Need help with acoustic guitar?
 

I'm looking for an acoustic guitar but since this will be my first ever guitar, I'm not entirely sure what to look for. What are some key features I should look for when I'm choosing this guitar?

(p.s I sing and my singing lessons place is connected to a music shop with a bunch of guitars in it, so are there any specific brands I should look for...or...?)

thanks :) :band:

The only real concerns that you need to be aware of when purchasing your first guitar is that it stays in tune and has a straight neck. Everything else is irrelevant.

Your first instrument is meant to learn how to play the instrument, it's not meant to last you forever and be your one and only. Besides, once you've learned the basics with a low quality learner instrument you'll be much better prepared to find yourself a quality instrument that will be able to properly accentuate your abilities.

You should get a guitar with really high action (distance from the strings to the fretboard) and some really thick strings. This will train your fingers as well as callous them up nicely.

You want a difficult instrument at first so that any decent guitar you get in the future will be simple to play. At least that's how I see it.

Look down the neck, if you see bowing (neck's not straight), keep looking. Also make sure it's tuned, then play a low E, and play the high E at the 12th fret. If you hear any warble in the tuning, then the intonation is off. Also play EVERY note on each string going up the neck to check for fret buzz.

These are just general tips that I follow although one could go into greater depth, but I aint no expert, I just love to play.

I just helped a friend pick out a guitar for their son, although not his first guitar, but his first acoustic. I met up with him at GuitarCenter and played several but found this one to have the best sound, and intonation for the money. Not real sure on the electronics since I didn't plug it in, but Ibanez aint too bad as far as bang for buck goes.

Ibanez IBANEZ V70CETBS-B B STOCK V SER AE NO WARRANTY | GuitarCenter

No, thats stupid. All that will achieve is turning someone away from the instrument.

No way, that's crazy advice. You want a guitar with low action. How thick the strings are is a personal preference - as you learn to play the guitar, you will know what size strings are best for you.

Any instrument becomes simpler to play only if you practice regularly. The worst thing you can do is make it hard to practice in the first place, which is why a high action guitar is a terrible idea.

Well, I rescind my comment, then. I started on a crappy guitar with god-awful action and thick strings. What works for me may not work for others. I was just thinking in terms of getting that early build of your finger muscles on a cheapy guitar so you could rock out on an expensive one.

Maybe I'm just crazy then :)

It didn't turn me away from it. If anything, it made me want to play more. Maybe I just dig the fact that pain means progress.

Good for you. Its still stupid advice.

Except that pain could also mean your wrists are seizing up and you're causing yourself all sorts of carpal tunnel problems. If you think that learning how to manhandle the strings on a super high action guitar is going to make you somehow more proficient on a properly setup low action guitar, you're setting yourself up for a harsh surprise.

It's one thing to challenge yourself by trying to learn a technically demanding piece right off the bat as your first tune (like Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix). It's a whole other thing to try learning to play on, what is essentially, a broken instrument.

The ONLY time you should be considering a really high action guitar is if you want to be all like Ben Harper and playing slide guitar exclusively. Otherwise you're just developing a bunch of bad habits to compensate for a bad instrument.

Again - the only concerns for a beginner guitar are - it stays in tune and it has a straight neck.

You smell stupid.

Jealous?

Not really, no.

Either way, I regret nothing.

Hmm, agree and disagree with you there. So far as high action and big chunky strings are concerned I would say that is wrong. However, starting on an acoustic with steel strings and a mid-heavy gauge is quite a common thing. I personally would say there are benefits to both this and jumping in with an electric. Starting out on an acoustic with heavy gauge does make it more difficult initially, but it DOES strengthen your fingers up very quickly, IF you're doing the correct things with it. Going over scales and the like. This is what I've seen in people who I know and also people I have taught.

When you're starting to play you aren't doing anything too intricate that requires use of anything beyond the 12th Fret, so you don't really require an electric. In using an acoustic initially you can strengthen your fingers and get the basics down, basics which you can do on either guitar. Generally people who I have taught on acoustic initially transfer well to electric because electrics have easier fretting than acoustic. You're saving money on leads and amps as well in the scenario that you dont continue your interest with the guitar. I wouldn't advise either way, the most important things when buying a guitar are that, number 1, you like how it looks and how it feels!! Should have a straight neck. check all the frets for buzzing. Check the intonation, like someone else mentioned previously, if its off on an acoustic, do no buy it. If its off on an electric and you really like it get the dealer to fix it BEFORE you buy it. check for dents and scratches. Check that the strap bolts are fixed properly. Check the condition on the machine heads. if its an electric check all the pickups work! Thats all I can tihnk of at the moment... :P Hope this helps

Im not saying it isnt bad advice. I got stuck with crappy guitar with really high action and thick strings. It was discouraging and caused me to give up sometimes because it was so hard. But I kept picking it back up, i still have the guitar and still have trouble forming some chords on it, but every time i pick up another guitar I can form those tricky chords with ease. So in a way he's right, but I wouldn't recommend taking his advice. Starting outs with a guitar like that isn't going to really give you any benefit, maybe a little extra finger strength.

Anyway, I'm looking to pick up a new acoustic-electric guitar. My budget is 200-500, can anyone make some recommendations?