Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Guitar question

I've heard some good sounding Kays,and Harmonys,.I wouldn't invest too much money in one at first,but I figure you can probably pick up a decent one at a pawn shop,after all a lot of druggies can play,and I wouldn't eliminate nylon.They aint too loud,but they make for an easy action.I'd say they are probably the easiest to learn on

This^. You can buy a decent acoustic for $300-$500. Check Musicians Friend and Guitar Center online as well as your local music stores. I would suggest an acoustic with a solid spruce top as opposed to a laminated top. They sound a lot better. Most of your local stores will match the online prices.

Definitley don't rule out used...

Check local pawn shops, music stores or Craigslist. Lot of people think they wanna learn guitar, drop the grenade and then find,out it takes work and give it up. You could get a higher dollar guitar for a little to a lot cheaper.

Couple of years ago some friends asked me help them pick a guitar out for their teenage son. They had about $400 to spend. I recommended a Seagull intro model,but found a barely used one higher end model) in the local music store with solid cedar top and gloss finish for $500 and talked them into throwing in the case.

Great guitar and the boy loved it. Whatever you do, get one with a good action. Tone can come later (and at much greater expense!)

As others have warned, it can become an addiction. But also a lifetime of joy especially with likeminded friends...

last Saturday with my two bros....

You guys are scratching an old itch here - about 50 years' worth. Have played studied/played/written music forever and been decent on several different instruments - but always have wanted to study and play guitar well. And, do quite a bit of listening to good guitar players - simply love the sound.

Seems like every year I say (or think) - "this is it - am going to start playing guitar" - but other instruments to practice and play and continuing stuff to write simply gobble up the time. And, have always wondered what to buy as a "starter".

So, thanks very much for the comments on Taylor, Fender CP-100, Takamine, Rainsong, etc. My hands are on the smallish side, and goofing-around experience indicates that I need a somewhat narrow neck and closer frets. Any pointed advice there?

Thanks again.

I am 65 and started this year. Getting to where it actually sounds like I am playing a guitar, after 7-8 months of lessons. Started with a beginner Alvarez I had but moved up to a Seagull a couple of months ago for $300. Highly recommend the Seagull for a beginner.

A bit higher priced than any mention so far(around $1000), but I think Eastman guitars are one of the best values for the buck out there right now. Solid Adirondack spuce top and solid wood sides, scalloped x bracing.
If they ever come out with a 12 fret dreadnought slot head I'll put some serious thought into getting one.... ya, it can get addictive!

For a starter guitar, you are looking for one with an easy action. This will make it easier to play, which will make it easier for you to stick with it.

Guitars are like fly rods... cheap ones will make it MUCH harder to stick with it...

There are some cheap $200 guitars that play fine. The Yamaha FS700s guitars I've seen come through the store play very well. They're thin and bright sounding but the action is fine. You can always get a cheap gut (nylon) string and it will be relatively easy to fret. Always have a good guitar player look em over first. If he thinks they play well, all you gotta do then is spend the time it takes to learn.

I've seen a lot of guys spend big bucks on solid wood guitars when they'd have been much better served by a plywood guitar with a nice action. Most of the pros on the road go for plywood guitars with good electronics. The high dollar, solid wood guitars are hyper sensitive to weather/humidity changes. It isn't any easier to learn on $3600 HD28v or 914 than it is on a $199 FS700 that is set up well.

I would suggest a Fender Stratocaster to learn on if don't just have an acoustic at first. They have thin necks and are very easy to play. Different models of various brands have different neck "feels". I had a Gibson Southern Jumbo that sounded great, but felt like a 2x4. The one I have now has a thin neck. The strings will be closer together, but the distance between frets will not vary.

Good advice. I was lucky enough to have my Dad's stuff to learn on. Save the pain for an acoustic later.

Has anyone tried the JDL Bridge Doctor or Mitchel'e PlateMate? I just ordered them for a Cortez J-6000-12.

I'm surprised no one has suggested starting out on a nylon stringed guitar - much easier on the finger tips.

Also, learn a basic 1-4-5 chord progression and you'll be able to play a million and one songs. (G-C-D, E-A-B, C-F-G, etc.)