BG Music Equipment Thread

[Reeshin]

Hey i need help buying a guitar, my girlfriend plays the acoustic and want to buy one for her birthday.

I have found several guitars that look nice, but not sure what is unique about them. I'm in the price range of 100-250 and i know that she doesn't use the plastic type strings since she doesn't enjoy playing classical. So metallic strings are a must and she likes the colors purple, blue, bright red.

Shes kinda small, 5'5 dunno if that makes a difference for guitar sizes or anything.

I found this Epiphone AJ-100 (can't post links ;s) i don't know if it is metallic strings or plastic or what it means by jumbo. Also the DR-100 dreadnaught seems nice.

Any help or sites that are good would be greatly appreciated. I'm completely lost, and don't wanna mess up a gift.

[Moss]

Is there a guitar center or music store near you? Better to try it out in person. That said, there are reputable sites for buying guitars, it's just nice to hear an acoustic for yourself before you plop down a wad o' cash.

[Trichocyst]

My first guitar was an Ibanez V50MJP. It's an inexpensive durable guitar that will get the job done. It sounds pretty good, plays pretty good. I learned very early to get cheap strings until you're absolutely certain you can change them correctly. I've always used a heavy guitar pick (1.0 mm). My guitar instructor insisted on it and I definitely prefer it to a lighter flimsy pick. When you get picks, get BRIGHT colors. Cannot stress that enough.

[Reeshin]

Alright i'll try to find the same guitar in a store but im not in the country at the moment, so im gonna purchase it online and deliver it to her.

[Krandor]

I gave my roommate an ovation acoustic for her birthday a few months, they are pretty good guitars for girls since the bowlback makes for a comfortable feel. I wouldn't really recommend a dreadnaught for a small person. I'm average size (5'10) and those can be uncomfortable for me sometimes.

I would also say shoot for steel string (I.e. not a classical guitar). Nylon string guitars will typically have very wide necks, and they require a different playstyle compared to steel string acoustics and electrics. If you know of specific artists she likes, Google them and figure out what they play to maybe get a feel for what kind of sound she likes.

Also, Craigslist. My roommates guitar cost me about 120 used, in contrast to me buying almost the exact same model new for 500. If you try a used guitar, check the neck for dings or warping, any other damage shouldn't be an issue and just makes the guitar look cooler.

[Krandor]

When you get picks, get BRIGHT colors. Cannot stress that enough.

Neon green Dunlop tortex is the way to go (.88s).

[Moridam]

Don't worry about strings, they can be changed easily.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. You most definitely cannot put ball-end steel strings on a standard classical (nylon-string) guitar.

[Krandor]

Well you can, if you want to snap the neck in half and rip out the bridge

[Slapper]

Get a 12 string bro

[Tidy]

I saw a sale on TV a while ago for Guitar Center selling Takamine's for like 75 dollars.. I don't know if it's still going on though.

[Cadsuane]

Everything's different between classical and steel string acoustics. The bridge, the tuning heads, the neck, the frame, everything. Putting inappropriate strings on is pretty much the most ghetto thing you can do to a guitar.

[Gabai]

You said your budget it 100-250, I would suggest going as close to the upper end of that as possible, simply because the difference in quality of craftmanship from a starter $100 guitar to a lower mid level (200-300) is going to be pretty big.

Jasmine by Takamine makes some solid entry-mid level guitars in my past experience messing around with them, but they don't make them in (fun) colors, just your standard wood finishes. The color on this one is off from her preferences but I have personally played it before and it's a solid little guitar.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...tar?sku=583221

Deans are not as good (last time I played with one) but they do have the cool colors and still play very decently. Case in point:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...tar?sku=512904

Personally, I've mostly owned Ibanez guitars (mostly electric, some acoustic) and it has fit my style from day one and never had any real issues with them. One higher-end one (per your budget) would be something like this:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...ku=512309#used

Pretty much any Fender will do the job as well. Hope this all helps some.

[Renzokuken]

What's she playing now? What's her skill level? If she's already playing something like the guitars Gabai mentioned, I'd really recommend saving til you're able to put down more like $500-$800. At least that way you're in the entry level Martin range.

The way a great $800 acoustic sounds verses a great $300 acoustic is HUGE. And yes, you really shouldn't be dipping below $250.

Also, Fender sucks.

[Reeshin]

Thanks for all the info and the links, i think i might go with the takamine.

Well she has been playing for almost 2 years, but plays very often so I'm assuming she is a mid level. Although I'm a total retard when it comes to instruments. She doesnt play classical songs at all.

The color isnt that big of deal to me, since I know its gonna be covered with stickers or designs that she wants to put on it. What im really worried about is size and quality. What does the size do? Like does it make the guitar annoying to play or just harder since its too big?

I know my price range wont net me something amazing, and im fine with going towards the tip of my budget.

[Gabai]

Standard size (I think all the ones i showed you were) is usually what you want to go with. It will provide the tone you want a guitar to have and is relatively comfortable for everyone. Smaller sized guitars are intended for travel and kids. Those generally do not sound very well and are made pretty poorly, but they serve their purpose.

For someone who has the time to sit down at home, you should get whatever will get you the best sound for the $$$, and travel sized guitars/smaller guitars just won't do that.

[Phla]

i would recommend a breedlove personally, great quality, great sound, amazing tonewoods used... i love my E350, and i've never played a bad breedlove. i would also recommend seagull guitars, they have a lot of really nice intro-mid guitars.

so for me personally

brands to look for - breedlove, martin, seagull, taylor, takamine, yamaha

brands to avoid - fender, epiphone, gibson, dean, daisy rock, harmony, and (imo) ibanez

a lot of the brands i avoid mainly focus on the face that you're paying for the name more than the quality... and if anyone disagrees, a 1k gibson will play equally as well as a $500 breed/martin/seagull... sweeping generalization aside, that has held true for the most part for me, and while you will find some guitars that are great within the avoided brands, i personally have never had a good experience with any of them. do you know whether she plays a classical or a reg acoustic? i.e. does she use a nylon string guitar or steel? a lot of girls that i know play with nylon cuz its easier on your fingers and they didn't want much callus. do you know if she likes a bright trebly sound or a deep bassy sound or somewhere in between? are you gonna buy a regular acoustic or an acoustic electric (only reason i ask this is cuz for cheaper acou/electric models you pay more for the electrics than the actual guitar)

[Artful Dodger]

definitely a takamine, they produce some really rich sounds for the relatively decent price, you can get a decent sounding acoustic for under 400. my first guitar was a takamine gs330. you might as well buy those shitty starter guitars at bestbuy/target if you're going to be a complete chizzler with the price. the only time u should spend under 300 is if you luck out and find a used GEM on craigslist or something

[Moss]

Ignore my first post... phla just gave some good advice on brands, personally I started with a Yamaha for about $150. Then again if she has been playing for two years, she probably doesn't want/need a cheap starter guitar.

[Tidy]

Ignore my first post... phla just gave some good advice on brands, personally I started with a Yamaha for about $150. Then again if she has been playing for two years, she probably doesn't want/need a cheap starter guitar.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-G...13-i1150348.gc

Ah gigmaker set. How I loved thee.

[Gadritan]

Alright i'll try to find the same guitar in a store but im not in the country at the moment, so im gonna purchase it online and deliver it to her.

Buying a guitar without actually playing it first is a horrible idea. They may be the exact same model, came off the line right next to each other, but play and sound different.

The smartest thing to do is just get her a gift card for 200-250 or w/e for a decent guitar shop. Make sure they carried used instruments, as used guitars are the best way to get the most bang for your buck.

She'll be infinitely happier picking exactly what she wants than having to smile and say "this is great," to a guitar that really doesn't play all that well.