where to start?

[chriistii]

hi, I am very naive in this whole subject. I really want to learn to play the guitar. I do not know which kind, brand, or pretty much anything about picking out a guitar. I am 16, adn cannot really afford tooo much, but hopefully Santa Clause will help me out some.. I was considering one of those boxed sets that come with the amp and guitar and all kinds of things? Is it a good idea? HELP-- I am sure you can see I need it!
Thanks in advance- Christi

[barbietta]

I would search around on the Internet. There are tons of sites that review various guitars and tell you what features to look for. I would also talk to the sales staff at a few stores and compare what they have to say as well as their prices. Maybe you could take someone shopping who knows a little about guitars too.

Good luck! :)

[chriistii]

Alright thanks. I'll be visiting all the guitar shops around here this weekend! Is there any particular brand name or style that I should look into? I am afraid I am going to buy something, and hate it 2 weeks later!!!! Thanks- Christi:rolleyes:

[55'gibby]

What kinda of style do you want to play? Are you lookin' at a electric or acoustic? If you go to the guitar store, take a guitarist with you. My recommodation is get yourself a Gibson Birdland (if you have say, $15k to spend), I'm jokin'. what is your budget? Don't make a quick decisision, take your time and look around. do some research BEFORE you go to the store. Don't buy into flash and sparkle, your money is better spent on quality. don't forget to look into used guitars, you can get more for the money sometimes. Talk to other guitarists, check out web sites. Just remember buying a guitar is just the beginning, and, the one you pick probably won't be the one you keep forever, you'll buy/trade for other guitars before your done. I would avoid a box set, I would get the best guitar I can afford, then buy a amp at a later date (when I get more cash).

[barbietta]

I'm playing an acoustic guitar for now. I bought a Gretsch dreadnaught, which was in the medium quality range. I paid about $325-ish for it. It has some nice features and a fairly rich sound.

My dream guitar? A Jimmy Page signature Les Paul in light honeyburst. :)

I wouldn't buy a used guitar unless you go with someone who knows what they're doing. It could have something wrong with it that isn't obvious to the untrained eye.

Good luck!

[55'gibby]

I think I should quailify what I mean by guitarist in my previous post. I have played guitar for 35 years, built 5 guitars from scratch, gigged for 25 years. I just over the last coupla years that I consider myself a guitarist. so when I said take a guitarist with you I meant take someone with LOTS of experiance with the instrument. take someone who understands constuction, tone, projection, woods, and value. that being said, what kind of guitar are you looking for? what kind of budget? I am VERY lucky, I have my dream guitar a 1955 Gibson Birdland, mint. I own 3 other guitars that fill the gaps that my birdy doesn't cover. Although I have what I want now, I have owned no less than 15 or 20 different guitars in my life. A guitar is like a boy or girl friend, it's a VERY personal thing, a choice that you need to make for you.

[chriistii]

Thanks for all your comments.. Unfortunately I do not know any guitarists with as much experience as you, or any one else that plays the guitar for that matter. I am interested in playing the electric guitar, but I dont think an acoustic would be too bad either. However my budget is... $400 max. See, I was told that those boxed sets are a good thing to start with, may I ask why you disagree??? Thanks again-
Christi

[treyphish]

if there is a guitar center near you they offer a 30 day gaurantee so you can try it out and if dont like it take it back.also www.musiciansfriend.com offers a 45 day return policy so you have some options if you decide the guitar isnt right for you.

[55'gibby]

My take on the box set is this... Yes they are a good dollar value, but not necessarily good stuff. If you are looking for a recommondation: I just bought a Alvarez AD60K (acoustic, $350), and I really like it... suits my needs well. There are some nice Ibanez (Artwood series) are nice, sound pretty good in that price range. Tahoma and Washburn have some nice items in the price range. I can't be of much help as far as buying an electric, I haven't bought one in years. a good electric will run you about the same price point as an acoustic with the same quality and then add about $100 for a cheap practice amp. then you'll need cables case.... I don't think there is any advantage learning on a acoustic or electric so the choice is yours. My take is buy the best guitar you can afford, then buy the other stuff as you can afford it. it's the guitar your playing not the videos, strap, cables, chord charts... so get a good guitar, it will be far easier to get better, faster on a good instrument.

I hope I haven't muddied the waters too bad (hey Muddy Waters would be a good name for a bluesman)

[i like strats]

well with a $400 max.... I'd buy a $300 guitar and a $100 practice tube amp. You can get a pretty decent guitar with $300, thats pretty much what i paid for my fender MIM strat, and I'm satisfied with it. There are many other choises out there in that price range too...

[RoCkStAr3417]

for sum reason i have major problems with MIM strats! i think for sum reason that they're jus not as good. but hey.... thaz jus personal opinion. my MIM split right down the center an it really p*ssed me off. as for the post w/ a 400 dollar limit.... buy a Dean EVO series phantom. my friend has one and he's litterally bashed the thing off walls, and it still plays. i have a Fender American Series Strat (which i've put through complete and total hell..... and it still works great) and i have a Gibson Custom BLACK BEAUTY Les paul. i luv the LP 2 death, and iz completely rugged. plays even better than it looks!

hope this has helped a little. and i don't mean 2 offend anyone with the thing about the MIM Strat.

[Crazy Fingers]

I would be careful about buying an expensive guitar for your first one.

I'm of course not calling you unmotivated, Christi, but many people buy a guitar thinking that they're going to be having fun with it, and in reality they won't have fun with it until about a year of playing.

Electrics are a lot easier to play, and you can do all those power chords and wotnot if thats your thing, but an acoustic is definately the best to start with. It will help your fingers become stronger than an electric will.

I would suggest looking at a cheap on-sale guitar in the hundred to hundred and fifty dollar range. Mars Music did a sale awhile back on Yamaha acoustics (I dont remember which model) for 99$. They are not GOOD guitars, but they are decent and will play much better than you will for a year or two.

I'm just saying be careful with your money... stuff is hard to come by ;)

[i like strats]

I'd have to agree with Crazy Fingers about not spending alot of money on a first guitar. About 100-200 dollars will get you a decent beginers guitar. I think that it doesn't really matter if you start out on an electric or an acoustic it really depends on what kind of music you want to play. Just remember a few things when your looking for a new ax, make sure the neck and frets are straight and the hieght of the strings aren't to high from the fret board and make sure it doesn't Buzz...

as for RoCkStAr3417..... I don't know, or really care to know what the twisted thing you did to your ax to get it to break like that. But I know that a Standard Fender strat is about one of the best guitars out there in the $300 price range as far as construction, tuning stability, and sound goes.

[Krieselman13]

well, if you are legfty, then your 1st guitar should cost ya a bit more than if you are righty. Im lefty, I bought my 1stguitar last month. It cost me $250.oo, so I would just let you know that lefty guitars cost more. Just a bit of guitar knowledge.

[RoCkStAr3417]

i would recomend a Washburn WR150 electric, and a Peavey Rage 158 amp. i bought WR150 as my first guitar (and i still play it all the time) it plays smooth as silk, the amp is really really loud and i was very happy with them both. it'll run u about $550 but it's well worth it. i have added a lot of stuff to mine but i luvd the origional!

about the strat that broke.... i have no clue how it went, but all of a sudden i hear a reall loud snap and when i look over i was a mess! i think someone mighta broken it, but i did like that guitar. don't get me wrong.... i luv strats, but my opinion is you play what feels good to you, no matter what brand it is. as long as it's quality.