Guitar Questions?

Ich_2

How, when she's taking advice from an instrument technician and professional guitar player of over 40 years experience?

And this is obvious where?
But fair enough you know best

aliasojo

I wish I could play.

I would very much like this one.

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/acoustic_guitars_detail.asp?stock=12121315311658



Ok, I think maybe it's best to stick to straight forward acoustic for now, no cutaways, no electro etc. There's time in the future to experiment more when she improves further.

I just need to find a quality acoustic that's preferably dark red or red/black shading in colour now. (The budget may have expanded as someone else has offered to chip in too.)

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

She really, really needs to try them out herself.

I wouldn't dream of buying a guitar without having tried it out myself first.

Even when theoretically made to the same specifications, there are some you can pick up and feel 'yes. This is mine' and some 'Nah.'.


You can usually get better quality for the same money if you go secondhand - if you try your local music shops, there could be something they use for lessons that's due up for replacement, for a start, or they may sell secondhand or know of someone who is giving up or upgrading.


Tanglewood were very good, but they began to come down in quality a couple of years ago - but Corts have improved over the same period.

The key is to find something that suits her, not the pretty one. And make sure you get a professional setup - if you go to a shop, it will likely be included in the price, if you get something online, it will be an extra. And you'd be able to bargain with straps, cases and the like.


With the place I got my bass from, they actually checked it out as it was delivered and confirmed it really didn't need a setup, but if it had (there is still variation in build quality with guitars), they would have made certain it was perfect before sale. I picked up a cheap electric guitar last week secondhand - they confirmed that there was absolutely nothing needing to be done to it.


You just don't get that sort of relationship from an online seller.


ETA: Buy a clip on chromatic tuner.

aliasojo

Thanks Jo Jo. All input appreciated.

Are there any makes that people just really wouldn't entertain?

I'd prefer to stick to the better makes but it's just another question that popped into mind.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Anything from Argos.

Not necessarily because of the brand, but because of the conditions they are likely to have been stored in.

Anything from a pawnshop.

********

I personally don't like Yamahas, purely because I find their instruments' tones a bit 'vanilla'. But that is purely my opinion. I like my instruments with a bit more growl.


Part of the thing is the type of music your daughter likes - whether she's into rock, pop, folk, jazz, metal - the style of playing, whether plectrum, fingerpicking - lots of things.


Personally, if you have the wherewithal, the difference between a £60 and a £200 guitar is phenomenal. And it's something she can use for the rest of her life.

Storage - on a stand in her room is more likely to get her playing than shutting it away in a case under her bed.


Other than that, if she can practice for 15 minutes a day, she'll learn and progress far, far more than once a week for an hour. But if she hasn't played steel strings before, it will be a little uncomfortable whilst the calluses build up. Playing little and often will help minimise that.


Oh yeah. And prepare yourself mentally for the boys. They may not be around quite yet. But they will be. And being a competent musician will make her a whole lot less susceptible to a cute lad with a guitar






If not immune :whistle:

bluenoseam

Problem with that Jojo is it could make things a bit worse, she could go for the cute drummer and no one wants that as a potential SiL! But I echo the sentiments, I wouldn't buy a guitar if I haven't personally played the model & if she's been at it a couple of years she's probably at a stage where you can spend top money safe in the knowledge it'll be played.

Think of it less as a purchase & more an investment, a good guitar will last years & give countless hours of pleasure.

aliasojo

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Personally, if you have the wherewithal, the difference between a £60 and a £200 guitar is phenomenal. And it's something she can use for the rest of her life.

Storage - on a stand in her room is more likely to get her playing than shutting it away in a case under her bed.


Other than that, if she can practice for 15 minutes a day, she'll learn and progress far, far more than once a week for an hour. But if she hasn't played steel strings before, it will be a little uncomfortable whilst the calluses build up. Playing little and often will help minimise that.

Daughter was helping pay towards a decent model with her own money but her brother has offered to help out now as well with a good amount so she's a lucky girl. With 3 of us chipping in she'll get something worthy.

Did think about a stand for that very reason.

She's been on nylon strings up till now and hasn't liked them much so is looking forward to her own steel strings (she's used someone else's guitar with steel strings from time to time).

aliasojo

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

ETA: Buy a clip on chromatic tuner.

Suggested makes? There seems to be rather a lot.

She needs to buy a Capo too...a clip on version apparently, not a tie on version.

No idea what to be looking at.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Snark. Works perfectly for guitar, bass, uke and it's easy to get the flat battery replacements (they use the 2032s that are sold in most supermarkets for about £2 for 2 Duracells).



A capo - well, anything, really. A sprung one is far easier to use whilst playing. You can probably negotiate such things in with the hard case, strap and suchlike from a proper shop.


The stand - about £18. Don't bother with the combined stand and music stand or collapsible ones. The descriptor 'collapsible' is the reason for that.


Plectrums - a selection. Round about the .46 mark is about right for guitar, but again, it's a matter of preference. They're about 60p each, so not a huge problem.


And if the budget is increasing, I'd look at the electroacoustics. You should be able to negotiate in a little practice amp & lead as well.




I'd also pop in a packet of silicon earplugs - schools never seem to concern themselves about the kids' hearing even in shows and it is never too early to start taking care of your ears. If she already has them, there's no excuse for taking risks on the first live music she sees or takes part in.




Blue - go out with a drummer? :eek: I suppose it's better than the lead singer, who tends to look all [strike]constipated[/strike] pensive and emotional.


Actually, tell her - bassists and drummers. They're vaguely reliable. And not so much prima donnaish.

Now, if only I could follow that advice......

aliasojo

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

And if the budget is increasing, I'd look at the electroacoustics. You should be able to negotiate in a little practice amp & lead as well.

I'd just started ignoring the electro's. Heck there's too much choice.

Son already has an amp and 2 very large speakers. I'm not sure I could cope. :undecided