My daughter wants an electric guitar for Christmas. No, she does not know how to play, but wants to learn. What would be the least expensive (cheap) I can get her. I have already spent a fortune on her for Christmas and now this is all she is talking about. Also, what is an accoustic guitar ( looks like a regular guitar). Thanks.
2006-11-30 06:08:31 · 11 answers · asked by gabby5 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
She is 10.
2006-11-30 06:08:57 · update #1
As Mick Jagger says, "You can't always get what you want".
Wait to get the guitar until a birthday or something.
2006-11-30 23:35:25 · answer #1 · answered by bikeworks 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Got a friend that plays guitar? Take them with you to a guitar store, or check the paper. It is always best to have somebody that knows what they are doing present to check out the gear. Sometimes you can get a deal through the paper, but go for a good condition used guitar FIRST, and don't be afraid to take your daughter with you when you do this - she might hate the design of one guitar and love the design of another.
As to acoustic guitars there are many different kinds, but really only two if you really "boil it down" - the steel string and the nylon string. The steel string guitar is used for folk music and country and western and a great new one will cost about $1,000, but a beginner does NOT need a guitar this good and a used one in good shape can be found for about $500. The nylon string guitar is used for all kinds of music, but is referred to as the "classical" guitar because classical music for guitar is usually performed on one of these. There are also "dobro" guitars for slide, lap-steel guitars for country music, 12-string guitars, double-neck guitars, etc. Your daughter will need an amplifier if she gets an electric. You may want to consider renting an instrument at first also - many music stores will do this, some with an option to buy. As to which guitar to get it will depend on her, and the size of her hands - if she has smaller hands she should start off with a smaller "scale" guitar. And lessons from a qualified (!) instructor will go a long away towards keeping her interest in it. Good luck!
2006-11-30 14:20:16 · answer #2 · answered by Paul H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An acoustic guitar is a non-amplified guitar.
Go with an electric. On the amplifier you can select "clean channel" or distortion. Distortion is that 'heavy' sound associated with rock, but a clean channel sounds alot like an acoustic anyway. best of both worlds.
Anyway, this is what i'm getting myself for christmas. This will be perfect for her. Only $200 total. here are the links
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-51-Electric-Guitar?sku=519636
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Roland-Cube-15-1x8-15W-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=480022
That's the Squier '51 guitar and a Roland 15 watt amplifier. All you need beside that is a cable to connect the two which you can find on that site. Get about a 10 foot one. Trust me, this is the best way to go. DO NOT buy a 'starter pack', the amps are crap and so are the guitars. And you might be thinking the guitar is crap because it's $99 but it's quite good! Best of luck to your daughter. Rock on!
2006-11-30 23:02:07 · answer #3 · answered by PaulN 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Accoustic guitar just means you can't plug it in to a regular amplifier. They also have accoustic/electric hybrids that look and play like an accoustic, but can also be plugged in to an amp. Electric guitars are good for rock and metal, but they really only sound good if plugged in to an amp, bc otherwise the sound doesn't project at all.
Check out newspapers for sales! The store I work at, Fairview Music, recently had a buy-one-get-one free guitar sale, and a huge discount on all amplifiers. You can sometimes find really good deals at independently owned, smaller music stores.
Good luck guitar hunting! :)
Plus I would check out sales at music stores FIRST rather than going to Walmart or Target -- the quality guitar at a real music store will be way better than Walmart, and on sale you can find one around the same price.
It's like if you wanted to buy a fancy evening gown - you might find some dresses at Walmart, but that's not where you'd want to go first.
Also, be sure to try to bargain with the store owner. They almost ALWAYS will negotiate with you, whether it's to lower the price or to throw in extra freebies like a tuner, capo, guitar strap, guitar case, etc.
2006-11-30 14:12:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Squier Mini is a child-sized guitar, which nonetheless is a near fully-featured take on the most popular electric guitar in the history of popular music, the Fender Stratocaster.
I see it retailing in music stores for some pretty low prices.
At ten your daughter would find a regular electric guitar a challenge. The neck is simply too wide and too spaced out for a child's hands.
http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0310101506
2006-12-01 10:55:15 · answer #5 · answered by evolver 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The electric guitar is one that has a "pickup" behind the bridge. It requires an amplifier so that you can hear the music (or noise) being played. An acoustic guitar is one that has a hollow sound box and is the more traditional option. Electric pickups are also available to fit one of these so you have either option. In your daughter's case (her not knowing how to play), I would go with an economical electric with a low power amplifier. This will run about $120. See the site http://www.activemusician.com/item--EM.BHR-VINTAGER-GUITAR-PACK?ref=br&ovchn=BIZ&ovtac=CMP&ovcpn=Guitar%2FBass&ovcrn=Behringer%20Vintager%20Electric%20Guitar%20Starter%20Pack%20w%2Fvintage%20Tube%20Amplifier
If she blossoms into a musician, then you can think of investing more; otherwise, you may have a dandy garage sale item. Good luck.
2006-11-30 14:21:18 · answer #6 · answered by Doug R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd go with an acoustic guitar first. They are easier to play (and less expensive because you don't have to buy an amp). See if she likes it. Sam Ash has these things called Jam Packs that have everything you need (decent guitar, case, amp (if electric), picks, etc. ) They're not a bad way to start and not too expensive (I think they're $200)
Good luck and Merry x-mas!!!
2006-11-30 14:13:23 · answer #7 · answered by coolerking3178 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check the pawnshops and get her a nice used one, that way if she loses interest it won't hurt your wallet much. Be ready though - you might be creating a "Guitar Monster" - my folks got me my first pawnshop guitar and i NEVER lost interest and that was years and years ago! LOL! An acoustic guitar is the traditional looking non-electric mostly standard wood color guitar.
2006-11-30 14:13:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wal-mart has an electric guitar for 129 trust me thats cheap and an amp for i think 75. you need the amp for sound also check target, and k-mart
2006-11-30 14:12:21 · answer #9 · answered by Todd D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WalMart has some really classy small fram guitars and amps this year - take a look see.
2006-11-30 14:11:04 · answer #10 · answered by Marsha 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋