Want to buy a semi-acoustic guitar?

Sonu

Hi! I am planning to buy an electric-acoustic guitar soon.

I had learned a bit of guitar last year but then just got busy with studies so didn't have time to practice much.

I have done some research but different people have so many different opinions which have made me real confused.

My range is around $300 to $400. The problem is that the area where I live has no guitar shops so I have decided to buy from eBay.

These are the guitars I have seen so far which fit my range and have good reviews:
Yamaha APX 500II Thinline Series and Ibanez Talman TCY10.

I know people say the best guitar is the one which feels good to your own ear but as mentioned earlier, the main problem is that I can't play and check the guitars :(

I plan to play 80% of it unplugged at home and 20% plugged in live.

Can anybody please help me decide of the two I mentioned or any other guitar options which would be better than the ones I mentioned within the price range?

Thanks alot!
Sorry, I meant Acoustic-Electric and not semi-acoustic

Answer
A semi-acoustic guitar is a purely electric guitar. A Gibson ES335 is the obvious example.

first acoustic guitar?

sleepy3191

ive wanted to learn to play the guitar and im just stuck on picking one, i have a budget of about 250-300. i was thinking something between the yamaha, ibanez, and a fender. i know that if the bridge is close then its easier on your fingers and will be easier to learn, also if the neck is not to thick then thatll make it easier, im looking for a guitar to learn on and that will be easy to learn on and play...pretty much the easiest guitar but still a good sounding, quality, nice one. thanks

Answer
I have to cast my vote for Ibanez, since they've got incredibly thin necks and low action (strings really close to the fretboard), which makes them much more comfortable to play than most acoustic guitars. They're also built like rocks, sound great and are often nicer than guitars costing twice as much. Ignore the poster who says Ibanez guitars are only made for playing metal, since that's pure fiction. Ibanez may have a big share of the metal guitar market, but jazz legend Pat Metheny endorses the acoustics and that man could play any brand he chooses!

Lots of people like Yamaha acoustics, but I find the necks a little too chunky (I'm female and have small hands) to play comfortably. And Fenders are easy enough to play, but there's nothing spectacular about them at all. They're basically very mediocre guitars both in looks and tone. I've never known a single guitarist who was impressed with Fender acoustics (though the electrics are great), and the only people who seem to buy them are electric guitarists who think they'll get the same quality as they get with Fender electrics.

I bought my first Ibanez guitar second-hand more than 20 years ago figuring I'd use it to learn and then upgrade to a "better" guitar. Over the years, I did get more guitars, but the cheap old Ibanez is still my primary guitar for both recording and playing live. It plays and sounds as great as it did the day I bought it and it hasn't given me a moment of trouble. And when I decided to get an acoustic-electric a couple years ago, the Ibanez ones proved to be nicer (and easier to play) than most of the prestige brands I tried.

If you can, go to a guitar store and test drive a bunch of different guitars, since each brand tends to have its own feel. Chances are, you'll find that one guitar just feels more comfortable and natural in your hands than others. Trust your instincts, since they're more important than anyone else's opinion. But if you don't live close to a good guitar store, here are some links to guitar worth considering -- with great, playable necks and low action:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-SGT120-SAGE-SERIES-Acoustic-Guitar-?sku=512326 (Read the reviews! I played this guitar and it's incredible, especially for the price!)
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-PC25WC-PF-Series-Acoustic-Guitar-with-Case?sku=620453
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-IJV50-JamPack-Quick-Start?sku=519456
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/-JamPack-SolidTop-Acoustic-Guitar-Pack?sku=514863

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I'm planning to learn how to play the acoustic guitar and need some tips?

best acoustic guitars reviews image

Josh

Right now i'm planning on buying an acoustic guitar and learning how to play by myself, i know NOTHING AT ALL about how to play any sort of instrument, if my life depended on it for sure I would die. So I am a pure amateur, is there a book that can help someone that knows 0% on how to play an acoustic guitar? I'm thinking of buying a dummies book because it has good reviews but I don't know if it could help.

Answer
alot of people i see here post things such as ''i taught myself piano its easy''
let me say any instrument is easy (&these are most likely the ramblings of people who have only played guitar a few months), but to properly play it & understand what the heck your doing (this helps your creative process when writing your own stuff or just in general) is another different matter.
i could be taught to recite out 10 basic piano tunes, but give me the likes of Mozarts music & ask me to use certain techniques that are heard on piano. i would fail (as would all the people claiming ''its easy'' on their respective instruments)

the problem with teaching yourself guitar (or any instrument) is that alot of people give up they get frustrated. (supposedly 90% of self taught musicians quit)
also alot of people can ''play'' guitar, ie bang out a few songs & intros eg starirway to heaven. But there is a notable difference heard between a self-taught guitarist playing a song & a trained guitarist.
guitarists are a dime a dozen, everybody plays guitar (heck i play guitar) however a decent guitarist is hard to find this is where you can benifit from lessons as most people don't take lessons.

Lessons are definitely a great idea, a teacher can show you techniques & correct you. i still get corrected over things i do at my lessons.
alot of the internet resources aren't that great, again it is alot of amateurs with bad technique posting who started out similar to you, or looking to make a quick buck.

every music autobiography i have read (& i read quite a fair bit of them as i LOVE music) the guitarist/any instrument, has gotten lessons at some point.
there are a rare few virtuoso (ie talented) people who didn't get lessons but even at that they start practicing with other people who have got lessons & learn off them.
As somebody said those ''guitar for dummies'' are great, however that is as a side tool to reference to. not to just teach yourself, at a glance you learn the basics but when you study those books they can get quite complicated & a teacher can clear any questions you have.
a teacher also encourages you to practice & gives you set goals.
Don't get me wrong you can learn by yourself but if you are in any way serious about wanting to play music & want to get to a good level, i'd DEFINITELY suggest lessons. Also alot of people seem to start their music career out on guitar as it is such a famous instrument & lots of people own guitars in some form. Don't be suprised if you feel like quitting guitar because everybody plays it after a few months it happens to alot of people, it doesn't mean you aren't musically talented.

PS try not to ask people to give you the chords to a song, its better if you can work them out yourself it creates an ear for certain notes. however make sure what you are playing is correct.
PPS: i read here an answer off somebody who was in a music college, she roughly said ''the teachers would cringe when they heard that a new 'self-taught' musician was coming to the colllege, because the teachers all knew he/she would have to be retaught due to them having bad technique''

Rory Gallagher- Walk On Hot Coals (ROCK, the 5 minute solo isn't as good as the ''irish tour'' solo, but jesus christ this rules & it highlights the bands chemistry)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=709KHLppvOM

''Rory's death really upset me. I heard about it just before we went on stage, and it put a damper on the evening'' Jimmy Page (Led Zep)

Where to buy good quality acoustic guitar?

Q. I want to buy an acoustic guitar for my 12 year old daughter. I don't want to get one off of Amazon or Ebay or something I want to get one from somewhere that actually specializes in quitars. Any suggestion?

Answer
I'm a producer and I get the best deals from http://www.musiciansfriend.com/

They also have reviews on each product. I recommend you go to the section and review each product before you buy. They have had the best sales I've seen.

Keep making great music!

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