Joanne
I'm in 8th grade, and Ive been playing the guitar for a couple months now.. Im kinda thinking about pursuing a career as a musician, and I'd like to buy a new guitar with a better sound quality then the one I have..?? what would be the best brand of acoustic guitar to buy?
Answer
The term, "cheapest, best kind of acoustic guitar" seems a contradiction in terms. Some of the less expensive guitars for beginner and intermediate players are Alvarez, Ibanez, Ephiphone, Fender, Yamaha, Takamine, and Regal. This is not an inclusive list, however.
On the other side--the best kinds of acoustic guitars--would be Martin, Taylor, Collings, Gibson, Takamine, Guild, McPherson, and a few others. At the top of the list of brands as the best I would consider the classic Ramirez of Spain, coming in around $50,000 apiece.
The term, "cheapest, best kind of acoustic guitar" seems a contradiction in terms. Some of the less expensive guitars for beginner and intermediate players are Alvarez, Ibanez, Ephiphone, Fender, Yamaha, Takamine, and Regal. This is not an inclusive list, however.
On the other side--the best kinds of acoustic guitars--would be Martin, Taylor, Collings, Gibson, Takamine, Guild, McPherson, and a few others. At the top of the list of brands as the best I would consider the classic Ramirez of Spain, coming in around $50,000 apiece.
Buying A Acoustic Guitar?
cowboykev8
I have NEVER bought one before, what are the good brands?
I am kinda looking for a black one, but i dont wanna spend a hole lot and i dont wanna get a cheap nock off brand, i want a name brand, any help please, thanks!
Answer
Fender, Gibson (Epiphone is also part of the Gibson line), Gretsch, Heritage, Ibanez, Martin, Rickenbacher, Taylor, Washburn, and Yamaha, are about the best lines of guitars to look at in terms of over all quality. For a decent guitar though you want to start at not less than one hundred twenty five dollars. Anything under that is going to be questionable. Anything under seventy five dollars new, is not much more than a child's toy, a nice wall mounting, or is generally considered junk.
The cheaply made guitars end up costing as much to have made playable, in the end with the work that they need done to make them reliable, and to be able to hold their tuning. Which will also lessen the desire to want to practice, and play. The more you can and are willing to spend the better the quality you're going to get, and the better it will hold it's value over time. The cheap ones have little or no value over time, and no trade in value, as they're so cheaply made.
But there's more than just buying a name brand that has to be taken into consideration. How it sounds, and importantly how does it feel when you handle it. If it doesn't feel good, then try another model. In fact you need to buy hands on, and try several models to find the ones the you like the best. The next consideration is the neck width, as there are three different widths, narrow, medium, and wide.
Next is will you be playing finger style or using a pick. If you are using a pick, then make sure it has a pick guard, otherwise a pick can scratch and eventually gouge the surface of the guitar. If you plan top play finger style then a pick guard isn't needed. However if you're not sure then get one with a pick guard.
Next is the strings used. Nylon are softer and give a softer sound versus the metal strings. Metal strings will be louder, and brighter sounding, but a bit harder on the fingers until you build some calluses on them. Metal strings can be replaced with nylons strings, but not the other way around. Metal strings require more tension, and the truss rod isn't setup for that in those that are made to use nylon strings. Using nylon strings will eventually lead to the neck warping, and bowing, and possibly over time developing cracks in it.
Also you can check pawnshops for used ones, but take someone with you who knows something about acoustic guitars. You can get a good quality one many times used cheaper than a new one. Many guitar shops also will have good quality used ones that will serve quite well, for cheaper than a be one. This may seem like a lot to digest, but it gives you a little bit of a base to work from starting out.
Edit Point:
Do not buy online if at all possible. Otherwise you risk buying a GSO, or guitar shaped object that's nothing more than a child's toy, wall hanger or a piece of junk. Also stay away from discount retailers as those fall into the same category.
Fender, Gibson (Epiphone is also part of the Gibson line), Gretsch, Heritage, Ibanez, Martin, Rickenbacher, Taylor, Washburn, and Yamaha, are about the best lines of guitars to look at in terms of over all quality. For a decent guitar though you want to start at not less than one hundred twenty five dollars. Anything under that is going to be questionable. Anything under seventy five dollars new, is not much more than a child's toy, a nice wall mounting, or is generally considered junk.
The cheaply made guitars end up costing as much to have made playable, in the end with the work that they need done to make them reliable, and to be able to hold their tuning. Which will also lessen the desire to want to practice, and play. The more you can and are willing to spend the better the quality you're going to get, and the better it will hold it's value over time. The cheap ones have little or no value over time, and no trade in value, as they're so cheaply made.
But there's more than just buying a name brand that has to be taken into consideration. How it sounds, and importantly how does it feel when you handle it. If it doesn't feel good, then try another model. In fact you need to buy hands on, and try several models to find the ones the you like the best. The next consideration is the neck width, as there are three different widths, narrow, medium, and wide.
Next is will you be playing finger style or using a pick. If you are using a pick, then make sure it has a pick guard, otherwise a pick can scratch and eventually gouge the surface of the guitar. If you plan top play finger style then a pick guard isn't needed. However if you're not sure then get one with a pick guard.
Next is the strings used. Nylon are softer and give a softer sound versus the metal strings. Metal strings will be louder, and brighter sounding, but a bit harder on the fingers until you build some calluses on them. Metal strings can be replaced with nylons strings, but not the other way around. Metal strings require more tension, and the truss rod isn't setup for that in those that are made to use nylon strings. Using nylon strings will eventually lead to the neck warping, and bowing, and possibly over time developing cracks in it.
Also you can check pawnshops for used ones, but take someone with you who knows something about acoustic guitars. You can get a good quality one many times used cheaper than a new one. Many guitar shops also will have good quality used ones that will serve quite well, for cheaper than a be one. This may seem like a lot to digest, but it gives you a little bit of a base to work from starting out.
Edit Point:
Do not buy online if at all possible. Otherwise you risk buying a GSO, or guitar shaped object that's nothing more than a child's toy, wall hanger or a piece of junk. Also stay away from discount retailers as those fall into the same category.
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