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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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I have a friend who wants to buy and learn to play an acoustic guitar, mainly for church services. The snag is the physical size. She will need a narrow body to be able to reach around it. Even my Ovation with that round back is too big for her to play.
Is there such a thing as a scaled down guitar that sounds like a normal sized guitar? I don't know because I have never had to shop for a smaller bodied guitar.
Also like to keep the price down so she doesn't spend $1000 on a guitar and then decide it isn't for her.
Any suggestions?
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If the scale length isn't an issue, then she should try various 'orchestra' model sized guitars. This style of guitar has smaller upper and lower bouts and a much more narrow waist than the popular Dreadnought style of guitar and are usually a little more shallow from front to back and that all adds up to making a big difference for ease of 'reach around' and comfort while playing. Larrivée calls them their OM or Orchestra Model. http://www.larrivee.com/instruments/acoustics/OM03.phpMartin calls them various numbers starting with a 0 or multiple 0. http://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/guitars/sizetype.htmlTaylor doesn't really have a model like this - their closest is their 'Grand Auditorium' type of model, but the upper bout to lower bout size are not as similar as the Orchestra types from other makers - it still does have the advantage of a more narrow waist than a dreadnought. http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/shapesIf scale length is an issue, then Bob's suggestion of a baby Taylor may be appropriate. Other makers make what they call 'Parlor' guitars http://www.larrivee.com/instruments/acoustics/05/P05.phphttp://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=parlor+guitarsI had a shallow bowl Ovation (actually their Korean made Applause brand) and I hated it because it was so hard to play while sitting. I ordered a Larrivée Orchestra model and then settled on their L-body, which is quite similar to Taylor Grand Auditorium shape. Most of the comfort of the Orchestra, with 'boom' more like a Dreadnought.
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Her best bet is to visit a store with an extensive selection of acoustic guitars in stock.
There are companies that make thin body guitars as well as 3/4 size and smaller... it's simply a matter of her going to the store and trying the various models.
The smaller and thinner ones do not have the sound quality of the full sized guitars.
Have a look at Emmy Lou Harris..... she played a full sized guitar for the tone.... and you can see by looking at her that the guitar was rather large for her.... BUT she was still able to play it well.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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for the price, if she went with a baby Taylor at eBay prices, she'd stand a pretty good chance of getting all her money back if she ever wanted to sell. Not sure that would be true with any of the other choices.
my 2 cents
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Eddie, have her take a look at rondomusic.com. They have some very inexpensive acoustic and acoustic/electric guitars. I have a few of their guitars and although they are inexpensive they are very good quality wise. Guitarfetish.com is another good place to look. They have a parlor size guitar for $159: http://www.guitarfetish.com/Xaviere-Parlor-Guitar-Solid-Spruce-Top-18-fret-Rosewood-Backsides_p_13198.htmlI would not start out with an expensive guitar because you never know if they will continue to play. This is why I suggest Rondomusic to anyone starting out.
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It's called the Heineken Maneuver.
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I've gone through this with a number of people in similar situations, and it has always came back to this: buy a model that can be plugged in to an amp.
She may not want it now, she may never need it.
But if she does, she'll have it and won't have to get the guitar she is used to playing, retro-fitted with a pickup et al.
Also, I've bought guitars online before, but I wouldn't advise it in this case, unless you realize you may have to pack it up and send it back.
When buying (cheap or expensive), I always play every note on every string all the way up the neck, to make sure there are no "buzzers". It you do find one, the guitar shop will likely fix it for free before you buy it. Likewise they will make any necessary neck adjustments.
My 2 cents CDN.
Lloyd S
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STRONG +1 ditto to Lloyd S
1. Acoustic-electric NOW, be done with it.
2. and ESPECIALLY for first guitar (actually until she REALLY KNOWs guitars) - buy it using "HANDS-ON." That is, only after SHE tries it and you do a full hands-on test for buzzes, tuners, bridge, fit/finish, neck, electric components, etc.
As far as brand and type the whole gambit has essentially been covered and all are good suggestions (but like what is best piano VSTi - pretty subjective and personal).
But remember smaller and thinner come with less projection (usually) - another reason for "plugability."
Too bad Guild doesn't still make the Song Bird - thin body, single cutaway, electro-acoustic with GREAT projection and sound almost like a full body dreadnaught, but plays more like an electric
GOOD LUCK (to her and you for helping)
Larry
Last edited by Larry Kehl; 01/09/15 06:40 AM.
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For the best deal and to get most of the money back if she decides playing guitar isn't her thing....
Buy a nice brand name professional level guitar.....USED.
If you buy new at retail, you will lose a sizable chuck of change in a resale..... buy used and you are closer to the price the market supports on a quality guitar.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Guitarhacker has another great point
But then I think we would all agree you REALLY want to do it hands-on, live and in person.
Larry
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The acoustic/electric suggestion is a good one, especially if she’s playing in church.
Since she’s a beginner, the "hands on" recommendation isn’t a good idea because she’ll simply pick out the coolest/sweetest/nicest looking one she can afford. She won’t have a clue about what to look for in an instrument. "Hands on" only works for folks who know the minute details of what they have their "hands on".
99% of people who buy a guitar give up on it after a couple of weeks and then slide it under the bed or into a closet. Most instruments lose a huge chunk of their value as soon as they’re sold, so buying a used guitar helps insulate her from that since it’s already been devalued.
Find out how much she’s willing to spend, and then shop online for a used name brand small body guitar that meets her price range. I’ve bought and sold numerous guitars on ebay, so it’s a good place to look.
Last edited by bobcflatpicker; 01/09/15 05:19 PM.
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Who would be doing this online selection, her or a knowledgeable guitar person?
If her then why would she buy based on anything but "looks" (granted inside price and size range) even more so then at brick and mortar or local Craig's list?
If knowledgeable person less risk but then that's who I would suggest do the hands on playability evaluation anyway.
, if I was too vague it is expected that an experienced friend/relative aid her in picking and evaluating.
There are lots of reasons people quit guitar fast - not the least of which is crappy and way too high action (more discomfort then neccesary or needed) right after they realize it takes practice to make sound that sounds even close to music - aka work.
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Who would be doing this online selection, her or a knowledgeable guitar person? Eddie would be doing the selection. If her then why would she buy based on anything but "looks" (granted inside price and size range) even more so then at brick and mortar or local Craig's list? I've already said it shouldn’t be her! Hehe. It should be Eddie. Screw Craig’s list, or brick and mortar … use ebay. if I was too vague it is expected that an experienced friend/relative aid her in picking and evaluating. Eddie is her experienced friend! He asked for our recommendations in picking and evaluating. Buying a new guitar for a first time instrument is a bad idea in almost all cases. If you’re gonna spend $500.00 for a first instrument, … then buy used. That way, you get a 1,000.00 guitar for 500.00! It’s a no brainer. We’ve given some recommendations. Eddie will do whatever he wishes after that.
Last edited by bobcflatpicker; 01/09/15 06:10 PM.
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I'd still check Craig's list after seeing what the same guitar is selling for on eBay...
because if somebody local has something that would work, you could try before you buy. You can also use the ebay price as leverage to bargain for a better local price... which won't include shipping.
Having said all that, I usually feel safe buying brands that have a well known quality record ... even without trying it first. Mostly because ebay has rules about accurately describing items, and nobody wants to get bad feedback. Just buy from somebody who has accumulated enough favorable feedback that they have too much to lose by falsifying the condition of the guitar.
The other reason I would feel safe in buying a good instrument sight unseen from ebay (depending on the price) is because you can almost always resell a good guitar for what you paid... and in some cases if you get a particularly good deal, you might actually MAKE money by selling it if you didn't like it. Really not a lot to lose.
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Definitely nothing wrong with checking Craig's list. I've never used it to buy or sell so I don't have any experience with it. I was actually just trying to crack a joke which doesn't always work well in typing.
My preference for using ebay first for a used instrument lies in my past experience with it. Their reach is worldwide. I've even shipped one guitar to Japan and one to England.
Most music retailers don't stock many used instruments and even when they do their markup is outrageous so I prefer to buy directly from individuals.
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I'm with Bob on this one. I had assumed that Eddie would be supervising the guitar purchase that is why I suggested those two guitar sites. I stand by that and for buying on Ebay. With today's manufacturing processes buying an inexpensive guitar is not like the old days. You can get a perfectly fretted neck with great playability for little money today.
I have seen people spend thousands of dollars on either their own or their kid's instrument only to quit a little later. A lot of kids today to not want to put the time in and in fact want to be on tour in two weeks. Many adults don't have or make the time to practice. Some woman quit when the find out they have to cut their fingernails!
Whenever I get something stuck in the back of my throat, I dislodge it by drinking a beer.
It's called the Heineken Maneuver.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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I will take credit for being one of the first, if not the first, to sing the praises of rondomusic.net here on these forums 8 or so years ago when I received my replica 62 P-bass custom from them.
I also have a solid cedar top classical that I have bought from them. Both have turned out to be very playable instruments with build quality 4-5 times their purchase prices. I have recommended this online store to many friends and online acquaintances. One bought a fretless 5-string of the Douglas brand from the site.
My bass has been quite usable (I play it live roughly once date a month) until this year, when I had to replace the P-pickup - which a local music store put in a used Seymour Duncan bassline pickup and a new volume pot (for only $30) and now it's KILLER coupled with a Zoom B3 amp/multi-fx unit.
I do not have experience with Rondo's steel string acoustic guitars, so I can't recommend them personally. I do have some experience with their Agile Les Paul models - In Detroit, Gold Sound is the top audio post production facility, and they have Agile guitars in nearly every one of their studios for client use - that's where I played one.
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eddie1261
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I will be selecting AND likely buying it, so if the "I thought this would be cool but I can't" thing sets in I will end up having it handed back to me, I am sure. I was looking at the baby Taylors, and Fender's Stratacoustic and Telecoustic. The narrow body is the important part, but if I can find a good buy on a 3/4 scale I would go that way. Short armed person here.
There's no rush. I am going to teach her some basic chords on my Ovation to see how well she translates her piano skills to a guitar neck.
And it WILL be an acoustic/electric. The church where she leads worship has a decent PA system in it with direct boxes all over the place.
Last edited by eddie1261; 01/10/15 05:10 AM.
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