Acoustic Beginner Guitar Tips and Advice

Posted on May 27, 2008
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by Brandon Axelburg

There are several things to remember when you’re out searching for your first acoustic beginner guitar. First of all, you want the very best guitar your money can buy. The value of an easier-to-play, high quality instrument will be clearly seen in both its tone and its responsiveness to the touch.

If you’re looking for a high-end acoustic beginner guitar, an excellent choice is the Seagull S6, costing about $400-$500. It may be more expensive than what most beginners are prepared to pay, but it is an exceptional guitar for the price. Even professionals often keep their Seagull S6 after they’ve purchased many other guitars. Another good high-end acoustic beginner guitar is the Washburn D10S. Acoustic Guitar magazine voted it #1 for guitars under $500. Most people looking in this price range will end up choosing the Washburn or the Seagull.

Excellent choices if you want to spend a bit less include Yamahas F310, Takamines G-240 and Fenders DG7. For a rock-bottom price in an acoustic beginner guitar, you will want to look at Epiphones DR-100. You will have to switch to a more advanced instrument down the road, since its only meant for rookies, but you’ll get a really good buy for somewhere between $120 and $150.

Even if you are on a budget, you should try to avoid buying the under $100 guitars you can find at local discount stores. Surprisingly, a cheap, low quality acoustic beginner guitar is actually considered harder to play even by more experienced guitar players. The explanation for this has to do with the fact that they are cheaply made with an overly high action, which means there is too much space between the strings and the fingerboard. Beginners and experts alike find this flaw frustrating.

If you were planning on spending around $100 or less, a second hand acoustic beginner guitar is a good option. One of the benefits would be the guitar having some character. Take for example, two second hand Yamaha F310’s. Try them both out as they will likely have distinctly different sounds. These sounds may even give you some insight on the personality of who owned the guitar before.

You should always avoid buying a guitar from someone who doesn’t know beans about caring for one. A guitar has to be handled like a lover (or at least a friend!). When it hasn’t been properly treated, its just never going to make great music. If an acoustic beginner guitar you’re trying feels a bit off for any reason, go on to the next one.

When you are buying your first acoustic beginner guitar you should ask the salesperson to play it for you. The person selling the guitar should understand you can not yet play the instrument but want to hear what it will sound like when you can. You never know, maybe they are helping the next great guitar player to buy their first instrument.

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