Entry Level??

[nate_dennis]

I'm doing some shopping for low-priced but high-value acoustic guitars. One term that keeps coming up (and not just in this search) is "good entry level guitar." WTF do people mean by that? I'm by no means new to playing guitar, though maybe a little newer to really learning about them. Does "entry level" just mean "inexpensive?" Or does it tend to mean "poor sounding?"

Along these lines, do any of you have any experience with Martins "Sigma" brand? I have heard some mixed things about them. Thanks for all of your help.



-Nate

 

[slowmotion]

I'm doing some shopping for low-priced but high-value acoustic guitars. One term that keeps coming up (and not just in this search) is "good entry level guitar." WTF do people mean by that? I'm by no means new to playing guitar, though maybe a little newer to really learning about them. Does "entry level" just mean "inexpensive?" Or does it tend to mean "poor sounding?"

Along these lines, do any of you have any experience with Martins "Sigma" brand? I have heard some mixed things about them. Thanks for all of your help.
-Nate

"Entry level" or "student" or "beginner" usually means it's cheap and of poor quality. Like Behringer stuff, I suppose - cheap enough to get you in, but not really up to scratch compared to the real deal. Might sound good, might not.

Ignore all the marketing stuff and get something with a solid top and that YOU like the sound and feel of (after all it's YOU that's going to be playing it). Get it set up properly, buy strings fairly regularly and rock on.

 

[darrin_h2000]

You cant buy one at a music store...buy used...a played in ibenez or dean for 50-100 bucks on craigslist beats paying $200-300 for the same thing new.

People buy these things for thier kids for christmas every year...and they only get played once or twice...so practically new guitars get sold cheap.

 

[dervish riff]

Sigmas are pretty generic guitars, even with the Martin affiliation. One of the stores I used to work at sold them, and none of them struck me as anything special. You should be able to get a decent solid top guitar used for less than $200.00, like a Yamaha or a lower end Takamine.

 

[tdukex]

An entry level guitar does not need a solid top, although solid top guits can be had new for $200-$250. Mitchell is one example. The retail competition is so great that very good entry level guits can be found in this price range, as well as some very bad guits. That's why you gotta play 'em.

The key IMO is to just play as many guits as you can (do not order online) and find one that plays easily and sounds good. Don't make the mistake of buying a guit just for a popular name or a guit that just looks good. I have made both of those mistakes in the past and believe they set me back in my development (they weren't enjoyable to play) because I was too stubborn or stupid to correct my mistake.