What to look for when purchasing an acoustic guitar?

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Hey, everybody.

Over the past couple years, and moreso over the past couple months, I've been finding myself wanting to take up guitar. Nothing too intensive, probably not even lessons immediately (Primarily due to a lack of time), but just to putter and get comfortable with the guitar. Learn a few chords, pick up a few tabs, and hopefully make some progress when I can.

So, I am here to ask for some advice. I am going to be looking primarily at used acoustic guitars. I want something inexpensive, and that I can play softly without disturbing the rest of my family. But I really have no clue what I should be looking for in a guitar. What should I avoid, what should I specifically look for? Any recommended brands, or ones I should stay away from? What are the advantages and disadvantages of steel strings over nylon strings?

My price range isn't too high right now. $100 - $160 CDN, although I might expand that up to $200 if I choose to wait until my next paycheque.

Also, what should I be looking to get with the guitar? I guess a case, tuner, and pick would be the essentials. Anything else to start with?


I've seen a few brands come up frequently while looking through the online classifieds in my area - Yamaha (Which I have heard of), Suzuki (Whom I didn't know ventured into musical instruments), and Denver. Yamaha has got a decent reputation AFAIK, but what about the other two?

Thanks in advance for any advice. I know we've got a few musicians on board, so I'm sure someone can lend an opinion.
 
I can't give you a lot of advice and info but when I started to play, I bought myself a beginners pack which included an SX electric guitar (stratocaster style), tuner, extra strings, 6 picks, some wires and an amplifier 👍

It costed less than 80 dollars and I still enjoy it. However, with acoustic guitars, I played one with nylon strings once and it was so much easier. The space was bigger for my hand to move and the strings felt like I could play for hours without getting the beginners pain you have with steel strings.


There is another thread on this a few pages back, you could look it up if you want a lot of info 👍


*EDIT*, found it, you may find some info you're looking for in it:

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=92464


Good luck! :cheers:
 
Sometime after the posting stopped in ^that^ thread, I found this other thread at ultimate-guitar.com that echoed many of the points already raised by members here, and added a few other considerations to the equation for me. (I was looking for advice on electrics though)

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328491

Unfortunately, I don't see a similar thread on acoustics...
 
I have a Yamaha acoustic guitar and it has stood me in very good stead for about 10 years now. It was around £250 at the time, but you can get comparable models for less than £100 (probably about the $150) brand-new...

The main advantage of a steel string acoustic as compared to a nylon string classical guitar is the sheer versatility of it. You can get a much greater range of different types of sound from an acoustic as you can with a classical. You are very limited with a classical (nylon strings), although it is nice to have one to complement an acoustic - but for me, a steel-stringed acoustic is by far the better choice.

By playing the guitar in different ways, you can get a great variety of sounds out of the acoustic. Finger-picking gives a clean, crisp sound and is not too loud. Thumb-plucking gives a soft, muted sound. Use a plectrum to pick or strum and suddenly the acoustic becomes a much louder instrument. You can really belt out a tune with an acoustic using a plectrum. Of course, as you play more, you'll learn how to play in each of these ways. Typically, I don't play my guitar in my house when others are in because it is still pretty loud, esp. if you're trying to record it!
 
OK, thanks for the advice.

I guess I had some sort of major brainfart when I was creating this thread, as I forgot to search :dunce:. But, this does vary from that a little bit.

Judging by your post, TM, you can't simply switch from nylon to steel strings, or vice versa? I'm guessing the guitar is either built for one or the other. I think I will go with a steel string guitar, but I'm still not sure which one.
 
I once played in an acoustic guitar which had 3 strings nylon and 2 strings steel, it sounded the same as an acoustic guitar with nylon or steel only but I wouldn't use them both, that just would get messy 👍
 
Slicks
OK, thanks for the advice.

I guess I had some sort of major brainfart when I was creating this thread, as I forgot to search :dunce:. But, this does vary from that a little bit.

Judging by your post, TM, you can't simply switch from nylon to steel strings, or vice versa? I'm guessing the guitar is either built for one or the other. I think I will go with a steel string guitar, but I'm still not sure which one.
Click to expand...

That's a good question... you can string a classical guitar with metal strings but you might have a problem putting nylon strings on an acoustic. The major difference is in the design of the peg-heads/tuning keys which you tie the strings into (and subsequently use for tuning)... I'm pretty sure most ordinary acoustics cannot accept nylon strings for this reason.

BTW, you can put steel strings on a classical but it's not advisable, since the tension in the strings can damage the guitar.
 
If you put steel strings on a classical guitar, you will likely pull the bridge off, if not the entire top.
If you put nylon on a dreadnought or concert steel string, they won't provide enough tension to make much of a sound..
If you were to increase your budget to about $400 USD, you could get a Seagull. It's about the best "low-end" acoustic going at the moment.

In the price range you are talking, you will likely have issues with set-up, action, and keeping the thing in tune.
That will make learning the guitar a miserable experience, and you will be far less likely to advance at it if the instrument drives you bonkers.

If you must go at the price point you mentioned, you can't really go wrong witn a Washburn D-10 or Any of the entry level Yamaha or Alvarez guitars.

I'll warn you now, it becomes an obsession. Do some research. Buy the best guitar you can possibly afford. You'll put off your second guitar by 6 months to a year that way.;)

Also, lay in a couple of bottles of witch hazel. You can soak your finger tips in it after you practice. It will take any sting right out.👍
 
That's the thing. I've got an abundance of funds, but I am simply wary that I might not pick it up, or not like it, and thus would have a $600 guitar sitting in the corner instead of a $200 one. Oh, and I've upped my budget a little. I'd be willing to do an initial investment of $200ish. I can always get a case, stand, etc later. Just the guitar. I think my brother has a tuner I can borrow (he got an electric a couple years ago, and played it a couple dozen times. It was sold six months ago. This is what makes me hesitant to spend big bucks right off the bat).
Anyway, 'witch hazel'. What is it?

I'm going to look at a couple music stores during the week with a friend who knows what he's doing. I've again become undecided on whether to go steel or nylon strings.
 
I would definitely recommend renting a guitar for three months or so first. That'll cost you around $60, and when the time's up you'll have much more knowledge of the instrument. Then, you can decide whether to get a nice $600 guitar or a $200 guitar to fool around with.
 
Slicks
That's the thing. I've got an abundance of funds, but I am simply wary that I might not pick it up, or not like it, and thus would have a $600 guitar sitting in the corner instead of a $200 one.
Click to expand...
If you keep at it, you will eventually love it. I've never heard anyone say "man, I really wish I'd given up guitar when it was hard." People who quit after a month are people who started for the wrong reasons. If you truly want to learn the instrument, you'll have no problems sticking with it.
 
I can second (or even third) that - you obviously don't want to go too bargain-basement, since you will want something that has a decent sound and that is going to last you for some time. I started off with a classical that belonged to my sister, and then borrowed a bigger, bassier one from school which I pretty much 'learnt' on, but quickly after that I got a Squier stratocaster (electric) and inherited a baby-amp from my mate... It was a nice guitar (£180), but the amp really let it down eventually, and rather than forking out the several hundred pounds necessary for a really nice amp, I elected to go for a semi-decent (£250/$500) Yamaha acoustic, which I have played ever since.

Hiring a guitar is a good idea, borrowing one from college or a friend is an even better idea, but ultimately, I can only reiterate what the above posters have said. You will get much use out of it in years to come, so take into account the number of years usage you will get when thinking about what price-range to settle on. I personally feel that my skill has never justified paying more than say $500 on a guitar, but I've never been disappointed with the sound I get from my current instrument.
 
As Touring Mars said - A good guitar will last you forever. My sister now plays the same Classic Yamaha that my dad bought 35 years ago - and it still sounds terrific. It wasn't very cheap back then, but it's worth it.
 
I have been playing guitar for almost 10 years and I will soon have my dream guitar, and I need to tell you that the choice of your guitar is very important.

But since you're beginning, this isn't such a case.

If you're looking into an acoustic or classical guitar, there isn't much critera to look forward to, they are all pretty much the same.

If you're looking into an electric guitar, this is where the fun begins, because there is so much options, it first depends of your budget and the sound you want. Electric guitars are like cars, each of them has their configurations and options. Beginner guitars are for, well, beginners. They are made to start learning guitars and they aren't made for stars (they aren't as reliable as high-end guitars nor do they sound like them). Squier is a company that makes knock-offs of the Fender Stratocaster's for like 100-200$. Yamaha and Peavey does make some affordable guitars, altho I've seen Yamaha starting to release some kinds of digital electric guitars or something like that, don't get that...

Having said that, there are accessories to think about. If you plan on moving your guitar around, you might want to get a gigbag (padded zipper bag) or a case, unless you want it to get an old-school relic look like some artists now use as a trademark (just remember Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstein Strat that looks like it was tied on a chain that is attached to a car and pulled around in a parking lot). Since you're a beginner, you might want a guitar tuner to keep your strings in tune, but there is a few free tuners available online that you can use, so it could save yourself a couple of bucks. Picks are a tricky business, they are made in plenty of shapes, plenty of thicknesses, different materials and some have different gripping coatings (and some have no grip at all). Now strings are also tricky business, you don't want to buy a random set of string and put it on your guitar, you could end up with the neck of the guitar like a pretzel (I'm talking about acoustics here, their necks are very fragile to tension changes), so you should inform yourself on what is the "string gauge" on the guitar you are buying.

My best advise for you to get a guitar, is to try the most models you can and then pick up your favourite. The rest is up to you.



Hope it helped ;)
 
Touring™;2661078
I have been playing guitar for almost 10 years and I will soon have my dream guitar, and I need to tell you that the choice of your guitar is very important.

But since you're beginning, this isn't such a case.

If you're looking into an acoustic or classical guitar, there isn't much critera to look forward to, they are all pretty much the same.

If you're looking into an electric guitar, this is where the fun begins, because there is so much options, it first depends of your budget and the sound you want. Electric guitars are like cars, each of them has their configurations and options. Beginner guitars are for, well, beginners. They are made to start learning guitars and they aren't made for stars (they aren't as reliable as high-end guitars nor do they sound like them). Squier is a company that makes knock-offs of the Fender Stratocaster's for like 100-200$. Yamaha and Peavey does make some affordable guitars, altho I've seen Yamaha starting to release some kinds of digital electric guitars or something like that, don't get that...

Having said that, there are accessories to think about. If you plan on moving your guitar around, you might want to get a gigbag (padded zipper bag) or a case, unless you want it to get an old-school relic look like some artists now use as a trademark (just remember Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstein Strat that looks like it was tied on a chain that is attached to a car and pulled around in a parking lot). Since you're a beginner, you might want a guitar tuner to keep your strings in tune, but there is a few free tuners available online that you can use, so it could save yourself a couple of bucks. Picks are a tricky business, they are made in plenty of shapes, plenty of thicknesses, different materials and some have different gripping coatings (and some have no grip at all). Now strings are also tricky business, you don't want to buy a random set of string and put it on your guitar, you could end up with the neck of the guitar like a pretzel (I'm talking about acoustics here, their necks are very fragile to tension changes), so you should inform yourself on what is the "string gauge" on the guitar you are buying.

My best advise for you to get a guitar, is to try the most models you can and then pick up your favourite. The rest is up to you.



Hope it helped ;)
Click to expand...
The basic sentiment here is correct.
But acoustics are very different animals from each other, just like electrics, though in more subtle ways.
A laminate top won't have as full a sound as a solid top.
A spruce top will have a "brighter" sound.
A cedar top will have a "darker" sound.
A top with a tighter grain will almost always sound better than a top with a looser grain.
A top with a tighter grain will allow you to use lighter gauge strings, which will add to the longevity of both the guitar and your fingers. (dont even let me start on body woods & shapes, and scale length, etc)
Electrics are much easier to play, but the solid bodies have a great deal of "sustain" (notes hang in the air for a long time), which is harder to get used to if you play acoustic. And harder to get used to the lack of it when you go from electric to acoustic.
A good guitar will last several lifetimes. My old Alvarez was nearly 20 years old when I bought it. I've had if for more than 10 years, and I plan to pass it on.
There are advantages to each type of guitar.
If you just want to "mess around" and see if you like it, go rent one for a couple/three months. Learn as much as you can.
If you really want to make music, you will be hooked. If not, you can return the axe.
Hell, the store I do most of my dealing with will give you 80-90% of the purchase price if you return the instrument in the initial 3 months, with no dings, etc. with the return amount going down, as damage/wear goes up.
 
OK, thanks.
I think I'm going to go on the weekend and take a good look at guitars. I might look into lessons, but probably not for a while.
 
It's been a while, but I just realized that I failed to answer one of your most important questions.
"Witch Hazel" is an astringent solution. It is available at Wal-mart for about 70 cents a bottle.
After your practice sessions, you pour enough in a bowl to cover your finger-tips. Dip your fingertips in the stuff for 15 minutes or so and it will "suck" the sting right out.
Will make the time before you've developed your callouses much more pleasant.
 
Ah.
I was kind of wondering about that.

On the guitar front, well, it's not progressing. Not for a lack of effort, but for a lack of spending money. My car decided to eat up a couple paycheques' worth of maintenence and repairs, with more in the forseeable future. So in translation, I haven't gotten a guitar yet. My birthday is but a couple days away, so I'm kind of hoping for a surprise of that sort, but I won't hold my breath.
Mabye next month :indiff:
 
Go to a store and play each one until you attract a crowd of babes. Then, buy that one.
 
GAS Relief.

Bought myself a 1963 Yamaha No. 20. It's worn and slightly scratched, but still plays well. It's a bit finicky to tune, but still doable. It's nylon stringed, so my fingers are still in decent condition (yay!). And it's got a beautiful tone.
I might do some minor cosmetic repairs to it (one-inch chunk of trim missing around the body), and fix a bent tuning knob, but nothing major.

I've discovered Ultimate-Guitar.com, which has been useful so far. Any other sites any of you might reccomend? I'm not going to take lessons quite yet, but I've got a few friends who play well and I could go to for tips.

Thanks for the help, guys.
 
Stick with Ultimate-guitar, I get all my tabs from there, it's an awesome site 👍


What you might want to do is to learn all the basic chords, I began with this as well, makes playing from tabs a little easier IMO...
 
also a fan of ultimate-guitar

It has a very large, active, and helpful forum, and a tab to pretty much any song you want to learn (though the accuracy is sometimes questionable - stick to the 4 or 5 star rated ones).
 
For nylon, you might want to pick up the Hal Leonard Fingerstyle (beginner's) book.
It will teach you the basics of fingerstyle, as well as many chords.
It's great technique training for a nylon string guitar.
It will also extend the life of your strings exponentially, especially if you're playing with a pick.
The only caveat, I have is that I can't seem to play at all with a pick anymore, though I have scores of them laying about the place.
 
I'll have to take a look around for it.

In other news, I've decided to start lessons. I've got seven half hour lessons booked over the next eight weeks. Not much, but it should get me started on the right track, and hopefully stop me from developing bad habits.
 
You may keep from developing "bad habits". But I'll warn you now that some of what is considered "bad habits" may be considered your "signature" when you get famous.:lol:
Hell, every time I play an electric, I tend to mute the high E string because my left hand is rather "fleshy". but it sounds okay, and I rarely "get called" on it. But it's difficult for me to hold my wrist "properly" to achieve full ringing tone on some chords on thin necked guitars.

Seriously, have fun. You may get hooked on this "silly box".
 

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