Tips and Recommendations for Buying a Beginner Acoustic Guitar

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 19:02:15 +0000

Many of sons and daughters are asking for acoustic guitars as gifts for Christmas, birthdays or just because they have become interested in learing to play. What I hope to do in this article is provide some tips and recommendations of selecting that first guitar.

Buying a guitar can be an intimidating process, especially if you've never purchased one before. There are so many factors to consider, and so many guitars available, novices will surely feel overwhelmed. Fear not - help is available

What makes one guitar different from another? Is a guitar that costs $3,000 better than one that is $500 or $100? Of course it is, but a more basic question to be asked it whether a beginner needs a top-of-the-line guitar.

Every aspiring guitar player fantisizes about playing a classic Martin D28. However, if the guitarist is a beginner just starting out I don’t recommend spending any more that $500. It is a good idea to first determine if the interest continues and the talent is present before spending a large sum of money on a guitar like those played by the legends. All of the guitars listed below are lower priced acoustic guitars all offer great value for their respective price tags. You will be able to find discounted prices at The Best Guitar Shop at http://www.best-guitar-shop.com

1. Seagull S6

These Canadian-made instruments are terrific guitars - very highly regarded, both for their beautiful sound, and their excellent value. The S6 features a solid cedar top and mahogany back and sides. Although the price may be slightly above what some might be willing to pay for a first guitar, it should be considered an investment.

2. Yamaha FG700S

Perhaps not in the same league as the Seagull, the FG700S is still a solid beginner instrument, and for the price (significantly cheaper than the S6), it's a good value. Guitar features a solid sitka spruce top, with nato back and sides.

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3. Takamine G-340

This beginner model Takamine guitar features a laminated spruce top. Although it clearly isn't on par with some of the higher end Takamine guitars, the general consensus is the G-340 offers a pretty good bang for the buck.

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Takamine G Series G340SC Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Natural

List Price: ~~$459.00~~
Sale Price: $239.00
You save: $220.00 (48%)
Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

14 new from Too low to display

Description

Designed and built under the supervision of Takamine’s head luthiers, G-Series guitars are created to serve all players from the hobbyist to professional. The G340C dreadnought features a spruce top for extended dynamic range and a rich harmonic content. Mahogany back and sides enhance resonance. Gloss finish adds durability and enduring beauty.

Features

Solid spruce top adds increased resonance and tone.
Dreadnought body size delivers a strong low end with plenty of volume.
Cutaway body design adds easy playability up to the highest fret.
One of the few acoustic cutaways on the market today.

Reviews

4. Fender CD-140S

This lower cost Fender acoustic boasts a solid spruce top, with laminated mahogany back and sides. Cheaper Fender products tend to be occasionally guilty of lackluster workmanship, but, considering the solid spruce top, this guitar could be attractive to newbies.

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Fender CD-140S Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Natural

List Price: ~~$299.99~~

Description

Quality and value in a great dreadnought guitar is what the CD-140 S is all about, with a Fender- designed dreadnought body, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, gloss-finish body, satin-finish neck and die-cast tuners.

Features

Solid Spruce Top, Laminated Mahogany Back and Sides
Scalloped X Bracing
Rosewood Bridge with Compensated Saddle and chrome die cast tuning keys
Additional Features: Dual Action Truss Rod, Tortoise Shell Pickguard, Scalloped X Bracing, Dot Position Inlays, Compensated Urea Saddle, Gold Silkscreen Logo, Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole and Body Edge
Additional Features: Dual Action Truss Rod, Tortoise Shell Pickguard, Scalloped X Bracing, Dot Position Inlays,
Compensated Urea Saddle, Gold Silkscreen Logo, Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole and Body Edge
Gold Silkscreen Logo, Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole and Body Edge
Dot Position Inlays, Compensated Urea Saddle

Reviews

5. Epiphone DR-100

The DR-100 features a spruce top, with mahogany back and sides. This guitar can usually be found at a rather cheap price, which makes it attractive to beginners. Most consider this a strictly beginner instrument, however, so it may not be long before you'll want to trade up.

6. Fender CD-60

Want features you'd expect in a much more expensive instrument? The CD-60 is your guitar, with features including a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, die-cast tuners.

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Fender CD-60 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Sunburst

List Price: ~~$299.99~~
Sale Price: $190.99
You save: $109.00 (36%)
Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

1 new from $190.99

Description

Want features you’d expect in a much more expensive instrument? The CD-60 is your guitar, with features including a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, die-cast tuners and an included hard-shell case. Available in Black, Natural and Sunburst. Specifications Body Body Back: Laminated Nato Back Body Sides: Laminated Nato Sides Body Top: Laminated Spruce Top Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane Finish Bracing: Scalloped X Bracing Rosette: Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole Rosette Body Depth: 3.94" (100mm) to 4.92" (125mm) Body Width Upper Bout: 2.25" (57 mm) Body Binding: Black Body Binding Neck Number of Frets: 20 Position Inlays: White Dot Position Inlays Fingerboard: Sonokeling Fretboard: Sonokeling Neck Material: Nato Nut Width: 1.69” (43 mm) Scale Length: 25.3" (64.3 cm) Truss Rods: Dual Action Truss Rod Hardware Hardware Finish: Chrome Bridge: Sonokeling with Compensated Saddle Bridge Pins: Black Bridge Pins w/ White Dots Tuning Machines: Die-Cast Tuners String Nut: Synthetic Bone Miscellaneous Strings: Fender® Dura-Tone® Coated 80/20 Bronze (.012-.052 Gauge) Unique Features: Dual Action Truss Rod, Black Pickguard, Scalloped X Bracing, Dot Position Inlays, Compensated Urea Saddle, Gold Silkscreened Fender Logo, Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole Rosette, Black Body and Neck Binding, Black Bridge and End-pins Accessories Case Gig Bags: Hard Case Included (USA and Canada Only) Pickguard: 1-Ply Flat Black

Features

Laminated Spruce Top, Laminated Nato back and sides
Scalloped X Bracing
Sonokeling Bridge with Compensated Saddle and chrome die cast tuners
Additional Features: Dual Action Truss Rod, Black Pickguard, Scalloped X Bracing, Dot Position Inlays, Compensated Urea Saddle, Gold Silkscreened Fender Logo, Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole Rosette, Black Body and Neck Binding, Black Bridge and End-pins

Reviews

7. Ibanez AC30NT

The Ibanez AC30NT is another well-constructed instrument with solid Engelmann spruce top and mahogany back and sides. This combination creates a warm, bottom-end tone with bright highs.

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Ibanez AC30NT Acoustic Concert Size Guitar

List Price: ~~$342.84~~

Description

If you've played or even just listened to many acoustic guitars, you know the amazing difference a solid top makes. The Ibanez AC30NT ARTWOOD SERIES Acoustic Guitar features a solid top made of high quality Engelmann spruce. You'll hear warm lows and ringing highs in crisp detail, the way an acoustic is supposed to sound. The grand concert body style is particularly well suited for fingerpicking, but sounds great in any style. Mahogany back and sides, maple body and neck binding, and gold die-cast tuners with brown pearloid knobs are features you normally find on guitars costing far more. If you've been holding back on an acoustic guitar purchase because you haven't found the right features at the right price, your wait is over.

Features

Acoustic Concert Size Guitar

Reviews

8. Taylor Baby Taylor

This is a 3/4 size dreadnought guitar, making it a good choice for younger guitarists with smaller hands. Taylor has a reputation for being one of America's greatest guitar makers, and although they've cut a few corners here to meet a low-price point, this is still a solid instrument.

9. Martin LX1

One of the most highly esteemed guitar makers has provided this 3/4 size guitar, designed for guitarists with small hands and small pocketbooks. The LXI features a solid sapele top, back and sides.

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Gibson Acoustic Announces The Keb Mo Signature Blues Master Model

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:31:16 +0000

Gibson Acoustic, the world's premier maker of renowned acoustic guitars located in Bozeman, Montana, announced the availability of the long awaited Keb Mo Signature Acoustic Blues Master guitar. No other musician embraces the blues like the legendary Keb Mo. His post modern playing blues styling stretches to fully electric blues, jazz, and R&B while constantly referencing the Delta fueled acoustic music that forms the beating heart of every one of his inspirations. The blues was born as acoustic music and its roots still run deep in that direction today. Gibson Acoustic has taken the sounds, the tradition and the history of blues music and produced an acoustic model that will inspire musicians throughout the ages.

The Gibson Acoustic Keb Mo Blues Master model honors the three-time Grammy Award winner. The guitar is a flat-top acoustic made in the tradition of the great small bodied Gibson blues boxes with the added versatility of a built-in L.R. Baggs Element pick up with sound hole mounted volume control. The Keb Mo Signature model is available in a limited edition of only 300. Gibson's "L" series acoustic guitars were there at the very birth of blues played by the great blues originator Robert Johnson, among others. This inspiration follows through with the Keb Mo Blues Master. The model packs all of the tonal nuance and sweetness you could hope for in a high-end, hand-crafted acoustic guitar while vintage specs include the 12th fret neck/body joint that positions the bridge right in the body's "sweet spot" for optimum resonance. The new model is reminiscent of the best of acoustic guitars from the 20s and early 30's. Finishes include Antique Natural or Vintage Sunburst with double antiquing. The guitar has a cream top, back and fingerboard binding, herringbone trim, mother of pearl inlays and double-ring soundhole rosettes. It comes with a Gibson hardshell case, a personally signed interior label by the artist Keb Mo himself, an owner's manual and Gibson Acoustic's Gold Warranty. MSRP is $3,868 USD.

Gibson J 45 True Vintage Red Spruce Acoustic Guitar
	$2,399.20 End Date: Tuesday Feb-7-2012 5:03:13 PST Buy It Now for only: $2,399.20 Buy It Now

1950 GIBSON L 50 DOESNT GET MUCH COOLER THAN THIS VINTAGE ACOUSTIC
	$1,695.00 End Date: Tuesday Feb-7-2012 6:36:03 PST Buy It Now for only: $1,695.00 Buy It Now