beginner guitars/higher quality?

Question

I started playing guitar with a cheap guitar a little while ago. When do you think it is the right time to get a higher quality guitar? Like what things should you know?

Answer 1

ok the thing is you have to wait to get a higher guitar untill you have the callouses on your fingers from playing..ALOT..then the best to get is a yamaha or a squier fender..thats what i have and i love it because it doesnt go out of tune alot.

Answer 2

There is plenty of information on this on the internet, but here goes.

You should be comfortable with what it is. It should sound good when somebody else plays it, so you can listen to what it sounds like have someone else play it while you listen. It should be in relatively good condition if it is used, and used instruments are usually a better deal. Look at a lot of different guitars - some guitars look identical but you will like one more then the other sometimes just because one has that "magic" you are looking for in an instrument. Take somebody with you that knows a LOT about guitars to several different music stores, or ask them to check the paper for a guitar that might be suitable for you. You can also buy guitars on Ebay, etc., but you can actually play the guitar if you buy it "locally" and see if you like the way it feels. When/if I buy a guitar off of Ebay I usually only go for the ones that you just can't get any other way - something very hard to find, and if you are a beginner this might be wrong for you. Its time to buy a new guitar when you think its right - you might even want to keep your first one as a backup in case you need one - professionals almost always have more than one guitar to use. Good luck!

Answer 3

I've been playing guitar for 3 years now. I would wait about a year and a half. Right then is the hard stretch and if you make it through that you know that you are committed. If you play classical you want a cordoba or a alvaraz. If you play electric i would go with fender. If you play acoustic I'd get a dean. I would either talk to your guitar teacher or go down to someplace like the guitar center and just start rattling your questions off to them. They should be able to answer all of them. Another thing is, is if you buy a classical you want it to be made in Spain and for it to be solid wood. Once you get your guitar I would recommend buying new strings for it and replacing the ones that come with it. Normally the ones that come with it are not very good. If you are buying an acoustic make sure the body isn't too big and your arm will fit around it. One more thing, you're gonna want to buy a tuner. When you first get it it will go out of tune so incredibly fast it's not even funny. I'd but a chromatic tuner. That will help you when you need to tune it differently for a song. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

You can buy a high quality guitar whenever you want your guitar playing to sound better quality. Here are some guitar-buying tips for you:

1) Know what you're looking for.

2) Buy a guitar that is best suited for the style of music you want to play. Below are some suggestions, but please keep in mind that these are only recommendations. Buying a guitar is a very personal decision, so feel free to think outside the box!
Musical Styles:


Alternative: any of the 4 basic types are suitable


Blues: any of the 4 basic types are suitable


Bluegrass: acoustic steel string, acoustic/electric


Classical: acoustic nylon string classic guitar


Country: acoustic steel string, acoustic/electric, or electric


Fingerstyle: acoustic, acoustic/electric, classic


Folk: acoustic, or acoustic/electric


Folk/Rock: any of the 4 basic types are suitable


Jazz: any of the 4 basic types are suitable


Ragtime: acoustic, acoustic/electric


Rock: usually played on an electric


Metal: electric

3) If you're a beginner, be sure and take advantage of package deals. This will give you an opportunity to see if learning how to play the instrument is something you're going to continue to pursue without spending a lot of money first. Package deals usually offer a guitar and some extra goodies (such as a strap, pics, case, tuner, etc.) at an affordable price. These can make an ideal gift for a son or daughter who has expressed a desire to learn how to play the guitar.

4) Children and adults with small hands should consider a 1/2 or 3/4 size guitar. Also keep in mind that electric guitars, and nylon-stringed acoustic guitars, are easiest on the fingers.

5) You will find some safety in sticking with companies that have already established a good reputation for quality merchandise and excellent service. Some well known name-brands are Ibanez, Yamaha, Fender, Ovation, Gibson, Martin, and Taylor. I often recommend Yamaha guitars for beginners because these instruments are usually well made and there is a wide selection of models to choose from. With Yamaha, you are bound to find just the right guitar for your skill level and price range that will be easy to play, stay in tune and sound good too. Later, when you're ready to go professional and start you're concert tour, you can upgrade if you need to.

6) Ask music store owners if they are planning to have any upcoming promotional sales. They may offer to put your name on their mailing list so you can stay informed and take advantage of any special offers or discounts they have in the future.

7) Look through classified ads and check college campus newspapers and bulletin boards. I found a great deal on a "like new" Yamaha classical guitar this way. Students are often in need of extra money to pay for tuition and books. Because of this they will often sacrifice musical instruments they are no longer using.

8) Buying a guitar online can be another great way to save money, but always be sure to find out what the company's return policy is. Zzounds has a 30 day return policy which should give you enough time to evaluate the guitar and see if it's everything you hoped for. They promise to beat competitor prices, so you can be sure to get a good deal. They also offer a money back guarantee and free shipping on most items, so If you're not fully satisfied with your purchase you can return it or simply exchange the guitar for another one.

Answer 5

You can have cheap or high quality - not both. There are things growing on the underside of rocks that are better than the Nikon 1, it has a compact-sized sensor and to call the body stupidly expensive leaves no satisfactory term to describe the lenses. Even among EVIL cameras (not the best idea the photographic industry has ever had) it's bad - this is like being considered flat by a carpet. If you can't afford a new DSLR, look for a dealer who carries used stock and is willing to throw in a warranty. A lot of people buy DSLRs and either sell them because they're too complicated or can't make a Pentax, Sony or Olympus work (it's not the camera - if you're cr*p with a Pentax, you'll be cr*p with a Nikon until you take the time to learn to use it properly) and upgrade to one of the Idiots' Two believing it will magically make them photographers.

Answer 6

Hi Captain. Once you have gotten over the initial learning curve and feel a bit more confident playing, it is really a matter of personal choice to suit the sort of playing style you like, what feels good for you. For lead guitar you might like a guitar with specific pickups, low action, thin neck, extra frets etc for fast playing and bending. If spending say $500-$600 you can get a nice Ibanez or Yamaha model that are nice to play and well made. Beware of places like Cashies, for second hand guitars, usually they can be bought cheaper and more confidently brand new. Keep an eye out for specials a places like Billy Hydes, Allans etc, visit their websites for current catalogues. Firstly you need to set a budget including extras like a good lead, strap, hard case etc. Concentrate on your playing technique and style, if you cant play a $200 guitar, dont be misled in to believing a guitar for $2000 will make you a better player, although they may be nicer to play. Good luck with your playing.

Answer 7

You may buy yourself a good guitar any time you wish. It is only a question of money. Do you like playing the guitar? This way, you will be able to tell if you really are good or not.
Are you good at it? Do you think it would be worth the investment? If so, get a good one. Can you afford it? If you are good enough to justify buying a good one, then go to it!
Good instruments are much nicer to play than cheap ones. And, even if you later decide you do not want to continue, you can sell it, if it is a question of money. Best of luck

Answer 8

I would say as soon as you know you aren't going to get bored and give up. A bad guitar is hard to learn to play on, and will breed bad habits.

It's OK if you're just screwing around and not going to stick with it, but if you really want to play get something halfway decent. Doesn't have to be top-of-the-line by any means, but halfway decent will be easier to play and sound better. Visit a couple different guitar stores and tell them the specifics about your playing level, what you like to play, how often, what you can spend, etc, and get suggestions. Weigh the different suggestions and the relative honesty and helpfulness of the salespeople (ie, if they really told you what you need or just tried to upsell) before making your decision what to buy and where to buy it.

Answer 9

well, you can never have too many guitars! I bought a Midrange 'Rogue' at a pawn shop for a couple hundred bucks recently. It was probably about 350.00 originaly. It's really a nice guitar, and plays and sounds as good as the few , oh 600.00 gutars that I have owned. it even has a real floyd rose on it. Try this site for a good variety of guitars that wont break you:
http://musiciansfreind.com

Answer 10

When you know you will be dedicated enough to the instrument to keep going with it, and when your funds are sufficient. Just learn as many songs as you can and you will improve drastically. My recommendation for your next guitar is an Epiphone Les Paul, and if you can afford the thousand dollars, get yourself a Gibson Les Paul.