Buying Guide
For the beginner or novice the big question is commonly “do I buy an electric or acoustic guitar?” There’s no easy answer, but probably the question you should ask is “what sort of music do I want to play?”
Although the steel strung acoustic guitar is commonly associated with folk music or softer style of contemporary music, you can also hear them in rock, blues, country and even metal.
 The nylon strung classical guitar at first sight may look similar to the steel strung acoustic but has some distinct differences. Firstly it’s much quieter mainly due to the lower tension nylon strings and it has a flat wider fretboard. Ideally suited to classical music it can also be heard in jazz, folk and pop. Although a common starter guitar we wouldn’t recommend it as a starter guitar unless you intend to focus on classical style.
Most electric guitars are solid bodied and so are pretty quiet without an amplifier. In general they are much easier to play, with light gauge strings and give you a range of sounds to choose from when used with an amp. You will hear electric guitar played in lots of styles and types of music and it’s suited to both rhythm and lead guitar styles.
Think about the music you like and want to play and choose an appropriate instrument. If you like rock, metal or indie choose an electric. If you like singer songwriter or folk choose a steel strung acoustic. Overall the electric guitar is easiest for the beginner – it’s smaller, easier to hold strings down, has a thinner neck, but is generally more expensive and needs an amplifier. Acoustics will take a bit more persistence to master initially.
Don’t necessarily go for the cheapest instrument. There are some poor quality instruments out there which are pretty much unplayable and could prevent you from ever learning guitar. In our opinion something in the region of £70-£100 should give you a reasonable instrument and until you are sure that you are going to become a committed player don’t spend fortunes. We reckon 1 in 3 beginners make it past the first 3 months of playing!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice. Guitarists are generally a friendly bunch and usually interested in talking with other guitarists no matter what level of player you are. And don't forget - we're here to offer good advice on your puchase. Just phone us on 01630 685187.
We also offer a no quibble 7 day returns policy. Simply return your purchase in 'as new' condition (and at your own cost) and we will issue a full refund of the purchase price. |
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