Picking a guitar isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially if you’re just beginning. When you’re just starting out, you probably don’t even know the basic things to look at when you’re going shopping for a guitar. That’s totally okay! That’s why I created this guide; to help you along your journey of picking out the perfect guitar. My goal is to introduce you to the best
Before we get into talking about specific guitars, there are a few things you should keep in mind when shopping around:
- Price
- Knowing what you want
- Brand
What to Know About Price
The price of the guitar is going to be one of the most crucial parts of the shopping process. A quality
Know What You Want
As you’re shopping, think about what you are hoping to get out of your first guitar. Are you looking for something that has a better appearance than it does sound? Are you interested in purchasing a guitar that is going to last you through your constant traveling to new venues? There are guitars that are made for specific genres, so do research and see what types of guitars best fit the genre that you are interested in playing.
The Brand
The brand of the guitar will truly speak about the quality of the instrument. Before making any final decisions, make sure that you do research before your purchase. Brands like Epiphone and Yamaha have strict quality control producers that they have set in place, that are performed before the guitars leave the factor. This means that there are lower chances for you to receive a lemon or a poor quality guitar, in comparison to purchasing a guitar that has a lesser known name brand. While sometimes this does mean that the price is going to be a bit higher, you should be comforted knowing that you are going to receive a top-quality instrument.
All of the guitars in this guide are six string acoustic guitars; all of the guitars that I talk about in this article are aimed at a
Yamaha FG830
Features: The FG series that Yamaha produces is one of the oldest and most popular acoustic guitar lines that was ever made. At one point in time, the FG830 was the most popular guitar in the world
- Solid Sitka Spruce top
- Rosewood back and sides
- Standard dreadnought body
- Die-cast tuners
- Rich overtones
- Improved sustain
- Consistent quality
- Stays in tune
- Comfortable
- Easy and fun to play
- Rosewood bridge
Pros
- Affordable
- Quality projections
- Great guitar for both beginners and intermediate players
- Excellent intonation
- Quality sound with or without pick
- Deep tone
Cons
- Due to setup and intonation being completed by luthiers, you may have to take a trip to your local guitar shop to get hardware tuning
- Questionable sustain
Rich overtones and improved sustain thanks to the rosewood back and sides deliver improved sound through greater ‘depth’.
Seagull S6 Original
Features: The Seagull S6 Original is best known to be the guitar that is one of the best models to learn guitar on.
- Solid cedar top
- Wild cherry back
- Neck is made from silver maple leaf
- Mid-range sound projection
- Standard dreadnought body
- Premium tonewoods
- Semi-gloss finish
- Clean, bright, and warm tone
Pros
- Saddle and nut are from GraphTech
- Has excellent dynamic contrast
- Great for live performances
- Machine pegs ensure that the guitar stays in tune for a good period of time
- Has won a whole list of awards throughout the years
Cons
- This guitar is one of the higher priced
beginner ’s level guitars out on the market
Features: Solid cedar top Wild cherry back and sides Rosewood fingerboard and bridge Tusq nut and compensated saddle Semi-gloss lacquer finish. Winner of several awards, the S6 is perhaps the instrument that best represents the Seagull philosophy.
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat
Features: The Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat is actually based on Tim Armstrong’s vintage 60’s acoustic. This is an acoustic-electric guitar, which means that the sound of the acoustic guitar can be projected even more, with the use of an amp. However, it still plays and sounds the same way as a regular acoustic guitar.
- Solid mahogany top
- 4-ply tortoise shell pickguard
- Sides and back are laminated mahogany
- Satin finish
- Scalloped X bracing system strengthens the body
- Maple neck
- Rosewood finger board
- Warm, mellow tone
- Fishman Isys III System
- While the body shape is classified as a dreadnought, the body of the guitar is smaller, which makes it feel more like a classic guitar
Pros
- Tim Armstrong’s signature is on the tuss rod
- Has several unique markings on the guitar
- Still has quality sound projection, even when the guitar is not plugged in
- Comfortable to play
- Balanced tone
- Bass lines have distinction
- Lightweight
Cons
- Very expensive
- Is better for people who plan on performing
- The amp is an extra cost that does not come with the guitar
- You can only use steel strings
- On some guitars, there is a slight buzzing on the G and B string
Armstrong has given his acoustic some modern mojo with pearl acrylic "Hellcat" logos on the third, fifth and seventh frets, with a pair of skulls adorning the twelfth fret.
Bristol by Blueridge BD-16
Features: Named after the city in Tennessee, the Bristol by Blueridge BR-16 is a competitively priced guitar that plays like an intermediate-level acoustic. This guitar is still made and produced in the United States of America, with Blueridge known for producing consistent quality in their guitars.
- Laminated spruce top with a mahogany body and neck
- Offers standards dreadnought body
- Natural high-gloss finish
- Seven-layer pickguard
- Die-cast chrome plated tuning pegs
- Rosewood peghead overlay
- High quality craftsmanship
- Decorative silkscreen design
- Warm tones
- Bright, rich sound
- Plays best with steel strings
- 6-ply body binding
Pros
- Blueridge guitars are still made in America!
- Great to use for country or bluegrass music
- Quality craftsmanship
- Affordable
- Excellent sustain, in comparison to other guitars at same price
Cons
- Dreadnought size makes it difficult for younger children or small people to play on
- It no a pro-quality guitar
- Sound projection does not make this a good guitar to perform with
My Overall Notes
When you’re looking to purchase your first acoustic guitar, make sure that you really take your time and consider all of the options that the guitar offers. After all, choosing the right guitar can be a painstaking process. Today’s guitar market is flooded with quality
Read our articles, watch videos, and speak with a few experienced players! Playing acoustic guitar is a wonderful experience and it certainly can be one that is life changing.
Before going out and investing in a guitar, make sure that you are passionate about playing. If you end up hating the instrument from the first day you pick it up, you will just turn out to be incredibly frustrated, and end up never picking it up again!
Once you finally have your guitar, all of the fun that comes with learning the instrument can start! Make sure that you check out our page for tips and tricks on playing!
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