I gave up on the free piano (mostly because EvilLandlady said there was no way in hell I was putting a piano in her second floor apartment). So I have decided that I need to buy myself an acoustic guitar. I used to play, years ago. I now suck at it (ask anyone who heard me at the latest ChiDope). But I’ll never regain my skill if I don’t have one. So, chances are I won’t have it for OhDope (darn your luck :rolleyes: ), but possibly for BamaDope.
I don’t know how you are in terms of cash, but I’d recommend a quality guitar. Learning (or relearning) on a crappy guitar is no good.
I’ve noticed that Martin has put out a quality, low cost guitar line. I don’t know the line, but you can get a good one for less than $600. I have, however, played their “new” composite body acoustic (X-1?) and loved the sound. It is very bright (almost Takamine) and under $400. My father got one for less than $200. It is a wonderfully built, super sounding, easy to play guitar. I think it’s superb for beginners and regulars.
no, I don’t work for CFMartin.
…don’t do it.
Sure, you start off with just one. But then there’s that shiny new Rickenbacker you have to get, or the cool sounding Peavey …then before you know it, you’re not paying the phone bill so you can buy new effects pedals…and on and on…it ain’t pretty. Besides, don’t you know how many jokes there are out there about guitar players?
I knew a guy like you. He bought a beat up six string in a secondhand store. Didn’t know how to play it, but he knew for sure…
That one guitar, felt good in his hands
Didn’t take long, to understand
Just one guitar, slung way down low
Was a one way ticket, only one way to go
So he started rockin’ ain’t never gonna stop
Gotta keep on rockin’
Someday he’s gonna make it to the top
And be a JUKE BOX HEROOOOOO…
FL Blues Baby, I’m used to all the jokes. I’m a stand-up comedian. I get made fun of a lot, too. Especially by people who work for a living.
RickJay, if it helps,
I got my first real six-string
I bought it at the five-and-dime
I played it 'til my fingers bled
That was the summer of '69
(even though I wasn’t born until 1973)
“Especially by people who work for a living.”
Man, I HATE those people. Me, I just play the piano.
…Nibblin on sponge cake
watchin the sun bake
all of those tourists covered with oil
Strummin my six-string
on my front porch swing…
(Couldn’t come up with a snappy reference to getting your first / second guitar…sorry…)
I started just like yourself, with one guitar. They are right, it consumes you, I currently own 20, and have at one time owned over a hundred. I also sell and repair guitars for a living. So they are correct…it is a slippery slope!
Wow…that was easy. I just got one off of Ebay for $80 plus shipping. You can see it here.
Oddly enough, I took my first guitar lesson in 1973. Must have been a primo year. I still have the guitar, a Yamaha FG-75. That’s FG (folk guitar)-75 (simoleans). Gotta love the clever coding scheme at work there. It’s a mostly laminated (ie, plywood) guitar, but it rocks. I put a transducer in it and run it through a Fishman preamp.
Rock out, Superdude.
Same here. Bought a JG610 Blue by Johnson. I bought it for 69 bucks and plan to use it mainly for a practice guitar. One thing I’m concerned about with these cheaper models is the action of the strings. Some have it set so high you have to be Superman to chord the thing. Online reviews give it good grades for sound though.
My main axe is a Takamine Jasmine accoustic/electric. Let us know how you like your Johnson. It looks nice on the ebay page you linked us to.
Q
I don’t think you really need one but if you must get one please please please get professionally trained and keep it locked up at all times.
Sure you might think that you need to be able to whip it out in the middle of the night to ‘take care of’ that nocturnal visitor but statiscally that almost never happens. What if some kid finds it and starts playing with it? Huh what then? You never know when you might hear “Look at what I found mommy” and then your kid plays Cume By Ya!
You might have to listen to that!
Are you prepared to be a responsible guitar owner?
Are YOU?!
Well, I don’t know how responsible this is, but it’ll be stored where the cat can’t get to it, and I’ll never keep the strings on it.
Hey! That’ll cut down on the calluses!
D18
(who is named for the Martin he bought in 1979)
So I guess lugging a piano to your gigs is out?
Wimp.
Nice 'gittar there Superdude. But I can’t help but think you shoulda gone with a banjo. Now there’s a proper instrument for a comedian.
(pcubed remembers that he’s always wanted a banjo, off to ebay he goes…)
Wow, Superdude.
You’re on your way to becoming a total babe magnet. Chicks dig guys who can play guitar. 
Is it hot in here…or is it just Superdude? 
True, pcubed, the banjo is the instrument of choice among comedians. But I also live in Kentucky, so there would be more redneck jokes made about me than BY me.
See? That’s what I was going for.
::Cozies up to Tokiwoki::
Shall I serenade you?
::Strumming guitar::
I gave my love a cherry that had not stone
I gave my love a chicken that had no bone
I told my love a story that had no end
I gave m–
::RickJay stumbles in, snatches guitar, breaks it against wall, and hands it back::
[sub]By the way, Toki, It’s not hot…it’s you[/sub]
I just re-read that, and 'bout fell out my chair! 
I like my “Johnson” too, but it’s not for sale on e-bay or anywhere!
Quasi
Spritle, do you mean the Sigma line?