I am looking at getting a guitar for the missus for her birthday but I have no idea what I am looking for and also what is the best online shop to buy it from?
Best Place to Buy a Guitar
PTG Benny on 23/05/2018 - 11:56
Comments
Hmmm, yes and no. Buying a guitar is very personal (for a musician, and passionate guitarist) .
For a non-muso, new to guitar, who might not ever even play the thing… get 1 she will love the look of I guess.
I did this when my wife needed a wheelchair. Only had to wait 7 months for repeat aldi special buy.
Bugger. If you'd waited a bit longer you mightn't've needed it at all!
The wife? Or the wheelchair ?
Have a price/budget in mind? Experienced/beginner?
Acoustic/electric?
Acoustic and beginner (I hope she isn't reading this)
Best to go into a store, that way they can set the guitar up properly. Buying online and not having it setup properly would only make it harder for her to learn on.
For acoustic, for complete beginner female, (female who doesn't want her fingers to bleed/hurt) definitely get a nylon string guitar aka classical guitar .
Personally I was quite proud of myself 1st time i made my fingers bleed from playing steel string for such an extended period, and I tried to make my calloused fingertips harder and rougher… But most females, probably will rather their fingertips remain soft and smooth, and not bleeding and calloused.
If you get a steel string guitar for a beginner, they will likely give up, and/or not play as long a period as they would like to, due to the pain in fingertips . (The pain dissipates once you build callouses on fingertips, and pain can be secondary, if you're really getting into the music you're creating).
If you don’t know then why not go to a shop together and she can pick out one , try it out and then you can buy it.
People prefer different things and buying one online isn’t the way to do things unless you know what you want
+1
Each guitar feels different and she should pick one that is comfortable for her to 'hug' when she plays it.
This is like buying dentures for a friend.
I got my classical guitar from Marquez, an online store, about ten years ago. I am very happy with it. It holds tune very well, I only find myself adjusting the tune like once every two months, and I play on it once or twice a week. It sounds lovely and it is nice to look at. I think I've only changed the strings about twice in all the time I have had it. It was quite cheap too, like around $70 or so.
Damn that's cheap!
Can you play Misirlou?
Budget?
I was thinking up to $500
OK, might be best to take her to try out guitars. Every guitar will feel different, and she may hate the one you pick. At that price range, your options are limited. There are a few Fenders in that range, Yamaha's start from around $400 as well.
Guitars are a very personal item, so again, go shopping with her, it will still be as awesome as surprising her, but at least you get to do it together.
Here you go. Yamaha FG830 at $499.
I have the Yamaha FG730S and it's a great beginner/intermediate guitar. The FG830 is the updated model.
I was thinking up to $500
$500! O_O
Who needs a guitar in 2018? Music is made with computers!!
What kind of Guitar would this be? Acoustic or Electric?
My 2 cents would be:
1. Buy a decent quality guitar as a poor or entry level one may not sound good and dampen your/wife's interest real soon.
2. Buy a good tuner as well. If getting an acoustic, get one with a built in tuner cos there is nothing worse than a beginner with a poorly tuned guitar.Artist guitars would be a decent bet.
https://www.artistguitars.com.au/But yeah better to go into a local shop and try out guitars. Even a decently used one (but good quality) would be good.
If I was to choose a starter guitar, I would get the Fender FA-100. Its well within your budget and comes with a starter pack.
Review here.
https://www.theguitarjunky.com/fender-fa100-review/Pawn shop. Lots of failed dreams of stardom there.
My old man bought my first dog of a guitar at a pawn shop back in the mid 90's. Interest came and waned over time. In my early 20's after receiving a very nice guitar for my 21st from my Grandmother, I started to take it more seriously. After madly studying 80's rock/metal bands, old folk artists, going through all the phases of discovery, I can now affirm my status of being very competent rhythm and lead guitarist (I have also been singing all my life, but that's another story). My real passion was the drums but there were just too many difficulties to use it in the past, a Roland electronic kit fixed that problem but I think I missed the boat as I've sunk way too many years into guitar practice.
Basically, it's always worth learning how to play, but it will take many years to really make anything of it.
Acoustic is preferable, makes the transition to electric much easier anyway.
I hear hotel lobbies are a good bet.
Take her shopping to a music store (local on in your area, so she can go back to ask questions) and let her pick one. Shouldn't cost anywhere near $500. She wants to feel good holding it, let her pick one that brings her joy. She might want a good brand (maybe fender) or might want the cheapest available. If she can already read music/play an instrument - then she will be pretty fast at learning. My daughter (who did violin from grade 3 at school) taught herself to play a guitar very quickly as she was already familar with strings, reading music etc.
IF she already plays, then buying as a "surprise" is a little like letting your maiden aunt who talks about "the bookface" buy you a graphic card. Strand "pawn-shop" recomendation isn't too silly. I have a cheap [~$700] Epiphone humming bird which is a close as I can get to one of my "dream" guitars, the Gibson version, but find myself enjoying and playing my $135 Morris MD500 far more, as it is as nice a tone and a far easier action and more comfortable neck for my grip^Wclench.
It was cheap from cashies as 'collectors' want the Japanese built model [Oh Tempura, Oh sushi], wheras mine, although solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides and mahogany neck, is a Korean model.If she is just starting out, then the Fender 'starter' kits as recommended above are probably your best bet. They usually have a lighter action that the Yamahas in the same range. Don't look in cashies for these tho, as they like to sell to people who see the "fender" name without checking what the original value is.
A cheap [e.g, the Freedom horrors] are OK for experience players who want something to take to a beach that may get sat on, or adolecents who want to bash out thrash, but will merely offer disappointment to someone who is just starting out.
$500 won't get you a bespoked Martin or Guild, but you should still get a decent instrument. If your partner is already a player, then at least sound her out about preferences. She may well prefer a pre-loved instrument that feels right rather than a glitzy new unit that is merely a fashion statement. More expensive isn't necessarily better - and all things being equal "shiny" << "Matt" [resonance of the soundboard means a lot]
If it's a gift, I'd not risk an online purchase with delivery damage risk. Just a hassle and you might be squeezed for time.
Plenty of stores in and around Sydney will have a good range under $500.You'll generally get a better quality acoustic for the money as they're simpler with fewer components. Having said that a friend had a total beater (Ranger?) nylon string jobbie that sounded great when he played it. Less so when I did.
For a bargain, I found when I purchased my first guitar (from a large music store in Brisbane) , I was able to negotiate a great deal.
They were happy to drop the price on the introductory starter guitar, because they then hope you will come back later, to buy more guitars once you get into it more.
I love my vintage acoustics (if solid top, the wood almost always gets better acoustically with age) . But for a gift, a 40 yr old guitar may not be suited. Depends on the person gift is for though of course. Also buying a vintage guitar would likely be very tricky, for a novice, and the store may overcharge you if you don't know what you're buying.Just a thought, maybe get a guitar for both of you (make sure hers is equal or better, since its her birthday) .
The 'gift' could be learning the instrument together, maybe a good bonding thing.
Only if you want to learn, and have a decent ear for music helps.
Buying a guitar is a very personal thing.
I would take your partner to a physical shop and let her try out a few different types / styles, and let her decide.
Buying guitars online is only for the very experienced and knowledgeable.