Learn to play the guitar - which guitar?

[Mag1calTrev0r]

I'm sorry, like the 'which car' threads, this will have been done before.

I'm wanting to learn the guitar, I've previously learned to play the piano but this was a good 15 years ago, I imagine I'll take some lessons and also learn from books, etc. but I'm at a bit of a loss as to what type of guitar to buy and which particular guitar I want to buy.

I suppose it comes down to:
- Acoustic: I often find them quite large and I'm concerned that this makes it harder to handle and more difficult to learn
- Electro Acoustic - always seems slimmer (which I like - I'm not a gorilla!) so it's more comfortable on my arms. I like the Acoustic sound but also like that I can, in future, plug into an amp.
- Electric - more comfortable due to the slim body but will have to buy an Amp

I like the acoustic sound and electric sound pretty much equally do that isn't a concern and I like a mix of rock and acoustic music so again no issue there. I just want something that will be comfortable to play, a neck that's easy to get my fingers round (I don't have big gangley fingers) and something that won't disappoint leading to me getting bored of learning.

I've found the Yamaha Electro-Acoustics to be comfortable to play but they tend to be expensive (for a learners guitar). I also like the look of Ibanez guitars (who also do both electric and electro acoustics).

I don't want to spend over £200 and would like to keep it nearer the £150 mark. This is for no other reason than if I do get bored then I won't have spent a fortune on it.

thanks for your advice

[Ewan S]

I have both electric and an electro-acoustic, but started with a borrowed acoustic, then switched over to an electric as I like the noise. Now I play the acoustic for the occasions I can't be bothered to set up an electric.

Find a slim narrow body electro-acoustic with a nice action (ie the strings aren't too high off the fretboard) and you're laughing. I highly rate yamaha guitars - you tend to get a lot of guitar for your money.

[mattdaniels]

Ukuele

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Ewan S said:

I have both electric and an electro-acoustic, but started with a borrowed acoustic, then switched over to an electric as I like the noise. Now I play the acoustic for the occasions I can't be bothered to set up an electric.

Find a slim narrow body electro-acoustic with a nice action (ie the strings aren't too high off the fretboard) and you're laughing. I highly rate yamaha guitars - you tend to get a lot of guitar for your money.

Cheers Ewan,

I suppose I could look for a second hand Yamaha Electro Acoustic? Would you have a model recommendation with the attributes you mention, i.e. slim narrow body, nice action, maybe a slim-ish neck?

[Mag1calTrev0r]

mattdaniels said:

Ukuele

You aren't helping

[pantscat]

I think it all depends on what sort of music you want to play long term. I started off with a (borrowed) acoustic guitar for about a month before ditching it and getting a Squire Strat. If I'd known better I'd never have got a squire, I'd have got a Yamaha Pacifica or something similar.

Basically - if you want to play stuff that's mainly "electric guitar" based then get an electric - if you're after some acoustic twiddling then as said before, you can get some pretty decent electro acoustics for not a lot of money.

I'd recommend having a look at Yamaha and Cort guitars - they seem to be very good value for money.

[otolith]

Couple of points to bear in mind:

An acoustic is easier to keep somewhere you will casually pick it up and play it, without wires trailing all over the place. Will give you better callouses too

An electric is easier to fret and can be played (almost) silently with headphones. I find a basic multi-effects pedal adds a lot to the enjoyment of playing it, so you might want to add that to your budget.

[AndrewW-G]

Another vote for the Yamaha acuostics, I've got a dozen or so guitars dotted around the house, yet play my old and relatively cheap FG412L the most, nice action, decent tone and above all, didnt cost the earth so I'm not as carefull around it as I am with a Gretsch or Gibson

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Cheers guys. I think I'm more drawn to an Electro Acoustic as it seems to offer some of the benefits of both electric and acoustic.

Another reason I'm looking at the cheaper end is so it doesn't matter so much when I'm better and want to buy a more expensive guitar.

The thing is now, the Yamaha APX500 (their cheapest model) is still a good £250 which I 'could' afford but don't really want to. Is there a good place to buy second hand, other than ebay?

[Ewan S]

We occasionally got in some nice 2nd hand guitars at the pawnbrokers I used to work at. Maybe if you have a cash converters nearby you could go and have a look?

Don't know any specific model no's to look out for, but you might want to find out some info on the types of electro acoustic. Mine's a real cheapie and sounds crap through the amp because its a passive electro acoustic rather than powered (I think).

Also get yourself a tuner so that you're always in tune.

If you do buy second hand, replace the strings as doing so will give you an understanding of how the guitar works and it should stay in tune better with new strings.

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Ewan S said:

We occasionally got in some nice 2nd hand guitars at the pawnbrokers I used to work at. Maybe if you have a cash converters nearby you could go and have a look?

Don't know any specific model no's to look out for, but you might want to find out some info on the types of electro acoustic. Mine's a real cheapie and sounds crap through the amp because its a passive electro acoustic rather than powered (I think).

Also get yourself a tuner so that you're always in tune.

If you do buy second hand, replace the strings as doing so will give you an understanding of how the guitar works and it should stay in tune better with new strings.

Thanks, I'll do that

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Is this too cheap a guitar? Would I regret it?
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/yamaha-fx-310a...
http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/link/105862

Edited by Mag1calTrev0r on Friday 4th June 11:21

[kiteless]

Speaking from experience, I'd go for either an acoustic, or electro-acoustic.

Starting out on the guitar, the first thing you'll notice is the ends of your fretting fingers will fking hurt! But if you start out on the acoustic route, your callouses will build up nice and quick. The other benefit is that, by playing an acoustic, your fretting hand gets a proper workout every time you play as the action tends to be higher than an electric and the strings are spaced out a little more.

This means you have to work at fretting chords and notes. Helps with dexterity, which is a good thing.

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Thanks for that, I think electro acoustic is where I should be. Now I need to find a good teacher

[turbotongue]

Mag1calTrev0r said:

Thanks for that, I think electro acoustic is where I should be. Now I need to find a good teacher

I recommend starting off with this

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/BC-000-BeginnersCou...

Free and talks you through the basics.

[chevy-stu]

checkout the Tanglewood evolution tsf range, smaller bodied electro acoustic, pretty well made..
or Ibanez do a huge range of different style electro acoustics in your budget.

local music shop be able to recommend a decent teacher...

[vit4]

Do have to say, the Yamaha basses represent excellent value for money so I'd presume the same could be said of the guitars

[otolith]

I've got a Yamaha electric, and I think I would have had to spend a lot more money to get a significantly better instrument.

[davepoth]

Yamaha quality is awesome for the money. I've played a few and never seen a bad one. The same can't be said for some other brands I can think of.

[dern]

Justin S and I were at guitar village yesterday and played on a yamaha 112V and I thought it was pretty nice but though that the squire strat was a nicer guitar for a little more. All down to what you prefer to play though and worth trying a few.