Well, stop thinking about that one. Just stop.http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez/GD10-Dreadnought-Acoustic-Guitar-Natural-1334587639019.gc
I have been thinking about this one. I have been playing for about 18 months and can play a few simple songs on my fender strat. One thing I know is to play any guitar you want to buy.
Devote 30 minutes a day to it. Your fingers will hurt for the first few weeks (this is where most people end up quitting).
This is all good advice.Here's my best advice:
1- Don't skimp on your first instrument. Garbage in-Garbage out. If you get a $100 guitar, you'll probably have intonation issues, problems keeping it in tune, and issues with fret buzz. These issues will make it sound like you suck, discourage you, and then make you quit. $300-$500 will get you in a range for a good starter acoustic with decent playability.
2- Get at least 6-10 professional lessons. They'll teach you fingering, how the fretboard works, and some basic concepts you can build on. If you try learning on your own, there's nobody there to correct your mistakes and you'll end up going down the wrong path.
3- Devote 30 minutes a day to it. Your fingers will hurt for the first few weeks (this is where most people end up quitting). Start a lesson, then go over it for the full 30 minutes. The next day, do the lesson again and add lesson 2...and so on. Repetition is the #1 skill builder in guitar playing.
Keep in mind you'll think "I can't do this!" for the first few months. Keep at it! One day it will click. Promise.
I would have a really hard time recommending an Ovation to a person for their first guitar, since they tend to be such a love it or hate it thing. I've had a couple (I currently have one, as my travel/camping guitar).Well... TBH I wouldn't recommend an acoustic as a first guitar, but if you're set on that then I'd suggest an Ovation:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ovation/Celebrity-Standard-Mid-Depth-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar.gc
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ovation...Mid-Depth-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar.gc
It's acoustic-electric, and has a rounded lyrachord back (basically hard resin and fiberglass) instead of flat wood. IMO it's more comfortable, less bulky, and because of the lyrachord back you don't have to worry about humidity control in dry states as much. You don't want your acoustic to develop cracks.
This one.
Will be good enough to continue playing for years, even after your skills have developed.
Remember to negotiate the cost down a bit, or to have them throw in a hard case and some strings with the purchase. If you're just starting out, some thinner strings will be easier to play at first.
Well... TBH I wouldn't recommend an acoustic as a first guitar, but if you're set on that then I'd suggest an Ovation:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ovation/Celebrity-Standard-Mid-Depth-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar.gc
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ovation...Mid-Depth-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar.gc
It's acoustic-electric, and has a rounded lyrachord back (basically hard resin and fiberglass) instead of flat wood. IMO it's more comfortable, less bulky, and because of the lyrachord back you don't have to worry about humidity control in dry states as much. You don't want your acoustic to develop cracks.
My first guitar was an Ovation You DO have to worry about the binding around the body separating from the plastic/wood having different expansion rates. Truthfully though, of the half dozen acoustics I've owned, I never had one crack on me.
Also, there's debate over the "best" type of first guitar. I like starting with an acoustic because you have to play correctly for it to sound good, plus it builds finger strength. Electrics are easier to play, but more expensive to set up and they let you get away with bad habits due to amplification (for instance, not pressing hard enough on a string).
as someone who has played semi-professionally (taking lessons, going to music school, etc), i recommend the budding guitar player to bite the bullet and buy right away a top-class guitar. every guitar is different, be it neck shape + size, weight distribution, strings pull and action, tone -> palming, and you really want to invest as much of your time on the final instrument rather than go through bad instruments that you develop habits for which you later have to forget.
as for acoustic guitars, they are even more expensive at the high end. ask yourself if you are going to need it for its acoustic sound, or for its recording sound, theya re different. will you be using the guitar unplugged, or will you be micing it up/plugging it in (some acoustics have piezos and other pickups systems)?
given that acoustics are much harder to play than electrics, because they require more strumming and picking strength, and the strings are much harder, various makes can differ enormously; for example, i favour Ovation, even though they have a reputation as mediocre guitars, because they are easy to play and already set up for micing.
because of these things, you would be looking at spending even more on a good acoustic.
think about that
did you think?
ok, if that's what you want, go ahead and buy one.
buying an acoustic is a long and painful process. you go on a toru of guitar centers and you try and try and try; it is said that, when buying houses, you should visit ten - yet the vast majority of people settle after three.
people are just made like that. you should not be like that, you should go and try enough acoustics until you hate it, then take a break and then finally decide.
guitars, like amps and cabinets, will likely last you for your whole life; is this really the time to save money?
also, old guitars tend to be worth even more than their original asking price, more so at the high end.
i wouldn't be shocked if a top notch acoustic ran you north of five grand.
The problem here is that as a budding guitarist, you don't know what you want. You don't know what neck shape you like the most, you don't know what nut width you prefer, or string spacing, or what tonewoods you like, or what body shape suits you... so I say it absolutely does NOT make sense to buy a top-of-the-line model. You should buy a good one, so yeah, you'd be better served to spend $500-1,000 versus $200.as someone who has played semi-professionally (taking lessons, going to music school, etc), i recommend the budding guitar player to bite the bullet and buy right away a top-class guitar. every guitar is different, be it neck shape + size, weight distribution, strings pull and action, tone -> palming, and you really want to invest as much of your time on the final instrument rather than go through bad instruments that you develop habits for which you later have to forget.
as for acoustic guitars, they are even more expensive at the high end. ask yourself if you are going to need it for its acoustic sound, or for its recording sound, theya re different. will you be using the guitar unplugged, or will you be micing it up/plugging it in (some acoustics have piezos and other pickups systems)?
given that acoustics are much harder to play than electrics, because they require more strumming and picking strength, and the strings are much harder, various makes can differ enormously; for example, i favour Ovation, even though they have a reputation as mediocre guitars, because they are easy to play and already set up for micing.
because of these things, you would be looking at spending even more on a good acoustic.
think about that
did you think?
ok, if that's what you want, go ahead and buy one.
buying an acoustic is a long and painful process. you go on a toru of guitar centers and you try and try and try; it is said that, when buying houses, you should visit ten - yet the vast majority of people settle after three.
people are just made like that. you should not be like that, you should go and try enough acoustics until you hate it, then take a break and then finally decide.
guitars, like amps and cabinets, will likely last you for your whole life; is this really the time to save money?
also, old guitars tend to be worth even more than their original asking price, more so at the high end.
i wouldn't be shocked if a top notch acoustic ran you north of five grand.
I don't think you can know what you like until you're already an accomplished guitar player. You can know what's more comfortable to play, yes. Guitar noobies generally can't distinguish that much sonic difference between instruments.i said it, he needs to try them first, to see what he likes.
I've heard overwhelmingly positive things about the GS Minis, even from people with very nice guitars at their disposal.$400-$500 bucks but if you decide to get serious the taylor mini series are great guitars. i have one that has a pickup and gig with it. it has a huge sound to it for it's size. keep it right by the couch or anywhere i spend time in case i want to grab her up and pick.