hi, i have been playing irish music for a number of years, in fact it's what got me going fully on music. I love all kinds of folk music, not just traditional, more modern interpretations as well.
I am looking to buy an acoustic guitar to kind of accompany myself. Does anyone have any suggestions for a modestly priced, great sounding acoustic? Thanks for your help.
Idgie
p.s ceilidh are amazing, why is it such a difficult word to spell!!!!!!!!
Lots of people speak highly of Seagull guitars. I don't own one and have only plunked around on one for a short time so I can't speak to it. The best accompanist in my immediate area plays one and it sounds very good. They are moderately priced.
I would thorougly recommend Martin's budget range Sigma -fantastic tone for the price -amongst my other more expensive guitars I've got a Sigma 6 string D 18 which has a tone as good as it's more expensive cousin.I also have a 12 string Sigma which is great value for the money.I also agree with Steve that Seagulls are good as are Simon and Patrick which come from the same stable (or luthiers)
Alan
Why go for a fairly expwensive guitar if a well constructed good sounding item that looks the part & is not " price maintained "
because to sell fairly low brings the " big " name into disrepute
That was why resale price maintainance had to be listed as an expensive case to be charged for.
Big names would stop your supply for price cutting.
The other way tio do that is to keep the trade price high so that the dealer cannot do much. What about the very big battle about the price of jeens in the EEC
Look at a few sites like www.boorinwoodmusic.com
a FAW812eq ( under £200 ) el/acc said to be better tha a big name at over £700
www.sutherlandtrading com.
www.dannyotterson.com
Best regards
J.P.O'N
I just recently bought a Larrivée, with the help and advice of a couple of friends who are professional musicians. The guitar I ended up with is gorgeous, and well worth the investment. I don't know what your budget is, but here are a few suggestions.
1) Remember that paying more for a guitar, or choosing a highly-respected name doesn't guarantee anything. Instead, it merely increases your odds of getting a good instrument. SOME of the guitars we evaluated in every price range sounded great, and some didn't. The big-name vendors tended to sound better than the generic brands, and the pricier ones tended to sound better than the cheaper ones, but those were only tendencies; each guitar was very much its own event. You're not very likely to get a fantastic guitar for US$200, but it's possible to get one that sounds pretty good (my older guitar was a such an animal; I was lucky). You're somewhat more likely, if you're not discerning, to get a lousy guitar for $1500. The way to avoid this is to listen to and to play a bunch of them. Compare each one to the next, and notice how the inexpensive ones of the same model are generally less consistent--for good or ill--than the more expensive lines.
2) Take your time. Evaluate a scads of guitars in your price range, and choose the one that speaks to you, that feels right in your hands, and that has a nice balance across the tonal range. Generally, the lower your budget, the more time you should spend; again, the object here is to increase your odds of getting the best value. Compare like mad, and you'll get the one you like best.
3) You might like to do what I did, which is to hire a professional guitarist at his or her usual lesson rate to accompany you to a store and help you through the process. My friend was thrilled at the opportunity to go guitar shopping with someone else's money, and to be paid for it at the same time. He was able to provide a heap of advice, he saved me a lot of my time, and I got a great guitar for the effort.
4) If you're looking at solid tops rather than laminates, note that the solid top will evolve as time goes by, but that the laminate will stay pretty much the same throughout its life. The solid top will generally sound very bright and balanced towards the treble if it's new; this is because the warmth of the sound depends on some of the cell walls in the wood fracturing, and that in turn depends on the movement of the top of the sound box. The laminate simply won't flex as much, and so its sound will remain stable. According to one of the guitar technicians that I spoke to (not a salesman), Jean Larrivée used to accelerate the process of maturing a solid-top guitar by setting it up in front of speakers playing really, really loud music to get the top moving in sympathy, and leaving it there over several nights. You might not want to do that, but the more you play the guitar, the better it will sound.
5) Don't feel bad about going a bit out of your price range to get the instrument you want. You're going to have it for years; if you spend an extra hundred bucks, you'll only have to work a few hours more to pay it off--but there will be times when you'll play the thing for a few hours in a single evening.
6) Consider a second-hand guitar, especially if you can hear it before you buy it. Even if you can't, things can sometimes work out. One friend picked up an older Gibson off eBay, and it (alas) didn't sound very good at all and had several technical problems with it. However, he took it in to an excellent shop (McCabe's in Santa Monica, CA) and got them to work their magic. The results were... magical. The guitar now has a breathtaking sound and action.
Hope this helps--and congratulations in advance on getting the new box!
I highly recommend Martin's all mahogany guitars. I own a 00-15 Grand Concert and paid a little over $500 at a local shop for a new one a few years ago. It's all solid wood (laminates), top of the line construction, no frills, with lifetime warranty. I've been playing it at sessions for two years now and the tone has opened up beautifully. I always get compliments on the tone of the guitar (in spite of my playing In fact a few sessions ago someone offered to buy out of my hands, but of course I turned it down. I like it for both fingerstyle and flatpicking. It's a great deal from a great guitar maker. I can't say enough about it, I love that guitar!
Ps. Martin Simpson (fingerstyle guitarist) says "Play the best instrument that you can afford. A new or different instrument can be an inspiration, and I'm always open to inspiration. I regard my instruments as much more than tools."
I've always had a hard time with the addage "buy the best instrument you can afford". It implies that the most expensive instrument is the best, which is not always true. Sometimes it's just overpriced or has all kinds of cosmetic add-ons that really don't make it any easier to play or sound any better.
It doesn't sound to me like Simpson is suggesting that you buy the most expensive guitar you find. Rather, it sounds like he's suggesting that people find an insturment that speaks to them, and the sad fact is that often low-end production guitars don't have the voice a player is looking for. That doesn't mean that more money is necessarily getting you more guitar, but it does help your odds.
The best instrument for a novice is another sort of beast entirely. I find that "starter instruments" are often discouraging to the novice, who thinks that the thing sounds like rubbish because they don't know what they're doing, when the guitar is simply useless. I've had students bring half-size classical guitars with half-inch action and no intonation to a lesson - there's nothing I can teach you that will make that guitar sound good. So a decent guitar is essential, and that means putting a few bucks into it.
On the other hand, I'd suggest that a novice guitarist not sink a lot of money in their first instrument, because you will almost certainly spend the first few years learning what your style is like, and until then you don't really know what the right guitar for you will be. If you find that you have a light touch, you'll want a lightly-built guitar that responds well to that - that guitar would probably not sound very good played by a heavier hand.
My advice to a novice player is to get an instrument with a solid top and very little decoration that sounds good when played by the friend you bring along to play it for you. Also, it's important to fit the guitar to your body. This is mostly a matter of smaller people not buying larger guitars - that's just not comfortable. Around here (Portland, Oregon) you can get something like that for under $500. Spending much more than that on a first guitar seems to me an extravagance. Martin's advice really comes in once you've had a few years to know what the best guitar you can afford will be.
I agree with everything Michael B said, I also partially agree with Steve M. - I still think blanket advice like "buy the best guitar you can afford" can be misleading. Moreso when someone's brand new to an instrument & doesn't know what suits them. I think Michael's advice is the most sound advice posted on this site in a while. Sure, a pretzel necked, half sized guitar won't get you anywhere, but a seagull or an epiphone will for lots less than a top of the line professional guitar. After all guitars are a dime a dozen & Idgie might even be able to borrow (or barter, loan etc) a guitar from a friend which will start them off.
buying a guitar
buying a guitar
hi, i have been playing irish music for a number of years, in fact it's what got me going fully on music. I love all kinds of folk music, not just traditional, more modern interpretations as well.
I am looking to buy an acoustic guitar to kind of accompany myself. Does anyone have any suggestions for a modestly priced, great sounding acoustic? Thanks for your help.
Idgie
p.s ceilidh are amazing, why is it such a difficult word to spell!!!!!!!!
# Posted on October 28th 2002 by idgie
Re: buying a guitar
Lots of people speak highly of Seagull guitars. I don't own one and have only plunked around on one for a short time so I can't speak to it. The best accompanist in my immediate area plays one and it sounds very good. They are moderately priced.
Steve
# Posted on October 29th 2002 by SteveKendall
Re: buying a guitar
I would thorougly recommend Martin's budget range Sigma -fantastic tone for the price -amongst my other more expensive guitars I've got a Sigma 6 string D 18 which has a tone as good as it's more expensive cousin.I also have a 12 string Sigma which is great value for the money.I also agree with Steve that Seagulls are good as are Simon and Patrick which come from the same stable (or luthiers)
Alan
# Posted on October 29th 2002 by Alanmmcgregor
Re: buying a guitar
Why go for a fairly expwensive guitar if a well constructed good sounding item that looks the part & is not " price maintained "
because to sell fairly low brings the " big " name into disrepute
That was why resale price maintainance had to be listed as an expensive case to be charged for.
Big names would stop your supply for price cutting.
The other way tio do that is to keep the trade price high so that the dealer cannot do much. What about the very big battle about the price of jeens in the EEC
Look at a few sites like www.boorinwoodmusic.com
a FAW812eq ( under £200 ) el/acc said to be better tha a big name at over £700
www.sutherlandtrading com.
www.dannyotterson.com
Best regards
J.P.O'N
# Posted on October 29th 2002 by boorinwood
Re: buying a guitar
Thanks for your help and advice
idgie
# Posted on October 29th 2002 by idgie
Re: buying a guitar
I just recently bought a Larrivée, with the help and advice of a couple of friends who are professional musicians. The guitar I ended up with is gorgeous, and well worth the investment. I don't know what your budget is, but here are a few suggestions.
1) Remember that paying more for a guitar, or choosing a highly-respected name doesn't guarantee anything. Instead, it merely increases your odds of getting a good instrument. SOME of the guitars we evaluated in every price range sounded great, and some didn't. The big-name vendors tended to sound better than the generic brands, and the pricier ones tended to sound better than the cheaper ones, but those were only tendencies; each guitar was very much its own event. You're not very likely to get a fantastic guitar for US$200, but it's possible to get one that sounds pretty good (my older guitar was a such an animal; I was lucky). You're somewhat more likely, if you're not discerning, to get a lousy guitar for $1500. The way to avoid this is to listen to and to play a bunch of them. Compare each one to the next, and notice how the inexpensive ones of the same model are generally less consistent--for good or ill--than the more expensive lines.
2) Take your time. Evaluate a scads of guitars in your price range, and choose the one that speaks to you, that feels right in your hands, and that has a nice balance across the tonal range. Generally, the lower your budget, the more time you should spend; again, the object here is to increase your odds of getting the best value. Compare like mad, and you'll get the one you like best.
3) You might like to do what I did, which is to hire a professional guitarist at his or her usual lesson rate to accompany you to a store and help you through the process. My friend was thrilled at the opportunity to go guitar shopping with someone else's money, and to be paid for it at the same time. He was able to provide a heap of advice, he saved me a lot of my time, and I got a great guitar for the effort.
4) If you're looking at solid tops rather than laminates, note that the solid top will evolve as time goes by, but that the laminate will stay pretty much the same throughout its life. The solid top will generally sound very bright and balanced towards the treble if it's new; this is because the warmth of the sound depends on some of the cell walls in the wood fracturing, and that in turn depends on the movement of the top of the sound box. The laminate simply won't flex as much, and so its sound will remain stable. According to one of the guitar technicians that I spoke to (not a salesman), Jean Larrivée used to accelerate the process of maturing a solid-top guitar by setting it up in front of speakers playing really, really loud music to get the top moving in sympathy, and leaving it there over several nights. You might not want to do that, but the more you play the guitar, the better it will sound.
5) Don't feel bad about going a bit out of your price range to get the instrument you want. You're going to have it for years; if you spend an extra hundred bucks, you'll only have to work a few hours more to pay it off--but there will be times when you'll play the thing for a few hours in a single evening.
6) Consider a second-hand guitar, especially if you can hear it before you buy it. Even if you can't, things can sometimes work out. One friend picked up an older Gibson off eBay, and it (alas) didn't sound very good at all and had several technical problems with it. However, he took it in to an excellent shop (McCabe's in Santa Monica, CA) and got them to work their magic. The results were... magical. The guitar now has a breathtaking sound and action.
Hope this helps--and congratulations in advance on getting the new box!
---Michael B.
# Posted on October 30th 2002 by MichaelBolton
Re: buying a guitar
thanks a lot Michael. Think I'll take your advice.
Cheers
idgie
# Posted on October 30th 2002 by idgie
Re: buying a guitar
I highly recommend Martin's all mahogany guitars. I own a 00-15 Grand Concert and paid a little over $500 at a local shop for a new one a few years ago. It's all solid wood (laminates), top of the line construction, no frills, with lifetime warranty. I've been playing it at sessions for two years now and the tone has opened up beautifully. I always get compliments on the tone of the guitar (in spite of my playing
In fact a few sessions ago someone offered to buy out of my hands, but of course I turned it down. I like it for both fingerstyle and flatpicking. It's a great deal from a great guitar maker. I can't say enough about it, I love that guitar!
# Posted on November 2nd 2002 by SteveM
Re: buying a guitar
Ps. Martin Simpson (fingerstyle guitarist) says "Play the best instrument that you can afford. A new or different instrument can be an inspiration, and I'm always open to inspiration. I regard my instruments as much more than tools."
# Posted on November 3rd 2002 by SteveM
Re: buying a guitar
I've always had a hard time with the addage "buy the best instrument you can afford". It implies that the most expensive instrument is the best, which is not always true. Sometimes it's just overpriced or has all kinds of cosmetic add-ons that really don't make it any easier to play or sound any better.
# Posted on November 3rd 2002 by Mad Baloney
Re: buying a guitar
It doesn't sound to me like Simpson is suggesting that you buy the most expensive guitar you find. Rather, it sounds like he's suggesting that people find an insturment that speaks to them, and the sad fact is that often low-end production guitars don't have the voice a player is looking for. That doesn't mean that more money is necessarily getting you more guitar, but it does help your odds.
The best instrument for a novice is another sort of beast entirely. I find that "starter instruments" are often discouraging to the novice, who thinks that the thing sounds like rubbish because they don't know what they're doing, when the guitar is simply useless. I've had students bring half-size classical guitars with half-inch action and no intonation to a lesson - there's nothing I can teach you that will make that guitar sound good. So a decent guitar is essential, and that means putting a few bucks into it.
On the other hand, I'd suggest that a novice guitarist not sink a lot of money in their first instrument, because you will almost certainly spend the first few years learning what your style is like, and until then you don't really know what the right guitar for you will be. If you find that you have a light touch, you'll want a lightly-built guitar that responds well to that - that guitar would probably not sound very good played by a heavier hand.
My advice to a novice player is to get an instrument with a solid top and very little decoration that sounds good when played by the friend you bring along to play it for you. Also, it's important to fit the guitar to your body. This is mostly a matter of smaller people not buying larger guitars - that's just not comfortable. Around here (Portland, Oregon) you can get something like that for under $500. Spending much more than that on a first guitar seems to me an extravagance. Martin's advice really comes in once you've had a few years to know what the best guitar you can afford will be.
# Posted on November 3rd 2002 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: buying a guitar
I agree with everything Michael B said, I also partially agree with Steve M. - I still think blanket advice like "buy the best guitar you can afford" can be misleading. Moreso when someone's brand new to an instrument & doesn't know what suits them. I think Michael's advice is the most sound advice posted on this site in a while. Sure, a pretzel necked, half sized guitar won't get you anywhere, but a seagull or an epiphone will for lots less than a top of the line professional guitar. After all guitars are a dime a dozen & Idgie might even be able to borrow (or barter, loan etc) a guitar from a friend which will start them off.
# Posted on November 4th 2002 by Mad Baloney
Re: buying a guitar
Buy a Martin
# Posted on November 4th 2002 by Edja