# Help me get my first guitar! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 30, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716 "2011-05-30T00:37:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/1 "2011-05-30T00:37:53Z")
So I have decided I want to learn to play the acoustic guitar. There seem to be so many different styles/strings/options that I can’t figure it out and I need some help. I thought maybe some of the guitar dopers could give me some ideas on what to look or not look for and anything else that might help me get started. -I am looking to keep it under $500 if possible. -I want to get a nice enough guitar that I can grow into it, and not have to upgrade when I am better. -I am not currently interested in acoustic/electric guitars. -A few ideas of the kind of music I want to eventually play –[Alexi Murdoch - Breathe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCEzoOpG1zQ) –[Extreme - More than Words](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIiLvg58SY) –[Farmville Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UCk_OadVU4) I realize I won’t be able to play that kind of stuff for a while, but it’s an idea of what I would like to work towards. Thanks for the help. ---
**Author:** ![cain7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@cain7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cain7)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/2 "2011-05-30T00:46:51Z")
That’s a tough price range. A Martin or Taylor is probably out unless you get a hella deal used…which is nether out of the question nor bad advice. Used guitars have very little downside. Maybe a Takamine EF or EG series. Good luck. I love that Alexi Murdoch tune (and album). ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/3 "2011-05-30T00:50:48Z")
You may get more value out of posting in the Great Ongoing Guitar Thread. I have a Jay Turser. It’s inexpensive and gives good sound for price, but the price is low. Not a bad choice if you’re starting out. Sounds like you’ve got some money to work with, so you may want to go for more guitar. ---
**Author:** ![BDoors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BDoors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDoors)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/4 "2011-05-30T00:54:51Z")
The low end of the market is dominated these days by Chinese guitars, some of which are very good. I would avoid anything sub-$200, but above that there are some quite decent instruments. I like Yamahas and Waldens in that price bracket. There’s also the Taylor Big Baby, an excellent no-frills guitar. Forget about not upgrading - if you get into it you _will_ want to buy a better guitar at some point. If not, you may want to sell the guitar, but either way resale value is important, and prestige brands like Taylor are good for that. Personally I think the resale value of desirable brands is worth a couple of hundred dollars by itself, regardless of how good the guitars actually are. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/5 "2011-05-30T01:01:42Z")
> [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](#): > > -I am looking to keep it under $500 if possible. Mandolin Brothers has been around forever and have a great reputation. [This](http://mandoweb.com/Instruments/The+Loar-LH-200+NA/2506.aspx#) _looks_ like a very nice guitar in your price range. I know nothing about these guitars. Do any fellow dopers? Mandolin Brothers specializes in vintage guitars, obviously sometimes extremely expensive, but I tend to think they wouldn’t offer a guitar at this price unless they like it quite a bit. However, that is just my mostly uniformed opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/6 "2011-05-30T01:26:48Z")
Thanks for the replies so far. I reposted my OP in the great ongoing guitar thread as suggested. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/7 "2011-05-30T01:54:41Z")
Welcome to your new addiction! You asked in the other thread about nylon versus steel stringed. Nylon strings have a great advantage for a beginner in that they are less painful to your fretting fingers. They have the ideal sound for classical music and, depending on the instrument, flamenco. Some jazz players, particularly players who specialize in Latin Jazz, Samba or Tango, can make them sound really good. For just about anything else, they sound rather lame to my ears. (I’m primarily a classical player, I can get away with saying this about my main instruments…) Steel strings are harder on your fingers, especially for a beginner. For Jazz, Rock, Folk and Country, though, this is much more the standard sound. So you’re up against a longer period for getting your fingers calloused, but I think this is more where you should be looking. In terms of your price range, you’ll be more likely to find a steel string that you won’t want to replace than a classical you won’t want to replace. A couple of big questions - do you want a pick up in your acoustic guitar? This will bump your minimum price range to more like $800. (I’m thinking in Canadian dollars - our dollar is higher than the US dollar right now, but our pricing remains stuck based on when we were 75-80% of the US. You may well find better bargains stateside.) It is not necessary unless you end up gigging. Pickups can be retro-fitted, but it’s much easier to have them built in from the start. Second big question, but this is for you to ask the salespeople. A solid top is going to sound better and age better than a laminate top. A laminate top is cheaper. So, based on your hope that you will not have to trade up in a few years, I recommend looking for a solid top, which will take you much closer to your $500. limit. That being said, there are instruments out there. The Canadian guitars - Godin, Seagull, Simon and Patrick, Norman, La Patrie, you might find a used Larrivee or Art of Lutherie in that price range, though I doubt it - in that price range are a good value. Takamine has been mentioned up thread. Yamahas are also good. Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Guild - keep an open mind, but I think if someone is offering you one of those for $500., they either don’t know what they have or there’s something seriously wrong with it. Do you know anyone who plays well enough to come with you to a guitar shop? Have them play the same thing on three or four different instruments. Everybody says the same thing - ‘I don’t thing I can tell the difference between a good guitar and a bad one’ - before they go into the guitar shop. Half an hour later, they’re all saying ‘I can’t believe the difference in sound between those three guitars!’. Some of your decision should be based on how the instrument feels in your own hands, but hearing the sound it can make in somebody else’s hands can really help you make up your mind. I highly recommend getting a teacher even for when you’re starting out; just wanted to throw that out there. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/8 "2011-05-30T03:31:13Z")
/second on the ‘Try it out in your own hands’. Two guitars may seem identical until you get your hands on them and realize that maybe the bridge on one is _just_ a smidge smaller/larger than the other, and that can make a world of difference. Especially if you have small hands, like me \. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/9 "2011-05-30T16:53:02Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > The Canadian guitars - Godin, Seagull, Simon and Patrick, Norman, La Patrie, you might find a used Larrivee or Art of Lutherie in that price range, though I doubt it - in that price range are a good value. I’ll second this. These guitars tend to have a sound comparable to substantially more expensive models … worth seeking out. My $400 La Patrie doesn’t sound like a $4,000 guitar, but it does sound as good as many $1,000 guitars. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/10 "2011-05-30T17:43:23Z")
I’ve always loved Ovations. Very nice one with a traditional style. Just over $500 after the discount. [http://www.amazon.com/Ovation-Celebrity-Depth-Flame-Maple/dp/B004A4IPV8/ref=sr\_1\_12?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1306777131&sr=1-12](http://www.amazon.com/Ovation-Celebrity-Depth-Flame-Maple/dp/B004A4IPV8/ref=sr_1_12?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1306777131&sr=1-12) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/11 "2011-05-30T17:53:17Z")
Here’s a 1981 Ovation. Great shape. I find that the older guitars have a lot better sound. [http://cgi.ebay.com/1981-Ovation-Balladeer-Guitar-1612-Natural-Top-Pristine-/110693345040?pt=Guitar&hash=item19c5d66710](http://cgi.ebay.com/1981-Ovation-Balladeer-Guitar-1612-Natural-Top-Pristine-/110693345040?pt=Guitar&hash=item19c5d66710) ---
**Author:** ![BangTheDrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@BangTheDrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BangTheDrum)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/12 "2011-05-30T20:00:35Z")
Just a quick reply that I bought a Seagull a year ago. GREAT guitar and in your price range. Just has a really beautiful sound and this make of guitar has a lot of fans that agree for the price, you will have a fine guitar that you will enjoy for many years. I cannot recommend more highly. Got mine at Guitar Center for $349.00. Good luck in your search–it is a fun journey! ---
**Author:** ![Voluble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/4af34b/32.png) [@Voluble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voluble)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/13 "2011-05-30T20:29:33Z")
As you can tell there is a large number of brands that make good entry level guitars. I have an Ovation and a Takamine in your price range. They kind of span the spectrum since the Ovation is very bright sounding and the Takamine is very dark with mahogany being the tonewood. You will either like the sound of a guitar or you will not. I think this is especially true with Ovations since they aren’t made entirely of wood. Look up some videos of Nancy Wilson of Heart playing the round bowl guitars and those will be ovations. Her other acoustics tend to be Takamines from what I have seen. Whatever you do make sure you don’t pay more than 60% of the retail price for anything. I have never found anything in the music world where you couldn’t get at least that much of a discount unless it was really new and in demand. BTW, my top-end guitar is a Babicz. I had to get a plug in for them ;o) The only Taylor I played didn’t impress me much but everyone seems to like them as the poor man’s Martin. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/14 "2011-05-30T22:21:36Z")
I Emailed a friend that teaches guitar. She’s been recommending Taylor guitars to her students for awhile. They make several basic models under $500. Also have some that are thousands of bucks. full size > **[Amazon.com: Taylor Guitars Big Baby Taylor, BBT, Natural : Musical Instruments](https://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Guitars-Baby-BBT-Natural/dp/B001132AR6)** > > Taylor Guitars Big Baby Taylor: The Versatile Dreadnought The Baby Taylor’s big sibling, a 15/16-scale Dreadnought with a solid Sitka spruce top and sapele-laminate back and sides, boasts a surprisingly full voice, comes with a lightweight gig bag... She said these minis are great for young teens or adults with small hands. > **[Amazon.com: Taylor Guitars GS Mini Reduced Scale Grand Symphony Acoustic Guitar...](https://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Guitars-GS-Mini-Symphony/dp/B003P2V9OG)** > > Product Description GS Mini, Sapele Amazon.com The Mighty Mini Perfect for life on the go. Or on the couch. The GS Mini was designed to be the ultimate musical companion, wherever you go — or stay. Inspired by the... I haven’t played these myself. I’d want to try one at a music shop before purchasing. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/15 "2011-05-30T22:45:37Z")
Small hands, or just comfort. I’ve always found draping myself over a dreadnought to be kind of uncomfortable. I’m an average size guy, but I prefer my studio sized guitar. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/16 "2011-05-31T01:20:55Z")
I have a Martin DCM that I really like. Mine is older and has a solid top but I’m not sure if the newer ones still do. The DCM is the cutaway version of the DM. There are currently several Martin DMs on Ebay with buy it now prices around 550 bucks. I paid around 750 back in the 90s so maybe the new ones are different or imported. If they are as good as mine, that is a good value. ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/17 "2011-05-31T01:50:31Z")
I have been looking at guitars most of the day today, and almost got one. Guitar Center had a 15% off coupon going through the end of today that I was hoping to use, but I think I want to save up a little more money to get what I am really looking for. Getting stuff like a tuner and guitar case can add up. Hopefully they will have another sale soon. I am a little worried about shopping from second-hand sources because I know so little about guitars. I’d be pretty disappointed to find out three months after I bought it that the guitar was actually broken. However, that would be an excellent source for the extras I mentioned above. Thanks for the idea on guitar lessons. There is actually a place right across the street that advertises music lessons. I’m guessing that would include guitar, but I’ll have to go find out and see how much they cost. In the meantime, I was thinking of trying to learn off youtube or maybe see if there are any books/DVDs at the library I could borrow. I appreciate all then replies, and might have some more questions as I learn more about it. I’m looking forward to learning to play and doing something that I can do for pure entertainment. I think it will be very relaxing. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/18 "2011-05-31T10:14:30Z")
Don’t spend a lot for a tuner. There are dirt cheap electronic ones, li’l widgets that clamp to the guitar, or you can get an ipod / iphone app that will do the deed for cheap. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/19 "2011-05-31T10:34:39Z")
My acoustic is a [Cort SFX5 in natural wood](http://www.cortguitars.com/_webapp_3846729/SFX5#). It has a slight belly on the back which makes it sound bigger than it is. In fact it’s very comfortable to play.It was relatively cheap and comes with a Fishman pickup with simple graphics and a built in tuner. I think a steel string is the best answer because plugging it in to an amp and getting really loud is better than prescription drugs when you’re feeling flat. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716/20 "2011-05-31T13:52:29Z")
> **[Amazon.com: Snark ST-2 All Instrument Clip-On Chromatic Tuner : Musical...](https://www.amazon.com/Snark-Instrument-Clip-Chromatic-Tuner/dp/B003VWKPHC)** > > The Snark Chromatic All-Instrument Tuner provides a solid connection to your instrument or music stand, precise tuning, and advanced features too! Its full color display makes it fast and easy to tune, plus it's got a tap tempo metronome, pitch... $14 bucks. Best tuner you’ll get under a hundred. Just clip it on and let it do the work for you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-my-first-guitar/583716.md?page=2)