Insturment Question - Guitar

[Demosthenes]

Since you want to play guitar OR piano.

I say have the best of both.

Keytar...

You'll thank me later.

AHAHA, Welcome back 80s!

[Kurp]

Not to hijack this thread or anything, but I've been thinking about buying a another guitar. I had a Gretcsh Rancher Junior, which I loved to death, stolen out of my car one afternoon. I was pretty upset and never bought another guitar. But, lately, I've been wanting to play again.

I've been searching for a guitar around the $350-400 range, short of another Gretsch (even though I'd love to grab another one). I really don't know what to look for, brand wise. Any suggestions? I like thinner bodied guitars, just because they feel better. I don't mind used, I'd take a beat to hell guitar as long as it sounded great. I've been searching craigslist and poking around ebay, but I'm just not sure what I should be looking for in that price range. Or, maybe I should just hold out for another Gretsch.

[TacoTaru]

Not to hijack this thread or anything, but I've been thinking about buying a another guitar. I had a Gretcsh Rancher Junior, which I loved to death, stolen out of my car one afternoon. I was pretty upset and never bought another guitar. But, lately, I've been wanting to play again.

I've been searching for a guitar around the $350-400 range, short of another Gretsch (even though I'd love to grab another one). I really don't know what to look for, brand wise. Any suggestions? I like thinner bodied guitars, just because they feel better. I don't mind used, I'd take a beat to hell guitar as long as it sounded great. I've been searching craigslist and poking around ebay, but I'm just not sure what I should be looking for in that price range. Or, maybe I should just hold out for another Gretsch.

I had a couple of friends who swore by Ibanez and most of their guitars were in the 350-400 range. I never really liked them myself, but that's all they would ever buy. I think Fender has some "ok" strats in that range too, but it's been almost 4 years since I've guitar shopped I really couldn't say anymore. I personally play a Gibson SG Faded that I bought ~4years ago and I love it. A little pricey, but I love it.

OT: IMO, whether you learn tabs or notes really depends on what kind of music you want to go in to. Myself, I most played hardcore and fast punk so I never had any reason to move out of tabs and teach myself/takes lessons for notes and scales rather than personal growth. It all depends on what you want to do after you get it that you should chose if you want to spend the money on lessons or not.

[Nystul]

Don't you have any music stores in your area? Where I was there were tons- they had some new/some used. Some shops carry more of one or the other. Look for used stuff, a used guitar is just as good.

[Sesar]

If you want to stick to it and not feel like you wasted your money, don't just buy the cheapest guitar you can find, and never buy a guitar that you haven't played. That includes all the ones in the "starter packs". The majority of people that I know that have started and subsequently given up on guitar playing has been because it was uncomfortable to play. You can find an awesome guitar for around 100 bucks that is just as easy and comfortable to play as a $5000 Les Paul, but you gotta play them to find it.

Look at the distance between the strings and the fretboard.
http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/i...highaction.jpg

If the strings are too far away, that means you will have to push harder to get it to sound decent, which also makes your hands and fingers start hurting faster. Until you get callouses on your finger tips, it will be painful if you play a lot, and having a guitar with high string action will just make it worse. After you find one that has a good action, play the strings (especially the high ones) from the 12th fret and up to check for buzz or dead spots. If you can avoid those 2 things, your guitar playing career has a much higher chance at success.

[Nystul]

my acoustic had really high action but I took the bridge out and sanded it down like an 8th of an inch and it's fine now. Is that not adjustable on most guitars? I assumed it was.

Also- I think it's easier to play an electric but it's good lo learn on an acoustic. Electric hides mistakes, acoustic seems to magnify them. Also, it builds a lot more finger strength. After playing an acoustic a lot, when I picked up my friend's strat it was so easy to play.

[Dmitry]

My acoustic has horrible action on it, but I totally agree about learning on it first. It's also a little cheaper since you don't need cables, amps, etc. I should probably sand my bridge down to help with that though. lol

My guitar is a Gibson "Spirit" (SG model) that I picked up from Circuit City (lol) for around $200. I don't know if I got really lucky or what, but I love it to death. It plays so much nicer than the Squier Strat I got for my birthday in a starter pack deal, and better than my friend's Epiphone Les Paul Jr. I haven't really played any electric guitars in shops recently because I just don't need another guitar, so I can't compare it any more than those.

[Kaliden]

My acoustic has horrible action on it, but I totally agree about learning on it first. It's also a little cheaper since you don't need cables, amps, etc. I should probably sand my bridge down to help with that though. lol

My guitar is a Gibson "Spirit" (SG model) that I picked up from Circuit City (lol) for around $200. I don't know if I got really lucky or what, but I love it to death. It plays so much nicer than the Squier Strat I got for my birthday in a starter pack deal, and better than my friend's Epiphone Les Paul Jr. I haven't really played any electric guitars in shops recently because I just don't need another guitar, so I can't compare it any more than those.

Ugh, my acoustic had the worst action I ever seen on a guitar. Barre chords weren't even an option it was so hard to fret.

[Guitarman]

Not to hijack this thread or anything, but I've been thinking about buying a another guitar. I had a Gretcsh Rancher Junior, which I loved to death, stolen out of my car one afternoon. I was pretty upset and never bought another guitar. But, lately, I've been wanting to play again.

I've been searching for a guitar around the $350-400 range, short of another Gretsch (even though I'd love to grab another one). I really don't know what to look for, brand wise. Any suggestions? I like thinner bodied guitars, just because they feel better. I don't mind used, I'd take a beat to hell guitar as long as it sounded great. I've been searching craigslist and poking around ebay, but I'm just not sure what I should be looking for in that price range. Or, maybe I should just hold out for another Gretsch.

I assume your looking at an acoustic? Go with a Martin. The sound out of those things is sound par excellence. Warm, smooth and resonates beautifully. They cost more, but trust me, i've had 6 guitars over my life, its always, always worth it to pay a little more for a better guitar than to settle for less.

[Bagel]

My acoustic is a Martin dreadnought and I fucking love it.

[TacoTaru]

Do you know the model of Martin you guys play? I'm looking at picking up a new acoustic since mine is absolute fucking garbage, and I've always wanted a Martin they're just so damn expensive.

[Dmitry]

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7306/wst55jb7.jpg
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7...6e8c2cbad9.jpg

This is also one of my favorite things for guitar. It's a tab book of probably my favorite CD, and it includes the timing and everything for the tablature, as well as the notes how they would appear on the chart. I've seen these around at a couple music stores (for different artists), so I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to find one for a favorite, or at least someone you like.