Looking to Buy and Acoustic Guitar for your Teenager?
Have you at last resolved to learn how to play guitar? Well, if you have and you’ve also made a decision that those noisy electric guitars are not for you, then the next step is to choose what kind of best acoustic guitar to buy.
Buying an acoustic guitar, however, is not as easy as it may seem. There are many types of gibson acoustic guitar available and a broad range of prices.
Be ready to spend about $100 for a beginners guitar and do not be shocked if you see guitars costing $5,000 or more. You will pay less for an foreign, factory-made guitar than for a North American hand-made guitar.
This extreme price range is due to the quality of the materials used and the degree of craftsmanship. It is important to realize however, that there are several excellent guitars produced that are generally relatively inexpensive. The level of guitar manufacturing has improved significantly over the last few years and many excellent guitars can be had for under $500. Even though it is tempting to invest in a more costly guitar, the typical novice does not really need a guitar of that quality and may not even be able to appreciate it.
Here are some guidelines with regard to buying an acoustic guitar:
1. Make a decision on your price range. Before you wander into your favorite guitar store determine precisely how much you are ready to spend in advance. The following chart will give you a general concept of precisely what to expect:
Up to $500 - good beginners guitar
$500 - $1,000 - intermediate range
$1,000 - $2,000 - serious student
$2,000 - $5,000 - semi-professional or professional
$5,000+ - professional guitarist or you just love fine guitars and can afford it.
2. Decide if you want a soundboard built from real wood. A lot of inexpensive guitars have plywood soundboards. The better guitars have soundboards made from spruce or cedar. Spruce or cedar soundboards produce a much better sound as compared to plywood. There are a few guitar companies that produce low-cost guitars with real wood soundboards.
3. Try out different styles. Each guitar maker will have several styles of guitar, many in the same model category. Different styles may include dreadnaught, jumbo, grand concert, etc. These styles are somewhat generic but vary a bit between manufacturers. These titles refer generally to the shape and dimension of the guitar which will determine the sound of the guitar to a certain extent. You may also have to determine if you would like a cutaway design or a more traditional non-cutaway style.
4. Do you want to get a nylon string classical guitar or a steel string? Nylon string guitars are a lot easier on the fingers if you are a novice, but their necks are wider which means you have to stretch your fingers a little bit more. Steel string acoustics possess a more narrow neck but the steel strings are a little bit painful if you have not yet created calluses on your left hand.
Classical guitars are best used for fingerstyle playing and are suited to classical, jazz and latin styles whereas a steel string acoustic is better suited to strumming chords and using a pick.
5. Do you want to amplify your guitar? If you believe that you may want to amplify your fender acoustic guitar then think about acquiring an acoustic guitar with a built in pickup and preamp. This will permit you to plug your guitar into an amplifier without the need for a microphone.
You are now ready to visit your local guitar store and try out a few guitars. In the end, the final choice on which acoustic guitar to purchase ought to be dependent on finding a guitar that you enjoy playing and that has a sound that is pleasing to you. After you get that new guitar, then the only thing left to do is to learn how to play it.