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Buying Your First Guitar.
There are countless types and models of guitar on the market so when it comes to buying your first guitar, the novice guitar player can find themselves completely bamboozled. Although it seems like your local guitar shop has so many to choose from, there are many thousands more available to you online. So for a structured approach to buying guitars, you first need to choose between an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar.
There are countless types and models of guitar on the market so when it comes to buying your first guitar, the novice guitar player can find themselves completely bamboozled. Although it seems like your local guitar shop has so many to choose from, there are many thousands more available to you online. So for a structured approach to buying guitars, you first need to choose between an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar.
If you like your heavier rock‘n’roll music or particularly like lead guitar then your choice will likely be to buy an electric guitar. And don’t worry. There is no rule that says beginners can’t start with an electric guitar. Just remember to listen to how it sounds on the type of amp you will buy.
Don’t be pressured into buying an electric guitar though. There are still some beautiful songs and sounds produced by acoustic guitars and they are much more easy to take around with you. There is nothing better than having a sweetly strummed or plucked acoustic guitar on that bush retreat.
Just as the range of guitars can seem endless, so can the range in prices. There are some well known brands and models that typify the history of the guitar such as the Gibson Les Paul or the Fender Telecaster and you will pay a lot more for these. You can however buy guitars that are copies of these original vintage guitars that are cheap to buy and provide a solid guitar experience.
As with everything in life your choice will depend on your budget and how important you feel about the choice. For the beginner guitarist, it is like buying a watch. One person may buy an expensive watch because it is a thing of beauty and impresses people. The next person buys a cheap watch because it tells the time. The same applies to guitars in your choice of a beautiful quality instrument or just one that sounds ok and lets you play.
If you’re not buying strictly according to name and known quality then your choice comes down to balance, playability, sound and look. The look is an easy one to cover off. You want a look that matches your type of music and your personal style. If you’re a big hairy guy with numerous tatoos and body piercings who thrashes out heavy metal songs then you’re not going to be happy with a lilac colored baby acoustic.
The quality of the sound from the guitar is really an individual taste. If you are just beginning you probably won’t even notice the subtle differences in tone and sustain that comes from different guitars. Even if you do notice the difference, one tone is not necessarily better or worse, just different. Guitar bodies made from Mahogany, Rosewood and Maple all produce different tones and people will have their own preferences.
The balance and playability of the guitar is important because of the hours you will spend playing it. Balance and weight are factors and it is a good idea to make sure you are comfortable playing in both a standing up and seated position. The weight and shape of the guitar will influence how it feels for you. Also check the action of the guitar. In other words how hard is it to press the strings down to the fretboard as you move up to the higher frets. The action can be altered but you would hopefully buy a guitar that felt good out of the box. Many people spend hours looking down the neck of the guitar to ensure it is straight but the truth is that it should have a slight forward bend, known as neck relief. This ensures that the strings don’t buzz when pressed.
Only you will know which guitar is right for you to buy. Regardless of your playing ability, you should buy the best guitar you can afford and be proud of it. There is no such thing as a guitar being too good for a beginner. Expensive guitars aren’t any harder to play. In fact the action is often much easier than cheap guitars and they generally have a whole new sound way above the cheapies. I have one very expensive guitar in my collection and I get as much enjoyment out of looking at it as I do from playing it. It is a beautiful thing.