Advices on guitar

[Jeanle12]

For acoustic guitar, is the brand "davis" or "TGM" okay for beginner? wanted to learn how to play on the guitar first before purchasing a good one. If not, what is good and cheap for a beginner guitar? And for the brand "Takemine" from davis guitar, how much does it range? What extras do i have to buy when i purchase a guitar? Thanks.

 

[mvplover]

TGM is okay for beginner. What's your budget first?
definition of cheap for you please =)
Takamine? range for it in davis i think its around 400+ to max 1k++ depending on the models.

 

[Jeanle12]

Cause I heard TGM isn't very good.. How about the brand "Davis"? Maybe below $150? :] And which place is good for purchasing acoustic guitars

 

[mvplover]

Ain't that sure about Davis. The whole peninsula basement, has lots of guitar shops. Go check with them all out with 150 budget. Try searching around forum for lower end guitars.

 

[Jumpin'Jellybean]

Maestro SD-1. Alternatively...
Check out Custom Acoustics at Citymusic. They're really worth it, i think you can get a good acoustic for that price.
You'll need a bag, tuner, and roughly that's about it. Maybe spare strings.

 

[Jeanle12]

Reply to
mvplover: Okay but what do i need to test out on in order to know if it's good? Thanks alot.

 

[Jeanle12]

Reply to Jumpin'Jellybean: Where to get the Maestro SD-1? And how do i change to strings of the guitar? Thanks

 

[VidaK]

you simply have to loosen the strings by turning the machine heads on the headstock, and remove the strings out of the bridge. if you are not sure, you can always let a shop do it for you once and then do it yourself in the future

 

[LadyInTears]

get a beat up old yamaha f310, then save up for the future! im not too impressed with the sd-1 though

 

[EugeneSmasher]

I find Maestro's quality control's a bit inconsistent, so you have to be a bit more careful and pick a good piece. I've played one with glue marks all over. Sounded good but the glue... ick. There are awesome Maestros I've played, but those were the really high-end ones.

If you're on a tight budget, I second the Yamaha F310. Looks a bit cheap but it does sound pretty good and it's nice to play as well.

 

[Vax]

Reply to
mvplover: Okay but what do i need to test out on in order to know if it's good? Thanks alot.

Just a quick one on testing an acoustic (applies to all guitars, regardless of price):

1. Tone and timbre. When you play an open chord, does the way the guitar resonate appeal to you? Tones can range from dark and boomy to bright and cutting. I would strum a guitar and lean my ear against the body to feel its resonance. Acoustic guitars can change tone as they age, and the tendency is that they'll be darker over time, so my recommendation is not to go for a guitar that's too dark when new.

2. Volume and projection. Start with a low, light strum and progressively strum harder to your maximum volume. Are the notes mushy at low volume? Do they (for lack of a better term) distort when strummed too hard? Your choice should depend on the kind of music you play and what you want to use it for, either as a soloist or in a band.

3. The neck. Does the style, contour and feel of the neck appeal to you? Are the frets put on properly? I play every single note from the lowest fret to the highest fret, and try every single string to test this out (to the chagrin of the sales staff). There shouldn't be fret buzzes from uneven frets, or dead spots.