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Guitar Newbie


Husker

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Greetings,

 

First post in this forum. I am a piano player/synth guy, but am going to buy my first guitar at Christmas. I have no illusions of becoming a great player, but I would like to learn a bit about the guitar, learn simple chords, and do a bit of recording. I'd like to buy an electro/acoustic, as I would like to connect it to my interface for recording purposes. I have no desire to mic a guitar, etc.

 

I've done quite a bit of research (with the understanding I know nothing about guitars) as well as talked to a few folks, and I've pretty much decided on a Taylor Big Baby BBTe. They are around $500, which is about my budget.

 

Does this sound like a reasonable guitar for that price? There are seemingly 6 billion "learn the guitar" books and guides - do any of you have any suggestions on a good place to start?

 

I have a bit of musical training, so I understand chords and structures and the like. I just know (literally) nothing about the guitar.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

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Probably not bad, but...

 

IMHO, not only do you want a decent instrument that sounds good, you want one that FEELS right to you. Some people are agnostic when it comes to guitar ergonomics, but for others, feel is all important. Most of us fall somewhere in between.

 

So have you PLAYED the Taylor? Or anything else in the price range?

Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ

 

My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx

 

http://murphysmusictx.com/

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Welcome aboard Husker! You might consider taking a guitar player friend with you when checking out a guitar. They will be able to tell if the one you like is easy to play and if it sounds and feels good. I've heard good things about the new Yamaha Storia I from a friend that knows guitars and played on one recently at a guitar store. They go for about $650. Check out some of the lessons and instructors on YouTube. The guitar store may have a few books with accompanying DVD's. They can usually hook you up with a good instructor too. Good luck and good pick'en to you! :thu:
Take care, Larryz
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Acoustics are individualistic. Same two of the extract model could be very different. Always take a friend or buy from friend who"s a player even if you are experienced. Experience doesn"t matter. When playing you can"t hear the guitar properly. Take someone to play so you can be in front to hear it.

 

I bought a Martin this year. My top budget was $2800-3000. I spent half that. An all mahogany sloped shoulder dreadnaught was the best sounding guitar in the room. It was a freak. Two other guitars the same model didn"t play and sound near as good.

 

In lower price ranges I like Blueridge guitars a lot but buy from dealer. Blueridge online sellers are really hit miss. Those things need setup work. I just don"t have much luck but acoustic stuff online. I did buy a Córdoba online and that worked out.

"It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne

 

"A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!!

So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt

 

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FWIW. Something to keep in mind in the future.... At the $500 price point targeting a guitar with built in electronics is fine but if you are in the market for higher dollar guitar don"t consider the electronics and judge solely based on the guitar. You can add good electronics if necessary afterwards. Buy the best guitar first.

"It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne

 

"A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!!

So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt

 

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@Husker - You can save a lot of money, and value, by looking at used Guitars. If you have a friend who's an experienced player, ask them to go hunting with you, so they can help you evaluate whatever you might find, so you don't buy into a "bargain" that's going to need work.

 

The simple math is that a $500 used Guitar probably started out in life as a $650-800 new Guitar, so you've already bought into an upgrade, of a sort. The flip side of this is that a $500 used Guitar is still worth $500 if you decide to sell it, later on.

"Monsters are real, and Ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." Stephen King

 

http://www.novparolo.com

 

https://thewinstonpsmithproject.bandcamp.com

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Acoustic guitar or at least Martins and Gibsons open up and sound better with age. ... Used is good.

"It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne

 

"A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!!

So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt

 

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Another vote for Seagull here. Very nice Guitars overall. When one of my nephews needed a good A/E, I found a Seagull for him, and he's still enjoying it, some years later.

"Monsters are real, and Ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." Stephen King

 

http://www.novparolo.com

 

https://thewinstonpsmithproject.bandcamp.com

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I'd avoid Washburn, based on what I'd seen of QC issues. We had binding coming unglued on new Acoustics, in a humidified Acoustic showroom!

"Monsters are real, and Ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." Stephen King

 

http://www.novparolo.com

 

https://thewinstonpsmithproject.bandcamp.com

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I'd avoid Washburn, based on what I'd seen of QC issues. We had binding coming unglued on new Acoustics, in a humidified Acoustic showroom!

 

 

Unless you want to by MY Washburn EA20. :) No binding issues. Just a guitar I've had for almost 30 years, that was what I needed at the time.

"Am I enough of a freak to be worth paying to see?"- Separated Out (Marillion)

NEW band Old band

 

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Very Nice! I love my cedar top Taylor with walnut back and sides. Yours has a cedar top with Wild Cherry back and sides so it should really be a warm sounding quality guitar! Congrats! Keep us posted! :thu:

 

ps. you can always buy a nice clip on tuner for about $25 bucks...

Take care, Larryz
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So this may be a better option than the Taylor? Doesn't look this one has a tuner but in.

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CoastMmntum--seagull-guitars-coastline-momentum-natural

 

 

Going to try to put t an order in tomorrow

 

Looks very nice for the price! Seagull Guitars use very good quality woods, and good construction. On top of that, Sweetwater sets up every Guitar they ship out, so you know it should arrive ready to play. The lack of a built-in Tuner isn't really an issue, but having that nice easy-access battery compartment is a plus. Ask anyone who's had to loosen the strings on their A/E, to reach in through the soundhole for the battery.

"Monsters are real, and Ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." Stephen King

 

http://www.novparolo.com

 

https://thewinstonpsmithproject.bandcamp.com

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I'd avoid Washburn, based on what I'd seen of QC issues. We had binding coming unglued on new Acoustics, in a humidified Acoustic showroom!

 

 

Unless you want to by MY Washburn EA20. :) No binding issues. Just a guitar I've had for almost 30 years, that was what I needed at the time.

 

In the 80s we had a Washburn single Florentine cut in the studio I recorded at setup with Nashville tuning. That guitar was awesome. But some of their stuff gets iffy. But that old 80s Washburn was killer.

 

"It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne

 

"A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!!

So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt

 

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@Danzilla & CEB - The Washburns in question were all import models, around 2008/2009. I suspect a change in ownership, if not an outright sale of the product name, and a move to overseas production were responsible for the issues we encountered. Washburn was originally an old, established American company, slightly older than Gibson. Only Martin has been around longer, AFAIK?

"Monsters are real, and Ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." Stephen King

 

http://www.novparolo.com

 

https://thewinstonpsmithproject.bandcamp.com

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I have my grandfather's Washburn parlor guitar, probably built in the 1920s. It says "1897 Style - New Model" inside. It's a decent middle of the road instrument, but really not in tune much above the 7th fret. It's a great example of early 20th century guitar making. I use 'silk & steel' strings on it since I fear higher tension will warp the neck which has no truss rod, or pull the bridge up. At the time Washburn was one of the major US guitar brands.
Scott Fraser
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My only Washburn is an A/E fretless bass, and it is sweet.

 

FWIW, I"m also a fan of Ovations, but they"re a fairly polarizing brand due to their sound.

Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ

 

My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx

 

http://murphysmusictx.com/

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FWIW, I"m also a fan of Ovations, but they"re a fairly polarizing brand due to their sound.

 

Been playing Ovations since '74, and I love them, but they're not for everyone. I think of them as Acoustic Guitars designed for Electric Guitarists.

 

"Monsters are real, and Ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." Stephen King

 

http://www.novparolo.com

 

https://thewinstonpsmithproject.bandcamp.com

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FWIW, I"m also a fan of Ovations, but they"re a fairly polarizing brand due to their sound.

 

Been playing Ovations since '74, and I love them, but they're not for everyone. I think of them as Acoustic Guitars designed for Electric Guitarists.

+1 on the quotes above.

I had 2 Ovations as my last 2 acoustic guitars. I played the heck outta them both. I used to go on long surf trips with my kids back in the day, so I would be away from my electric guitars for half a year at a time. The ovations (With electric guitar strings, D'Adderio XL110's) kept my hand in for those long months. The Ovations are not as loud acoustically as a dreadnought acoustic, but they were sure easy to play for an electric guitarist, and the body shape was more comfortable than a big box acoustic.. I say plus one on Ovations.

 

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