What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

[jackychan]

I want to buy a guitar and i was thinkin to buy a semi electric one but people say acoustic is gud for a beginner.
But i was thing semi electric can be both played as acoustic and electric guitar.
Is there any difference of sound between acoustic and semi electric(not connected to the cord) ?
I am very confused please tell which one should i buy

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

Hey there, welcome.

If by semi electric, you mean acoustic electric (I'm going to assume you do), then you are talking about what is basically an acoustic guitar with electronics in it. It's very different from a solid body electric.

An acoustic electric guitar will still sound like an acoustic guitar when plugged in (only louder). Some people say to start with an acoustic, mainly because it's simpler and you can focus on playing the instrument and not fiddling with knobs. There's no right answer. Let me ask you this...what kind of music do you plan on playing?

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

If you're an adult buying for yourself, buy whatever instrument makes the kind of racket you want to make and spend whatever you're comfortable spending. If you want to play acoustic music, get an acoustic. If you want to rock, get an electric.

If you're buying for a kid, buy whatever kind makes the kind of racket THEY want to make, and spend as little as possible, because in a year the kid will either a) have given up on guitar or b) decided that the guitar they started on is a POS and they need a "better" one.

 

[Nagash]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

The best guitar is the one you WANT to play. You want to play AC/DC ? Get an Epiphone SG. Want to play Flamenco ? Get a classical. Want to play metal ? Get a metal guitar (ESP, Jackson, BC Rich, Ibanez, Dean...)

A friend of mine wanted to start guitar, he's a total Metallica freak. His parents decided it was "better" to get him an acoustic. He never played. Then he found en Epiphone Explorer (close to James Hetfield's old Explorers) and he plays 24-7

As I said, the only rule is to buy the guitar you want.

What do you want to play ?

 

[astrozombie]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

These guys are right on the money. If this is for someone else, ask them what music they like ( i.e. want to play). If this is for yourself, tell us what music you want to play and we'll guide you in the right direction.

 

[devastone]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

The biggest considerations for a beginner guitar, after the electric or acoustic decision is made, is make sure it has playable action and tunes well and holds tune. I've seen so many "beginner" models", especially acoustics, that have 1/2" action and are only going to frustrate a beginner until they give up.

Granted, most low end models now days are much better than they were 10 - 20 years ago.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

The biggest considerations for a beginner guitar, after the electric or acoustic decision is made, is make sure it has playable action and tunes well and holds tune. I've seen so many "beginner" models", especially acoustics, that have 1/2" action and are only going to frustrate a beginner until they give up.

Granted, most low end models now days are much better than they were 10 - 20 years ago.

YES. make sure it is set up. this will facilitate learning greatly. i used to have an epiphone les paul which was a budget electric and an acoustic that had the strings kind of high off the guitar. if i only had the acoustic, i would have probably quit because i found it very difficult to play. the epiphone, while cheap, was much much easier to play and learn on.

 

[lex666]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

Another vote for an Epiphone Les Paul or SG as a beginner guitar. They stay in tune well, and the sound isn't that bad for a starter guitar. What's nice is that they're worth upgrading later on if the newbie becomes more serious.

If not, I think their resale value is a little bit better than others.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

Another vote for an Epiphone Les Paul or SG as a beginner guitar. They stay in tune well, and the sound isn't that bad for a starter guitar. What's nice is that they're worth upgrading later on if the newbie becomes more serious.

If not, I think their resale value is a little bit better than others.

Definitely. a well known name that maintains its value when compared to other "starter" instruments.

 

[Nagash]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

Another vote for an Epiphone Les Paul or SG as a beginner guitar. They stay in tune well, and the sound isn't that bad for a starter guitar. What's nice is that they're worth upgrading later on if the newbie becomes more serious.

If not, I think their resale value is a little bit better than others.

Yes that's all true but they are certainly NOT easy to play (24,75 scale is not for everyone's hands and their necks are HUGE)

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

I can't say this one enough, don't get a fender style single coil guitar. Single coils should be for experienced guitar players only, they hum and are very responsive to technique. Basically, a beginner guitar player could use one to torture detainees. I say go with a cheap acoustic/electric or humbucker guitar like previous posts suggested, SG, Les Paul, those are much more forgiving of a player who is still learning. Anything but fender

 

[blueman335]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

I can't say this one enough, don't get a fender style single coil guitar. Single coils should be for experienced guitar players only, they hum and are very responsive to technique. Basically, a beginner guitar player could use one to torture detainees. I say go with a cheap acoustic/electric or humbucker guitar like previous posts suggested, SG, Les Paul, those are much more forgiving of a player who is still learning. Anything but fender

+1. Skinny Fender single coils are very bright and unforgiving, and especially discouraging for new players. Every mistake and flub is magnified.

Acoustics, especially lower-priced ones, have high actions (and thick strings) and are harder to play, and brutal on tender fingers.

Look for a used SG or LP style electric, and you'll get more guitar for the money.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

I can't say this one enough, don't get a fender style single coil guitar. Single coils should be for experienced guitar players only, they hum and are very responsive to technique. Basically, a beginner guitar player could use one to torture detainees. I say go with a cheap acoustic/electric or humbucker guitar like previous posts suggested, SG, Les Paul, those are much more forgiving of a player who is still learning. Anything but fender

I'd kinda go the other way. I think a single coil guitar is a better guitar to go with because it gets them going in the right direction. If someone can play well with single coils, they can play well with humbuckers. If someone can play well with humbuckers, there's the chance they won't sound good with single coils.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

I know that this is a pickup forum, but come on . . . Single coils don't make you a better guitar player. Humbuckers don't make your guitar playing suck. The notes YOU create with YOUR fingers and picking style make your guitar playing rock or suck. Anyways, if I had to start all over again and was looking for a beginners guitar this is what I'd look for:

- Good action/setup (you might need to bring someone along to verify this)
- No dead notes/bad frets/electronics issues (if you have an electric guitar)
- Price (you might not stick with it, and will get hosed on resale . . . it's probably best to make this hit as small as possible)

I'd recommend that someone start playing guitar on an electric as the lighter gauge strings are a lot easier on tender new fingers, but that also depends on the kind of music you want to play. An electric can also be played unplugged (which is a big boon to all the other people in your house who have to listen to your mangled F chord for weeks on end as you figure it out).

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

I know that this is a pickup forum, but come on . . . Single coils don't make you a better guitar player. Humbuckers don't make your guitar playing suck. The notes YOU create with YOUR fingers and picking style make your guitar playing rock or suck.).

I'm not saying single coils make you a better player. I'm saying they are more sensitive as also stated by others above and they react more to every little thing you do.

 

[AlexR]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

I am going to contradict an earlier post.

I think a shorter scale guitar is better for a beginner. The reason - strings are slightly slacker when tuned to pitch. The biggest problem when learning is the building up of finger strength and calluses.

....and

Big necks ?????? The Epi SG400 has a really slim neck.

 

[Nagash]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

Yeah okay the SGs have thinner necks. I don't like the shape but IMO they are pretty good guitars for beginners

 

[John_L]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

Yamaha Pacifica they are great guitars. You do have a lot more choice than when I started 20 years ago.
Up the budget a bit the PRS SE Singlecut is a good starter guitar (SE originally stood for student edition)

 

[amosrides]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

I would recommend a hollowbody electric. An Ibanez Artcore can be had for a good price, and they have narrow necks with low actions, great for a beginner and beyond. Hollowbodys sound much better than solid bodys when played unplugged, so they give more versatility to have fun with for a beginner.

As has been said, electrics typacally are easier to play than acoustics (the affordable ones). If you want to shell out some cash and want acoustic I'd check out Taylor's they are easy to play.

 

[Bass_Medic_05]

Re: What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

Maybe a Squire Strat..... not bad......
But take my word for it...I really only play bass! ...lol!