I want to buy a guitar for my birthday. What's a good guitar? Nothing too cheap and nothing expensive. I want to play rock/classical music, not really metal and not blues.

You may want to orgnote theAudience. He would definitely know.

Vendetta1 said:

thanks!

You looking to buy acoustic or electric?

i wouldn't spend a lot to start with... as you may not stick with it

electrics are easier to play than acoustics... and with acoustics, nylon strings are a bit easier on the fingers but the neck of the guitar is often pretty wide

if you're going electric... i'd get something like a squier strat or tele to start with... and there are heaps of cool little modeling amps (vox DA5... roland microcube etc) that are enough to get you started

usedtobebliss said:

I just love you.

I just bought an Epiphone d100 at www.musiciansfriend.com for $100 and it sounds GREAT!!!! It's an acoustic but if you can handle an acoustic you should be able to handle an electric..

iinthesky85 said:

not sure yet, love the sound of the acoustic, but I like rock music...like Queen, Journey.....also like the sound of an electric.

usedtobebliss said:

The website I went to have a lot of squier guitars...the cheapest ones. I hope they sound good.

iinthesky85 said:

thanks!

usedtobebliss said:

Those pieces can be found at Guitar Center.

Congrats! It's a fun journey.

peacenlovealways said:

they're a solid starting point.... and the cool thing is... you can upgrade parts later on to improve the guitar if you want... eg pickups

here's the kind of amp i was suggesting http://guitars.musiciansf...sku=482065

i have one... cool little amp... has a few effects... a few amp models... and can also run on batteries which is great (i take mine camping etc)... i use it a bit at home when i don't want to rattle windows with my bigger tube amps


keep in mind that classical guitar is generally played on nylon string acoustics

regardless of the type of guitar you buy... you'll need to grab a tuner too

peacenlovealways said:

Watch out with a squier. They are cheap, but usually also low quality.
Check out a Fender strat or telecaster or a Gibson and compare the sounds.
If you are just getting started it's most important that it plays smoothly.

Tremolina said:

sorry... but that is ridiculous advice

to go out and buy a fender or gibson as a first guitar is a bad idea.... unless you can already play and know what you're after
a lot of people don't stick at guitar after trying to play... it's that simple

squiers aren't high end guitars... but they're a fine starting poing... there are actually certain models which are highly saught after... such as MIJ strats... and as i stated... they can be modded

i've known plenty of people who have gigged with a squier (myself included) without any problems whatsoever

intersting to know what you base your advice on... you gig?


to the op

if it's possible take someone with you that knows a bit about guitars... it's true that you don't want to come away with something that plays poorly (which i've seen with many brands... including fender and gibson)

just don't get caught up with the brand name bullshit that so many people are stuck on... remember you can always upgrade later if you find you stick at it (hopefully you do)

good luck, i hope u stick with it.



im watching this thread with much interest- i want to get the rugrat a guitar for xmas (and maybe one for me as well )

I have never played one myself, but I would definitely recommend that you try out the Yamaha Pacifica:


http://www.yamaha.com/gui...TID=600003


WHY would I recommend a guitar I have never used myself?!

Simply because in 20 years of playing guitar and reading countless guitar magazines in which thousands of different guitars are road-tested and reviewed, the Yamaha Pacifica consistently scores extremely highly and is always recommended as a well-built, playable, reliable entry-level instrument - most reviews say it performs way beyond its price-range.

I have never read a bad word about this guitar.


I see above me there are conflicting views on the Squier range - the truth is that there are some very good Squier guitars out there (I learned to play on one myself) yet there are some (in my opinion) poor ones too, so be careful of that brand. Approach with caution!

usedtobebliss said:

Nah, it's a bad advice to buy a bad guitar to begin with, just because they are cheap. I bought a Gibson as my 1st and have played it for more than 10 years. Absolutely love it and others do too (yes i gig). It has a very warm sound and plays real easy. Besides, not all of gibsons and fenders are extremely expensive.
Not saying either that all squiers suck, but in comparison they are usually not so good, including how they sound. Same can go however for strats, so that's why I adviced him to compare the sounds and make sure the guitar he buys plays smoothly.

-
[Edited 5/12/09 4:39am]

rocknrolldave said:

rocknrolldave said:

pacificas are very cool guitars... they range in quality too up to quite high end

look.. i'm no squier fanboy... honestly... i guess the point i'm trying to make is that time and time again i've heard people say they're going to take up guitar... and when things get tough they quit

these days there are loads of brands that will give you a decent starting point... you simply don't need to fork out big bucks..... do that down the track when you know it's more than a passing phase

Tremolina said:

there is a big range with squiers... starting with the bullets... and going to things like the classic vibe strat and tele which are getting rave reviews


tell you what... record something with your gibby... and i'll record something with my cheapest ($299) guitar and we'll post them here for comparison.. cool?

http://www.sweetwater.com...ws/#anchor

what about this guitar to start me off?

peacenlovealways said:

honestly... your best bet is to set yourself a budget... if it's electric you're going to choose you'll want to factor in an amp

do you know what your budget is?

usedtobebliss said:

yes...I don't really want that guitar, but the others are way up there.

I....think...I'm going to buy it.....I'm so excited!!! Anyway I chose that site, because it ships by Fedex.

The best piece of advice I could ever give you as a guitar student is:
Buy a guitar tuner and learn how to use it.


Seriously - learning how to tune your guitar and keeping it in tune is a massive part of whether you will stick with it or not. There are plenty of students out there whose playing isn't really that bad but who sound crap because they never took the time to tune up properly and develop an ear for when the guitar is out of tune.

Especially on a cheaper guitar, as one of the things you will find is that they don't stay in tune so well as the high end ones.

peacenlovealways said:

the affinty range is a step up from the bullet range

I see they have your bullet strat in daphne blue

take a look at epiphones too, I play an Epi and LOVE it

I wouldn't put a lot of stock in modding whatever you get, unless you're really into electronics and soldering and stuff. The only people I've known to mod guitars have been into it for 20 years.

usedtobebliss said:

I didn't get it yet...still thinking about paying more for something better.

peacenlovealways said:

if i was going squier... i'd at least go to their affinity range
http://www.sweetwater.com...ratAffRMB/



or standard if you want to spend a little more http://www.sweetwater.com...ratSSRCSB/

or more asgain... the classic vibe series
http://www.sweetwater.com...ratCV60SB/


as stated... epiphone waould also be a solid first choice

I hope I'm not too late, but I have different advice.

Do NOT buy a cheap guitar! Spend another $100 - $200 and buy a GOOD guitar. Here's why/how:

1. Go to a guitar store. Guitar Center is fine, or find a local shop that's big enough to offer a decent selection.
2. Tell 'em what music you want to learn.
3. Tell 'em you want a med-to-high quality guitar.
4. Tell 'em to set it up to make it as easy to play as possible
5. This means they should re-string it with .08 or .09 gauge strings (thin strings that are easier to play)
6. This also means they should adjust the string height so that the strings are as close to the neck, but don't rattle/ buzz when played
7. Buy some Finger Ease. It's a spray lubricant that - again - makes it easier to play the string. Easy is better!
8. Finally, you want to buy a GOOD, not CHEAP, guitar for two reasons: (A) if you like playing guitar, then you don't have to spend more money to upgrade - you're already there; and/ or (B) ifyou don't like playing, you can sell it and get most of your money back. You can't do that with a cheap guitar.

Hope this helps and is timely!

8. Finally, you want to buy a GOOD guitar for two