18 replies to this topic

[victoriatxman]

Well, it's been a while since I have visited. The garage sale acoustic guitar that my wife picked and had prompted me to find this site is gone. One of my young nephews got a hold of it!! My wife donated it back to the church garage sale. So, I have been doing some reading on this sight and I know that the best advice is to go down to the local music shop and check many guitars out. As I had mentioned in my very first post I am interested in learning and will find out if my 9 year old daughter will have any interest.

She has been bugging my wife for a Walmart Special electric guitar. That has prompted me to consider an electric acoustic guitar. I personally have an interest in an electric acoustic. I read one of the main posts on the different kinds of guitars and based on the kind of music I like it sounds like I might be happy with an electric acoustic. I would like to eventually learn the introduction to Hearts "Crazy On Youi". I also like Eddie Vedders (Pearl Jam) style which it seems like he uses alot of acoustic.

So I have been looking online - I almost purchased an Esteban. However, I performed some research and got an uneasy feeling after reading some posts. I am going to check my local music store and see if they might carry a Epiphone PR 4E setup. I have not run into a single negative review as of yet on the net. Current owners state that they are 2/3 the thickness of a standard size acoustic - this might be easier for my daughter if she wants to give it a go. The setup also comes with a 15 watt amp. Has anyone had any experience with this model? Thanks for any input....

[karcey]

Welcome back to the forum.
Glad to see you're doing some research, because ultimately it's you who'll be making the final decision.
There are many good guitars around, and after you get past the very cheap ones (the ones made of cardboard) the sound is usually reasonable.
The brand isn't always the best guide ... I've recently seen some inexpensive Washburns at our local Kmart store which were about as rough as anything I've ever seen. Don't know why the good name was put on rubbish but it's not doing them any favours.
So the first tip is that a good guitar should be beautiful in it's construction. If you can't caress it lovingly and admire it from any angle, then don't buy it.
Chinese doesn't have to mean low quality. There are many superb guitars coming out of China now, and many of the big brands are made there. So the second tip is to take each guitar on it's merits and reject those with low quality, not those made in particular countries.
Not everyone has the same guitar, and not everyone likes the same tone. It is totally subjective. What I love my neighbour might hate, but it's all music. So if you like a guitar, and everyone else buys something else ... no problem. As long as you love what you have.
So my last tip is ... Remember always that buying a guitar isn't like finding a wife. There isn't only one out there that's meant for you. There may be a hundred. (I'm working towards that now!) Actually there's probably thousands that would suit you right now.
So don't rush too much, get any guitar you're interested in played by someone who can. Get an honest opinion about the individual instrument (salesmen aren't always thieves in disguise so get opinions from them too). And make sure you love looking at it. It has to be attractive enough to keep calling you back even when you get depressed about your progress.
Keep in touch.

[mattz196]

Great post Karcey, sage advice beautifully written,

[knight46]

Well said Karcey.

[thodwris]

+1 to Karcey...

[Rockerbob]

The only thing I can add is that a good instrument is a joy. Price does not always indicate quality, but better guitars usually do cost more. Decide how high your budget will allow and plan on spending at least that much.

[eddiez152]

Well put by all. I think it would be good to set the spending budget.
Then see what comes up in that amount on the net. Stay away from the TV ad's, you may be disappointed. If possible, go to the store with that list and try them out if you can.
1. Set the budget
2. Check them out on the net including opinions.
3. Don't rush this, in-spite the fact your anxious to get something.
4. Try in the store if possible.
5. Do not be influenced by what other may say. Trust your ears and hands. You'll know. Ask questions.
6. Decide what kind of music you want to play. In all and acoustic-electric generally works well overall.

Have fun and good luck with this. Try out some chords on each guitar, that will help you decide as to which is easier to play.

[almaink]

Only thing I'll ad is to try a few different guitars even if they are the same model. I tried 15 different Epiphone SG's before I found the one I bought.

[eddiez152]

Good point. All guitars even the same are not created equal.

[victoriatxman]

Hey - thank you for all of the replies and input. Today I stopped by one the two better equipped music stores today. Unfortunately, they did not carry Epiphone nor did they really have any opinions on them. The electric acoustic guitars that they carried started at around $250.00 - just for the guitar. My budget really is around the $200.00 range. I am usually the type of person who wants the better quality products but in this case I want to make sure I will have a solid interest in learning the guitar before I spend a lot of money on one. Or another the way that I have looked at it is if I only had a dollar to spend and I found an old used guitar at the goodwill store for a $1.00 - I would feel very lucky to have found that guitar. I could at least learn the basics and fundamentals on that guitar and then worry about sound quality at a later time. I will keep you posted on my endeavors. Thanks again.....

[Stratrat]

victoriatxman said:

...My budget really is around the $200.00 range. I am usually the type of person who wants the better quality products but in this case I want to make sure I will have a solid interest in learning the guitar before I spend a lot of money on one....

In that case, check out the guitars at Rondo Music. Their SX and Agile series are very budget-friendly and are not bad guitars at all. I've read a number of reviews on other boards where people have bought them and been extremely satisfied with them - and not just beginners, either. You could do *much* worse for a "starter" guitar.

[victoriatxman]

Anxiously awaiting the delivery of my new guitar!! I made the plunge and ordered the Epiphone 4E starter kit. I want to thank everyone for their valuable input. I should get it in on Thursday. Will I be able to give any valuable input as to how it plays or it's quality?? Ahh.. Probably not!! Because I don't what in the heck I will be doing!! But - I am sure going to give it a go at learning!!

Thanks Again Everyone....

Rhett

[mattz196]

Congrats Rhett you could always post us a picture.

[starsailor]

Congratulations on the new guitar Rhett, have fun:smilinguitar:

[victoriatxman]

Well, I know it's been a few weeks since I posted - work has kept me from my new guitar and from allowing me some quality time with it. So far I have been fairly happy with the quality of guitar for the price that I paid for the setup ($199.95) with free shipping. I did notice some some "lacquer over spray" from the factory. Either it got over spray on it after they polished it or they failed to polish in a couple of areas - a rough feel. Now I found this funny. I spent probably 3 nights trying to get the guitar in tune with the included Epiphone electronic tuner. I wanted to pull my hair out!! Went out and purchased some $5.50 Martin strings at the local Hastings music store. They did seem to improve the sound. Remember I don't know what in the heck I am doing! I finally got a chance earlier in the week to log onto guitarforbeginners and use the online midi tuner. I think I got them fairly close for now. I went through the included Epiphone DVD training video - it was O.K. I have observed so far that there is a lot to a guitar when it comes to playing. I have never really played a musical instrument in my life before. I really have a lot to learn. I looked at the lessons for the true beginners on this site. I plan on trying to follow these lessons and see how it goes. I have attached some photos of my Epiphone PR4E setup. I hope it might help someone else in the decision making process. First time uploading - so I hope it works....

Rhett

Attached Files

•  08-23-08_2354.jpg   183.39K   13 downloads
•  08-23-08_2356.jpg   212.17K   4 downloads
•  08-23-08_2357.jpg   173.59K   6 downloads
•  08-23-08_2358.jpg   52.26K   3 downloads
•  08-23-08_2359.jpg   269.48K   6 downloads

[GotDeeBlues]

Congrats, victoriatxman. That setup should be just fine. Does the guitar have built-in tuner with the EQ or did they give you a separate unit? If you have a small separate one, try plugging the guitar to it with the cord they sent, there should be an input on the tuner. Some are just easier to get in tune with that way. I have a $40 Seiko laying around that's only accurate using that method.

[victoriatxman]

GotDeeBlues - the guitar setup came with a separate electronic tuner that does have the plugin port. I am sure that I will get better with tuning as time and practice goes on. Thanks for the reply and input...

Rhett

[thodwris]

Congratulations on the new guitar Rhett!It looks great!I guess now you will have to work on some tune and post it to see how it sounds ...Have fun...

[Sentry]

If you don't like the epiphone electronic tuner you could try the Korg GA-50. Costs about $15. That's what I have and I find it very hassle-free, and I don't even know what I'm doing!*

Not sure if it means anything coming from a beginner like me, but that looks like a great setup and a great bargain from where I'm sitting.


*The statement "I don't even know what I'm doing" could truthfully be appended to every statement I make, regardless of whether the subject is guitars or not.