By PhillyGroove (205.188.209.38) on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 06:26 pm:

My 16 year old daughter just told us she'd like a guitar for Christmas. While she has no musical training, we're delighted that she's interested in exploring learning to play. Who knows where it may lead her.

If I've learned one thing on this board, it's that the folks here often draw on a LIFETIME of experience in music. And the responses are very thoughtful, so I thought I'd ask a few ?'s.

What do you think: Should she start with an accoustic or electric guitar? How about lessons? And what advice do you have for a teenager steppin' out?

As always, thanks for your help.

PhillyGroove (Jim Thurman)

By soulboy (213.105.242.198) on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 06:56 pm:

It does not matter whether the guitar is acoustic or electric, what matters the most is that she plays an instrument she is comfortable with. certain acoustic and electric guitars with a high action can be difficult for beginners, it could put her off playing the instrument.
Formal lessons are probably the best way to start off, but the most challenging part of the learning
process is in the begining,as certain concepts can be difficult to grasp.determination is needed

By g wiz (68.43.160.189) on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 10:12 pm:

ive always heard that the bass is the easiest to learn but the hardest to master

By Fenderman73 (24.189.41.194) on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 11:28 pm:

>It does not matter whether the guitar is acoustic or electric, what matters the most is that she plays an instrument she is comfortable with.

Excellent point soulboy. I began playing at 13 on a cheap strat copy, boy was that guitar uncomfortable!!! I still have it to this day, but it is soo beatup that it is even more unplayable.

Check out fender. They got guitars for everyone in every price range. The mexico made guitars are great guitars for the buck! get it setup properly ie have the string height and neck fine tuned to make it comfortable to play!

Sean

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 01:05 am:

HEY PHILLYGROOVE; BEST OF LUCK TO YOUR DAUGHTER!...PERHAPS IF YOU'VE GOT THE BUCKS...YOU COULD HIRE JOE MESSINA!!!GOOD LUCK...STU

By STUBASS (152.163.188.68) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 01:30 am:

PS TO PHILLYGROOVE;...OK...SO MESSINA MIGHT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR NOW...BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. FIRST, IT'S GREAT THAT YOUR DAUGHTER GOT THE IDEA HERSELF FOR A GUITAR. MUCH BETTER THAN A PARENT SHOVING AN INSTRUMENT INTO A KIDS HAND AND TELLING THEM THEY HAVE TO LEARN TO PLAY...MANY TIMES JUST TO LIVE OUT THE PARENTS FANTASY'S(NEXT THING YOU KNOW...SHE'S DANGLING INFANTS OVER HOTEL BALCONIES). ONCE SHE GETS STARTED, FIND HER SOME COMPETENT INSTRUCTION. IT REALLY DOESN'T REALLY HAVE TO BE THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED PLAYER IN TOWN...JUST SOMEONE WHO CAN TEACH HER THE BASICS AND KEEP HER INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE. AFTER THAT, MOST SERIOUS MUSICIANS BEGIN TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN NETWORKS AND FIND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WANT TO WORK WITH, BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL STYLE OF PLAY THAT THEY DESIRE. ONCE THAT HAPPENS, SHE WILL DEVELOP HER SKILLS AND TALENTS AS HER MOTIVATION AND DESIRE DICTATES. NOT MUCH ELSE YOU CAN DO BUT TO ENCOURAGE HER EFFORTS WHETHER SHE SUCCEEDS IN THIS PARTICULAR ENDEAVOR OR NOT...ONCE AGAIN...GOOD LUCK...STU

By soulboy (213.105.242.198) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 06:17 am:

Phillygroove
If you want a relatively cheap electric guitar try out the yamaha pacifica range. you've got quality and value for money in one.playability is excellent. I find that today's telecasters/stratocasters in the budget ranges definetly not up to the standard of the vintage variety.at the same time the quality is not always there. You need to look much further up the fender range to find good quality, if you are prepared to pay the extra then great, but for a beginner this is not always appropriate.

By soulboy (213.105.242.198) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 06:23 am:

A few words of advice from the master himself,that i thought very relevant to this subject

http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/culdesac/Stars/funkbroJoeMessina.html

By DJDetroit (212.21.166.254) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 09:34 am:

Hi

as an average guitarist I think I'm not entitelt
to talk about hot riffs and licks. But I had a classical education at a music school for several years and stepped up from classical through western guitars until I ended up playing electric guitars and bass.
I would recommend starting with an ordinary classical guitar with regular gut-strings.
There are different advantages why to do so.
First it's a cheap start (you don't need much gear to go with it).
The neck is wider, so you don't get to much buzzing an hissing sounds when you don't fret the strings totally correct!
The strings are fatter and softer, so you don't need that much strengh in your hand and the strings don't bother your finger tips to much!
And you can play it also in a quiet manner!

And of course get her some lessons with a guitar teacher to start with...

Hope that helped a little bit

Darin

By Bob Olhsson (68.32.96.67) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 11:36 am:

Let me also emphasize setup. It's very unusual, at least in my experience, to hear a properly set up guitar (or other instrument) in a store. So much so that I am amazed people can ever make a knowledgeable choice! My first call would be to a top local guitar player (In Detroit, it would have been Joe M.) for the recommendation of a technician. I'd trust that technician to tell me what the best local bet is for what I wanted to pay. Then just go buy it and return directly to the technician for an evaluation and, provided it passes, a proper setup.

Beware that there are rarely "deals" on good instruments although sometimes you can find a "fixer-upper" that a great technician can turn into a bargain for a hundred bucks. My wife did that with an old Martin that $175 worth of work by the right people turned into an instrument worth literally thousands more.

Learning music is about making connections between sound and one's body. I can't think of anything that would impair that process more than starting out with an instrument that can't possibly be played in tune.

By Eli (152.163.188.68) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 01:10 pm:

Hi Philly Groove.
I do acknowledge the fact that a properly set up guitar according to your daughter's left hand(assuming that she is right handed) is very important. The action should be low but the strings should not buzz against the frets.
If she is serious, don't hesitate to buy her a good midline guitar. As previously stated, Yamaha give a lot of "bang for the buck"
Also what kind of music does she want to get into??
You might want to try a slim line electric/acoustic to give her the best of both worlds. Make sure that she starts music lessons NOW. Not just guitar but harmony and theory and sightreading.
Let us know how you made out!!

Eli

By john c (12.2.233.107) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 03:30 pm:

The chances are learning on an acoustic would serve her well. From my limited experience and observation, it's easier to transition from an acoustic to electric than the other way around.

I agree heartily with the advice to get a guitar that plays easily (set up right) and also sounds good. You want to stack all the cards in her favor to be successful. Also, good used guitars retain their value, even increase in value, over time.

By PhillyGroove (64.12.97.7) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 08:41 pm:

Dear Friends,

A hearty thanks for all of you who took time to share your thoughts with me. What a great range of ideas ... sure to lead to just the right guitar, instructor, but more importantly, inspiration to get off in the right direction. Stay tuned. Only 23 more shopping days left 'til Christmas.

Peace out.

PhillyGroove

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.7) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 09:23 pm:

Hi PhillyGroove. I would get your daughter an acoustic guitar that she is comfortable with. I would also find her an instructor who can teach her music basics and the kinds of songs she wants to learn how to play.

Dennis

By Gittar Pikker (205.188.209.38) on Monday, December 02, 2002 - 09:24 pm:

My parents bought me a Gold Top Les Paul for my Bar Mitzvah and they paid the grand sum of $250.00 for it. It has recently ben appraised at $ 12,000.00!!!!!! So there you have it.
There is a fine guitar called the D'angelico New Yorker. It was favored by a lot ofthe New York session guys from my observation. I remember seing Sal D'troia play one on the 123 session at Bell Sound . It was considered a "jazz" guitar and favored by the "snobbish" of the lot. One was recently found in an old garage after the occupant had passed away. It was appraised at $150,000.00!!!
I seriously doubt if any of te new crop of instuments will hold their value based on shody workmanship. Oh well!!!