Acoustic beginner guitar buying guide

By Dom Artosa

There are a few things to consider before you purchase your new acoustic beginner guitar. If you are able to afford a high-quality guitar, by all means indulge yourself and get it. The price tag may be higher but you will find that the quality will be reflected in the ease of playing and in the tone of the guitar as well.

Two acoustic guitars stand out in the high end beginner guitar category. The Seagull S6 makes a fine acoustic beginner guitar of high quality, that plays well enough to take a novice guitar player well into advanced technique. It is priced in the $400-500 range. Also in this price range is the Washburn D10S. This instrument was ranked as #1 by Acoustic Guitar Magazine in a comparison of guitars under $500. While both guitars represent a significant investment for the starting guitarist, they are both very playable instruments of a quality that is capable of keeping pace with the new players ability as it grows for many years.

Excellent choices if you want to spend a bit less include Yamahas F310, Takamines G-240 and Fenders DG7. For a rock-bottom price in an acoustic beginner guitar, you will want to look at Epiphones DR-100. Youll have to switch to a more advanced instrument down the road, since its only meant for rookies, but youll get a really good buy for somewhere between $120 and $150.

Even if you are on a budget, you should try to avoid buying the under $100 guitars you can find at local discount stores. Surprisingly, a cheap, low quality acoustic beginner guitar is actually considered harder to play even by more experienced guitar players. The explanation for this has to do with the fact that they are cheaply made with an overly high action, which means there is too much space between the strings and the fingerboard. Beginners and experts alike find this flaw frustrating.

If your budget is less than $100, you are better off with a second-hand acoustic beginner guitar. If you see two of the same guitar, try playing both of them. Doing this will tell you the personality of the guitar, which might also tell you a little about the personality of the previous owner.

People say you should never buy a guitar from someone who's a jerk. And while there may not actually be any esoteric elements inherent to the personality of a guitar, the way people treat their guitars tends to be a reflection of the way they treat people. A guitar thats been cared for and treated properly is going to play better than one that hasnt. So, even though it may sound fine, if youre just not completely comfortable with the acoustic beginner guitar youre trying out, find another one.

When you are buying your first acoustic beginner guitar you should ask the salesperson to play it for you. The person selling the guitar shoud understand you can not yet play the instrument but want to hear what it will sound like when you can. You never know, maybe they are helping the next great guitar player to buy their first instrument.

About the Author:

Which beginner acoustic guitar suits your budget? Dom Artosa is a writer for acoustic guitar shops a great site where you can discover a large selection of acoustic guitars from beginner to more advanced.