The Instrument Recommendation thread

[mr dave]

Originally Posted by B0TCH

Hello, I am new to this forum, in case you haven't looked at my post count, and I am going out today or soon, in the hopes of getting a new guitar. By new, I mean my first guitar, and by guitar, I mean cheap acoustic thing to learn on. Unfortunately I am seriously underfunded and have little more than $120. Even more unfortunate, $75 of that is for Best Buy. This doesn't bother me, since Best Buy stocks acoustic instruments, but I still have NO idea where to start. My question, could you rate this guitar as good or bad for a TOTAL newbie? If anything is negative about it, what should I get instead? I know, I have limited resources, but I really just want something to start with.

IDEALLY, I want something that I can play OLD Jimmy Eat World songs on, which are closer to punk (but a lot of them would sound good acoustic and slower I think). Anything from Smashing Pumpkins, Armor for Sleep, or even Nirvana would be awesome . I don't want "optimal" sound or anything, like I said, I just want to have SOMETHING that can play those songs, but I know very little about guitars and don't know how selective they are.

If you managed to read ALL that (or not), here are the specs:

Maestro by Gibson - 6-String Full-Size Acoustic Guitar
Full-size body
Black-finished spruce top with mahogany back and sides for full, deep bass and midrange tones
Steel strings for bright tone and easy playability
Rosewood fingerboard for solid feel and easy playing
Die-cast tuning machines for stability and accurate tuning
Guitar strap, picks, extra strings and DVD included

Not concerned about the DVD, I plan on using youtube and internet tutorials a lot anyways (and of course this site!) but I guess it could help. Sound good?

THANKS A MILLION GUYS !

it might be too late for you but for anyone else reading this.

WHY would you go to an ELECTRONICS store to buy a musical instrument? it's like deciding to buy a tv from the grocery store.

sorry if this seems harsh but your on the verge of suckering yourself. from the sound of things you can't afford an instrument yet. what do you mean by $75 of the $120-ish is for Best Buy? like a gift certificate? if that's the case pick up a video game or something else you'd normally buy at BB. or sell it to a friend or relative for cash value. i'm sorry if this seems harsh but in reality if you spend $100 or less on a guitar you're getting leftovers and trash from a bigger factory. save up a little more and don't rush and you'll end up a happier musician in the long run.

as for the actual specs?

Maestro made by Gibson doesn't really mean anything but it's hoping people will associate it with the big G. all it really means is they're distributed through Gibson.

Full-size body - OK. about as much of a feature as noting a trunk on a sedan.

Black-finished spruce top with mahogany back and sides for full, deep bass and midrange tones - when an acoustic guitar is painted in a solid finish you really need to wonder WHY they chose to cover up the wood.

Steel strings for bright tone and easy playability - this new car comes with FOUR tires.

Rosewood fingerboard for solid feel and easy playing - standard on beginner level gear

Die-cast tuning machines for stability and accurate tuning - about as informative as saying 'these ice cubes were made in a tray'.

Guitar strap, picks, extra strings and DVD included - filler. $5, 0.50$, $5-10, and $10. if you bought separately.

i've always gotten at least a free strap or cable when buying a guitar, you never know depending on the place you might even score a free lesson since it's your first.

ultimately the ONLY thing your first instrument really needs to do is - stay in tune. you're FAR more likely to score an instrument that can do that in a music store than any department store. there are plenty of cheap Yamaha and Samick acoustics out there (around the $200 price point).