[5hfifty]

I've not even begun playing yet, but have been wanting to for a while and I've saved up a little money. Then I found out yesterday my grandmother has had "a guitar" (all the info I got at the time) in her cupboard for who knows how long.

I went to pick it up today and to my surprise it was a small acoustic guitar, and the label on the inside said:

Morena
NewStyle No.9

I know nearly nothing about sorts of guitars, but it sounds Spanish, and It belonged to a sister of my mothers, so it's over 40 years old. It also has steel strings. Here's a photo:



It's in pretty good condition and the strings seem fine.

My question is, should I stick with this guitar, or start with a larger, nylon stringed one? I have pretty limited funds, so I'm stuck. It's not what I was expecting, but perhaps I could get used to it? Heh

Thanks for any replies!

[mattz196]

Hi Fhfifty and welcome with a family history like that it sounds like a cool guitar to learn on, strung with steel does seem a little strange though, lots of very clever people here, someone I'm sure will know it and advise you correctly.
Cheers Matt

[wjp01908]

If you like the sound of it, and it feels good to play there is no reason not to start out on it. No need to get a nylon strung guitar unless of course you specifically want to learn classical guitar and like the sound that nylon strings give.

Chances are that this guitar is designed to use steel strings as I`m pretty certain it would have self destructed by now if it was made for nylons - string tension is much higher with steel strings and will pull an unsuitable guitar apart.

Will

[6string]

try it for awhile, when ever you do go to get new one you'll have something to compare to.

[chorizo]

Hi 5hfifty
My view is, assuming the steel strings are ok to use (I'm sure someone here will be able to advise on that), if you find it comfortable to use and you're happy with the sounds it makes, plus with the history. I don't see why you shouldn't use it. I think it's a nice looking guitar. Very portable too.

[737blues]

I think Morena might just be the name of a dance or song, maybe in Spanish? Something like that. Can't really identify your particular guitar but you might like to have a look at this link anyway. Is it an Artista 'Morena' or is the brand actually called Morena. Whatever it is, it was certainly designed to use nylon strings, of that I'm sure. Why don't you take it to a reputable dealer and get it looked at with a view to having the strings renewed, (not a very big investment) and it's playing condition appraised?

http://www.activemusician.com/item--MC.MORENA

[5hfifty]

Thanks for the fast replies everyone!

The label says "Morena Musical Instruments Co. LTD" and there is no date. A Google search shows only one result - a non-exsistant ebay auction for a "vintage guitar" by the same company, heh.

It was made to use nylon strings? That's strange, I wonder why it was changed? I'm still wondering wether to search for another, forgive my ignorance, "normal" acoustic guitar. This one sounds fine, but I'm having a lot of trouble getting my fingers where they're meant to be and wonder if it's because it's so small.

Oh and I've started learning chords and my fingers feel like they're on fire. Feels good when I can play a chord and it sounds like the recording on the site, though

[737blues]

Oh, well! Worth a try. I was hoping you might have found a 'closet gem'. The flat, wide profile of the fingerboard and the style of the tuning pegs is what makes me believe it was meant for nylon strings. Usually, the style of bridge saddle would be a pretty good indication too, as classical strings are 'tied' on at the bridge and guitars designed for steel strings have a peg-pin arrangement. Who knows what you've got? So long as your happy for the time being, save your money until you get to know what you want. Fingers on fire is good, (Up to a point anyway) means you've been practising.

[allthumbs]

Small guitars like that are treasured because of their comfort level. They make great finger style guitars.

[Andy S]

Originally Posted by 737blues

Oh, well! Worth a try. I was hoping you might have found a 'closet gem'. The flat, wide profile of the fingerboard and the style of the tuning pegs is what makes me believe it was meant for nylon strings. Usually, the style of bridge saddle would be a pretty good indication too, as classical strings are 'tied' on at the bridge and guitars designed for steel strings have a peg-pin arrangement. Who knows what you've got? So long as your happy for the time being, save your money until you get to know what you want. Fingers on fire is good, (Up to a point anyway) means you've been practising.

I had a Framus acoustic decades ago that I started learning on. It had the same type of tuning pegs/headstock. The bridge/tailpiece was similar to an Ovation. No pegs to push into holes, but small holes drilled through the tailpiece and the strings went through them and over the bridge. So, this was probably designed for steel strings.

If it has been sitting in a closet for all those years, you may want to get new strings. I'm sure it would sound better and probably feel better on your fingers.

However, the more I look at the picture, it looks like a guitar made back , perhaps in the early 50s, when a lot of companies were making guitars due to the demand that seemed to have sprung up from GIs getting out of the service. (Something I just read about recently) Some of these companies had very little knowledge of how a guitar should be made properly , or just playable for that matter. This may be a good antique.

I would try to find a good Guitar/stringed instrument shop that has a qualified person on staff to look at it and evaluate it. They would be able to tell you if it is a good, playable guitar, or if it was one of the previously mentioned circa 50s guitars.

When I first started, my Uncle gave me a guitar he got when he was in the service in 1948. "Thanks Unc!", and then I went and struggled trying to play chords and was miserable since the strings were so high off the neck. That was when a friend let me use his Framus. Night & Day difference.

So, just my opinon. If it is worth saving and can be made playable, great. If it isn't, it cost you nothing. Just save a bit more and get a nice starter guitar. Now a days there are many choices at a good price range.

Hope things work out.

[Doug]

I agree with 737blues - I think it should have nylon strings as well. What is the action like? How high are the strings off of the 12th fret? And if they're relatively high, how high is the saddle above the slot that it sits in? Generally the problem with an older guitar like this is that the action has become too high. It can be lowered easily by adjusting the saddle height but there's usually not a lot of adjustent room there. Nylon string guitars tend not to have a truss rod in their neck so further neck adjustments are difficult.
Looks like a really fun guitar - I love the pick guard.

[scotty_b]

I have seen many guitars like that come across my path when people bring them in for lessons or repairs.
They are actually made to have steel strings - even though they look like they should have nylons.

[nostraits]

My wife had a similar looking guitar to that, and I wondered about the steel strings. I wanted to learn to play a guitar so I tried with this one. The problem was that the neck was narrow across the fretboard making the spacing small, but the neck was also very thick front to back. I took it to my local shop….one assistant said it was made for nylon strings, but the other said because of the neck it was definitely made for steel.
I bought a new guitar and left the old one for their charity scheme.

[5hfifty]

I took it to a guitar place near my work (www.guitarcentre.net.au) and they loved it, they said to get it framed haha Anyway they tuned it and all for me, and said it should be fine to learn the basics on.

I've also decided on what to get for my first electric when I do: http://www.guitarcentre.net.au/cgi-bin/mall.pl?category=Guitars%2FElectric&format=detail& page=list&from=3&pid=49039&domain=guitarcent

It looks like a good deal, and they set up the guitar for you before they give it to you. Someone else was in the store who got the same deal a few months ago and he says it's great so far.

Thank you guys for all the info and advice, I feel bad for all those people who didn't have access to this place when learning!

[6string]

your link just gives me a sort of purpleish/pink page