3 replies to this topic

[oldmanflabby]

i'm just about to learn guitar and i have £40 with which i'd like to buy a guitar but the guitars on Ebay and Gumtree are often massive rip-offs; i was jsut about to buy a swift guitar but the thread in this forum made me realise they weren't great. i'm happy to use a spanish or normal guitar, but i was wondering what a dreadnought is.

so do any of you guys know a good acoustic guitar for a low price, or a good place to get a guitar either on the internet or near Hackney, London? i'd be happy to use a second-hand one but i can't tell if they're good before i buy.

thanks,
Ivo

[dadfad]

A dreadaught refers to the body size of the guitar. Dreadnaught and jumbo are what are probably the more common sizes. (As opposed to smaller "O" style or "parlour" size guitars.

£40 will not buy you a great guitar. At best it will buy you a beginners' model that will not really hold up well for a great deal of time. However you might find that it will last long enough for you to learn a bit with and decide if you want to continue playing. Generally speaking, the higher quality the instrument, the easier it is to work with. And that of course includes beginners who have a hard enough time just learning without having to struggle with a guitar that is a little tougher to work with.

While I wouldn't recommend a beginner to go out and buy an expensive guitar for a starter, I usually advise to get the best one that can comfortably be afforded.

You might find a "gently used" lower-priced beginner's guitar in a local shop. As far as online, there are many rip-offs waiting out there so it's best to choose a more reputable dealer. Musicians Friend has been around for a long time, is fairly reputable and will usually also allow returns or exchanges.

Good luck. I've been playing almost fifty years now and I couldn't even begin to explain how much enjoyment I've had with it over those years.

[tenn_jim]

Everything John told you is absolutely correct in my opinion. Get a gently used guitar that is a step above the typical low end item. One thing I might add is to take along a friend who is experienced in playing guitar when you go shopping. He/She will probably know some of the less obvious things to look for such as worn frets, warped or bowed neck, loose bracing, worn tuners, worn nuts and bridges. Cosmetics doesn't matter much, just a personal observation. Feel of the guitar and tone are the most important. Don't be discouraged if the used guitar has heavy strings that a beginner might find hard to play. These can be changed inexpensively.

Good luck.

[satriani08]

Helpful thread for beginners! Thank you for sharing your thoughts