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Guitar Question
Posted on 10/3/23 at 1:23 pm
Posted on 10/3/23 at 1:23 pm
I don't know very much about guitars, but I would like to try and learn to play. Someone gave me (which I learned) a cheap classical acoustic guitar years ago, which I never could get along with.
I always felt like it was so difficult to get chords down and hold them. I've been told that classical guitars have high action, and that's the reason. I also had issues keeping it in tune, which I was told this is because of the nylon strings.
Now I've been looking into cheap electric guitars. Do you players think I would likely get on better with a strat or other electric guitars knowing what I didn't like above? How cheap is too cheap here?
I don't know exactly what type of music I will be drawn to playing once I start playing, but I think I would be drawn more to light rock and blues.
Any suggestions?
I always felt like it was so difficult to get chords down and hold them. I've been told that classical guitars have high action, and that's the reason. I also had issues keeping it in tune, which I was told this is because of the nylon strings.
Now I've been looking into cheap electric guitars. Do you players think I would likely get on better with a strat or other electric guitars knowing what I didn't like above? How cheap is too cheap here?
I don't know exactly what type of music I will be drawn to playing once I start playing, but I think I would be drawn more to light rock and blues.
Any suggestions?
11
Posted on 10/3/23 at 1:39 pm to GEAUXLPOST
A cheap squire or g&l strat is probably exactly what you need. Just make sure you get it set up by a pro after you buy it.
Do squires sound the best or have the best tuning stability for 3hr gigs? No, but you don’t need that. They’re perfectly capable guitars, and if you really love it and get good enough to want to play live, you can upgrade the pickups and tuners down the road.
You can find used squires from $100-$200. You can find new squires from $200-$300, often including a cheap amp with them. Fender frontman amps are awful, as are line 6 spiders, but they’re practically a right of passage for every new learner.
Amp > guitar for the tone. I recommend a solid state combo amp like a boss katana or fender mustang. They can sound great through headphones and you can download different amp tones from your computer through a usb. Orange also has a relatively inexpensive solid state amp combo that sounds pretty decent. Expect to pay $200-$350 for a decent amp that’s versatile and sounds good at both high and low volume.
Do squires sound the best or have the best tuning stability for 3hr gigs? No, but you don’t need that. They’re perfectly capable guitars, and if you really love it and get good enough to want to play live, you can upgrade the pickups and tuners down the road.
You can find used squires from $100-$200. You can find new squires from $200-$300, often including a cheap amp with them. Fender frontman amps are awful, as are line 6 spiders, but they’re practically a right of passage for every new learner.
Amp > guitar for the tone. I recommend a solid state combo amp like a boss katana or fender mustang. They can sound great through headphones and you can download different amp tones from your computer through a usb. Orange also has a relatively inexpensive solid state amp combo that sounds pretty decent. Expect to pay $200-$350 for a decent amp that’s versatile and sounds good at both high and low volume.
Posted on 10/3/23 at 3:12 pm to GEAUXLPOST
quote:
Someone gave me (which I learned) a cheap classical acoustic guitar years ago, which I never could get along with.
I always felt like it was so difficult to get chords down and hold them. I've been told that classical guitars have high action, and that's the reason. I also had issues keeping it in tune, which I was told this is because of the nylon strings.
You had trouble with it because it was cheap. With that said I have a cheap, $200 Yamaha Classical that I love. Its pretty much all I want to play now. Action is good, stays in tune, although it took a week of playing it for the new strings to settle in. Now the neck is much wider on a classical so if you have small hands that might be an issue. Its funny, now when I pick up a steel string, the neck feels like a toothpick in my hands.
This post was edited on 10/3/23 at 3:13 pm
Posted on 10/3/23 at 3:43 pm to GEAUXLPOST
An acoustic with a high action will definitely be a bitch to learn with.
Source: Still have the finger callouses.
Source: Still have the finger callouses.
Posted on 10/3/23 at 8:18 pm to GEAUXLPOST
I have a very good suggestion: Buy one of these tomorrow
LINK
I traded for one of these a few weeks ago, and can't believe how much I like it.
It plays very well and easy and is very versatile. It's very light and comfortable in your hands, and is a good mix between acoustic and electric.
Unplugged, you can hear it well enough to play by yourself. It has an acoustic bridge with a Piezo pickup underneath the saddle and 2 pretty good electric single coil pickups. A 5 way selector switch that give a good selection of tones if you want to plug into an amp.
I have quite a few guitars, but this one is getting a lot of playing time. I highly recommend these for a first guitar.
You'll get better ones later, but you'll enjoy this one until then. I think that's a fantastic price for that guitar too. I mean really fantastic.
LINK
I traded for one of these a few weeks ago, and can't believe how much I like it.
It plays very well and easy and is very versatile. It's very light and comfortable in your hands, and is a good mix between acoustic and electric.
Unplugged, you can hear it well enough to play by yourself. It has an acoustic bridge with a Piezo pickup underneath the saddle and 2 pretty good electric single coil pickups. A 5 way selector switch that give a good selection of tones if you want to plug into an amp.
I have quite a few guitars, but this one is getting a lot of playing time. I highly recommend these for a first guitar.
You'll get better ones later, but you'll enjoy this one until then. I think that's a fantastic price for that guitar too. I mean really fantastic.
This post was edited on 10/3/23 at 9:12 pm
Posted on 10/5/23 at 6:11 am to GEAUXLPOST
Buy used and upgrade once you figure out your preference(s). And as long as you didn't overpay the money will likely be a wash.
( word of warning I'm up to about eight - since I just gave away one )
( word of warning I'm up to about eight - since I just gave away one )
This post was edited on 10/5/23 at 6:16 am
Posted on 10/5/23 at 12:37 pm to GEAUXLPOST
Grab a used Squier or Epiphone off FB marketplace. You should be able to find a decent guitar for less than $200. The key is having it professionally set up. I gigged with an $85 Squier Strat for a couple years, sold it to a bandmate, he's still using it. Setup is 100% the key to a playable instrument.
Posted on 10/7/23 at 3:00 am to GEAUXLPOST
A used Classic Vibe Squire would be what I would look for. I bought my nephew a new regular squier a couple years ago and while it sounded good, it felt horrible to play. You can get a used Classic vibe Strat for about 200 used and they play and feel excellent.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 9:34 pm to GEAUXLPOST
cheap and good electric.
Its probably already been mentioned but a squire Classic Vibe Strat from the 50-60-70's Depending on maple board or non maple. All are good for a beginner. Just got to pick the type Strat, Tele, Jazzmaster? they do one??
Its probably already been mentioned but a squire Classic Vibe Strat from the 50-60-70's Depending on maple board or non maple. All are good for a beginner. Just got to pick the type Strat, Tele, Jazzmaster? they do one??
Posted on 12/5/23 at 9:53 am to GEAUXLPOST
Another vote for the Classic Vibe option. You just can't go wrong.
Posted on 12/5/23 at 10:25 am to GEAUXLPOST
quote:
How cheap is too cheap here?
Around Christmas, I have a ton of people contacting me because their kids are wanting to learn.
I always give them the same advice: NEVER give a young person an acoustic to learn on.
Go to Guitar Center (or the equivalent) and for less than $300 bucks you can get a nice electric guitar/practice amp to start on.
You can play it at low volumes to get an acoustic vibe and when you actually learn some chords and are serious, get a nice acoustic.
If you're REALLY going to end up seriously playing guitar for the rest of your life, you will eventually upgrade anyway..
Posted on 5/6/24 at 3:44 pm to GEAUXLPOST
Guitar Center used selection online. 45 day return policy.
Squire Classic Vibe Strat. Pick a decade. They do 50’s 60’s and 70’s now.
I have a Squier Tele that’s a classic vibe. Not a damned thing wrong with it other than it being heavier than most. Probably cheaper wood. But it ain’t breaking on you. I could beat someone to death with the body of the guitar and all I’d need after was retune.
Amps. Used too. I have a fender mustang amp. I will be buying another just to get the upgrade to the software in them. Perfect practice amps.
I have a Spark amp I’d sell you. But I’d feel bad about it. They are poor quality IMO. Lots of notes cut out.
Squire Classic Vibe Strat. Pick a decade. They do 50’s 60’s and 70’s now.
I have a Squier Tele that’s a classic vibe. Not a damned thing wrong with it other than it being heavier than most. Probably cheaper wood. But it ain’t breaking on you. I could beat someone to death with the body of the guitar and all I’d need after was retune.
Amps. Used too. I have a fender mustang amp. I will be buying another just to get the upgrade to the software in them. Perfect practice amps.
I have a Spark amp I’d sell you. But I’d feel bad about it. They are poor quality IMO. Lots of notes cut out.
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