Guitar help
Dec. 15th, 2004 02:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sereneorangeI want to buy Connor a starting guitar. He is 5 ft tall and his hands
are about the size of an adult woman's.
I was looking at a web site
and saw two possible one's and want the imput of anyone who knows anything
about guitars.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/s=acoustic/search/detail/base_pid/511192/
and
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/s=acoustic/search/detail/base_pid/519266/
are
the one's I was looking at, but would welcome any advice. Comment here or
even better, email me at marilyn.gerber @ gmail.com
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-15 08:57 pm (UTC)The first one is probably your best bet because it has more of a standard body shape. Rogue, however, isn't exactly the best guitar in the world...they definately aren't known for making quality guitars. It's likely to have very bad action (amount of space between the strings and the fretboard) and in my experience, a dry fretboard. I would suggest maybe this Epiphone instead:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/s=acoustic/search/detail/base_pid/518681/
It's the same body type and a some-what better manufacturer for about $30.00 more. If you can avoid it, try to not buy Rogue or Squier guitars...they're very poorly made.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-15 09:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-15 09:23 pm (UTC)My advice? Everything
Actually, I'll add this: while a Rogue certainly isn't a "top-line" instrument, low-end models tend to be of better quality these days then when I started playing. Squiers, while --- again --- not as well-built as a $900 Fender, is a perfectly adequate guitar for starting out.
Most beginning players have some trouble pressing down on the strings hard enough, before their fingertips get used to the sensation. If the action is too high, then a reputable music store should be able to lower it for a reasonable fee.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-15 09:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-15 09:40 pm (UTC)hes growing, and its best to learn on a fullsize fretboard.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 03:32 am (UTC)I've played guitar for 25 years, so yeah, I might know something.
I'm 5-feet tall with small hands so I suspect Connor's hands are roughly the same size as mine. He could probably start on an adult sized guitar and not one of the smaller "kiddie" ones. I would recommend it because the switch for me to a big guitar was almost like starting all over again.
I also assume Connor wants to play regular acoustic guitar and we're not talking about Spanish/Classical, right? Because Spanish/Classical has a wider fretboard and might kill someone with small hands.
Looking at the choices you listed, they both look good. Personally I wouldn't want a guitar I wasn't able to touch and feel and play for a while, but that's because I'm an elitist swine. You don't want to pay too much for a guitar if Connor ends up not cottoning to it, and if he does, you can always go to a more professional one later on.
Also don't forget that, especially with a young boy, those strings are gonna break and break often. I used to pay about $7.50 for a set of 6 ball-end (haw haw) strings which I strung myself, but to get them strung at the guitar shop was another $5.00 or so. My D and G strings (haw haw) broke the most often, and music shops often sell a single string instead of a whole set. Then if he plays often, the whole set will need to be replaced every few months.
Finally, as for maintenance, my first acoustic was a lot like the first choice you have on the list. A cheapie guitar case was invaluable, and kept me from banging the poor thing up, because I was a clutz when I was a kid. I polished my guitar with Pledge (none of the fancy music store stuff). For tuning he will probably need a tuning pipe (I just replaced my long-lost tuning pipe for $10.00) if you don't have a keyboard or piano at home, and he may need a metronome (also bought a tiny metronome for $10.00).
My cheapie guitar also warped at the fretboard, but not for a few years, so I wouldn't worry about that repair expense.
Hope this helps and I didn't sound like a complete dork. Much.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 05:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 05:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 05:26 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 05:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 05:28 am (UTC)youre set on an acoustic?
(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 05:34 am (UTC)not classical.
Adult sized .
tension not too bad, he does have strong hands though
(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 05:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 05:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 05:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-16 05:47 am (UTC)