SarahSo44 answers:

Alright, well. First, I would recommend actually learning the different types of guitars since there are many! Being electric and the “ones used in songs” is called an acoustic. I recommend getting a starting package electric first due to the fact that electrics usually have smaller strings and they won’t kill your fingers. Don’t get an acoustic yet and never buy the most expensive guitar unless you are an idiot.
You can work, do chores around the house, sell things, do a garage sale and what not. I recommend never just buying the most expensive because you have no idea how hard it is to learn the instrument people usually give up in less then a couple weeks. So be careful with your money. Also use proper grammar and spelling on here. Also try to learn the different types of guitars even though the general type of guitars are Acoustic and electric.

SarahSo44 answers:

Actually, 14 is a great age to start playing guitar, since you’re old enough to know you really want to play and your hands are big enough to fit around a guitar’s neck comfortably. A lot of people who start as little kids find it hard to fret the strings properly, since their fingers aren’t long enough. And little kids don’t often have the attention span it takes to dedicate themselves to learning.

Since you’re just getting started, you’ll probably want a guitar with a thin neck and low action (the distance between the strings and the fretboard). The best thing you could do is go to a guitar store and test drive a bunch of different models, since each one will have its own feel. I’m not sure if you’re planning to play acoustic or elecric, but you can find lots of either kind with very comfortable necks. The thinner the neck and the lower the action, the easier it will be for you to move around smoothly between notes and chords.

Ibanes makes fantastic guitars (both acoustic and electric) that have thin necks, low action, look and sound great, and are often nicer than instruments costing twice as much. Jasmine by Takamine acoustics are also very user-friendly for beginners. Some Fender acoustics have thinner necks than others, but most Fender and Squier by Fender electrics have very playable necks. Epipone makes great guitars, as well, but they tend to have fatter necks that can make them challenging to play. Until you handle a lot of guitars, you won’t know which brand feels the most natural in your hands, so take your time at the guitar store and don’t let the sales weasels intimidate you or steer you toward a particular brand. One person’s dream guitar is another’s nightmare, so trust your instincts. The more comfortable your guitar is in your hands, the more you’ll play and the sooner you’ll become a good guitarist.

Musician’s Friend is a great source of information, if you want to do some research before going to a store. You can search by brand name, price or customer rating. Customers also post reviews that can be very helpful in determining which guitars play great and which ones have “issues.” Here’s a link:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/

If you find a guitar you like, but it’s out of your price range, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find the same model used on eBay or craigslist.com. A lot of musicians are parting with gear to pay rent in the bad economy, which means there are lots of bargains for buyers at the moment.

The most important thing is to choose a guitar that feels comfortable and natural in your hands. Be sure to try the guitars while you’re sitting down, too, since that’s probably how you’ll practice. If the body of a guitar is too huge, it might be cumbersome to play when you’re not standing. Good luck!

SarahSo44 answers:

You need to determine what you are able to spend and remember to take into account that you will have to pay tax. Once you have your budget, it’s time to go shopping. Don’t go to Walmart, Target , Best Buy and the like, or you will end up with another toy that looks like a guitar. While Musician’s Friend is a great place to do research and buy accessories, I do not recommend buying guitars online. Guitar Center is the bricks and mortar version of Musician’s Friend. While there is nothing wrong with Guitar Center, they are still corporate driven and are more worried about their bottom line than the individual. Often, the sales people are just that. Many of them don’t know a lot about instruments, but could sell ice to eskimos.

You will be much further ahead by shopping at your local music store. The stay in business because of their reputation, so they aren’t going to sell you another piece of crap guitar. They want to make you a customer for life and are more than happy to get to know you. The sales people are rarely pushy and are usually very knowledgeable and helpful. If you have more than one local music store, check them all out. You’ll probably end up preferring one over the other(s), but it is good to know what else is available.

There are some simple rules of etiquette one should follow when shopping for gear. Always ask before you start trying out guitars. Of course they will say yes, but it is considered rude if you don’t. I have been shopping at the same local music store for over 35 years. I still ask before I start trying things. If you are trying electric guitars, keep the volume to a minimum. Finally, don’t be or try to be a show off. Nobody likes them. You’re there in search of a better guitar, not to impress people.

That said, you’re ready to find a better guitar. Go to the music store and tell them what type of guitar you want and how much you can spend. Ask to try everything they have, new and used in your price range. Even if there are two seemingly identical guitars, try them both. No two guitars are exactly alike. Unless you are 100% sure you’ve found what you want, don’t rush in to buying anything. Sleep on anything you are unsure of. Do not assume that anything not specified on the tag is included. If the case is not included, ask if you can get a discount if you buy the case with the guitar. They will usually throw in some stuff like picks, strings and/or a strap if you ask.

Since I have no clue what type of music you play, the budget you are working with, or what sort of guitar you have in mind, I can’t give you any specific reccomendations. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me via my Y!A profile.

Xx

SarahSo44 answers:

You’re not going to find a real instrument at that price, not new anyway. The cheapest I know of that are actually playable are the SX basses at www.rondomusic.com, they start at $109+ shipping (another $30 or so to ship). And then you need an amp – do you already have one, or can borrow one?

Watch your local craigslist, go to yard sales, pawn shops, and flea markets, and you may find a lucky score – someone selling off their old squier starter kit or something. Even then, if they have any sense of the value of the instrument, they’re likely to be asking more than $60, but you might be able to haggle them down.

Also, network among local musicians. Musicians who have been at it a while tend to accumulate instruments, more than they need, and “thin the herd” now and then. Usually that means selling them, but one time my wife’s boss’s husband gave a couple of his old guitars away to kids to learn. My son has one of them upstairs, an odd single-pickup Frankentele. You can’t predict or assume when you might luck into something like that, and beggars can’t be choosers, but you never know when it might happen.

SarahSo44 answers:

There is NO way to hear the nuances of an electric guitar w/ out an amp…..

You need an amp…if you want an electric guitar period…there is no way around this…

Not even a hollow body will get you all the nuance..

You can get a decent used practice amp for about $25 @ a garage sale…or off of Craigslist..or for that matter…put an ad up at a music store..

“used small practice amp wanted. I have $25 to spend…”

i’ve bought several for family and kids of friends for that price…usually 15W amps…

Get one…

SarahSo44 answers:

Thats a funnie price range. There good values a little lower and good guitars a little higher. Notice I said “good values” a little lower, not neccesarily good guitars. Stay away from Fender “Squire” products. No need to go that route unless you’re 12 years old. You’re going to have a bunch of kids on here tell you to buy an Ibanez or a Schecter because they are low priced. Those are the “values” that I warned you about. If you get one of those, then you’re only going to want something better in another year. If you DO go the Ibanez route, stick with the “Artcore” series. If you’re totally stuck at the 400 range, then I suggest you go with Fender Stratocaster or Fender Telecaster MIM (Made in Mexico). You can usually get one on sale at Guitar Center for right at 400. They are Mexican, but still better than the off-brand junk out there. Look at the Epiphone “Dot” series hollowbodies. They are good learner guitars and you won’t have to upgrade for a while. If you can come up with another couple of hundred, get an Epiphone Casino hollowbody, Fender Stratocaster Texas Special (its called something like that). But stay away from the Epiphone solid body Les Paul or SG copies because they are junky china wal-mart cr@p. In the 600 price range you can get luckier and more creative. I saw a Gibson SG special on sale at GC for 699. That would be a STEAL. Look on Craig List and see if anyone has a good classic Strat, Tele, or Gibson SG on sale in your range. Lots of times, us musicians get desperate and we sell our shitt too cheap. Dont buy a junk amp either. Shop around and get a small Marshall, Fender, Vox, or Roland. If you go with a store-brand, get a Line 6 instead of the Crate products. Whatever you buy, take your guitar to a tech and have him do a “set-up”. It will cost you about 50 bucks but well worth it. He’ll adjust the action, intonation etc perfectly, get the neck untweeked, etc. On your secondary Q… Good guitar range from 400-40000… It depends on how much money you got. If you weant to get a GOOD guitar that sounds halfway nice, then expect to spend around 700 bucks by the time you’re done with everything you need. Keep in mind what one guy said up there. If you’re new, maybe go with an acoustic because you’ll get more for your money. You can get a very nice high quality acousitc for 400 that you’ll keep for a long time. If you do that, get a Takamine, Dean, or a Martin. They sound nicest