Guitar Picker and Guitar Advice

[apaknad]

hi dogneck,
i was wondering if you could give me some insight into buying a fairly good, moderatly priced acoustic guitar? i have heard alot about the zagar modifications but i don't always trust what people have to say when there is a conflict of interest. john, you can post this where you feel it is best. i just don't want to buy somethnig i won't be happy with. i own an epiphone ft-150 that was damaged by my ex-gf. i haven't played in 20 yrs. want to start again.
thanx, dan

[glenn kangiser]

No problem with this, Dan -- just moved it here and relabeled it to be more useful to you and others.

[Jackson Landers]

Hit the pawnshops. Seriously, the thing about musicians is that they are frequently broke. So they end up pawning some of their instruments. Because of this, pawn shops are usually full of decent guitars being sold at pretty cheap prices on account of how glutted that secondary market gets.

[Daddymem]

Craigslist is a great place for guitars, people dumping stuff because times are tight.  I picked up my Godin (SD electric) for a song.  Your better question is how much do you want to spend and where is the best place to get the most bang for that amount. ie fairly good and moderately priced means?

[sparks]

Personally, I would recommend buying an ax from a reputable dealer or someone in person. Shipping guitars invites a whole host of problems. I know.

As far as reasonably priced.....That depends on what you really want to do...
Learn to play?......or play to learn......guitars do not play themselves

So, there is a question you need to answer.

Are you really serious......?

[glenn kangiser]

My dad used to ask me if I could play "Over a Bridge and Far Away"? hmm

[sparks]

Dad used to yell at me "turn that *** D****** thing down!!" And then come up later and ask "what's a fuzztone? "

Dad was cool...he was a picker....all sorts of instruments.

Sure miss him.

[MountainDon]

My dad used to ask me if I could play "Over a Bridge and Far Away"? hmm

[glenn kangiser]

My dad can play lots of things with strings and accordions - push button type.

Here's the ornery old sucker on the accordion at a family reunion a couple years ago.  Posted here somewhere else before.

[MountainDon]

 

[sparks]

Sometimes a brand new ax in the 2-300 dollar range is worth it. With a little tweaking I've found many of these a breeze to play. Yamaha comes to mind.....they make a nice inexpensive ax. There are many others out there. Real honest to god American made guitars are somewhat more pricey.

You don't want them around ex gals......or any other violent people

[glenn kangiser]

I only picked a bit for my own satisfaction and haven't really played much in a long time.  Sassy has heard all of my sweet nothings already and the dogs don't really care if I sing to them or not.

Sassy used to play the piano and I played the violin with her, but I was just learning - never got much further.  I could make sounds kind of like a little fat pig stuck under a fence.

[sparks]

I've been around a few pigs in my life, but can't really say that any were stuck under a fence, squealing.
F# maybe?

My best wishes to the potential ax buyer; playing a musical instrument isn't everything, however, sometimes it beats the daily doldrum of life.................and brings a smile to our face. Something that we all do in the same language.

[MountainDon]

I play my best music with the CD player.

[sparks]

I still have lots of vinyl. Old stuff. Analog.

When I croak, the kids will use them for target practice.

ps....got a bunch of Mom's old carbons too! And the equipment to play any of it.

[glenn kangiser]

Cool - we have some 78s and a wind up Victrola. 

[Alasdair]

I can recommend these guys. Great guitars for the price (UK) price anyway!!

http://www.simonandpatrick.com/

Al

[Daddymem]

I'm often asked to play

SOLO                                                                          solo you can't hear me
DUET                                                                          duet way over there so we don't have to listen
TRIO                                                                           trio four miles away
QUARTET                                                                    A quartet mile or so away

I can't say enough good things about Godin.  It is a Canadian company and the guitars are assembled in Vermont.  My SD is on par with a decent Mexican Strat (for less money!) and mine is the 2nd to bottom rung on their quality ladder.  Next to my teacher's Telecaster it belts out more sound.  I haven't seen any of their acoustics but they are supposed to be great too.

[peternap]

I play my best music with the CD player.

Brother Musician!

[apaknad]

thanx for all the great advice. to clarify a little bit. $500 range and mostly for personal use, no intentions of joining a band.

[Alasdair]

I googled godin guitars - turns out it is the parent company of Simon and Patrick guitars.

http://www.godinguitars.com/

I've actually come across some of their other brands and been impressed at the quality and value.
So there you are two independant recommendations for the same guys!
I'm sure they will make a model in your price range. Check them out
Al

[sparks]

500 bucks will buy a VERY nice used acoustic ax Apak!!  Paid less for a new one.   


"Forget all about that macho s*** and learn how to play guitar!" --John Cougar Mellencamp


Ooops!

[Daddymem]

I've retired my pick for the last three weeks or so and have taken on finger pickin' thanks to mojo at threechordguitar.com.  I'm lovin' it.  Any other links out there?  I could use some more songs to play either acoustic or electric.

[Alasdair]

I've enjoyed this guy's site - he has a lot of older songs you won't find on lots of other sites

http://www.theguitarguy.com/

enjoy 

[Daddymem]

Oh yeah, Moonlight Serenade is there!  Cool, one of my favorite oldies.  Thanks, lots to peruse there, even got old Blue Eyes and the rest of the Rat Pack.