beginner's acoustic guitar
Discussion
smn159 said:
This. You can stop reading now.Cutaways themselves wont make a difference, All they do is really give access to the 14th fret onwards without requiring a gymnast of a wrist.
I also dislike the size of dreadnoughts and have always played concert/auditoriums as they are generally shallower with a narrower waist. I suppose you cant really go out and try any these days which is a pain.
Yamaha are pretty hard to beat as the go to beginner guitars. My first was a Yamaha and I still have it, Unfortunately at the very entry level its mainly going to be dreadnaughts.
I also dislike the size of dreadnoughts and have always played concert/auditoriums as they are generally shallower with a narrower waist. I suppose you cant really go out and try any these days which is a pain.
Yamaha are pretty hard to beat as the go to beginner guitars. My first was a Yamaha and I still have it, Unfortunately at the very entry level its mainly going to be dreadnaughts.
Thanks Paul, that's really helpful, I'd rather pay a bit more for a more comfortable guitar than settling for a beginner's dreadnought that I will almost certainly give up on like I did the last time! Of the guitars shown in that pic which would you say offers the best comfort/value compromise? I like the idea of a slim neck for the same comfort reasons.
Its difficult to say, There isnt really a general rule for what body shapes people will fair better with and are normally chosen more in relation to musical style. Dreadnoughts are the sort of everyman's guitar, smaller bodied guitars such as parlours are more suited to fingerstyle/travis picking etc as they have a more balanced sound. but there is no hard rules.
as for comfort, Annoyingly its something you would want to actually try a few and find out what suits you which is obviously difficult at the moment.
auditoriums/parlours etc will sit more snuggly over your leg and generally feel a bit more manoeuvrable but again its all personal preference and what suits individual people and what you struggle with.
There isnt really a substitute unfortunately for at least seeing some in person. Most beginner guitars at the very entry level will be dreadnaughts due to their range, and alternative body shapes will normally start a bit higher.
https://www.gak.co.uk/en/yamaha-fs800-tinted/12899...
The yamaha FS800 is the latest of yamaha's concert body guitars or as they call them Folk Small. They have been popular for many years. My first guitar was a FS700 series which is now over 15 years old and the sound difference to my Taylor makes the price difference seem rather silly as the yamaha still sounds perfectly fine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb5rAVIndz8
as for comfort, Annoyingly its something you would want to actually try a few and find out what suits you which is obviously difficult at the moment.
auditoriums/parlours etc will sit more snuggly over your leg and generally feel a bit more manoeuvrable but again its all personal preference and what suits individual people and what you struggle with.
There isnt really a substitute unfortunately for at least seeing some in person. Most beginner guitars at the very entry level will be dreadnaughts due to their range, and alternative body shapes will normally start a bit higher.
https://www.gak.co.uk/en/yamaha-fs800-tinted/12899...
The yamaha FS800 is the latest of yamaha's concert body guitars or as they call them Folk Small. They have been popular for many years. My first guitar was a FS700 series which is now over 15 years old and the sound difference to my Taylor makes the price difference seem rather silly as the yamaha still sounds perfectly fine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb5rAVIndz8
PaulWoof said:
Its difficult to say, There isnt really a general rule for what body shapes people will fair better with and are normally chosen more in relation to musical style. Dreadnoughts are the sort of everyman's guitar, smaller bodied guitars such as parlours are more suited to fingerstyle/travis picking etc as they have a more balanced sound. but there is no hard rules.
as for comfort, Annoyingly something you would want to actually try a few and find out what suits you which is obviously difficult at the moment.
auditoriums/parlours etc will sit more snuggly over your leg and generally feel a bit more manoeuvrable but again its all personal preference and what suits individual people.
There isnt really a substitute unfortunately for at least seeing some in person. Most beginner guitars at the very entry level will be dreadnaughts due to their range, and alternative body shapes will normally start a bit higher.
https://www.gak.co.uk/en/yamaha-fs800-tinted/12899...
The yamaha FS800 is the latest of yamaha's concert body guitars or as they call them Folk Small. They have been popular for many years. My first guitar was a FS700 series which is now over 15 years old and the sound difference to my Taylor makes the price difference seem rather silly as the yamaha still sounds perfectly fine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb5rAVIndz8
That FS looks perfect Paul, it sounds so bright too, off to the internet I go! Many many thanks. as for comfort, Annoyingly something you would want to actually try a few and find out what suits you which is obviously difficult at the moment.
auditoriums/parlours etc will sit more snuggly over your leg and generally feel a bit more manoeuvrable but again its all personal preference and what suits individual people.
There isnt really a substitute unfortunately for at least seeing some in person. Most beginner guitars at the very entry level will be dreadnaughts due to their range, and alternative body shapes will normally start a bit higher.
https://www.gak.co.uk/en/yamaha-fs800-tinted/12899...
The yamaha FS800 is the latest of yamaha's concert body guitars or as they call them Folk Small. They have been popular for many years. My first guitar was a FS700 series which is now over 15 years old and the sound difference to my Taylor makes the price difference seem rather silly as the yamaha still sounds perfectly fine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb5rAVIndz8
crofty1984 said:
smn159 said:
This. You can stop reading now.
You cannot go wrong starting out with a Yamaha. Goes for any instrument, not just guitars.
smn159 said:
Blackpuddin said:
FS800 ordered!
Good work!But what happened to under £100?
Blackpuddin said:
Ha, that always happens with me! I read a few reviews of the cheapies that put me off. I'm always telling other people to get the best kit they can afford when it comes to sports gear so I'm following my own advice and going for the brand you guys have very kindly recommended. And the specific info from Paul about body shapes was really useful as it helped me avoid falling into the 'big guitar' trap that did for me last time. Thanks to all, I'll let you know how I get on when it arrives, I've also ordered one of those electronic headstock tuners and a bag o' plectrums (plectra?). Thanks again to all.
I hope it all goes smoothly for you, I feel a bit liable now lol.I remember I did alot of reading around many moons ago when buying my first guitar. Yamaha was the go to then and not much has changed. I stuck with my fs720 for a good few years before I felt I wanted something fancier.
One thing worth doing when allowed is taking it along to your nearest guitar shop/luthier to have it setup/adjusted. Yamaha's normally come good out of the box and setup ideal for beginners but having someone go over it and adjusting anything as necessary can make playing much more pleasant. A lower action (gap between the strings and the fretboard) is much easier to play for beginners and even just in general. Someone who knows what they are doing will be able to lower the action and make sure its even throughout the neck.
Enjoy your callouses when they come.
Blackpuddin said:
I was hoping for blood on the strings at the very least as I vent my tortured musical soul.
Any suggestions for the best way of learning would be most welcome. I've been assuming YouTube but happy to be put straight on that.
www.justinguitar.com - Free to sign up to, a boat load of videos, I'm currently using it for the umpteenth time to finally scratch the itch of playing guitar but having a rubbish attention span! There's loads of other stuff out there but you've got to be careful you don't just watch videos of people who can play but can't teach you.Any suggestions for the best way of learning would be most welcome. I've been assuming YouTube but happy to be put straight on that.
2fast748 said:
Blackpuddin said:
I was hoping for blood on the strings at the very least as I vent my tortured musical soul.
Any suggestions for the best way of learning would be most welcome. I've been assuming YouTube but happy to be put straight on that.
www.justinguitar.com - Free to sign up to, a boat load of videos, I'm currently using it for the umpteenth time to finally scratch the itch of playing guitar but having a rubbish attention span! There's loads of other stuff out there but you've got to be careful you don't just watch videos of people who can play but can't teach you.Any suggestions for the best way of learning would be most welcome. I've been assuming YouTube but happy to be put straight on that.
£100 is starting to look like a distant memory 
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