I have finally started a dream - the guitar

[Jcricket]

I have recently started trying to learn the guitar. this has been a fantasy of mine since I was 12. I tried many different guitars, brands and styles. My favorite style by sound was the banjo-guitar. I love the sound of it. But, alas, my arms are too weak to hold the instrument.

I finally settled on the classical guitars. We have a used band instrument shop near me. Maybe 300-400 different guitars to choose from. I plucked on maybe 20 different guitars ranging from $50 to $2500. I finally settled on one that was just over $100. I thought it sounded the best of all the guitars up to about $500. The catch, it looked like someone had left it in the rain for a few days. The frets were corroded and the finger board needed finished. The shop cleaned, polished the fret/finger board. They put new strings on it an it sounds great. Still an ugly red-headed step child though.

I am going to do a little polishing with some #00 steel wool and some mineral spirits. Maybe follow up with a very thinned out spar urethane - 1 part urethane to 3 parts mineral spirits.

Anyway, wish me luck, I have been at it for two weeks. I pick up the guitar and it seems like I lose 2 hours.

I'll post some pics later if anyone wan to see it. Oh, it is a late 70's Ariana made in Japan guitar.

 

[bryblob]

cool, the guitar is fun to learn, I've playing for over 10 years, and there is so much more to learn. That's the best part is that there is endless possibilities. Have fun

 

[Jcricket]

Hey,
Do you know anything about having the frets "setup"? This guitar was played a lot. Some of the frets are a bit flat. I was thinking of spending the $50(the cost at the local shop) to have the fingerboard/frets set up.

 

[michaelhigh]

One thing about a beater guitar... you get what you pay for. If you're a DIY guy, work it over. If not, get a grasp of what your ability level is, and don't be afraid to invest time and money upgrading till you hit the ceiling.

Music is awesome, it will change your life. You have a worthy avocation. :thmbsp:

 

[michaelhigh]

Frets have to be "dressed", which means that they are filed and shaped so that they don't overhang the sides of the neck (otherwise your hands will get butchered as you slide up and down).

Fret setup is dependent upon the type of instrument (electrics and acoustics/classicals all require different setups, as you can imagine), and makes playing easier.

As per my previous statement, the best you can afford will give you an edge as you gain skills, and will speed up that process considerably. When I started playing bass, I had come from a brass background, so I had a good idea of my ability level, already having played professionally for about three years (age 12 to 15, when I finally took up electric bass).

I started with a $50 Tempo Japanese beater, and almost gave up it was SO bad (played horribly and sounded like total ****). Next bass - Fender Precision, $250, totally changed my life. Within 3 months I was teaching my teacher songs.

Oh yeah, pick a really good teacher. It will be worth it. Learn what is out there and use what fits your style and intent.

 

[jhenry01]

Good Luck ! Im right there with you, less than 9 months into it. Its fun.....

And FWIW, yes quality matters, but within reason cost-wise. Be true to yourself. No harm in starting affordable and if your guitar feels good to you, that is what matters.

These are my additions this week. Total investment of all in the picture was a mere $122...... and I couldn't be happier

Now get playin !

 

[Jcricket]

I did pick this guitar by tone. I literarily tried one right next to another with every classical guitar they had in the shop. Out of the 20ish I tried, about 1/4 of them sounded as good or better, the others were worse. There was a Yamaha that sounded the same, but was in better condition at more than twice the cost. There were three others that were clearly better, but they started at $450 and went up.

So far I am at $118, and that includes tax, new strings, and a good clean, polish, and tune. I think it sound pretty good. I do occasional have the slightest buzz on string 6 on the first fret. I know the ariana is aria's budget student line. But this is one of those better(simply by coincidence) ones made.

I'll keep plucking away at it. I might try the finger board/fret replacement myself in a few weeks or months. And maybe not. Either way I am loving it so far.

 

[JohnMac]

Hi Mark. I've been messing with guitars for a long time. As much as I've practiced and tried to learn I still suck. But, I get so much enjoyment out noodling around with them I can't imagine not having them around.

As you get a little better you may decide that you want to upgrade. Easy to get discouraged with a guitar that's hard to play and doesn't sound as good as you'd like.

Have fun!

John

 

[philo426]

yes the guitar is fun.May be a bit frustrating at first but if you have a decent guitar with a good set up than it is a great hobby!

 

[avguytx]

I've been playing for about 40 years now including having played in bands growing up. I've been through the stage of electric guitars, Charvel, Jackson, Gibson, Fender, and a Marshall head with a 4x10 cabinet of Celestions with various pedals to now back at my roots of playing acoustic. For the last 10 years, it's been my Ovation Celebrity Deluxe but am thinking about adding a Martin to the mix. The reason I went with the guitar at 7 years of age was it was a hell of a lot easier to tote a guitar to girls house versus drums.

 

[onwardjames]

I been playing for 30+ years, and it can sure make a bad day better.

My advice is leave the beater alone, play it as is. A refret is a serious undertaking, and I wouldn't try it.

For the record, I worked at Gibson guitars.

Enjoy the process! I remember the first few tunes my instructor taught me. 1st was "Pretty Woman", next was "Purple Haze" and then Niccolo Paganini's 24th Caprice.

STEEP learning curve, haha.

 

[philo426]

The solo from Crossroads!

 

[jhenry01]

Cedell Davis was a blues guitarist, contemporary of RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, etc......guy had polio, paralyzed hands and was stuck in a wheelchair. So he flipped a right handed guitar upside down and used a butter knife as a slide.

If he can find a way to play, so can we. Heart is more important than a particular guitar or ability

 

[onwardjames]

The solo from Crossroads!

Do you mean "Eugene's Trick Bag?"

Steve Vai had to play that several times to fail well enough. Story was, he'd play it like he wasn't able to, the director would yell "CUT!" and he'd have to do it over again, playing it worse.

William Kanengiser, the guy who played the classical bits, is a monster player.

 

[PureQuill]

@ OP ...2 words Stew Mac!:thmbsp:
http://www.stewmac.com/
You can get all of your supplies & how to info there.

Don’t do anything until you have educated yourself ,have the correct tools & supplies.
Novices working on their instruments often do more damage than good.:nono:
You don’t want to have to pay a luthier to fix what you repaired.

Anyway that is my advise & I have been playing professionally for over 35 years
Good luck on your journey learning your new instrument!:guitar:
PQ

 

[ggrey]

I did pick this guitar by tone. I literarily tried one right next to another with every classical guitar they had in the shop. Out of the 20ish I tried, about 1/4 of them sounded as good or better, the others were worse. There was a Yamaha that sounded the same, but was in better condition at more than twice the cost. There were three others that were clearly better, but they started at $450 and went up.

Mr. Cricket, for a novice you are spot on!!

I have a similar story that I did not learn until 20 years into guitar buying...lots and lots of different models. I found a very nice used Gibson J200 at my local guitar shop and bought it. Still have it and am loving every strum.

5 years later I was browsing through Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville TN and found they had 10 J200's from 1955 through 1995. All sat in a row ready to be sampled. They ranged from $5500 for the older models down to $2000 for the newer ones. Mine is a 1990 I paid $1600.

Well, as I plucked away on each I was amazed that mine blew them all away...IMO of course. All instruments are unto themselves, produce unique sound and even same models, same year will sound markedly different.

You gotta listen and trust your own ears. JC, you have discovered the key. Keep it up. You are already a master of your own musical destiny :thmbsp:

 

[tubelectron]

Never Too Late !

T

 

[BillyTheKid]

My advice is leave the beater alone, play it as is. A refret is a serious undertaking, and I wouldn't try it.

What he said ^^^

Play it, enjoy it, learn on it. Don't invest in it.
Have fun.

Always be on the lookout for another !

I am going to do a little polishing with some #00 steel wool and some mineral spirits. Maybe follow up with a very thinned out spar urethane - 1 part urethane to 3 parts mineral spirits.

I'm not sure what you're doing there. But, it doesn't sound like standard guitar care.
If you're talking about the finish, just buy some guitar polish and leave it at that. A budget Japanese guitar will have a polyurethane finish, hard as a rock.

 

[Mystic]

Cedell Davis was a blues guitarist, contemporary of RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, etc......guy had polio, paralyzed hands and was stuck in a wheelchair. So he flipped a right handed guitar upside down and used a butter knife as a slide.

If he can find a way to play, so can we. Heart is more important than a particular guitar or ability

QFT and I'll raise ya w/ one Django Reinhardt.

 

[Ross6860]

Tony Iommi...