It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:01 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Please Help!!
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:37 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:30 pm
Posts: 3
I am brand new to playing guitar. I dont even own my own. I just want to know what kind i should get to start with. I want a good quality guitar, but i dont wanna go crazy on one. What should I do? :?:


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:45 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:47 am
Posts: 14
FWIW:

I guess that the first question is whether you are interested in an acoustic or an electric.

Assuming that you want an electric I'd suggest looking into a MIM (made in Mexico) Fender, a plain-vanilla Strat ot Tele because they are good bargains and they are vrey competent instruments which can take you from your first lesson to your forst gig. After you've played for a little while and have a better mental picture of what you want from a guitar then you'll be in a good position in case you want to trade for something else.

If you are thinking acoustic I would limit myself to roughly that same price range ($400 street) and see what tickles your fancy.

In both the electric and acoustic worlds there are plenty of decent instruments available for less money but I've found that when you spend around $400 or so you are probably getting the most favorable ratio of value to expenditure.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:48 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:30 pm
Posts: 3
Ok. About the MIM, do you have an idea about the price range on those?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:56 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:47 am
Posts: 14
They tend to sell for around $400. You might be able to do a little better if you drive a hard bargain but overall $400 is a very reasonable price for an instrument of this quality. I have a Std Tele (MIM) that I've owned for almost 16 years and it still looks great and plays very well. I've taken it to gigs and had a blast with it. It was the best money I ever spent on a guitar.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:21 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:30 pm
Posts: 3
Well since I have never really taken up guitar would it be a good idea to buy a cheap off-brand guitar just to learn on. Then if I was sure that i would stick with it, spend the $400??


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:52 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:47 am
Posts: 14
The risk, as I see it, is that if you go too low on the price you might not like the guitar that you buy and then you'll be discouraged. When my nephew first started out the family chipped in a few bucks each and bought him a Squier Bullet. It held his interest for about a year and by then he was ready to move up. I sold him a MIM Strat at that point and he's had it ever since.

There are quite a variety of Squiers ranging from the very inexpensive Bullets to some pretty nice models. You might want to look into these.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:30 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:03 pm
Posts: 194
Bender R is right on target. I would highly recommend the MIM strat or tele OR a Squier. Another great alternative would be a used MIM.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:17 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:19 am
Posts: 859
I agree. I started with a squier bullet as well and then moved to the MIM and it is tons better.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:45 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:47 pm
Posts: 4294
Location: Somewhere near Seattle
mikey.rogers wrote:
Well since I have never really taken up guitar would it be a good idea to buy a cheap off-brand guitar just to learn on. Then if I was sure that i would stick with it, spend the $400??


Many times I've seen new guitar players give up because they had a cheap guitar that wouldn't stay in tune, hurt their fingers to play. Who wants to do something that sounds lousy and hurts? I wouldn't go crazy, but I'd at least get a used MIM for a few hundred bucks. Used would probably be best from a money standpoint. The first owner is the one who eats that big "off the lot" depreciation. If you find you don't want to play, you can probably get most of your money back with a used axe.

Do you have any guitar player friends? If you do, having them along when you go to check out guitars would be a great idea.

_________________
"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:10 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:47 am
Posts: 14
One other nice thing about the MIM Fenders is that while they are good "out of the box" they also are a great platform for modifications. My MIM Tele has upgraded pickups, a custom pickguard and has been rewired with no-load pots etc. So, while still keeping my costs very low I've ended up with a guitar that is up to any task I can think of and it was a lot of fun to boot.

Just for perspective, I had already been playing for 26 years when I bought this Tele and I found it a very useful and competent guitar. The MIM instruments are not by any means a beginner's only instrument, they are pretty good stock and with a few bucks worth of modifications they become superb.


Top
Profile
Post subject: what kind of guitar should you get
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:00 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:46 pm
Posts: 10
my advice to you is to go to a music store like guitar center where you can check out all the different types of guitars sit down and try them out ,what you want to do is find a comfortable fit .dont confuse yourself with makes or models,try everything and when you find it go for it. :lol:


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:28 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:39 pm
Posts: 32
My advise is do not spend a lot of money right now. You can find a low end guitar like the $100.00 fender and still have it setup for comfort meaning take it to a guitar shop and have it setup so the action is comfortable. Learn first and you will have a more understanding about guitars and be able decide at that point what kind of guitar you want. A high price guitar is not going to feel any better to you because when your first learning the strings on any guitar will be difficult for a beginner.

BobV 8)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:48 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:53 pm
Posts: 586
Location: PA
i'd go with the MIM. A Squier might not be so bad either...But MIM's are pretty awesome! I think it would be a fine first guitar, and it is something that you would still enjoy after you get into guitar a little more!

_________________
I dare you to move
~Switchfoot~


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:55 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 4:25 pm
Posts: 398
cryingstrat wrote:
mikey.rogers wrote:
Well since I have never really taken up guitar would it be a good idea to buy a cheap off-brand guitar just to learn on. Then if I was sure that i would stick with it, spend the $400??


Many times I've seen new guitar players give up because they had a cheap guitar that wouldn't stay in tune, hurt their fingers to play. Who wants to do something that sounds lousy and hurts? I wouldn't go crazy, but I'd at least get a used MIM for a few hundred bucks. Used would probably be best from a money standpoint. The first owner is the one who eats that big "off the lot" depreciation. If you find you don't want to play, you can probably get most of your money back with a used axe.

Do you have any guitar player friends? If you do, having them along when you go to check out guitars would be a great idea.

I completely agree, a used MIM would be perfectomundo for your needs.
:D


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: