I need to buy a guitar first

I know nothing about guitar so far, and I want to get one before I start any lessons on this site (though I'm already pay the monthly fee..)

any 101 for such info?

It wouldn't hurt to read throught fundamental 1.. It may help you to set a direction in making a guitar choice..
This question is one of the most asked question here.

Also, list for the readers
What genre..
A ball park budget...
Aspirations... Personal entertainment, frends and family, or I want to be
a guitar star...

If you have a friend or relative that has a guitar, you might try or borrow
a guitar to learn a few chord and notes..
The biggest thing I would say is try try try every guitar you can..

Hi selluck,

in general, even if you re just a beginner, I would suggest you to get decent, good sounding guitar, don't go for very cheap ones that sound horrible cause you will be not willing to play them.. and next year as you get better I will want to buy another one...
Try many guitars if you can and consider things that are very personal, like for example, the size of the body that is more comfortable for you.

I got a "big baby Taylor BBT" for 400$, new, amazing sound and small body, very comfortable to play
I know there are many guitars for about the price that sound very well, for example the Laguna LG6CE-RW, that you can eventually also plug to an amplifier, take a look

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSUVKqDvV2M

I know some people also mentioned the Takemine guitars. These are all acoustic guitars. If these prices are not affordable for you, you could ask to people at store to give you some directions.. or, check if you can get something used.

good luck in your searching

Originally Posted by: compart1Also, list for the readers
What genre..
A ball park budget...
Aspirations... Personal entertainment, frends and family, or I want to be
a guitar star...

Agreed... Do you want to play acoustic or electric.

Originally Posted by: RickBlackerAgreed... Do you want to play acoustic or electric.

hm.. maybe electric.. :-)

Originally Posted by: 3donkeyHi selluck,

in general, even if you re just a beginner, I would suggest you to get decent, good sounding guitar, don't go for very cheap ones that sound horrible cause you will be not willing to play them.. and next year as you get better I will want to buy another one...
Try many guitars if you can and consider things that are very personal, like for example, the size of the body that is more comfortable for you.

I got a "big baby Taylor BBT" for 400$, new, amazing sound and small body, very comfortable to play
I know there are many guitars for about the price that sound very well, for example the Laguna LG6CE-RW, that you can eventually also plug to an amplifier, take a look

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSUVKqDvV2M

I know some people also mentioned the Takemine guitars. These are all acoustic guitars. If these prices are not affordable for you, you could ask to people at store to give you some directions.. or, check if you can get something used.

good luck in your searching

great videos!! thanks!!

Originally Posted by: selluckI know nothing about guitar so far, and I want to get one before I start any lessons on this site

It depends upon what feels comfortable to you, what your goals are & your budget.

You should go to a local music store & and try out some guitars. Just pick it up & see how it feels in your hands; enough to get the feel for each instrument. You are trying to find out which one feels comfortable in your hands against your arms & torso.

Epiphones & Gibsons in general are typically smaller scale (shorter instruments) while Fenders are a little bit larger. This results in a small but important difference in how they feel & play to any given individual player.

Also, Epiphone-Gibsons have humbucker pickups which are typically associated with rock & metal. So, if you want to eventually play rock, you might want a Les Paul style guitar, like a beginner Epiphone:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PPEGENJREBCH/

Fenders typically have single coil pickups which are a different sound altogether. They can be used to play rock, but often a beginner that is trying to get an aggressive Slash or Metallica tone is disappointed with the single coils Fender Squier style. But they are great for bluesy rock (Hendrix, SRV, Black Crowes, etc.).

Also, the Squier & many Fenders have a vibrato bar, while the Epiphone does not! This is great if you want one, but terribly inappropriate if you don't. So, if you want to eventually play blues or country, you might want a Strat style guitar, like a beginner Squier:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratPkSEBS/

Here is the whole page of their beginner packs:

http://www.sweetwater.com/c594--Electric_Guitar_Packs

Spend a little time thinking about which specific style or styles you want to play, which artists you admire for playing & guitar sound. Hope that helps. Let us know what you decide on! :)

hey Selluck,

even if you re planning to play mostly electric, remember it s very important that you practice on an acoustic as well. So maybe one option could be get the electric guitar you like and a very cheap one acoustic at least to practice

MAKE SURE YOU TRY IT ON (as mentioned in Mr. Schlegel's post) Size matters and bigger isn't better.

For the last 3 years, I have been playing an ovation acoustic guitar, given as a gift 20+years ago...anyways...it was way to big for me but I couldn't buy one so I used what I had. it was very hard to adequetly accomplish the skills taught in the beginning lessons (fundementals - chords and barr chords). my philosophy was, if I can learn on a guitar I have to work harder on, I would be better later... (I heard some famous person say that...cant remember who... but I adopted that philosophy because I had too) I'm not sure if that philosophy holds true...but maybe I gained something.

Just about a month ago, I got a baby taylor (used and relatively inexpensive) for a gift and I can't believe the difference size makes. my progess and ability to reach chords and do barre chords dramatically increased.

Even now, after "passing" fundamentals level and moving on, I'm not sure how to go buy a guitar but Sweetwater (referenced earlier in a post) has a "buyers guide" and can teach you a little. and of course all the advice you can get here.

do your homework!

I got a big baby taylor about 2 months ago and other than sound amazing, the body size it s just perfect for a small guy like me.
Practice on a acoustic builds expecially your finger strenght and this helps when go to play an electric one. Practice on something harder doesnt necessarily means that you have to be unconfortable.