What kind of guitar is good for a beginner?

[Left_Hand_Strat]

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

hmmm, i still think a guitar which has six strings would be a good idea.....

(you may now shoot me)

 

[astrozombie]

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

+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.

I recommend the Epiphone SG. It can't be dropped however!

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

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

yeah but the fragility is also a good benefit, because it teaches a person to look after their instrument and respect it.

 

[astrozombie]

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

yeah but the fragility is also a good benefit, because it teaches a person to look after their instrument and respect it.

:fing2:

i love how the original poster never came back.

 

[blueman335]

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

I recommend the Epiphone SG. It can't be dropped however!

Beginner Lesson #1. 'Every guitar suffers from a drop. Dont' be an idiot, don't drop yours.'

If you buy someone a guitar based on the assumption the novice will probably be dropping it, get them a piano instead.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

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

Or a pipe organ.
Or a harmonica.
Or a Telecaster.

 

[Nagash]

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

:fing2:

i love how the original poster never came back.

:laugh2:

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

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

yeah where he disappear to?

 

[astrozombie]

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

Beginner Lesson #1. 'Every guitar suffers from a drop. Dont' be an idiot, don't drop yours.'

If you buy someone a guitar based on the assumption the novice will probably be dropping it, get them a piano instead.

I remember I dropped my Telecaster once. I had it strapped on and for some reason the strap came loose from one side. It fell to the floor pretty hard. I think it might have even been in tune still when I picked it up.

 

[IanBallard]

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

I remember I dropped my Telecaster once. I had it strapped on and for some reason the strap came loose from one side. It fell to the floor pretty hard. I think it might have even been in tune still when I picked it up.

Yeah and Keith Richards used one to beat the crap out of a crazed fan. After the scuffle, he strapped it back on and played a set. Fender-style guitars are pretty solid and don't really suffer from MAJOR problems when they fall. Gibson/Epis however... that's another matter. Everybody drops a guitar or for some reason has one tipped off the stand. I personally would think durability should be one aspect of consideration for a beginner. My recommendation would be a Squier Strat HSS. You get tonal versatility, durability and comfort.

I also have to take issue with the "single coils are less forgiving than humbuckers for a beginner" argument. Ever watched a novice try to play a Ibanez Jem with Evo pickups on a cranked amp? Pretty horrible.

 

[blueman335]

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

Everybody drops a guitar or for some reason has one tipped off the stand.

Not yet in 40 years. I don't think it's a given that guitars will get dropped or fall. Not like it's a rite of passage.

 

[Lewguitar]

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

I agree 100%. Only thing I'd add is that the fingertips of a beginner don't yet have the callous build-up we all have and the special kind of finger strength guitarists who have been playing for a while all have either.

So a guitar for a beginner should play very easily with low action. Usually beginner guitars are MORE difficult to play than the guitars we more experienced players play because we have learned to set up our guitars ourselves.

So pay a few extra dollars (but only if you have to) to have your beginner guitar set up to play easily. This might involve lowering the bridge saddle and even deepening the string notches in the guitar's nut and adjusting the neck.

 

[Diego]

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

Not yet in 40 years. I don't think it's a given that guitars will get dropped or fall. Not like it's a rite of passage.

Same here. Only time I ever dropped a guitar was because the strap end broke.
Not my fault and I sort of caught it mid air but still hit the floor pretty hard.

 

[Aceman]

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

"Get an acoustic" dumbest advice EVER. Only given by non-players.

What do you want to play? Who do you dig. Get that. The end.

There are tons of great playing guitars for maybe 350 or so. Find a player who will find you one that is decent sounding.

 

[JOLLY]

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

:fing2:

i love how the original poster never came back.

They only posted this two days ago.

 

[astrozombie]

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

They only posted this two days ago.

Ehh, youre right John. probably isnt the forum type.

 

[blueman335]

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

"Get an acoustic" dumbest advice EVER. Only given by non-players.

+1. I guess the assumption is that it's simpler because you don't need an amp, but those thick strings, high actions, and (usually) poor intonations are discouraging. I think most girls find acoustics more appealing, and their soft, slender fingers end up hurting. I imagine most don't stick with it. Maybe there'd be more women playing guitars professionally if more of them started on electrics instead of acoustics.

 

[Nagash]

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

"acoustic" is dumb because "acoustic" doesn't make the difference between steel and nylon strings. Back when I was a noob, I first got an electric, then I wanted an acoustic and I got one with steel strings, and I still believe it has the hardest strings I've ever played. had I gotten a classical... damn ! ^^

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

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

"Get an acoustic" dumbest advice EVER. Only given by non-players.

What do you want to play? Who do you dig. Get that. The end.

There are tons of great playing guitars for maybe 350 or so. Find a player who will find you one that is decent sounding.

Ace... again you have proved to be annoying but right once more....

However, I will contradict your advice and comment here, for I learnt on an acoustic guitar, which was my first guitar. it then took me four years to get an electric guitar (for various reasons). In My opinion, its the best way of learning, its a challenge and it may get boring, but in the long run you become a better guitarist at the end of it all.

 

[blueman335]

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

I learnt on an acoustic guitar, which was my first guitar. it then took me four years to get an electric guitar (for various reasons). In My opinion, its the best way of learning, its a challenge and it may get boring, but in the long run you become a better guitarist at the end of it all.

And you've proven our point; too many beginners get discouraged and quit. For those who have a burning desire to master the guitar, starting with an acoustic may be fine; for the rest, it's unnecessarily difficult and likely to wind up collecting dust.