessarily those 3) it'd be great.

Answer
Luke summed up the single coil versus humbucker thing which is a big one. I think the HSS strat is a good idea also since it is one of the few guitars that offer both humbucker and single coil pickups. I would suggest going to a Guitar Center if you have one nearby and play as many guitars as possible in your price range. Then go to Harmony Central and read reviews on the ones you are interested in. If you just don't have any music stores around with a decent selection you can't go wrong with a Mexican Fender. I say ths all of the time but only because it's true.

Beginning guitar, epiphone les paul special 2 or squier stratocaster?

Chasing Ca

I'm new to guitar, and i've played acoustic for a little.

I wanted some opinions on whether to get the epiphone les paul special 2 or the squier stratocaster.

Thanks.

Answer
Well, it is mostly about the feel you get for it when you hold it, but there are some factors.

The Les Paul models, be it Gibson or Epiphone, tend to be heavier than a strat. If you want to play more standing then the strat might be a good option, but if you get a good strap, the the Epiphone would be O.K. too.

I'm currently looking at buying an Epiphone Les Paul studio, and I've heard good and bad reviews. A lot of players really like it, because it is lighter than a Gibson, and they say it plays well. I have also heard that Epiphone went cheap on the electronics, and most of the people replaced the wiring with better pickups and wiring for better sound and had no complaints after that.

As for Squire, I haven't heard anything good about them. I have heard that the body is often shoddy and cheaply put together, and the wiring and pickups are bad too.

If you really want a stratocaster, maybe look up the Fender Starcaster. It was my first electric guitar, and it is fairly cheap. The set includes a strat guitar, a cable, an amp, 3 picks, and electric tuner, and gig bag, and a DVD. It is still a stratocaster, but I will admit that the pickups aren't great. Style wise the guitar is actually pretty slick looking and is fairly lightweight. I got my set for somewhere around 125 bucks, and it is worth it for a first guitar.

Sorry for the length, but I hope I helped out a little.

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Is the Dean Markley 3010 Pro Mag Plus Acoustic Pickup good?

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Nobody Too

Hey,

I read on google that the Dean Markley Pickup was either fantastic in reviews or bad. The main complaint being that it moves around too much.

A forum link I clicked on from google said that pickups for acoustic guitars aren't really great and make your sound worse. When someone came into my classroom and played for us though, his guitar sounded great with the acoustic pickup.

Answer
That pickup is not bad . I would have chosed the Seymour Duncan pickup for better result or the Fishman.

Here is the link...

http://www.zzounds.com/cat--Acoustic-Guitar-Pickups--2569

As for teh person who said that acoustic guiatr pickups are no good should stick to his car wash. Each guitar resonates differently which is why their are different pickups. Look into the Seymour or the Fishman and you will be well served.

What kind of electric guitar should i start with?

Dd T

I played acoustic for about three years and about to get an electric. Should i buy a cheap $300 one or a more expensive one?

Answer
Since there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all guitar, the best thing you could do is go to a guitar store and test drive a bunch of different guitars. There are plenty of great guitars both below and above the $300 mark, so it's more about finding the one that fits you than price.

Since you've been playing acoustic, neck width and action shouldn't be much of an issue. Electric guitars, as a rule, have thinner necks and lower action than acoustics so they're more comfortable for most people to play. I'm a huge fan of Fender and Ibanez because I've got small hands and the thin necks are very playable. My brother plays Gibsons exclusively, though the chunky necks make them really challenging for me to play. So it's really a matter of finding a guitar with the sound you need, but which also feels really comfortable and natural in your hands.

Since there are lower-priced guitars that have the same pickup configurations and features as prestige brands, it's worth comparing models side by side to determine whether the higher priced ones play and sound better than their less-pricey cousins. Most Gibson players I know, for instance, admit that their guitars play and sound nearly identical to the much cheaper Epiphone versions. But for the sake of having the Gibson name on the headstock, they paid three times as much for guitars that play and sound the same as the cheaper ones.

If you go to a guitar store and take notes about models that interest you, you can do online research to find out what owners of those guitars have to say about them. I always read the reviews at Musician's Friend and Harmony Central before buying a guitar, since they can alert me to potential problems with tuning, intonation or wiring flaws that might not show up for a while. If I have a strong inclination toward a particular guitar and the reviews are favorable, I follow my instincts.

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