Guitar for beginner

[jimmyj]

Hey all,

Basically I've been bumming around with my mums old guitar for a few years now, and have recently decided that I would really like to start learning in ernest.

Problem is, I've no idea what I should be looking for in a guitar!

I've looked around here a fair bit, checked out a couple of useful threads on the same topics, problem is a lot of the jargon used i dont understand... guess I'm way to new at this guitar thing!

I guess this is a call out for some assistance, but also a quick question... considering my budget is fairly limited (3-400) should I look for something now, or keep bumming around on this crappy guitar n save for something better? (this guitar has been knocked around for over 20 years without a case etc... I'm surprised there aren't any holes in it!)

And just to revive the age old question... accoustic or electric?

Cheers in advance

[steggz]

answer to age old question: depends on what u are going to do with it. for me, i've got a $100 student guitar, but it does it lets me play what i want to whenever, without having to worry about leads, noise etc. for $400, youd find quite a few decent guitars i reckon, so have a look around and see if theres anything u like.

[lklei2]

hi jimmyj,

you dont really need a expensive guitar to be starting off with, so don't worry bout that, the first guitar i learnt on was a barley workin electric from the early 80's and thats what i learnt the basics on. For a decent sounding cheap guitar to start on... well personally i think you should go for a Ashton, there a pretty good cheap aussie made guitar. :-)

As for what type of guitar (electric or acoustic) to get... like i said i learnt on a piece of barely working junk, so it doesnt matter a great deal.. how ever i found that i learnt alot more when i picked up an acoustic so.. everyones different just pick one that you would want to be really good at in the long run..

hope this helps you out a bit...
later

[SpooN]

I would myabe go for an acoustic first up, you can play them anywhere and i think it teaches you better technique.

I am biased owning a music shop and all, but the Ashton packs are a great place to start. All the new guitar have built in tuners and are made pretty well.

I f you wanted something a little better Ibanez make some nice packs as well.

The bottom line is that whatever you buy has to inspire you to play, if you look at it and think meh! its not for you, the guitar you pick has to make you want to play it.

[Troy Dann]

Everything here that's been said is totally true, you don't need something flash to start off with - seeing as you won't be doing stadium concerts just yet! Hehe I started on a Squier strat and after a few years of getting to know the basics and starting to gig, then I looked at other guitars. I picked up a Fender Tele, but Spoon has a really good point - the guitar has to make you want to play it. Every time I see my tele I can't help but pick it up and hit out a few songs, and I'm sure everyone else is exactly the same with their beloved guitars. Pick something you like looking at, and as long as it sounds good enough to practise with, go for it.