Need help choosing first acoustic guitar!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chater-La
  • Start date Start date
mewsician2 said:
I sold guitars for years, so I feel qualified to jump in here.
Take a look at these; GuitarCenter, GuitarCenter, GuitarCenter.

Good luck.
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This may have been decent advice in the past but my info is that GC has been taken over by the Romney (yes THAT Romney) Raiders and they have cleaned house. This is a major sea-change for GC. They are into maximizing assets for resale, not customer service. I have been explicitly told that long-standing instrument and service techs have been let go or have resigned because technical or instrument expertise and recommendations are now ignored by management---in other words, in the past the techs and repair people could report a bad dog and GC would stop carrying it---not any more. And there are some dog entry-level acoustics out there. Tadpui had some good recommendations and cautions.

If you can't play or fret notes properly, comfortably, and in tune at the 12th fret on a new acoustic, DON'T BUY THAT ACOUSTIC. You may never be able to remedy that problem without a laughable kludge and more-than-merited expense. If you're told "It has to be set up" then don't even bother asking the saleperson why it wasn't before they tried to sell it to you---it's BS. I repeat: If you can't play or fret notes properly, comfortably, and in tune at the 12th fret on a new acoustic, DON'T BUY THAT ACOUSTIC.

Paj
8^)


Wherever you go, take a knowledgable friend with you.

Paj
8^)
 
Check out Tanglewood as well... I chose one of their cheap Dreadnought model (I think it was around 300$ CAD) over everything sub 1000$ that I could find in the store that day. Great value and a very pure tone. Just got a K&K Mini installed and it is now an amazing all-rounder.
 
I think Chater LA is just trolling her own thread now..... :laughings:
...the guitar is forgotten.

;)
 
miroslav said:
I think Chater LA is just trolling her own thread now..... :laughings:
...the guitar is forgotten.

;)
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Not forgotten! I go the week after the next to buy the guitar! Stay tuned for Chater-La adventures in local music shops in Stony Brook, NY!
 
Stony Brook, NY...?
That's almost in my neck of the woods...I'm not on Long Island, but just up the NY Thruway in the Hudson Valley. :)


You might consider traveling a bit toward NYC, as I don't know how many decent music shops will be around Stony Brook....or head for the closest larger towns.
There is a Guitar Center in Commack, NY (not too far from Stony Brook - 15 miles maybe).
8 Garet Place
Commack, NY 11725
(631) 858-2388

These are some other music stores in the area:

Three Village Music Shoppe
Three Village Music Long Island::Quality band and orchestra instrument rentals, onsite instrument repair, private lessons, sheet music - 238 Main Street, Setauket- East Setauket - (631) 941-4499

BJ'S Wholesale Club
BJ's Wholesale Club - 4000 Nesconset Highway, Setauket- East Setauket - (631) 642-1012

Music & Arts
Music & Arts: Largest retail music chain of band and orchestra instruments. - 2960 Middle Country Road, Lake Grove - (631) 585-2323

Cornet Music
maps.google.com - 29 East Main Street, Smithtown - (631) 724-0705

Hochman Musical Instruments
imsproav.com - 21 Technology Dr, East Setauket - (631) 751-3583

Advantage Music
Advantage Music NY - Home - 429 Hawkins Avenue, Ronkonkoma - (631) 285-6914

Maximum Music Inc
Redirecting... - 9 Myrtle Street, Mount Sinai - (631) 928-8400
 
@ Miro- you rock! I already knew about some of these stores but your list is much much appreciated. I'm not venturing into the city....too far and too everything.
 
You better come back with a guitar...otherwise don't show your face in this thread again! :D
 
stevieb said:
Either that, or ready to show some b(.)(.)bs...
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Works for me. :D

Oh...and we are not talking about those Blue-Footed Boobies!

66665-need-help-choosing-first-acoustic-guitar-bluefootedbooby4sm-jpg
 
alright I bought the guitar!!! So at the end I got the Epiphone hummingbird with the cool sunburst, full size. Now before you all jump down my throat here is my disclaimer:

1. I know that for the money it is not the best sounding and that there are better sounding guitars for even less money. I do like the more bass tone that it has as opposed to bright and anyway I don't envision her doing great action down the fret board for quiet some time. I like the thicker neck too.

2. BUT it is pretty and the finish is very nice for this price range. Let's not underestimate the 'pretty' value in a guitar for a 12 year old.

3. The 3/4 were really too small in my opinion

Thanks again everyone. At the end I bought it at the GC, I know I hate supporting these places but really I had no time to do a full tour of guitar shops in the city. Plus very jet lagged.

The heat index here is ridiculous. So humid and heavy! But everywhere I go I get put in a freezer. Acchhhh
 
Chater-La said:
2. BUT it is pretty and the finish is very nice for this price range. Let's not underestimate the 'pretty' value in a guitar for a 12 year old.
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:laughings:

I always consider the "pretty" factor when buying audio gear. :D

I use to have an Epi Hummingbird for a long time....but I sold it and moved up to something more playable and with better tone, though the Epi saw plenty of action on camping trips. :)
 
Well, okay, you bought the guitar. That's great, really. I mean it. Now, either show us your b(.)(.)bs, or close this thread! :D
 
If you're looking for a lighter tone, you should try guitar with a mahogany back and sides. You should also get a good electronic tuner when you buy your beginner acoustic guitar.
 
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