What Guitar to buy for a beginner?

[phr33k]

Hey PHers,
Fathers Day is soon to be upon us and the old man has said that he'd like to learn to play the Guitar. So, for someone without a clue buying for another person without a clue, what guitar would you reccomend for someone who has never picked one up before? Also, where is best to get one from?
Any help would be much appreciated.

[anonymous-user]

i am not much of a guitarist but would recommend you take him to a shop and try a few. i never realised until i played but things like the width of the neck vary between guitars and some make it very easydifficult to play. some have heavy necks, other are lighter, all down to personal preference.

[evil len]

Yamaha Pacifica 112

[Alfanatic]

evil len said:

Yamaha Pacifica 112

This. Unless he wants an acoustic.

[gbbird]

I recently bought my young niece one of these

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/S...

I have guitars costing 15 times more than these little babies, but tbh you cannot argue for 80 or 90 quid. Plays and feels fine

[Eggle]

Loads of topics on this recently, when the search is running, check them out!

[Ultuous]

gbbird said:

I recently bought my young niece one of these

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/S...

Wow... I've not taken my guitar playing seriously for years, and had no idea you could get something that decent for the cash (I started on an awful Strat copy for around 100 quid)! I quite fancy getting me one - how are they for an intermediate player? (I use that word in the loosest and least moddest sense possible!)

ETA: I was talking about the black one.... Seeing as the Pink one's nearly 20 quid less, the pikey side of me's tempted to nip down to Argos and spend my beer money on it right now... I'll just have to hide it behind my other guitars when the lads come round! ;o)

Edited by Ultuous on Tuesday 9th June 20:46

[gbbird]

Ultuous said:

gbbird said:

I recently bought my young niece one of these

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/S...

Wow... I've not taken my guitar playing seriously for years, and had no idea you could get something that decent for the cash (I started on an awful Strat copy for around 100 quid)! I quite fancy getting me one - how are they for an intermediate player? (I use that word in the loosest and least moddest sense possible!)

ETA: I was talking about the black one.... Seeing as the Pink one's nearly 20 quid less, the pikey side of me's tempted to nip down to Argos and spend my beer money on it right now... I'll just have to hide it behind my other guitars when the lads come round! ;o)

Edited by Ultuous on Tuesday 9th June 20:46

In terms of build quality and feel, i reckon it is well suited for beginner/intermediate players. It stays in tune, there are no flat spots or dodgy frets, and the action feels good. The tuners and trem feel solid enough. I cannot comment on the electrics as i have not pluggesd it in yet, and i suspect the pickups will not be worrying EMG or Seymour Duncan any time soon. but for straightforward practicing at home at normal volume levels, it will be ok.

[Ultuous]

Thanks for the info - that's just what I wanted to know, as all 'economy' strats I've played on before have felt more like toys than proper instruments!

[bigbadbikercats]

Alfanatic said:

evil len said:

Yamaha Pacifica 112

This. Unless he wants an acoustic.

In which case he wants a Yamaha FG410 :-)

--
JG

[Alfanatic]

bigbadbikercats said:

Alfanatic said:

evil len said:

Yamaha Pacifica 112

This. Unless he wants an acoustic.

In which case he wants a Yamaha FG410 :-)

--
JG

Yup! Bottom line, buy a Yamaha.

EDIT: though that Squier from Argos is probably fine too!

Edited by Alfanatic on Wednesday 10th June 13:04