Anybody play Guitar? Suggestions please.

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Tommy VanNess

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Hey All,



I am looking to buy an acoustic guitar for my girlfriend for Christmas. I have no idea what to look for as far as brands and price, so any suggestions or advice would be very much appreciated. What's a good brand? How much should I expect to pay? I live in Richmond, Virginia so I was just going to shop at Sam Ash Music. I do plan on getting some lessons to go with it too. Thanks for any info. Merry Christmas.:)



Tommy
 
I'm quite partial to the Alvarez Regent series. I had one as my first, and it was pretty sweet for a beginner guitar. Now I have my grandpa's older Alvarez.



Here's the one I've got now.



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Epiphone... good brand, good sound, and plays through all levels (beginner to advance). They make remakes of great guitars like Gibson Les Pauls and such. I have one, I bought it at Guitar Center for around $100 I think. But it plays as good, sometimtes better than my much more expensive accoustic / electric Ovation. If your just starting off, it's a good brand to get, inexpensive but good quality.



By the way, you should look into nylon string guitars as well, a little more expensive, yet they will be easier on the fingers, espacially for your grilfriend. Your standard wire bound strings can cut you up, more so for beginners. Epiphone makes one, they're refered to as classical guitars.
 
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I got this Alvarez for my birthday last summer. It's a great guitar and it's really fun to just sit out on the deck with the grill going, just practicing, very relaxing. I think this one would be a bit pricey for a beginner, but I let my dad pick it out. He's been playing since he was in high school, and I just trusted his judgement. Like others have said, give her lessons, let the instructor reccomend some brands, and then take her one day to go pick one out. That way it will be the exact one she wants.



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Tommy,



I teach beginner guitar. My thoughts are that she'd be better off getting fit for a guitar than buying it for her blind. Neck shape, size, and string spacing is very important for getting their hands to feel comfortable wrapped around the neck.



There are several low-end guitars that will provide all the good features (solid spruce top, rosewood fretboard, good tuners, and even solid back/sides). Don't be wooed by just the price or even the name on the head-stock.



I recommend you give her a card with a hand-made gift-certificate telling her of your gift and that she will need to go with you (and maybe her teacher) to get fitted for her guitar.



I do this.
 
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. I have written these names down and will start searching tomorrow. I had thought about giving her a nice guitar and having the reciept on hand just in case she didn't like it, or the sizing was off. Then, if she would prefer a different one we could go and swap it or use the credit towards one she likes. Can you do that with a guitar?



Tommy
 
Ibanez also makes a line of decent sounding guitars. Probably from $150 to $1500. I purchased an Ibanez Performance model as a "beach" guitar (about $250), I think the sound rivals guitars that cost twice that much. My favorite brand of acoustics is Tacoma. But I don't know where their line starts in price. A friend of mine has got a Tacoma he paid about $800 for, and it sounds as good as Martins or Gibsons that cost 2-3x that much.



Before purchasing a guitar with the intent on possibly exchanging it, be sure the seller will allow that.



Some sellers will exchange instruments, some will not........
 
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I think that you have many good suggestions here. I have owned an Alvarez AD60 and thought it was a nice guitar for the money. The AF60S is an Auditorium sized guitar, which may be a little easier for a woman to handle than a full size dred. A solid top is important, solid sides and back less important. A solid top guitar will "open up" as it is played, and will sound better as it gets some age on it. A laminate topped guitar won't do this. Here is a pic of the AF60S. Good Luck.



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By the way Tommy, please be aware of G.A.S. That is Guitar Aquisition Syndrome. It is a terrible malady that happens alot to new guitar buyers. It's symptoms are once you start to play the guitar, you suddenly feel like you need another, then another, then another. It is almost impossible to cure and can be contagious. Beware! :lol:

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DiveTrac is correct. if she never played guitar before she needs to be fitted by a knowledgable professional. If she has played before, she will likely have a preference for a certain neck with and thickness as well as the action of the strings. That can only be determined by he actually holding the guitar in her hands.



It's like buying shoes for someone. You may buy the right size, color and style, but they still may not feel comfortable, so they really need to try them on.



...Rich



 
Please be aware, however, that the young kid who works at the local Sam Ash and spends most of his time either talking on the phone to his girlfriend or playing the intro to "Sweet Home Alabama" on every electric in the store is not the "knowledgable professional" that RichardL is talking about. :p
 
I have to object to the suggestion of getting her a classical guitar (nylon strings). First off, you can't get an everyday guitar feel with one of those. Secondly, I suggest anyone beginning guitar (male or female) to start with an acoustic guitar merely to build up finger strength. Sure it hurts your hands and fingers more to begin with, but it's well worth it. Once you can change chords and whatnot and play an acoustic guitar, then the others (i.e. electric) come a bit easier, although electric guitars are in a sense different instruments.
 
It's a DR20 with rosewood back and sides. I was really torn between it and the DM18 (which is a wonderful guitar by the way!) and picked the DR only because the DM18 my local dealer had needed a set-up to suit me, and the DR20 was just like I like 'em. I'm in total agreement that it is by far the best guitar-deal for the money I have ever made, and my favorite guitar to boot.
 
Yeah...toyed with getting the DR20. The extra $200 for rosewood wasn't doing it for me. I like the brightness that roseood ads, but I also loved the bass...warmth of the mahogony.



Great guitar.
 

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