Need recommendation for female beginner (acoustic guitar)

[Ressy]

Hi all! I’m new to soft and I really want to pick up guitar playing... but the problem is I have absolutely no music background!(Ok, maybe except for the recorder) I would like to start out with an acoustic guitar... my friends keeps telling me stuffs like solid tops and nylon strings... I’m so lost!

I went down to peninsula alone yesterday cause my bf is too lazy to accompany me and all the shops look so intimidating~
I have no idea where to start and what to look out for?

Is there any good beginner starter pack I should look out for or should I just go for the guitar? (I want to get something that can last long). What about maintenance? Hmm... my budget is around $200.. Any recommendations? :???:

PS: Sorry for the long post and noob questions!

 

[MusicPebbles]

Hi Ressy, I would suggest u get a Takamine guitar at Davis but it should fall in the price range from$200-300. so u might have to raise ur budget.
Takamine guitars are very good to me, sounds bright and projects sound fully.
get Steel Strings do not get nylon unless u are playing classical guitar which i doubt u are. u are trying to play guitar and sing right? so get the Steel strung ones.

MusicPebbles

 

[Ressy]

Yep, my goal is to be able to sing and play eventually... Takamine is a little over budget.. Not really nice for me to raise the budget as it is a birthday present from my lovely friends so I'm hoping to get something with $200..

 

[SmFizz]

Get a shine guitar...

 

[Htin Gyi]

Hi Ressy,
You may try Davis Guitor at panasula shopping center. I recomanded brand name is Fina and price is around 150. Acoustics. I already bought one. quite nice. you may choose the size and weight depends on your high. don't have to worry about quality. it can trust.
If you need help, let me know. very near with my place.

regards,
Htin Gyi

 

[LadyInTears]

check out ranking at bras besah

 

[Ressy]

Other than particular brands or shops, what are the things I need to look out for when buying my first guitar? Other than the feel of course

 

[Stan_Kumar]

Other than particular brands or shops, what are the things I need to look out for when buying my first guitar? Other than the feel of course

If you mean 'feel' as in the feeling of playing the guitar in your hands, then yes!

But seriously, the important thing is that you should bring an experienced friend along to help you choose. There's loads of factors that you should take into consideration like:

The outer cosmetics of the guitar (no dings, scratches, clumsy glue work)

Straightness of the neck (not really sure how to explain the method how to do it, perhaps someone can?)

Loads more.........and for a budget like that, you can check out the Jack & Danny series. I own one and it's brilliant!

 

[Ressy]

Think I might have a little problem with that... none of my friends know how to play the guitar!

 

[SmFizz]

hmm...
then you should let the guitar ''call'' out to you instead.
If it ''calls'' out to you, its the right one...
well, thats how i got my first guitar haha

 

[RayKnight]

Check out Maestro at Peninsula. Or maybe you can get someone from the forum to introduce you to some guitars. Or...you can always go to a shop, tell them your budget and they should be able to guide you.

Steel strings are for acoustic guitars,
Nylon strings are for classical guitars.

Steel strings are tough on your fingers when you first started. Took me 2 weeks to get used to it, took me another week or switch between basic chords. You'll do fine, don't worry! I hope you will find the perfect guitar. And remember, your first guitar is the most important guitar so choose wisely.

Recommended brands:
Takamine
Maestro

These are the 2 I'd recommend. A friend of mine has a Takamine and he loves it. I own a Maestro guitar.

Oh yeah! Please do check the strings, if they're rusty, change them. Some guitars have been on the display shelves for far too long and the strings will rust. Do change them or get the person to do it for you. Otherwise, I'd restring your guitar for free. I have a guitar restringing obsession. I restring for all my friends. Mainly cause I like to hear how each string sounds when you are done restringing and stuff. But that's another topic altogether.

Good luck. Oh, what kind of songs do you wanna play?

 

[Ressy]

I will be spending a few hours at Peninsula again this weekend.. Hope I can get a good feel of them this time round

I'm not too worried about developing those calluses (I'm not exactly a girly girl.. love to play basketball~)

Some songs I'm hoping to pick up: Here without you, More than words, Tears in Heaven, Yesterday once more, I'm yours, some jazz... some Cpop... (关怀方式!! Jay, Lee Hom, Zhang hui mei.. etc) and I really really want to learn Canon in D~

PS: What are the accessories I will need for maintaining the guitar? And how exactly do one go about 'setting up' the guitar?

 

[LadyInTears]

besides penin, bras besah complex is a great place to get your first guitar.
i guess all you need to start is an acoustic guitar, a tuner, and the internet.
well some songs youve listed probably wont be easy to pick up, eg tears in heaven, as it is harder to play, (its a clapton song) but still you should prolly be able to play all those songs in 6 months or less.

remember, the internet is your best friend in learning the guitar

 

[theunknown]

I will be spending a few hours at Peninsula again this weekend.. Hope I can get a good feel of them this time round

I'm not too worried about developing those calluses (I'm not exactly a girly girl.. love to play basketball~)

You can be best friends with vickomaniac. haha.


PS: What are the accessories I will need for maintaining the guitar? And how exactly do one go about 'setting up' the guitar?

a soft cloth, water, maybe lemon oil for fingerboard. basically like cleaning. it's simpler with acoustics. setting up a guitar is usually done by more pro players or guitar techs. if you wanna do it yourself it's possible. just look it up over the internet. many guides.

 

[Ressy]

I've already learning the basics from watching youtube and reading internet guides... Now all I need is 'the guitar'! I can't wait... but at the same time I have to remind myself not to rush things in case I regret my purchase~

 

[Girlpants]

......regret my purchase~

Please DO NOT let this thought run thru your mind.

If you need help, YouTube and SOFT will always be at your service!
Good luck!

Anyway, I would really recommend Takamine. After hearing the good reviews about them, I finally got one and it's awesome! The neck is pretty slim, which pretty much allows you play difficult chords.

 

[lookeong]

LOL... i also newbie here.... plan to get an acoustic guitar too end of this month.....Ressy u bought d? share with us your opinion on your first guitar..

 

[Redknight]

fina acoustic at Davis actually hav a veri gd feel and in term of size mayb u will like to start off with a baby acoustic?

 

[zosomofo]

Is there any good beginner starter pack I should look out for or should I just go for the guitar? (I want to get something that can last long). What about maintenance? Hmm... my budget is around $200.. Any recommendations? :???:

Please, do not ever purchase a starter set, that's one of the biggest mistake! If you're really serious about picking up the guitar, I would recommend you save a little more and invest in a guitar with a price ranging from $200-$350. A decent entry level guitar would come in handy in terms of playability, tone and durability.

Alternatively, if you are not in a rush to purchase one, I would strongly encourage you drop by Swee Lee (Sims) and try out their acoustic guitars. Just let the salesman know your budget and he will do the recommendation. If you still have the patience, wait for the MID YEAR SALE!

Recommended brands: Takamine, Cort, Yamaha, Ibanez, Maestro

 

[EugeneSmasher]

I'd recommend Samicks and Finas at Davis Guitar.

I wouldn't recommend Ibanez V series acoustics at Swee Lee. They just looked plastic-y and the spruce top didn't look like a spruce top. It had this greenish tint. Anyway, the V series is the lowest end you can get with Ibanez, but it's still out of your budget. Overpriced if you ask me... I also got the plastic-y feeling with the solid-top Ibanez PF60 and the lower-range Custom Acoustics.