Buying a new guitar

I played accoustic guitar on and off as a teenager (I never practiced enough to become really proficient) but after picking up Guitar Hero II for 360 I've come to realize that I miss it terribly. I want to buy a real guitar and teach myself to play again but I have no idea what to look for; any TNL guitar players have some advice? I'm partial to accoustic guitars because of their natural sound and because they don't require an amp, but I've heard mention of guitars that function as both accoustics and electrics; are these feasible?

Get a cheap guitar. If you still want to play guitar after three years, drop more than a grand on a Gibson Explorer.

replace gibson explorer with any number of good guitars and thats sound advice.

I know next to nothing about acoustics unfortunately.

I recommend http://www.rondomusic.net/ for cheap guitars. I just bought a fake telecaster from there for $120 and it is actually pretty nice.

There are some really nice Martins in the $300-$400 range. Hand crafted sexiness. If that's too expensive I have always been impressed with Takamines. They put some decent pickups in their acoustic/electrics and sound great.

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Originally Posted by Salsashark

I recommend http://www.rondomusic.net/ for cheap guitars. I just bought a fake telecaster from there for $120 and it is actually pretty nice.

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This is easily the best dealer on the 'net that I've seen when it comes to making quality instruments at an affordable price and offering great customer service that will stand behind its products.

Rondo has quite a reputation in the bass-playing community (I actually got a fretless six-string bass from them several months back for $170 and it has served me quite well thus far), and from what I've heard, their electric guitars are just as great of a deal.

My advice would also be to get something cheap now, and if you're still interested in the instrument a little ways down the road, go ahead and make the upgrade to something a bit more costly.

Looks like Rondo has some nice-looking acoustic/electric hybrids in the $150-$250 range:

http://www.rondomusic.net/acoustics.html

Their Agile series is solid as an electric guitar, and the SX brand has a strong reputation as the ultimate budget bass, so I would assume that the same quality holds true for the acoustic/electric versions of these brands. You might want to do a Google search first though, just to be sure that other people's experiences have been positive.

As far as musical instruments go, you get what you pay for. Crappy guitars do seem nice if you've never played a nice one. It's the same reason people think solid state amps sound good since they don't know the glory of tube.

to an extent hubs, but you can get fairly nice instruments cheap.

If you go the rondo route, make sure its "rondo" and not "hondo".

I didn't mean you can't get a good deal on a fine instrument, but a $100 guitar is going to be exactly crap. You could call it exactlacrap.

qft on hondo. worst bass i have ever played.

my first bass was a hondo. sounded like mud was on the strings and played like my hands were numb.

Is it better to learn on an accoustic or electric?

You are more likely to notice--and ideally, try to correct--bad playing habits if you play without distortion, but really, you should just go with whichever style of guitar you enjoy hearing/playing the most.

My electric broke (snapped the neck, wow) and I'm currently looking for a cheap replacement as well.

Buy a shit guitar (Kmart sells acoustics for $50)

Don't get a good one since there is a 99% chance that you won't stick with it for more than a few months.

Make this thread again in 6 months after you're sick of your Kmart special. Until then, you're just another buster trying to impress bitches.

Truth hurts.

Who isn't trying to impress bitches?

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Originally Posted by Josh

Buy a shit guitar (Kmart sells acoustics for $50)

Don't get a good one since there is a 99% chance that you won't stick with it for more than a few months.

Make this thread again in 6 months after you're sick of your Kmart special. Until then, you're just another buster trying to impress bitches.

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This is the right idea, but for an extra $100-$150 he can get something that won't play/sound like shit and won't behave (break) like a cheap toy, which will likely make him a lot more motivated to keep playing.

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Originally Posted by SpoDaddy

Is it better to learn on an accoustic or electric?

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Really depends on what and how you want to play and learn. An acoustic does require better technique, but imo technique isn't as important as persistance and vision.

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Originally Posted by wEEman33

This is the right idea, but for an extra $100-$150 he can get something that won't play/sound like shit and won't behave (break) like a cheap toy, which will likely make him a lot more motivated to keep playing.

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That's the thing, if I'm really into my guitar I'll be much more motivated to use it. I think a big reason I didn't stay motivated in the past was that I had a shitty guitar and took no pride in handling it.

Then go buy a fucking Mosrite and be done with it.

Acoustic guitars are gay anyway.

I've picked up the guitar on and off a few times but haven't stuck with it (and I was never really good). Being involved in music and helping to write music as well, I do understand how to play the guitar but can't really do it myself. That being said, it might be better to learn on an electric as I always found them much easier to play.

Sam Goody was having a clearance on all their instruments a few months back. The store in my area still has stuff, most of it is stuff like Squire, Lyon, B.C. Rich, and Epiphone stuff. They reduced the price by 2/3, and I know my area out here in BFE still has inventory, so I'd imagine you can find something to your liking for cheap. If not, there's always pawn shops. I got my bass for about $50.00, and for a knock-around, it does the job.

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Originally Posted by Josh

Buy a shit guitar (Kmart sells acoustics for $50)

Don't get a good one since there is a 99% chance that you won't stick with it for more than a few months.

Make this thread again in 6 months after you're sick of your Kmart special. Until then, you're just another buster trying to impress bitches.

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This is seriously the best advice to follow. These stores(Kmart,Walmart,Target,etc...) sell electric guitars, even with a mini amp combo too and they are functional enough to let you find out if it is something you will stick with.

If you go with an electric I highly recommend a device like this: http://www.samsontech.com/products/p...1896&brandID=4

It is a really cheap (can be had for like 60 bucks) way to get a ton of effects, tuner, drum machine, etc.. You can use the output as a headphone out so you won't disturb anyone. They have models with more options but this will be way more than you can handle for quite some time. Remember, if you get a cheapy electric and one of these you will be able to get a decent facsimile of any style. Zoom makes some really good quality stuff and being a noob and having a tuner is a god send. I hope this helps and good luck.

Here is the same pedal with the built on expression pedal: http://www.zzounds.com/item--ZOMG1X

I know a lot of this stuff seems like overkill for a newbie but it has everything you will need and then some until you decide to get some top shelf gear.

For an electric it will require an amp for the most part, esp if it is shitty. On the other hand, in general less pressure is required to play. And uh, if you don't play with distortion, then you don't have to worry about that making you sloppy. (although fucked up shitty playing with distortion still sounds like fucked up shitty playing. )

Why don't you go buy a BC Rich and a Crate amp then kill yourself.

I have a Crate amp, fuck you very much.

lol crate.

It's loud and it gets my upstairs neighbors to shut off their shitty homemade hiphop bullshit. So it's worth every lol worthy penny to me.

It's ok man. My brother has a crate amp. He payed $20 for it. At least he admits is a piece of shit.

BC Rich guitars are edgy, you assholes.

If you decide to go electric the best bang for your buck on amps is the Vox Pathfinder 15W. Best sounding solid state amp I've ever heard and played through. Fender makes a 15w tube amp and I think the Vox sounds better and gets better tone for only around $110. I'd definetly start with a cheap Fender Squire and this amp over an acoustic, then you can play clean or distorted at will at a low budget.

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Originally Posted by Hubbitron

It's ok man. My brother has a crate amp. He payed $20 for it. At least he admits is a piece of shit.

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I knew a man who sold me his 84 Fender twin Reverb for around $400 because he fell in love with Crate Amps. I thought what an idiot but I guess it's whatever tone you are looking for.

Let's get serious. His tubes must have blown. Crate is not a tone, its deranged uncompressed solid state paper-thin frequency. Midrange squealing robot earfucking. That's all. Did he give you a ride on his blue ox?

I picked up my guitar again after about a month without playing and I sound terrible. I need to be unemployed so I can start playing all the time again.

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Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

I picked up my guitar again after about a month without playing and I sound terrible. I need to be unemployed so I can start playing all the time again.

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Your only a phone call away.

I bought a Washburn EA16 acoustic/electric about 8 months ago for $200. It's one of the best guitars I've ever owned - expensive guitars (more than $500-$600) are not worth the money.

Amps on the other hand... You get what you pay for.

Unless it's the Roland KC-60. It's cheap, awesome, and loud - a RARE combination.

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Originally Posted by icarusfall

I bought a Washburn EA16 acoustic/electric about 8 months ago for $200. It's one of the best guitars I've ever owned - expensive guitars (more than $500-$600) are not worth the money.

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My pop (who's been playing for 35 years and is probably far better then anybody on this board) would disagree with you. He doesn't really have anything good to say about signature models but would much rather play a $1200 model of his choice then a guitar for $200.

That's not at all what I said. I said they're not WORTH the money. If your dad wants to pay an extra 7-8 hundred dollars for a barely discernible difference, then he can feel free, but it's rather silly to do so. A friend of mine's dad owns Mandolin Bros. music store in Staten Island (it's probably the best guitar store on the planet). They stock $15,000 guitars. I've played such guitars. There is NO point to them.

I've owed expensive guitars, and I've owned cheap guitars. I like cheap guitars a lot more.

You can set them of fire after an awesome set and not be out of much money.

I can tell the difference, its noticable, if my $1800 guitar broke, I would save up and buy a new one.

If I had an $1800 bass I'd sell it and buy seven $200 basses (one for each day of the week) and $400 worth of coke.

$400 of coke sounds great. I would expect an invite.

Atomic music pls 4 coke cash pls.

tell me where I can get a Ric sound for $200 and I'm there.

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Originally Posted by Josh

Acoustic guitars are gay anyway.

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http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j3...lie-Nelson.jpg

Six days later...?

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Originally Posted by icarusfall

Six days later...?

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I don't read every thread posted every day. Thanks.

noob.