Some quick guitar advice please.....

godskitchen

Hello guys, i am about to buy my very first guitar, an Acoustic. I really dont know very much about guitars so have been asking friends and looking on the internet for advice, as well as asking the guy in the shop, i was all set to spend up to E400 the other day but couldnt work out if it was worth getting a one with a "Pick Up", i cant see me using it but would be kicking my self if a year down the line i wanted it.........have any of you on here had the same experience?

Also does anyone know of any shops they can recommend in Mayo?

Thanks.

Yakult

am, tbh, get a electro, I know 2 Ibanez models come with a single pick up but thats sorta pointless, unless thats what YOU want.

Are you looking for suggestions for an acoustic or just advice on the pick-up?

Voodu Child

An acoustic guitar with a pickup is known as an electro-acoustic. You can plug the guitar straight into an amplifier, PA system, recording device etc. The guitar will usually have a small preamp with controls for EQ etc

Whether you need/want an electro-acoustic just depends on what you plan on doing in terms of gigs etc.

John

R_H_C_P, the original poster wants advice on an acoustic, not to be told to get an electric guitar, please stay on topic.

Godskitchen, is the guitar just for learning and playing at home or do you intend to gig with it? A pick up in an acoustic isn't absolutely necessary, you can buy a pick up for it at a later stage or use a microphone to amplify it. There is a thread already on adding pick ups to an acoustic if you want to have a read of that and see what you think. I don't really go down the acoustic route at all so I'll step back here and let someone who knows more about the subject take the floor.

Also, this is better in the Instruments forum as opposed to Playing & Techniques & Theory *waves modstick*

EDIT: Forgot to add link to the pick up thread

Johnny Storm

I think RHCP is recommending what the OP referrred to as "one with a "Pick Up"" not an electric (although he could have made it a bit clearer)

John

Yes, re-reading it now it looks like I jumped the gun. Apologies all round gents and ladies.

godskitchen

Thanks for the quick replys guys............ i am now thinking an "electro-acoustic"/"pick up" is the way to go, as i said i am only starting out so it will just be for home use, no gigs or anything.

And yes some advice on a good guitar would be great, as i said before im looking to spend about E400, i understand that every guitar is different and even well known and respected manufactures can turn out duds......

So any names to stay away from and any to look out for? yes i really am that new to guitars! i cant remember the name of the one i was looking at, i wrote it down but cant find the paper either!

Rustar

My guitar advice: Get one. Or three. Doesn't even matter what kind, you need one of each.

I'd recommend to anyone who asked me that they get an electro-acoustic.
A.) The electronics will not effect the unamplified sound of the instrument.
B.) You're ready to go live with that skiffle band down the street at any time.
C.) Recording is made deliriously easy and you will get a consistent sound, as opposed to trying to find the right mic placement to best record it.

Rustar,
American Minister of Practical Advice

Rustar

Oops, forgot the second half.

Fender, Guild, Alvarez-Yairi, Ibanez, Takamine, and probably Yamaha these days (although I haven't played one in many years) are all world-wide brands with consistent quality. Spending 400 clams on any one of these will get you a keeper.

Kenny_D

I'd be more inclined to say get one without a pickup. Pickups add cost to the guitar so if you buy a guitar with a pickup for €400 and pay the same for a guitar with no pickup then the one with no pickup is more likely to be better acoustically. That is, it should sound better.

Also the fact that this is your first guitar I wouldnt bother with the pickup. If you dont stick with the guitar then paying for the pickup will be wasted. If you get good and decide to gig you can always add a pickup or more likely... get a better acoustic

I'd look for something that has a solid spruce top anyway. Stay away from laminated or nato tops as they dont sound as nice. Your more likely to pick up a nicer sounding instrument if the whole price of the guitar doesnt include a pickup

I started on a Yamaha acoustic with no pickup. Its an FG340 I think and about 40 years old. It sounds fantastic and I regularly play it. I also have a high end supernatural series takamine which has a pickup. I use this when practicing another musician who gigs. The amp I'm using cost €500 so unless you see yourself buying some kind of amplification system as well then the pickup isnt really necessary

Overall, ditch the pickup for now and you'll get a better guitar for learning on. You dont want something built cheaply that will hinder your learning. Ok it may have a pickup in it but you prob wont use it and meanwhile your not getting a great sound from your guitar or it plays terribly which may make you think about giving up

€400 is a lot of money to spend on a guitar and thing is that with the current prices of guitars in Ireland, your deffinitely gonna suffer sound wise by buying something in a shop in ireland which has a pickup in it. There's a friendly guy who works in the acoustic department in musicmaker in dublin if you're ever up here. He's about in his 40's and fantastic guitar player. I'd go in and have a chat with him and he should steer towards something decent. He'll spend a bit of time going through guitars with you to help you find something you're happy with. My guess is that it deffinitely would not include a pickup

Eh.... ramble over. lol

Edit: Here's some guitars I'd recommend:

http://www.thomann.de/ie/yamaha_dw9_westerngitarre.htm

http://www.thomann.de/ie/taylor_big_baby.htm

http://www.thomann.de/ie/yamaha_ll6_nt.htm

I dont think you could go wrong with the LL6. Yamaha make fantastic acoustics. It has specs that are often seen on guitars upwards of €1000. Solid spruce + rosewood back and sides that is. Also I find yamaha's very comfortable to play and start learning on. The action is usually nice and low and that LL6 should sound very nice. I was recently about to buy a second hand 12 string LL6 from japan but it was already sold when I enquired. I'll keep an eye out for them in future

Stompbox

Stay away from Harley Benton methinks.Ye be warned

steveland?

By the way godskitchen I'd recommend going into Dublin City Centre and having a wander around guitar shops.

Play a few (or just pick them up, put them on your lap and see if you like the feeling on your fingers).

If possible bring a friend who actually plays the guitar so you can hear what they sound like.

Get the model numbers of a couple you like and then go online to Thomann and order from there.

It's worth pointing out that Thomann charges a flat rate of €15 for postage or charges nothing for postage after €199 worth of buying so the postage will be free for you.

vengeance52

i was in musician inc in dublin an Picked up an Ibanez AEL 20E electro-acoustic, very nice and sounds great through an amp.

If your looking for somethin cheaper, try this Collins, good value and it was in Total Guitar magazine a while back and got great reviews.

Dord

buy the best acoustic you can for the money you have, without a pickup.

if you ever need a pickup down the road, you can always buy one and put it in.
seymour duncan make a nice pickup that fits directly into the soundhole.




oh, if you're buying one in Dublin. make sure you check out Music Maker's Acoustic Room. its upstairs and off the keyboard area. the guy who works in there is very nice and extremely knowledgable. plus they have a good selection and its very quiet.