Would you buy this guitar?

[CrashDMB237]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Full-Size-41-Natural-Acoustic-Dreadnought-Guitar_W0QQitemZ7360538274QQcategoryZ2385QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

I'm a begginer and looking to get a semi-decent guitar to start learning on. I don't need an amazing guitar to go out put on shows with, just something I can sit in my chair and learn on. I don't know much about guitars, but does this look good to you guitar-gurus?

[Rob]

Never. You'll be fighting the guitar, rather than learning how to play it. You need a halfway-decent guitar to learn. Use one of the other beginner threads around here for info on brands to look for, such as Seagull, Alvarez, etc.

[lezcuff]

I like Garrison for a beginner guitar. the two hardest things about learning guitar:
A. Tuning the guitar. This is important.
B. never stop that strumming hand. never. The wrong chord at the right time is MUCH better than the right chord at the wrong time.

[WhoYourWith]

even if you pick up a sort of decent one like a rogue dreadnought from someplace like musiciansfriend.com (only 60 bucks), its better than getting a no-name brand like that on ebay that has no return policy and proably pretty shitty warranty if any.

[nonewdirections]

No, it looks like a terrible deal, and did you see the shipping on that?!

[CrashDMB237]

I'm looking at that Rogue on musiciansfriend.com. I think its just what I need. Good for a begginer yet not too shitty. Plus a decent price. Thanks!

[CrashDMB237]

I'm assuming it doesn't really matter what kind of picks I get correct? Would it be wise to get an extra set of strings as well?

[nonewdirections]

I'm assuming it doesn't really matter what kind of picks I get correct? Would it be wise to get an extra set of strings as well?

Do NOT get Fender picks. I highly advise Dunlop Tortex (.60-.73, either the Orange or Yellow ones). Extra strings are a good idea, I'd go for Elixir Polyweb Lights.

[CrashDMB237]

OK thanks alot, I'm assuming that one millimeter or centimeter doesn't make a difference with the picks. Looks like I gots me a guitar.

[nonewdirections]

OK thanks alot, I'm assuming that one millimeter or centimeter doesn't make a difference with the picks. Looks like I gots me a guitar.

You'd be able to tell the difference between .60's and .73's, but either will be good for your purposes. Other picks might be labeled medium or medium-heavy or something like that, and that is what you'd want to go for. But for strong, neutral feel and decent grip, Dunlop Tortex picks are worlds better than standard Fender picks. Fender picks are made of bizarrely smooth and slippery plastic that easily can fall out of your hand while playing.

[ChadRap127]

Taylor Big Baby :)

[CrashDMB237]

I'm 6'4'' and I'd say I got some big ass hands, would it be wise of me to get the .73?

[ChadRap127]

I'm 6'4'' and I'd say I got some big ass hands, would it be wise of me to get the .73? Its how thick the pick is... not how wide-long it is.. go with the Orange Dunlops.... or anything that says "Medium" if you get too thin.. then u get a clicky noise..

[BothEdmbfaN]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Full-Size-41-Natural-Acoustic-Dreadnought-Guitar_W0QQitemZ7360538274QQcategoryZ2385QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

I'm a begginer and looking to get a semi-decent guitar to start learning on. I don't need an amazing guitar to go out put on shows with, just something I can sit in my chair and learn on. I don't know much about guitars, but does this look good to you guitar-gurus?

Don't get it, I got one, and it's a peice of shit.

[lezcuff]

Get your first guitar from a local guitar shop. If something breaks, you want people and a warranty. Try to find a shop where they do their own repairs / setup on site.

You will need one spare set of strings, because one always breaks when you are playing it, and you don't want to have to stop playing just because of a broken string. Most people play guitar when the music stores are already closed, so having spares is a great idea. They are never there when you need them, unless you bring them with you. That means, keep them in your guitar case so if you take your guitar somewhere, you have your spare strings.

Get a tuner that you can use. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK THE GUITAR PEOPLE AT YOUR LOCAL STORE TO SHOW YOU HOW TO USE YOUR TUNER. Tuning the guitar is the hardest thing to learn when you are starting out. Everything else will seem hideous if you do not tune up properly. YOu may have to retune the guitar between songs (sometimes that's why performers switch guitars frequently... after three songs the guitar has been driven out of tune). New strings stretch, so tuning will be more necessary early on. You might want to thrash a bit with your new strings before trying to do precision tuning.

As for picks, I abandoned them for quite some time, but am starting to use them again. On acoustic guitar, I use the .48, the .60 sometimes but I break strings if I use it too much (I am a rough nasty player) thicker picks rip strings off my guitar at about three per minute. For electric, .60 seems to be the minimum effective size. For bass, you want one thicker again, maybe the .88

The choice of pick also has this factor: what material. I like the dunlop nylon picks because they have good grip even if you sweat a bit. The smooth picks fly out of my hands (sometimes into the sound hole of the acoustic). I throw picks away at a rate of about one for every three songs. They just fly out of my hands. That's why guitar players have spare picks jammed into their microphones and other places. Only a few times have I worn a pick out, but I know people who insist on breaking their picks in. They have some extra notches, grooves and lips that I don't think are strickly necessary.

I try not to get ritualistic about picks or strings because I think having superstitions gives you excuses to perform poorly and/or to not play at all. Can't play for you now because I can't find my pick... DUH.

Good luck. Buy at a local store so you can talk to real guitar people. You shouldn't be too battered by egos at the guitar store. Most of those folk have a more humble, human and reasonable approach to playing. They are not used to talking to David Gilmore every day. They are used to students, learners and well-meaning enthusiasts. If they give you a dose of ego, don't give them a dose of your money.

Visit lots of stores and try their beginning guitars out. Learn a simple song or two. Proudest monkey for just getting the picking/strumming is a great one. Two string wonder. Then there's Watchtower. Am G F. Three barre chords and/or easy fingering. Get that rhythm going and just keep it flicking. Or just do a Em two finger open string chord. So you can hear what the body of the guitar sounds like before you buy it.

That way, when you finally get your first guitar, you will already have some songs to play.

[WhoYourWith]

personally i stay away from picks, i like to be able to use all my fingers, just find it easier to switch back and forth and use both picking and strumming, but if you're a beginner, pick type doesnt matter too much imo. lemme know how that dreadnought works out for you, i lost my acoustic down in new orleans in the hurricane and im thinkin of picking something like that up just as an interim guitar until i find a nice new one. thanks.

[Rob]

Pick type is huge as a beginner. The thinner, the better. Most beginners have a heavy strum- a heavy pick guage will lead to broken strings galore.

[WhoYourWith]

thats a good point, i just meant that as a beginner you wouldn't really know the sound difference/feel difference between picks, but good point about the strings :thumbsup

[Isweetwhirled]

anyone else notice that it is a left handed guitar? hope that is what you are looking for....

[CrashDMB237]

You're not talking about the musiciansfriend.com one right? That looks pretty right handed to me.

[Isweetwhirled]

no the one from the ebay link originally posted

[DMBand520]

Pick type is huge as a beginner. The thinner, the better. Most beginners have a heavy strum- a heavy pick guage will lead to broken strings galore.

Not only thickness but material is a big deal too. I like the Dunlop Nylon's they are a lot more flexible than the Tortex. I like the .73s b/c they are still rigid enough to pick individual notes but flexible enough to strum. For a beginner I would say something around a .50 would be better though. The Nylons also have great grip!

[jBURCH]

Do NOT get Fender picks. I highly advise Dunlop Tortex (.60-.73, either the Orange or Yellow ones). Extra strings are a good idea, I'd go for Elixir Polyweb Lights.

nice those are the same picks i use (the orange ones). im playin dave 85% of the time i pick up my guitar and they are perfect for playin dave IMO. and elixirs are probably my favorite. i still havent decided between poly or nano

[jBURCH]

dont buy that guitar. you can find a much better beginners guitar. i started on an epiphone. i recommend one of the second end guitars. takamine->jasmine. gibson->epiphone

[pkpro1]

don't buy that guitar.

you should goto the music store in your neighborhood- check out yamaha, brownswille, or takamine. they all make good starters for $200 or less.

if you're really desperate, the carlo robelli is around $110