Guitar Playing Folks - Electric Acoustic Help

[Fudged Undies]

Would appreciate some help/suggestions from the musically inclined/informed. I'm looking for an electric acoustic guitar for a younger cousin (19). I don't know much about guitars but I'm trying not to break the bank. He's wants one that is on the thin side, in terms of depth, and preferably black. Don't really have any other details so I don't know how much this helps but any suggestions, online purchase or otherwise, are greatly appreciated.



<font color=red> Edit, just found out it's actually just an electric acoustic guitar. Edited above.</font>

 

[Frank Marano]

A store called the "Guitar Center" is a nice store to go to, if there is one in your area. Dont know much about basses.....I know some about 6 strings and I know a ton about drums, lol



well because I play drums, lol

 

[Travis Munday]

I'll agree with the Guitar Center...I"ve been to the one here in ATL and it's filled wall-to-wall with everything you could want.



Does he want a 4 string or 6?, 4 is typical. What about an amp? How about your budget?

 

[buzz worth]

try these folks if you want to look around online:

 

[Chops]

musiciansfriend.com is a giant now also. Where I buy most of my stuff these days.

 

[Frank Marano]

anothor good website is www.wwbw.com....it stand for wood wind brass wind. they have all instruments though.

 

[user 62394]

If he wants to learn to play, I would recommend starting on a full electric -- the strings have less tension and it is easier on the fingers when you aren't used to it.



If he already plays and wants a new guitar (and, as you said you don't want to spend a ton of money), Guitar Center is a great place to go and play some guitars and see what he wants. I would look to buy either online (I have bought several items from Musician's friend and have always been happy with them) or at a smaller store. (I have issues with Guitar Center). Try E-bay too. You can sometimes find decent deals there, but I suggest trying to find someone local so you don't have to ship and can actually see the guitar before you buy. I bought one of my guitars that way and was very happy.



As for brands, if you are not sure what kind of sound he prefers or he is new to guitar, Gibson/Epiphone and Fender are going to be good, quality guitars and you probably won't go wrong. Yamaha, Takamini, Gretsch, and Schecter are also good. Up the scale further are going to be Dean, Taylor, and Martin, but they will cost quite a bit more. My personal favorite is a Martin.



For the record, I have a Yamaha DW-6 acoustic (DW-6) and a Schecter C-1 Classic electric. (I'll get my Martin someday)

 

[buzz worth]

make a friend at a local music store. there is always someone trading up.



musiciansfriend is the online store for Guitar center.



just got a nice old APX20 Yamaha acoustic/elec from a friend yesterday. I collect them, but don't play'm....go figger. Guitars are a tremendous investment tool these days. Vintage guitars and drums are going up 15-20% a year. I have an early 60's set of Gretsch drums that are the best kit I have ever played but hate to play them cause they are pristine. but....that's what they are for !



buzz & hummmm

 

[Fudged Undies]

A bit more info.

*He knows how to play.

*I considered used, but since it's a gift new is preferred.

*He'd like the thinner style body, as he says it's easier to play.

*Black Finish.



Any actual guitar suggestions are appreciated. I have every intention of check out GC, along with two or three other local shops but talking to a salesmen when you really aren't informed doesn't help much. Kinda the reason I'm asking here.

 

[Jeff C]

Howabout you take him to a store shopping with you and see what he likes. On more expensive gifts, my parents always took me along b/c, basically I knew what I was getting, but they wanted to make sure I get the one I really want. When I got a guitar for my b'day this summer, I had already spent several weeks looking at ones I liked and reading reviews online. My dad who has been playing for 30+ years went and looked based on what I told him I wanted (acoustic/electric with a sunburst body and something that HE would play if he had. I knew as long as it was something he would play, it would be a decent guitar). Maybe go to some stores on a weekend before his b'day, have him pick out what he likes, then you make the final decision, so you know he'll like it.

 

[GccST]

Ovation makes killer electric acoustics.

 

[Richard L]

Spif,

I am 59 years old and started playing guitar when I was about 9 years old. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to play much in the last 10-15 years.



Just for clarification, the thin, hollow electric gutars are usually referred to as "Hollow Body" guitars, not accustic guitars. The thin solid electric guitars like Fender's, etc are referred to as "Solid body" guitars. Accustic guitars are the full sized non-electic guitars with the big round hole under the strings. They are called accustic guitars because they get their tone from the string vibrations eminating from the shape and tone of hollow chamber of the guitar. Accustic guitars are not usually electified, however, accustic guitars can be electified by the addition of a pick-up unit and volume/tone controls.



...Rich

 

[Christopher L]

Spaceman,



From the information you have provided, there are only a couple of options that you have for a "thinline" acoustic-electric guitar. Most of the good options are going to dig deep into your wallet. Taylor makes a new model called the "T5" that is a thinline acoustic that also has pickups in the body so it plays like and electric also. The cheap end of that one will be around $1800.



My suggestion as for what you should look at would be to do a google search for the Epiphone Chet Atkins SST Acoustic Electric. Several site sell these for around $400. If you aren't affraid of Ebay, I would suggest checking there also. That guitar is a thin body acoustic electric that has pretty descent sound for what your paying. It is available in a black finish. It is made mainly to be played either thru an amlifier or a sound system. Unplugged, the guitar isn't really much of an acoustic guitar due to the thin body and no sound hole. Gibosn makes the nicer version of this same guitar that has been used by many artist for years, but again...well over $1000.



Sorry for the long post, but just trying to give you the best info I can. Having bought and sold many guitars over 20 years now, I've learned to research and test before I drop my change on a guitar. If you would like any other info, feel free to email me at [email protected]



Chris

 

[Fudged Undies]

Thanks all for the info. Can't take him as he's in orlando and he made the request. Doesn't seem he's done much research which kinda frustrates me since I kinda have to do the leg work. I'm thinking I may change my plan of attack and make him do the leg work.



Rich L, For the most part, I have no knowledge of guitars, hence my pathentic explanations. I appreciate the clarification though.



Christopher, will have to take a look.



Thus far the ovation that Gccst mentioned is what I have seen for (what I consider) a reasonble price since this is a gift. May not be thin bodied but hey ya can't have it all.



thanks again.

 

[Fudged Undies]

Agreed, Scott. I've already made that decision and will stick to it. I wasn't happy about doing the purchase on my own knowledge but thought I might as well try it. Needless to say, he's doing the legwork.

 

[Shawn Hennessy]

If he wants to learn to play, I would recommend starting on a full electric -- the strings have less tension and it is easier on the fingers when you aren't used to it.

Actually, being a instructor, I recommend people start on an acoustic. Heavier gauge strings, longer neck scale, etc. all lead to developing finger strength and callouses. This is a foundational building block to learning to play.



When a novice sets their sights on a guitar based on asthetics rather than playability and sound, I cringe. More often than not, these guitar purchases grow sour very quick and the budding guitarist gives up. If the guitar is fitted to them, (neck shape, diameter, string hight off the neck, etc.) then they will have an instrument that will be hard to put down.



I would get your budding guitarist paired up with a good instructor who is not affiliated with Guitar Center (the used car dealer of guitars) and take them out to several guitar stores to find the right fit (and sound). Once they find a few to choose from, start talking features such as pick-ups (which can be added to any acoustic which doesn't already have one), colors, shapes, etc.



This process takes time. It will be money well spent and the new guitarist will become well educated as to what makes a guitar good (the player).

 

[Adam Shirley]

Right on Dive Trac. Definately learn on an acoustic. A cheap one at that. The harder the strings are to press, the quicker you strengthen your fingers and toughen the tips. Makes playing anything else a breeze.



Spaceman, I had a black Takamine G-Series electric/acoustic. Beautiful! It was easy to play and sounded amazing. I got it for around $500 at a small guitar shop. You can find Takamine online. They make really great guitars. If you get the handmade, expect to spend over a grand, but the type I got was exactly the same except for the manufacturer, and much cheaper. I would Highly reccommend this Guitar.



The US postal service shattered it into splinters along with a $200 "indestructable" hard case somewhere between Hawaii and Okinawa Japan, where I would be for seven months. They must have ran it over with the airplane. I had it sent to myself to keep it from getting destroyed in military storage till I returned. Luckily I had it insured, and after about a year, the postal service payed up. With the insurance money, I bought a $100 Spencer acoustic and a Yakima roof rack system for the Trac.

Adam

 

[Richard L]

I agree with DiveTrac.

It's more important to buy a guitar that fits the player, especially the size, shape and width of the neck and the height of the strings above the frets and fingerboard. If the player has big hands and fingers, they would probably be more comfortable with a wider, thicker neck. If the neck is too small, the strings are too close together for some people to play well. The opposite holds true for people with small hands prefer narrower, thinner necks.



Another tip for new players is to use flat-wound strings (used more often on electric guitars). They are much easier on your finger tips, with or without callouses.



...Rich

 

[Jim Reeves]

Here is an Ovation Celebrity. It is acoustic-electric. That means you can play it unplugged while you save up to buy an amp. It has a shallow bowl.( Which means it's fairly thin-bodied). It has a cut-away, and decent sound when plugged in. 1 11/16" nut so the fret board is not too wide. It is imported, but it is a decent guitar, especially plugged in. It comes in black. It can be had for under $300. It is kinda cool looking, so a younger person would like it. If you add about $600 to that, you can get a US Made Standard Elite LX 6778 that is a wonderful guitar. The important thing is to get as much guitar as you can afford. Lots of people say "get something cheap, that way if they don't continue to play you are not out much". Actually, a cheap guitar makes it more likely you won't keep playing, because it makes it too hard to learn.( Strings too hard to fret, won't stay in tune, etc). Also, it will be more likely that you can turn around and sell it if it is a decent guitar, rather than a cheap one.

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[Richard L]

A bit of a change in the subject, but still related to guitars.



Has anyone purchased or played one of those Estiban guitars sold on one of the TV Shopping Networks. Estiban is the guy who dresses up in black like Zorro, but is a very good guitar player.



The guitars only cost about $100 but they claim they are valued at $500. I doubt that a $100 guitar would be worth buying, but I am curious to know if anyone has one or has seen and played one, and what your opinions are?



...Rich