Guitar Questions?

jeanniebeanie_2

Mr_Toad wrote: »

When I bought my Gibson Les Paul I tried about 30 before I found the one that felt like mine. All the others looked the same but all were different weights, it depends on the wood density, and all sounded different and had slightly different neck profiles.

DH is (and was when I met him) a lead guitarist and many moons ago I spent our wedding fund on his dream guitar, a black Gibson Les Paul as a birthday surprise. Before internet, I ordered it over the phone, from a London dealer. Not being a musician I never knew how risky that was and when he was dumbstruck on receiving it I presumed it was delight, in fact it was shocked concern!

Luckily, it is a magical specimen apparently which he still has and all his musician friends envy, but it could all have gone very wrong! Take the advice to try!

aliasojo

dancingfairy wrote: »

Could the tutor recommend any shops to go to? Any that sell second hand instruments?
Is she learning through school? Do they have an instrument hire scheme through the county?
df

Actually she's going to ask her music teacher in school today if he knows of anywhere.

Technically she does learn through school but it's not part of the curriculum or with the regular music teacher. It's paid for lessons with someone who comes into the school at certain times specifically to teach guitar to a small group.

Lunar_Eclipse

My daughter has a Fender acoustic guitar (she also plays electric.) It was always the brand I would naturally choose, irrationally perhaps because I'd never consider Hoover for a vaccumn cleaner! I love it.

We also have another Fender and a Yamaha in the house. All play beautifully and beat anything with 100% nylon strings (I think DD's is 50/50 if that sounds plausible.)

My dad has a much more expensive guitar, chosen after several hours in a very highly regarded guitar shop where prices started at around £250 with brand names I don't recognise. It is stunning to look at, but to a beginner player or novice ear, the difference isn't that obvious to our cheaper models (c£100 on sale). I think it keeps in tune for longer, but he has said he prefers playing our guitars (it's mainly to do with reach of aging fingers.)

Mr_Toad

jeanniebeanie wrote: »

DH is (and was when I met him) a lead guitarist and many moons ago I spent our wedding fund on his dream guitar, a black Gibson Les Paul as a birthday surprise. Before internet, I ordered it over the phone, from a London dealer. Not being a musician I never knew how risky that was and when he was dumbstruck on receiving it I presumed it was delight, in fact it was shocked concern!

Luckily, it is a magical specimen apparently which he still has and all his musician friends envy, but it could all have gone very wrong! Take the advice to try!

What a wonderful woman you are :T an angel in fact :A

Have you considered divorce and remarriage

I played loads and no two were alike. They had different neck profiles, actions and tone. Some had unbelievable sustain, you could play a note on Tuesday and it'd still be ringing out on Friday but those were made of really dense wood and weighed a ton. I wouldn't have wanted it hanging round my neck for long.

He's a very lucky man.

GlynD

I've played Fender all my life, except for when I was in my early teens and couldn't afford one. I've seen one or two on here put them down because they are a large company but I've always thought you could say the same about Gibson, Guild, etc. I feel that Fender guitars have a more comfortable neck and a brighter sound, whether solid body or accoustic.

I'd caution against damning nylon strings. Guitars strung this way are designed for a different discipline so can't really be compared like-for-like against steel strung accoustics.

Lunar_Eclipse

Yep, the Fenders are everyone's favourites in our house. I agree with your comment about a brighter sound.

Mr_Toad

aliasojo wrote: »

Actually she's going to ask her music teacher in school today if he knows of anywhere.

Technically she does learn through school but it's not part of the curriculum or with the regular music teacher. It's paid for lessons with someone who comes into the school at certain times specifically to teach guitar to a small group.

A great idea.

I know she's young but if she takes to it then finding the right guitar is like finding the right partner. If you get the right one it will last a lifetime and when your gone will probably be someone else's perfect partner too.

Some people never find their perfect match others buy a guitar and never play another, that's the one you want and cost or brand don't come into it.

GlynD

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Yep, the Fenders are everyone's favourites in our house. I agree with your comment about a brighter sound.

I played Jaguar 85721 for 30 years. Sold it when I gave up playing professionally.

jeanniebeanie_2

Mr_Toad wrote: »

What a wonderful woman you are :T an angel in fact :A

Have you considered divorce and remarriage

I played loads and no two were alike. They had different neck profiles, actions and tone. Some had unbelievable sustain, you could play a note on Tuesday and it'd still be ringing out on Friday but those were made of really dense wood and weighed a ton. I wouldn't have wanted it hanging round my neck for long.

He's a very lucky man.

Wow! Thank you kind sir!! I must show him your post! :rotfl:

Weight is an issue these days on the Les Paul, so latest addition to the family is a vintage PRS. He has Fenders too and a couple he built himself as well as semi-acoustics, acoustics and mandolins but the PRS is the one of the moment. Playing live, the Les Paul only features occasionally now. It would take him a week to recover otherwise!

andygb

aliasojo wrote: »

Actually she's going to ask her music teacher in school today if he knows of anywhere.

Technically she does learn through school but it's not part of the curriculum or with the regular music teacher. It's paid for lessons with someone who comes into the school at certain times specifically to teach guitar to a small group.

If you live anywhere near London (or fancy a trip there), then I would recommend going to the area off the Charing Cross Road/Tottenham Court Road/Shaftesbury Avenue, because there are loads of music shops with thousands of guitars, both new and old.
I bought a S/H Squier Strat off Ebay a couple of years ago for £40, put a new set of Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings in, adjusted the action and it plays really well.
I would also recommend Yamaha, Fender and Ovation acoustic guitars, particularly the Yamaha which are great VFM.