Buying a guitar - advice

Bog Butter

I would like to buy an acoustic guitar. I am a total newbie though so I was hoping someone could give me some advice. What is the best guitar to go for? How much should I expect to bay? Advice apreciated, thanks!

Dord

The best guitar is the one that fits in your budget and does what you want.

So, what's your budget and what type of music are you looking to play? Will you be playing live/recording or just messing around at home? or maybe all of the above?

Bog Butter

Thanks for the reply. Just messing around at home you could say. I intend to get lessons and I would be looking to play singer songwriter type of music. As for buget, well I would probably be looking for something in the range of 100 -200 euro.

Lurcher

Fairly tight budget but you should be able to find one of the Cort Earth series in that. They seem to be particularly good value. Yamaha axoustics are also quite well respected. I have an Oakman that was above that price a while ago but it was one of their best with internal electrics. I'm pretty sure most of their range is within your budget.

claiva

Hi Op,
I got a Walden guitar with a solid top within a similar price range. Nice little guitar. have to say though the Cort guitars are really nice aswell. Go into Music Maker in Dublin and have a look at Waldens. McCullough Piggots have Corts aswell.

I know its really hard to try and pick a guuitar when you have no clue - that was me last year.
Just make sure the neck is not too fat for your hands and get something with a nice tone - something with a solid top should do the trick.

If you are a real novice, try to bring someone who plays with you for advice.

Good luck

lalee17

Just some advice OP- the cheaper the guitar you buy, the harder it'll be to play and get into it. I don't recommend SX acoustic guitars, they're awful.

Bog Butter

Thank for the advice. I checked out guitars today. The laminated ones seem to be the cheapiest but the sound wouldn't be as good i'm told. Would Dublin be the place for best value? What do you make of this shop in Navan?:

http://www.themusicbox.ie/index.php

lalee17

From the site you've given- http://www.themusicbox.ie/index.php?groups=57&sub=58&product=157&lang=2 it's slightly over your budget but Tanglewood are a great make for beginners.

Bog Butter

I think i'll strech to 300. I'm thinking now I should buy a fairly decent one; one that I can have for a long time and not grow out of.

spoonbadger

I'd recomend trying to find one of these...

http://www.projectmusic.net/aria-amb-40-3468-p.asp

It's an aria amb-40. It's got a maple top, with fiber-glass back and sides but it sounds incredible for the price. I bought one two and a half years ago, and have yet to find a more comfortable feeling acoustic . Also, it's got a cutaway for better upper fret access, and it's got a preamp built in (ie. and electroacoustic) so you can play it through an amp. Looks smexy too .

Lands Leaving

If you can stretch to it, the takamine g-series guitars are brilliant, they sound far better than their price suggests. I think you'd get one around 300, but someone else can clarify. I got one as my first steel string and have absolutely no interest in 'upgrading' it, sounds perfect to me! Easy to play too

Bog Butter

Yes I was looking at takamine today actually for around 300.

Lands Leaving

Go for it, if you like when you try it of course! I couldn't recommend it highly enough

mamablue

I've been doing lot of research on this, I wanted an all solid wood guitar with a nice bassy mellow tone and ended up getting a lovely lefty Tanglewood.
I'm really feeling the love for this guitar . You should be able to find one online for around 350£, which is over your budget but will get you a solid wood guitar you'll have for ever.
For something a bit brighter and more affordable, this Yamaha is a fabulous guitar for the money, sounds as good as a guitar two or three time the price.

I got mine in xmusic as they have been consistently friendly and helpfull and gave me a good deal, which can not be said of the other musicshops.

If you're getting your guitar in a bricks and mortar shop ask for lots of freebies: a case, a tuner, a capo, strings...

I hope you find one you like and be prepared for your fingers to hurt for a while!

rgjmce

personally if you stretch to 300, i would go for a arth & luthrie ceder, they sound amazing, lovely and warm, as good as something 3 times the price

nato888

As a guitar player of many many years... my advice is go out buy a a cheap one (60 euro) practice and become decent! Then reward yourself with a quility guitar!

Bog Butter

Many thanks for all the advice. I just went out a got myself a Art and Lutherie CW Spruce Cedar in the Sound Shop in Drogheda for 296 euros. I think I did well.