You've decided to take up the guitar, and you're right. But by seeking advice from those around you, you will inevitably come across the former rocker uncle, who will persuade you that you have to choose Gibson or Fender, brands that are certainly legendary but at slightly distressing prices for a beginner. The excellent news is that this is totally false! In this article, we will go over the essential points to help you choose the guitar that is right for you.
First of all
The guitar is the travel instrument par excellence. So keep in mind that you will no doubt be called upon to brighten up cousins' birthdays in Brittany or summer evenings with friends. For this, do not invest in an overpriced acoustic guitar to start. Don't be afraid of the slightest chip on the body, consider this as the patina of your instrument.
On the other hand, do not hesitate to choose a padded cover for transport. Most sellers provide a low-end gig bag with the guitar. However, it is very common to negotiate a better quality cover (as well as a handful of free picks, because we note an annual disappearance of fifty picks per guitarist). The case is certainly the best protection for your guitar, but it weighs as much as a safe. There are soft cases, or hard covers, which best combine strength and maneuverability. Count 30 euros for a padded cover, 80 for a rigid cover, and 100 for a case; and don't forget to negotiate these prices if you buy the guitar at the same time. So also take a clip-on tuner that attaches to the headstock of your guitar.
New or used?
The used guitar market is saturated these days. Behind the prestigious “vintage” appellation also hides some unpleasant surprises. It is therefore better to inspect it with your teacher or with anyone with some knowledge in the field. If this is your first acoustic guitar, opt for a new instrument. Opt for a guitar that does not exceed 200 euros and which will have the merit of being settled and guaranteed. You can look into the opportunity after a few years of practice to expand your collection.
In-store
There are several points to check when trying an acoustic guitar. First of all, try as much as possible. Even if you find one that suits you, try five others. Go to all the stores in the area. Don't be put off by the seller. His job is to make you buy your guitar from him, and he knows how to do everything Bach, AC/DC, Django Reinhardt, or Hendrix with any instrument. In the end, it's you who will bring the guitar home, it's up to you. If you know a guitarist, drag him along. You will not regret it.
You need to check the comfort of the neck, the action (distance of the strings from the neck), the size of the body, and also the color and shape. You won't play a guitar that doesn't appeal to you.
Categories
There are two types of guitars: classical and folk. The main difference is that the former have nylon strings and the latter have steel strings. Obviously, the classics are more oriented toward classical music, flamenco, or French songs. While folk will sound more like rock, blues, and country. But if you're just starting out, don't worry about a guitar whose strings will shear your fingers. The important thing is to motivate yourself to play as often as possible.
Drink
It is strongly recommended to choose a guitar whose top is made of solid wood. Indeed, the sound is incomparable and the guitar will improve with the years. This is arguably the most important point of this article.
Overall, the lighter a guitar's natural wood tone, the clearer its notes will be, while a guitar with a darker mahogany-like wood will enhance the bass. If you accompany yourself on vocals, it is interesting to favor an instrument that will sound the opposite of your timbre. So if you have a rather high-pitched voice, a guitar with well-marked bass will complete the sound spectrum.
Setting
A guitar with a weak action is tempting but dangerous: indeed you risk curling the notes a lot if the strings are too close to the frets, these small metal bars which delimit the frets on the neck. Too high an action is used especially for bottleneck playing precisely so as never to curl the strings, but in a more versatile practice of plucked strings, it is very difficult to play. So ask the seller for a guitar whose action does not represent either aspect.
Formats and models
There are several guitar formats: the dreadnought model is the most common and the most versatile. But there are other formats, which naturally give a different sound but which must be taken into consideration about your anatomy: if you have difficulty going around the box with your arms, try the parlor models, these small classical format guitars dedicated to the truly remarkable blues. If you buy a guitar for your child, he must try it even if he does not know how to play it and that he chooses it. He is still the main interested party! For children, you can take a smaller guitar, from 5 to 8 years old the 1/2 format, and from 8 to 13 years old the 3/4 format.
Finally, it is useless to choose an electro-acoustic guitar. If you want to do concerts with it, buy a specific microphone that fits into the rosette of the guitar and which will deliver a better sound.
Conclusion and some marks
Put aside your birthday checks to treat yourself in a few years to a Martin, Gibson, or other, They are certainly fantastic instruments, but it will be a disservice to you to start with. The Canadian brands Art et Lutherie or Seagull are excellent guitars that you will keep all your life for a tenth of the price of these big brands. In the second-hand market, look for Framus or Hofner, German brands from the 60s that today sound extraordinarily good.
