I was looking around at beginning guitar sites this evening and I stumbled across yours. I always wanted to learn to play the guitar (I used to be a fair drummer), but I never had anyone to teach me. I've also never learned how to select a good guitar/music teacher. In this new year, I'm going to find one and start taking lessons. By the end of the year I will have a couple of good, if not excellent guitars, a solid amp, and several months of training to get my future playing started on. My goal is to be able to play the music I like to listen to. This includes rock, and some folk like Creedence Clearwater and Alabama. I want to play what they play with what they play. I'm not looking for a career, just a lot of self-satisfaction. A way to make the sounds I hear and like. Many is the time I camped out with friends who brought along an acoustic to play around the fire and I wished I too could play, and play well.
I also reviewed what you call "tab", Jon, but this seems convoluted to me. What I want to be able to do is learn to read music. I want to be able to play a guitar or a piano/organ by buying and reading sheet music for the songs I like. I know the sheet music will never be exactly like the artist's performance, but reading music is a unique ability that I want to learn. It seems to me that when you can read music, you can start with a standard or shell that you can modify according to what you hear the artist really doing with the same piece. Otherwise, I guess it's all tone duplication, which seems haphazard and easily forgotten. I dunno, I probably don't know what I talking about. These are just an idiot's observations. I do want to learn to read music as part of this guitar project, though.
What I want for equipment, I'm not sure. I could use some guidance with this as much as I could use advice on selecting a live insturctor. I've been looking over the web at several sites, and different makes and models of guitars. Eventually I want an American-made Strat (possibly the Vintage '62 or the Eric Clapton V-neck), and a Gibson Les Paul (Standard or Custom), a Fender or Marshall 60-100 watt tube amp... Wow! Just a little browsing and already I know about some real quality equipment! Now, to finance it all... Gotta do it over time. Let's see if I stick with it first... Actually, I want to start with a really good acoustic with a pre-amp pick-up. Not that I will be worth amping at first, but I hope to chime in with my nephew one day soon, and it seems to make more sense to buy the guitar with the pick-up factory installed. It already pains me to think someone has to drill and cut holes into a beautiful guitar, but... I've been looking hard at a Tacoma DM10 and a DM16 from Norwalk Music online. These look like pretty good guitars, both at around or under the $1,000 mark with a factory installed Fishman Prefix Plus acoustic guitar pre-amp system. I know this seems like a lot for a beginner, but I'm 41 years old, and I seem to have grown out of the new-idea-of-the-week syndrome I used to exude. I'll probably stay with this if I get good results. And I figure if not, then good equipment is always in high demand. Especially in a place like Austin, Texas. And no, I don't like big-ticket used items. If I'm gonna take a stab at this, I'd want to start out with new stuff.
I will listen to good advice, especially coming from well-experienced people. So, I'm solicting some from any knowledgeable people out there.
Just this evening, I stopped by a local Brook Mays music store and looked at a discounted Gibson 6-string acoustic (without a pickup). The salesman said it normally sold for about $1,400, but due to a minor blemish on the front, it was on sale for $795. He also said that while Tacoma was a good guitar, a Gibson or a Martin would always be worth money in the future. He said that it was o.k. to buy an amp online, but do not buy an instrument like a guitar that way. Too many things to go wrong. So, there I go. I'm already a little gun shy. And were talking, in any case, about a good chunk of change.
I also prefer high quality American made stuff. I will want an American Strat for example. I don't mind paying for quality gear, as long as it is. I expect the best for my money. Trouble is, this will be a large investment for a beginner, and I want an excellent guitar to keep for the future. The question is, which one and how to choose. The salesman agreed with my feeling that it makes more sense to buy good stuff up front, than to learn to play with lousy equipment just to save a buck. If I keep up with this, then I've got great stuff for life. If not, there's always a market for high-quality gear, especially in Austin.
So, again, what is y'all's thoughts? I'll be making a decision soon, so all input sooner than later, is greatly appreciated.
M.D. Boyer
Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
