Ludicrously cheap electric guitars
Discussion
Asda are selling electric guitars, with an amp apparently, for £45 on a special offer.
Knowing nothing about playing a guitar it's almost tempting just to learn the rudiments of playing the thing and then throw it away after a few months. But if it's so cheap will it be unplayable? Or so bad it will put me off for life?
Knowing nothing about playing a guitar it's almost tempting just to learn the rudiments of playing the thing and then throw it away after a few months. But if it's so cheap will it be unplayable? Or so bad it will put me off for life?
The answer is - probably.
The incredibly cheap guitars come from China, and although they are capable of making decent guitars, the likelihood is that they've been made in a factory that doesn't have anybody in it that can play a guitar. It'll be quite difficult for them to figure out if they've made it properly if that's the case.
You don't need to go much more expensive to get something second hand that'll do the job.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Squier-Stratocast...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guitar-Amp-Yamaha-Pacifi...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-Pacifica-Electric...
The incredibly cheap guitars come from China, and although they are capable of making decent guitars, the likelihood is that they've been made in a factory that doesn't have anybody in it that can play a guitar. It'll be quite difficult for them to figure out if they've made it properly if that's the case.
You don't need to go much more expensive to get something second hand that'll do the job.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Squier-Stratocast...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guitar-Amp-Yamaha-Pacifi...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-Pacifica-Electric...
Dr Jekyll said:
Asda are selling electric guitars, with an amp apparently, for £45 on a special offer.
Knowing nothing about playing a guitar it's almost tempting just to learn the rudiments of playing the thing and then throw it away after a few months. But if it's so cheap will it be unplayable? Or so bad it will put me off for life?
IMO It will be a waste of money.Knowing nothing about playing a guitar it's almost tempting just to learn the rudiments of playing the thing and then throw it away after a few months. But if it's so cheap will it be unplayable? Or so bad it will put me off for life?
Like tools and many things at beginner-intermediate level there's no point in getting something you can't do justice to. I'd imagine a lot of people on here woould struggle to tell why a £3000 guitar is £2500 better than a £500 one (assuming both are good examples of the price point. But a s
t guitar/tool is exactly that. st.You can get decent Squier Strat or Yamaha Pacifica for about £100 new and I'd say they're excellent first guitars. It MAY be worth getting the kit for £45 if you get the amp, a cheap gig bag, strap, tuner, etc. Then you can sell the guitar for firewood, keep the extras and put the money you got towards a decent first guitar lie the ones mentioned.
http://direct.asda.com/Electric-Guitar-and-Amp---M...
This may not be such a bad deal after all. What tends to happen with cheap guitars is that the electrics eg pickups and other hardware tend to be crap, but the guitar itself may work fine as a first introduction to axemeistery. Only way would be to have a look at one and take someone along who knows about guitars. But if only available on line, then why not buy it and see, you could always send it back if not satisfied.
This may not be such a bad deal after all. What tends to happen with cheap guitars is that the electrics eg pickups and other hardware tend to be crap, but the guitar itself may work fine as a first introduction to axemeistery. Only way would be to have a look at one and take someone along who knows about guitars. But if only available on line, then why not buy it and see, you could always send it back if not satisfied.
Edited by gbbird on Saturday 5th November 14:17
Edited by gbbird on Saturday 5th November 14:17
RemainAllHoof said:
I understand the problem with cheap guitars is the "action" which can be too big thus you will be put off playing because you appear worse than you are IYSWIM.
A high "action" (how far the strings are above the fretboard) means a lot more pressure is needed to get a clean note. It can be useful for certain styles of playing (slide guitar for one) but obviously if you don't have the strength in your fingers (a beginner won't) it makes it a lot harder.Getting a low action can be difficult on a cheap guitar because you need closer manufacturing tolerances.
As davepoth says in guitars like everything else you do to some extent get what you pay for. Certainly you rarely get more.
Most guitars play a lot better when set up properly. The action is particularly liable to be poor on cheap guitars. It is certainly worth paying a bit more and buying from one of the ones proposed on this post or looking on Ebay.
Once you start playing cultivate your local music store.
Someone there will really be able to set up guitars and if you find out who this is you may get your guitar set up for not a lot. You will find this beneficial and the shop may p/x your guitar against a better one if you find your interest is continuing.
Guitars are wonderful instruments and a lot smaller to carry round than a Piano.
I hope you enjoy the experience.
Most guitars play a lot better when set up properly. The action is particularly liable to be poor on cheap guitars. It is certainly worth paying a bit more and buying from one of the ones proposed on this post or looking on Ebay.
Once you start playing cultivate your local music store.
Someone there will really be able to set up guitars and if you find out who this is you may get your guitar set up for not a lot. You will find this beneficial and the shop may p/x your guitar against a better one if you find your interest is continuing.
Guitars are wonderful instruments and a lot smaller to carry round than a Piano.
I hope you enjoy the experience.
Steffan said:
Dr Jekyll said:
Steffan said:
Guitars are wonderful instruments and a lot smaller to carry round than a Piano.
No room for Michelle Pfeiffer on top of a guitar though. That could be fun, for you at least.
Maybe ladies just don't like hard rock
Interesting.
I took up the guitar mainly because I needed all the help I could get in finding helpful ladies (not too ladylike) and I found the ability to play the instrument was an advantage.
But I also found the instrument fascinating and a rewarding experience. Met a lot of guitarists played with a fair number. I would recommend the guitar to anyone looking for a portable enjoyable musical instrument which is pretty robust and easy to maintain.
I took up the guitar mainly because I needed all the help I could get in finding helpful ladies (not too ladylike) and I found the ability to play the instrument was an advantage.
But I also found the instrument fascinating and a rewarding experience. Met a lot of guitarists played with a fair number. I would recommend the guitar to anyone looking for a portable enjoyable musical instrument which is pretty robust and easy to maintain.
davepoth said:
A high "action" (how far the strings are above the fretboard) means a lot more pressure is needed to get a clean note. It can be useful for certain styles of playing (slide guitar for one) but obviously if you don't have the strength in your fingers (a beginner won't) it makes it a lot harder.
Getting a low action can be difficult on a cheap guitar because you need closer manufacturing tolerances.
Well put. Getting a low action can be difficult on a cheap guitar because you need closer manufacturing tolerances.
I had a cheap classical guitar and the action was >1cm. Compared to my £300 electric guitar, it was horrible to play on.
RemainAllHoof said:
I understand the problem with cheap guitars is the "action" which can be too big thus you will be put off playing because you appear worse than you are IYSWIM.
I had a little look at one of these guitars that had been taken out of the box in Asda and can say that indeed you could have parked a double decker bus betwixt strings and fingerboard how much of that was due to the setup I couldn't confirm. However apart from that it seemed ok for the cash but it would be a shame if someone brought one of these things and lost heart in learning due to it being harder to play.One for the kids I would say.
yellowyellow said:
it would be a shame if someone brought one of these things
Brought it where? 
I was given a cheap guitar as a teenager which not only sounded terrible but due to it being pretty much unplayable I gave up and didn't come back to learning to play for a good 10+ years. If it was a half decent instrument I might have had an extra 10 years of playing under my belt by now.
Lots of good deals can be had on second hand instruments on ebay, gumtree and preloved that aren't going to break the bank.
I'd be looking down they used Squier Strat route, they can be picked up for buttons and they setup very well.
A mate of mine bought a cheap and nasty from somewhere, possibly but not necessarily Asda, might well have been Argos.
Sounds ste, doesn't hold its tune for long and I struggle to hit the 6th string firmly because of the width of the neck and the high action.
I've got a yamaha pacifica that's just so much easier to play and sounds pretty decent through an average amp.
Sounds s
te, doesn't hold its tune for long and I struggle to hit the 6th string firmly because of the width of the neck and the high action.I've got a yamaha pacifica that's just so much easier to play and sounds pretty decent through an average amp.
A crap guitar will probably discourage you rather than encourage you,but say 15 years ago a £200 guitar was a piece of crap,now you can get some fantastic stuff at that price,Yamaha pacificas,squires,washburns all make some excellent guitars...and you can buy them used from £60-100 which I s what I would suggest.
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