Acoustic guitar for beginner?
Discussion
As per title, am thinking of welcoming in another year shortly with a "something I wish I'd done 20 years ago" guitar. Can someone recommend me a sub-£100 acoustic thing that would be good for a beginner, but also not be something I'm looking to replace within months if I turn out not to suck.
Also, because I've never played one and have little musical pedigree aside from air drumming and drunken karaoke, I could do with a book and / or DVD that could turn a feckless cretin into a monster of rock. Or at least has a decent learning curve that would keep me trying rather than turning it into firewood.
Apologies if this has been done 100 times before - search function is down and couldn't see anything on the first 6 pages of results...!
Also, because I've never played one and have little musical pedigree aside from air drumming and drunken karaoke, I could do with a book and / or DVD that could turn a feckless cretin into a monster of rock. Or at least has a decent learning curve that would keep me trying rather than turning it into firewood.
Apologies if this has been done 100 times before - search function is down and couldn't see anything on the first 6 pages of results...!
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5...
At that end of the market you really can't go wrong with Yamaha. Comes with all the bits and bobs you need to get going too. It isn't the best guitar in the world but their quality control is top notch, so even if you are buying a guitar from Argos it should work properly and last you a few years until you feel the urge to trade up, or get bored and put it in the attic.
At that end of the market you really can't go wrong with Yamaha. Comes with all the bits and bobs you need to get going too. It isn't the best guitar in the world but their quality control is top notch, so even if you are buying a guitar from Argos it should work properly and last you a few years until you feel the urge to trade up, or get bored and put it in the attic.
Edited by davepoth on Monday 6th September 23:25
Cheers guys. Had seen that one in Argos but assumed it would be awful! Loads of 5 star reviews on their site though, plus recommendation on here - looks like the one to go for.
Is that website posted above for online tutorials the best option for learning? Anyone on here started from scratch recently (and also too tight to pay for lessons)?
Is that website posted above for online tutorials the best option for learning? Anyone on here started from scratch recently (and also too tight to pay for lessons)?
Recommend the Yamaha..bought one about 5 years ago and never got round to replacing it. Stays in tune, sounds OK and is fairly easy to play. If I ever get to the stage of performing in public I may think about changing it.
Also recommend Justin Guitar...some well known songs on there as well as some understandable theory.
Also recommend Justin Guitar...some well known songs on there as well as some understandable theory.
tim the pool man said:
The Yamaha looks good, I just bought an Epiphone DR90 for my 12YO daughter as her first acoustic (she already has a Squier mini Strat). I'm very impressed with it, cost about $220 but maybe (like most things) cheaper there?
As it's likely to be a present from my fiancee for my 32nd birthday, it's good to know I'm exactly 20 years behind your daughter! (I'm ignoring the fact that she could also clearly play before her 12th birthday...!)Cheers for input everyone - I'd been tempted by the 'Fender' name in the price bracket I was looking at, but looks like Yamaha is definitely the way to go.
I borrowed a mates electric and practise headphone amp to get me started and spent the late winter months with just learning basic notes and a few small rifts etc. I have been 'playing' for 5 months now and love it. Wish I had learnt earlier in life, but at 40, hopefully have time to learn lots. Bought a Vintage electro accoustic as my first guitar ( about £190), after 3 months, as it is slightly narrower body and allows a bit more ease to see what your playing etc but still a nice sound. I had an issue with the guitar ( not a vintage issue) and the guitar shop swapped it out for a full size Arai accoustic, which is very nice. Really enjoying the fact I am just twanging away in my own little world. For my 40th, the family bought me a Fender Strat with a noisy bastad Peavey amp .......................I have just started having lessons and it is bringing me on loads, although never worry about asking friends like I do to help out and teach you as well. Good Luck. Also talk to people who know about guitars, what to look out for, as spending £100 'might' be OK for now, but 6 months down the line an additional £50 spent in the begining means it will still play nice for a longer time.
I had a go on a friends Yamaha accoustic, which she bought from a music shop in Basingstoke for £100 and although new to the game, found it had poor sonics and just lacked any brilliance in sound. Maybe a string change might make the difference, but was so quiet and dull.
I had a go on a friends Yamaha accoustic, which she bought from a music shop in Basingstoke for £100 and although new to the game, found it had poor sonics and just lacked any brilliance in sound. Maybe a string change might make the difference, but was so quiet and dull.
I know that this sounds snobby but I can't imagine buying a guitar for £100 from argos that's been stored in a cardboard box under last year's transformers before being slung down the conveyor belt of laminated dreams is going to get you to where you want to go. Playing guitar is really hard, well worth it but hard and having played some really cheap guitars they'll only increase your chances of giving up.
Take a mate who plays to a shop and get him to play these guitars and buy the one he reckons plays well even if it's the same model as is available from argos but costs £30 quid more. Even better, take the same mate to a place that sells second hand guitars and get something better quality that's been looked after.
You'll be spending hours with this thing... you want to like it for a start but you also want to be sure that all the problems you're having with the F chord are going to be resolved by practice and aren't caused by a buggered guitar.
Good luck.
Take a mate who plays to a shop and get him to play these guitars and buy the one he reckons plays well even if it's the same model as is available from argos but costs £30 quid more. Even better, take the same mate to a place that sells second hand guitars and get something better quality that's been looked after.
You'll be spending hours with this thing... you want to like it for a start but you also want to be sure that all the problems you're having with the F chord are going to be resolved by practice and aren't caused by a buggered guitar.
Good luck.
Wondered how long before you appeared LOL.........
dern said:
I know that this sounds snobby but I can't imagine buying a guitar for £100 from argos that's been stored in a cardboard box under last year's transformers before being slung down the conveyor belt of laminated dreams is going to get you to where you want to go. Playing guitar is really hard, well worth it but hard and having played some really cheap guitars they'll only increase your chances of giving up.
Take a mate who plays to a shop and get him to play these guitars and buy the one he reckons plays well even if it's the same model as is available from argos but costs £30 quid more. Even better, take the same mate to a place that sells second hand guitars and get something better quality that's been looked after.
You'll be spending hours with this thing... you want to like it for a start but you also want to be sure that all the problems you're having with the F chord are going to be resolved by practice and aren't caused by a buggered guitar.
Good luck.
Take a mate who plays to a shop and get him to play these guitars and buy the one he reckons plays well even if it's the same model as is available from argos but costs £30 quid more. Even better, take the same mate to a place that sells second hand guitars and get something better quality that's been looked after.
You'll be spending hours with this thing... you want to like it for a start but you also want to be sure that all the problems you're having with the F chord are going to be resolved by practice and aren't caused by a buggered guitar.
Good luck.
I've learnt on one of those F310 Yamahas and for what it is, it's great. Easy action, stays in tune, not a huge body that you have to reach around. Perfect for learning. But obviously it's not the only thing out there.
However, I would agree with the buying from a good music shop as that's where you'll find alternatives and advice. They'll tune it for you - no mean feat for a beginner first time out the box, even with a tuner - and help you out with material the get you started.
Plus it's far more fun than buying from Argos - you can wander over to the Martins and dream 'One day.....'
However, I would agree with the buying from a good music shop as that's where you'll find alternatives and advice. They'll tune it for you - no mean feat for a beginner first time out the box, even with a tuner - and help you out with material the get you started.
Plus it's far more fun than buying from Argos - you can wander over to the Martins and dream 'One day.....'
I'll try and translate into PH language...Take one part battered step side Chevy for down home authenticity, one part '59 Caddy Coupe de Ville for smoothness, one part 427 S/C Cobra for body and tone and make that into an acoustic guitar.
That's a Martin.
The 310 Yammy is a Toyota Corolla, but it'll get you to where you want to go without breaking and teach you what all the knobs do.
That's a Martin.
The 310 Yammy is a Toyota Corolla, but it'll get you to where you want to go without breaking and teach you what all the knobs do.
At a ton my money would go on a Vintage v300, always gets very favourable reviews (usually comparing it to much more expensive guitars) and you can just about pick one up for a ton if you shop around.
I'll still stick up for a cheap guitars, fit some decent strings and keep it in tune and it'll sound just as good in the hands of the average beginner, plus you'll have saved a stack of cash that would be better spent on lessons. You'll be more likely to stick at it if you are paying weekly for a music teacher and you'll learn quicker with tuition as well. Still, no reason you can't buy a better guitar and the lessons.
I'll still stick up for a cheap guitars, fit some decent strings and keep it in tune and it'll sound just as good in the hands of the average beginner, plus you'll have saved a stack of cash that would be better spent on lessons. You'll be more likely to stick at it if you are paying weekly for a music teacher and you'll learn quicker with tuition as well. Still, no reason you can't buy a better guitar and the lessons.
tankplanker said:
At a ton my money would go on a Vintage v300, always gets very favourable reviews (usually comparing it to much more expensive guitars) and you can just about pick one up for a ton if you shop around.
I'll still stick up for a cheap guitars, fit some decent strings and keep it in tune and it'll sound just as good in the hands of the average beginner, plus you'll have saved a stack of cash that would be better spent on lessons. You'll be more likely to stick at it if you are paying weekly for a music teacher and you'll learn quicker with tuition as well. Still, no reason you can't buy a better guitar and the lessons.
I wish I could afford a guitar lessons every week, but being poor and at £35 a lesson in my neck of the woods and thats being cheap compared to others. I do have a good music teacher, who is a 'somebody' in the music world, not just a bloke off the street and an hour has met 2hrs before ( and only charging the one), as he enjoys what he teaches, which makes a difference too. I have a lesson every 3 ish weeks, but I do learn loads and have 3 weeks self learning to take in every session.I'll still stick up for a cheap guitars, fit some decent strings and keep it in tune and it'll sound just as good in the hands of the average beginner, plus you'll have saved a stack of cash that would be better spent on lessons. You'll be more likely to stick at it if you are paying weekly for a music teacher and you'll learn quicker with tuition as well. Still, no reason you can't buy a better guitar and the lessons.
Personally, I would do as I did, which is get a friend who plays and can help with basic notes and putting a few chords together, otherwise you will spend/ waste a half dozen lessons on stuff you can easily do yourself.
As Dern said to me, 'If you can hack the first 3 months without throwing the guitar out the window, your doing OK' and you will need patience to get through the frustrating times.
As for getting a guitar from Argos, go for it. Just make sure you have someone in the knowledge to check the neck is straight, the fret bars are fine, that the tuning is good, the strings aren't too far from the neck, or go to a guitar shop and get one from them, all checked out and working. Argos do an electric guitar on there for £80. I know as the local guitar shop was offered them direct from the importers of £6 each............. He didn't want them, because you 'can't polish a turd' and would stoop that low to loose his reputation of nice guitars.
Howsabout this for a little bit more than the Argos one and all set up, solid wood top etc
http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/product-detail.asp?...
Justin S said:
As for getting a guitar from Argos, go for it. Just make sure you have someone in the knowledge to check the neck is straight, the fret bars are fine, that the tuning is good, the strings aren't too far from the neck, or go to a guitar shop and get one from them, all checked out and working.
This is the thinking behind Yamaha. Quality from the "proper" guitar makers can be variable at best, and often need a lot of tweaking by the guitar shop to play right. Yamaha seem to be able to make their guitars work properly straight out of the box. There's also £50 worth of stuff you'll need to buy free with that Yamaha from Argos. It's a really good deal. Anyone you know who is a bit handy with a guitar will be able to tell if it needs anything doing to it, a guitar shop will do a setup for £30 or so.waaaay back when....
I was a student... and long hair metal was the order of the day
I used to get a guitar from Argos, play it for 10 days... then take it back under their 14 day money back deal.. Then get a new one the next day... without exception, they were all rubbish..
Obviously, being a student, one day I got too hammered, and didnt take one back in time to get the money back.. its still hiding under my bed... having been replaced by a cheap yamaha pacifica which is infinitely better...
Cheap guitars are much much better these days... but what I'm getting round to suggesting is.. if argos still do the money back deal...
I'd, go to your local music shop, have a look at their acoustics, try a few, and get a feel for what you get for your money. If you don't buy one, then go and get the argos one, and give it a go, if you think its compares well to the guitar shop one, then keep it, if not.. you can take it back
Personally, I'd get one from your local shop, you'll have a better idea of what you are getting, and have compared it to some others, and found the one you 'like', rather than the pot luck of what comes in the argos bag
Definately take a look at justin guitar http://www.justinguitar.com/en/BC-000-BeginnersCou... the lessons are as good as it gets.
And think about taking at least a few 'real' lessons to start you off with. It will get you over the first 'hump' and speed up your progress.
Playing guitar is a never ending journey, its certainly not easy, but as long as you remember to enjoy 'the ride' then its great fun
can be cheap too.. my electric pacifica cost me £70 secondhand about 4 years ago, all I've bought since then is an amp ( £160 ), and lots of sets of strings
I was a student... and long hair metal was the order of the day
I used to get a guitar from Argos, play it for 10 days... then take it back under their 14 day money back deal.. Then get a new one the next day... without exception, they were all rubbish..
Obviously, being a student, one day I got too hammered, and didnt take one back in time to get the money back.. its still hiding under my bed... having been replaced by a cheap yamaha pacifica which is infinitely better...
Cheap guitars are much much better these days... but what I'm getting round to suggesting is.. if argos still do the money back deal...
I'd, go to your local music shop, have a look at their acoustics, try a few, and get a feel for what you get for your money. If you don't buy one, then go and get the argos one, and give it a go, if you think its compares well to the guitar shop one, then keep it, if not.. you can take it back
Personally, I'd get one from your local shop, you'll have a better idea of what you are getting, and have compared it to some others, and found the one you 'like', rather than the pot luck of what comes in the argos bag
Definately take a look at justin guitar http://www.justinguitar.com/en/BC-000-BeginnersCou... the lessons are as good as it gets.
And think about taking at least a few 'real' lessons to start you off with. It will get you over the first 'hump' and speed up your progress.
Playing guitar is a never ending journey, its certainly not easy, but as long as you remember to enjoy 'the ride' then its great fun
can be cheap too.. my electric pacifica cost me £70 secondhand about 4 years ago, all I've bought since then is an amp ( £160 ), and lots of sets of strings
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