Should I Start On An Acoustic Or An Electric Guitar?

The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to play an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. For some reason, a lot of people think they should or need to start on an acoustic guitar first. The truth is, you should get a guitar based on the type of music that you are most excited about playing. Do you want to play Jimi Hendrix’s version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”? It might sound kind of silly on an acoustic guitar. If you love that distortion sound and want to play songs by Metallica, AC/DC, or Led Zeppelin, then an electric guitar is definitely for you. But if you are more interested in grooving to some Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, James Taylor, or Taylor Swift, an acoustic guitar is probably best.

Obviously, there are many different styles of music that one person could like. That is the beauty of the guitar! You can absolutely play rock, pop, jazz, blues, or folk on either an acoustic or an electric, but more than likely, there is a specific sound you prefer. Some people really like the mellow, beautiful tones of an acoustic guitar. While others get a big smile on their face when they plug in that electric guitar and turn up the volume. Not sure which type of guitar you like better? Feel free to come into our shop and we will be more than happy to demonstrate both for you.

*Acoustic-Electric Guitars: Yes, there is such a thing as an acoustic-electric guitar, but it may not be what you think it is. It isn’t an acoustic and an electric guitar combined into one, giving you the best of both worlds. Instead, this type of guitar is an acoustic guitar that has electronics which will allow you to plug the guitar into an amplifier in order to make its acoustic sound louder. It does not have any of the qualities or sounds of a true electric guitar. It plays like an acoustic and sounds like an acoustic. We would not typically recommend this guitar to beginners. The electronics add to the cost of the guitar and you would be better off using that money to get a better quality traditional acoustic guitar. If you are not working within a budget, there is nothing wrong with learning on a better quality acoustic-electric, but as a beginner, you should never sacrifice quality in order to get this added feature.

Some Basics On Choosing Your First Guitar

>  You want to learn on the best quality guitar that you can afford.
 

>  Search for a guitar that plays and feels comfortable and stays in tune. Remember, good action and good intonation are more important than types of wood or pickups.
 

>  Don’t get too caught up in brand names. Consider the added features that a brand name guitar may offer, but don’t let it be the only factor.
 

>  Educate yourself the best you can. There are a lot of good reputable guitars shops to go to that have good salesmen. Don’t be afraid to touch the guitars, listen to the guitars, make the salesman demonstrate the guitars and ask questions! It doesn’t matter if you are just a beginner or have never played before. We are here to help!
 

>  Have fun!

How Much Should I Spend On A Beginner Guitar?

"I don't want to spend too much money because I don't know if he will stick with it."

Sound familiar? Every day we have parents looking to buy a guitar for their son or daughter, and every day we hear this statement. You may be surprised, but the more worried you are about your child or yourself giving up on the guitar, the more you should actually spend on the guitar. There is a story about Bruce Springsteen’s mother buying him his first guitar from a pawnshop for $50. It was of such poor quality that it wouldn’t stay in tune and would make his fingers bleed because the metal frets were so sharp. Unfortunately, it was all his mother could afford. Obviously, Springsteen had the determination and dedication to learn the guitar no matter what, so he stuck with it. Unless you have the next Bruce Springsteen on your hands, your son or daughter has a much better chance of sticking with the guitar if he or she is learning on a good quality instrument. You don’t want a cheap guitar that is uncomfortable to play or that won’t stay in tune. To a certain degree, it would be accurate to say that the better your guitar is, the easier it is to learn.

That being said, a good guitar does not have to be expensive. Guitars start around $100 and go well into the thousands. You can buy a good quality beginner guitar for about $200. For around $300-$400 you can get a fantastic guitar to learn on. That doesn’t mean someone can’t learn on a $100 guitar, but some of the features and the better quality that come with a nicer guitar definitely make for a much better learning experience. A general rule of thumb that is good to follow is to buy the nicest guitar you can afford.

Should I Buy New Or Used?

There is nothing wrong with purchasing a used guitar to learn on. You can often find very good deals this way. However, it is very important that you are cautious about who you are buying from and be sure to do as much research as you can on the specific guitar you are buying.

Ideally, you want to purchase any used gear from a reputable guitar shop. You will know what you are getting, it should be in good condition, and if you have any problems with it you have somewhere to take it back to. Unfortunately, a lot of the used guitars you will find in reputable guitar shops are usually better quality guitars that are most likely out of your beginner price range. This is due to two things: 1) There aren’t a lot of good quality used beginner guitars available that are in good playing condition. We have to turn away a lot of people that bring in entry-level guitars to sell due to poor condition. Many beginners just do not take proper care of their instruments. 2) Any used, affordable, entry-level guitars in good condition that we do get, are sold very quickly. These guitars are available, but can be hard to find.

If you are going to buy a second hand guitar from a source other than an established guitar shop, there are a few things you should be looking for. First, is the guitar in good playing condition? Be sure to inspect it. How is the action? Is it too high or too low? Is there any buzzing? How is the neck? Is it straight? Is the truss rod working properly? What condition is the wood in? Is it separating anywhere or is the bridge pulling up at all? Are there any cracks? Small cracks can turn into big cracks very easily. If it is an electric, are the electronics all working properly? If you don’t know what you are looking for, bring along a friend who does. If you are purchasing online and cannot inspect the guitar, be very careful and be sure the seller will allow you return the guitar if you are not satisfied. Look at as many photos as you can. Personally talk to the seller, if you can, so he can give you a detailed description of the guitar and the condition it is in. You don’t want any surprises once you receive the guitar. We have seen many guitars that were bought on ebay and brought in for repair because they were not in good playing condition.

Secondly, know what you are buying! You know what they say, “If it’s too good to be true, it is!” Unfortunately, counterfeit and fake guitars are rampant nowadays on craigslist and ebay. You are not going to find an American Gibson that is worth thousands for $500. Not a real one anyways. You can absolutely find good deals out there on used guitars, but you need to educate yourself and know what you are doing.

Should I Start On An Acoustic Or An Electric Guitar?

The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to play an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. For some reason, a lot of people think they should or need to start on an acoustic guitar first. The truth is, you should get a guitar based on the type of music that you are most excited about playing. Do you want to play Jimi Hendrix’s version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”? It might sound kind of silly on an acoustic guitar. If you love that distortion sound and want to play songs by Metallica, AC/DC, or Led Zeppelin, then an electric guitar is definitely for you. But if you are more interested in grooving to some Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, James Taylor, or Taylor Swift, an acoustic guitar is probably best.

Obviously, there are many different styles of music that one person could like. That is the beauty of the guitar! You can absolutely play rock, pop, jazz, blues, or folk on either an acoustic or an electric, but more than likely, there is a specific sound you prefer. Some people really like the mellow, beautiful tones of an acoustic guitar. While others get a big smile on their face when they plug in that electric guitar and turn up the volume. Not sure which type of guitar you like better? Feel free to come into our shop and we will be more than happy to demonstrate both for you.

*Acoustic-Electric Guitars: Yes, there is such a thing as an acoustic-electric guitar, but it may not be what you think it is. It isn’t an acoustic and an electric guitar combined into one, giving you the best of both worlds. Instead, this type of guitar is an acoustic guitar that has electronics which allow you to plug the guitar into an amplifier in order to make its acoustic sound louder. It does not have any of the qualities or sounds of a true electric guitar. It plays like an acoustic and sounds like an acoustic. We would not typically recommend this guitar to beginners. The electronics add to the cost of the guitar and you would be better off using that money to get a better quality traditional acoustic guitar. If you are not working within a budget, there is nothing wrong with learning on a better quality acoustic-electric, but as a beginner, you should never sacrifice quality in order to get this added feature.

What Should I Look For In A Good Beginner Guitar?

Everything from the type of wood, the parts and hardware that are used, where it is made, and the brand name can affect the price and quality of a guitar. Here we have provided some of the basics that should give you a better understanding of the instrument and will hopefully help in deciding which guitar is best for you. As always, if you have the opportunity, we invite you to come into our store for some hands on guitar education. We can you show you several different guitars over a range of prices and point out some of these differences.