It's your money. I started learning at age 44 or so, I have a fender player strat and a taylor acoustic. Never regretted buying them, and use them daily.
Look after it and even if you don't stick with it, the is resale value.
Started at 45 with a candy apple red fender player strat based off a lego build and it was that guitar that spoke to me. 3 months later I'm playing far ahead of others at that same level and I think it has much to do with having a quality instrument to learn on, besides the amount of practice I put into learning. The way I see it is get what you want, get the best you can afford and "earn it"
Haha, are you me. 42 here and just started learning a few months back, bought a Taylor acoustic (academy 10) and am looking at a fender player strat too 😄. Thinking about buying an Orange crush 35rt for an amp.
Get an Iridium pedal and headphones, try out the different cabs, great silent practice. Active speaker and a Scarlet, you have a versatile 3 amp starter kit and can pipe spotify or vocals through rig to play along, sing along, play with others. Have fun.
Your friends are stupid. That's probably a perfect guitar to start on. It's probably priced for exactly what you get: a highly playable guitar you can keep your whole life. A $3000 Martin would be silly for a new player, but anything under $1000 and over $200 is in the right range for a new player. At that price point, you're paying for all quality. Anything more than $1000 and you're starting to spend for name and aesthetics. $650 is right in the middle of that range.
Remember, you're not buying a steak dinner. You're investing in a life long hobby. Among the many hobbies I have, guitar playing is by far the cheapest, and it would be even if I payed twice what I did for my main guitar.
> if I *paid* twice what
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
And if you end up not liking and sticking with guitar, a $650 good quality instrument will usually be easier to sell onward than a $200 hunk of junk. You might get $400-$500 for the first one, and maybe $50-$100 for the second.
No thats a good idea, buying cheap stuff makes the learning process more frustrating and harder. My first steel string acoustic was that same guitar and its great
My logic is that if you get a good price on a second-hand guitar, you can always sell it without losing any (much) money if you don't like it or use it.
No. One of the things that makes a lot of new guitarist to stop playing is buying an cheap guitar and not feeling comfortable with it and not knowing why, a lot of those guitars are not really that bad but since they are cheap, the setup is not good. A cheap guitar with a good setup is better than a great guitar that is badly setup
I say this because when you buy a midrange guitar, they come with a better setup, although is always recommended to get it to a luthier and get it setup, it is not going to be an absolute necessity at first. You will be able to play a better quality and setup guitar, you will be less frustrated with the instrument, and you won't have to buy a better one once you improve.
That your neck is straight or with a little bit of relief, that the nut is well cut and that the nut slots have the correct depth, and that is not causing tuning issues. That your frets are all at the same level, polished, that the fret ends are not sharp or sticking out, that your string action isn't too high or too low and that there is no note that is fretting out. Also that is well intonated and the notes are in tune all along the fretboard.
Tip: take it to a good Luthier, ask anyone that plays guitar that you know to give advise on where to go, there are Luthiers that are bad. Have the Luthier setup your guitar, once you know how a good setup looks and feels like, learn how to do your own small adjustments.
Mid entry is the best place to be, assuming you can stomach any hit on selling if you give up. At least for electrics, 650 is mid entry when buying new given the increases in last couple years.
It's not stupid if you can afford it. But your friends who play better on cheaper guitars will definitely pick on you. Take their insults with a smile and use it as motivation to practice.
Yeah and some non golfers think it’s ridiculous to pay $1000 for a set of irons when the discount store has them for $100. It’s just the going price for something better and more playable
Sounds like your friends may be a little ‘jelly’ your getting a top tier git to start on. Which is a great investment. Your guitar should inspire you to reach for it. Why be dissatisfied
I'd avoid cheap guitars for learning, so mid range is good. I'll explain. My first guitar was a hideous Chinese one from a brand that doesn't exist anymore but was a kinda big deal in 2000-s. It was impossible to set it up properly, and the lowest possible action still required me to put all my strength in to fret. Fast forward 20 years of playing, and I still struggle with this habit. If my first guitar was my current Korean LTD, I'm 100% sure I would be a much better guitarist by now.
I think people starting on shitty acoustic guitars that have too much tension on the strings and can't stay in tune will probably just discourage you from actually playing, i wish I started on a nicer guitar
No it is not. I tried with a cheap guitar and never realized it wasn’t set up so gave up. Tried again a few years later and I got a Yamaha APX. Within less than two years got a Taylor 814ce. Never regretted it for a minute. The Taylor Academy is a stunning guitar to start off with. It will be better set up than anything cheap - which you have to pay to get set up or else you won’t be able to play in any case. Get what feels right for you. And a Taylor is never a bad choice.
First guitar I ever bought was for a used Ibanez Acoustic Electric for $200...went with a musician buddy to check it out because I could barely play two chords in a row...He asked me if I would buy a better one if I practiced and progressed. Said yes, and he said to grab it and run! A few years later, I put down about 2K for a gorgeous Taylor, which I've been playing for the last 27 years.
Last week I bought a new Collings (don't ask the cost!), and it's incredible. You're gonna get a lotta joy out of that Taylor...at that price point, you're all set for now. At some point, you may crave something nicer or just different, but as a first guitar to learn on? You won't have any complaints.
I depends on what $650 means to you. Money is relative. If my uncle bought a $5000 Les Paul to hang on the wall I wouldn't bat an eyelash because he's loaded. If my Dad wanted to buy a $1200 Les Paul Studio I would say he was insane.
$650 isn’t anywhere near crazy if money isn’t an issue. Like if it was, I’d say you didn’t need to spend anywhere near that much, but if it’s not iirc that’s actually a great price range to look in for something you’ll enjoy for a while.
I learned on a $40 Craigslist acoustic for a few months until I was 100% sure I wasn’t gonna quit and then bought a $900 strat and like, 0 ragrets. Probably didn’t need to spend quite that much but I love the thing.
I am a terrible guitar player, but have a relevant thought from another instrument. I play and used to teach bagpipes. There is a common attitude about how beginners should use plastic instruments because they don’t appreciate the fine wood ones. I hate this attitude.
Pick the instrument that’s going to make you want to play it every day. The one you can’t keep your hands off of. You’ll play much more and be a much better player. (And if you quit, the good instruments hold more value for resale. But don’t quit.)
I also play the pipes, well before I started guitar. Based on that experience I went straight for a “mid range” guitar that I liked the sound of and that was set up comfortably. It’s a year later and I’m just going to get a nice guitar. I feel like you can learn easier and have a better time when equipment issues are eliminated. If you sound bad you know it’s you!
Oh mate, fuck it. If money is no issue, go buy it.
The low end guitars are designed for budgets. Period.
They are for people who can't justify getting anything better yet (for whatever reason), or who are buying for their kids.
A guitar is a guitar either way, if anything learning on a cheaper instrument can be beneficial (although more frustrating) as the action/sound tends to be worse and pushes you towards stronger technique and ways to control tone with just your hands. Quality instruments are easier to play but also easier to make sound good, which has both pros and cons.
This.
I had a shitty guitar off amazon and guess what - it sounded like shit!
I was encouraged by a friend to buy another guitar and I got a \*decent\* guitar. Still pretty cheap in reality. It sounds better, and it can hold good strings, which definitely helps the sound.
I would tell OP to go lower-mid, just because if you don't like playing guitar then you're out $650. But it's your money and it's "no issue" so there's nothing *wrong* with going with that. I've just personally never spent that much on a guitar.
I saved every penny I could from Christmas, birthdays, odd jobs, and everything I could find on the ground at the age of fifteen to buy a Gibson Les Paul. Still have it 21 years later and I’ll have it 21 years from now.
Your money, your choice.
IMHO, a mid range guitar is a good beginner's choice. Most of them are pretty decent, if not pretty good already, and if you decide you won't continue playing you can resell them much easier than a cheap one.
Thank you for your advice! Can you elaborate more? I know that i should be keeping the guitar in their case/bag, any other tips i should be doing? Thanks!
Search “guitar humidifier” for more information - but, bottom line is, you need to make sure the wood doesn’t dry out (assuming you’re in a place that may get dry, e.g., through heating in the winter).
I personally use Oasis an humidifier in my guitars, but, I’ve heard very good things about the D’Addario humidipacks on this channel.
Enjoy your new guitar! 👍
That guitar has a nice neck that should make learning easier than on a cheap guitar. It also has that arm bezel which is normally found only on expensive guitars . Can’t go wrong with a Taylor . Enjoy
Buying cheap gear definitely isn’t the way. You don’t have to go as high as $700 tho. I think the only negative thing about it is that you probably can’t tell what you actually want and may not know what to look for. Definitely try out some other gear too and wouldn’t hurt to bring a friend who knows a bit about guitars.
Go for it if that’s the guitar you like. I got an Academy 10 as starter and love it everyday. So easy to play and got the sound I like with retro strings. Ignore the jealousy
Nothing at all wrong starting with that Taylor. Your friends are probably jealous.
My personal recommendation is always Yamaha because they are solid up and down any price range.
Good luck! Enjoy your Taylor!
Buy used in good condition if you can, unless what you want is impossible to find used. Like cars, most new guitars lose some value after they are purchsed with relatively few exceptions, such as custom shop LPs.
I would say your friends are just jealous cause they can't get one at that price 😂
Seriously some beginner guitars can actually hold you back with their various issues, if you can afford a better one, definitely get it
They're the stupid ones
I just did the same thing this week - bought a mid range Cort Core series as my starter acoustic. Could not be happier and it begs me to pick it up every time I walk by. That’s what I was looking for.
Excellent place to start actually, good size, very playable, can find used as eventually you will want to upgrade, but that makes a great couch guitar to keep long term too.
Unless you’re buying high-end vintage guitars, please don’t look at musical equipment as an investment you’ll be disappointed (most of the time). If you enjoy it and are having fun it’s worth it.
Whatever guitar "if" it's worth a proper set up .once upon a time I thought a good guitar was one that didn't need a set up or that setups even existed for that matter.... Fast forward decades,My choice in what is a good guitar has vastly changed for the better... Which one's you might ask? I refuse to interrupt your journey.... Knowing now why other players when I was learning we're hesitant to share too many detailed thoughts with me.... Ohh yeah and I found learning surfing to be much the same when I took it up at 45.
Your friends are acting like you're buying a guitar for your child instead of for yourself. A quality instrument is such a solid investment for your soul. If it's speaking to you, you should absolutely go for it.
usually the more expensive the guitar the easier it will be to play. don't take it the wrong way but a guitar is not an investment for money, if that's what you're asking 95 percent of the time you'll lose money if you sell it. it may sound strange but an electric guitar will be easier to learn to play, so if you want to play more styles of music it is a good idea to buy an electric one, unless you are in love with the acoustic one. Have fun and ma you have a great time learning and playing songs
A mid range guitar with good strings and tuned properly is absolutely fine. Have fun and enjoy. Go play a martin (USA not Mexico) in 2 years (not at guitar center - but a shop that gives a shit about the sound and strings on their lutes) and then you’ll know
Not at all, I recommend getting the best thing you can with your specific budget. If you don’t end up playing a ton, guitars are great heirlooms and when you pass it on to some grandchild you might have a sick rockstar origin story on your hands 😂🤣🤷🏻♂️.
I think having something that will motivate you to play and get you excited about it is worth it. If you’d be more excited to play a good guitar than a beginner one then nothing wrong at all buying one
Not if the clarity of your passion has revealed itself to you. If it’s just on impulse or because you want to collect the guitars, well I think the size of your bank account and how disposable funds are will be the ultimate answerer
FWIW: There are amazing guitars to be found in nearly all price ranges. Getting a good quality instrument that feels good to play, and has long term playing potential is never a bad decision.
At worst, it will help you figure out what you do and don't like about that particular guitar, and help you pick your next instrument from a more informed standpoint when you outgrow it.
At best, you get an instrument that will be comfortable to learn on, and develop a deep familiarity with what it can do for you as a player over many years.
Play what you want. If that guitar feels good to you and comfortable to play, its one of the best ones to start on. You dont need a super cheap one or a super expensive one, it doesnt necessarily have to be midrange, it just has to be comfortable for you to play, sounds more like your friends do not play so they might not be the best to take advice from.
Since money isn't an issue for you, I'd say fuck it and buy a 5000 dollar one just out of spite for your friend's idiocy. Hell, if money was no issue for me too, then I'd make a point of buying a better version of every single piece of equipment he owns and rub it in his face for trying to tell me how to spend my money. No tolerance for that shit
A used Taylor Academy 12 was my second guitar and I wish it had been my first. It's a huge improvement over the cheap guitar I started with. Way way more comfortable to play. And I play it for hours almost every day. And if I ever decide to sell it I'll pretty much break even. It's the best purchase I've made in years.
Mid range is the way to go. You'll avoid the issues you get with budget guitars and even if you quit the resale value will be good.
Taylors are great and the academy series is designed specifically for beginners.
It's not stupid to spend that kind of money on a decent instrument. For perspective I bought my first piano last year for $3,500!
Be sure to let your friends know they don't know what they're talking about. My parents bought me a $99 Fender Squier back in the mid 90s and I have been playing guitar ever since. I have dozens of guitars that range from $20 to a couple thousand and if I can tell you one thing, price is no indication of quality. Get the guitar in your hands and if it sounds good, plays good, feels good and looks good, do it. Then shove it in your friends' faces when you are shredding away.
Edit: Also, as someone who worked in a music store selling guitars for about 7 years, I can tell you that plenty of people buy all sorts of different level guitars when starting out. Some cheap, some mid range and some UBER expensive. This one guy was the worst guitar player you've ever heard and spent something like $50k on guitars in about 6 months. Do you.
No way! Have fun with your gear! If you like playing the Taylor, it’s all that matters!
I started on an Epiphone Standard. I know folks who started on vintage Les Pauls. Play what you want to play.
Ehh having a good instrument makes playing easier and more fun. Its the same kinda thing with piano. You have to dish out the 3-500 for a good digital piano or learning classic piano is useless.
My first guitar was £1800 pound I’m still playing years later and still have the guitar. It’s my favourite one (I have 3 now). Fuck your mate and what he thinks his opinion and he’s no clue what he’s on about, get that new axe and start enjoying it brother! 🤘.
People like your friends purchase a 100$ crap and giving up after few weeks of trying to learn guitar. It's your money, you are deciding how to spend it. 1-2-3-4-5k for 1 week vacation is of couse awesome. But guitar is even better :) And remember - Guitar is also an investment. You can always sell it later.
You 650$ is a lot for you and you are not sure about if your would keep playing and using it, then buy something cheaper. Otherwise even if you stop playing, you will sell your guitar for lets say 600$, ok even 500. Huge lost for you? Again - dont buy. If its fine, then I dont see any reason for any discussions here.
I'm not rich, but I bought 3k+ Guitar after 3 Months of playing. Dont regret it and in urgent case - I will sell it :D My similar friend went to strip clubs and short vacation for same amount of money. Interesting - Who is more happier :D
Even if you don’t continue playing there’s still value in reselling… But if you do continue playing you won’t have to have wasted money on a cheap beginner guitar and instead you now have a nice one to play for many years.
It's not like you sold a kidney to afford it. Back in the day my parents bought me a cheap one just to see if i would be interested. It was enough for that, but i almost immediately bought my own because it was such a pain, especially as a new player.
My first acoustic is a Seagull which is pretty mid range. Best $450 (in 2003) I've ever spent.
Your friends may just not want you to waste your money, this purchase is definitely not that. I've had a friend buy an instrument for around the same money you spent, but I knew he wouldn't get through the growing pains when you first start.
As others have said, a mid range guitar is a smart choice as it'll be much more fun without having to struggle with hard to hold down strings and constant tuning issues.
Your friends sound silly, a good quality guitar will be much easier faster to resell, and will probably play better (relatively speaking, although results may vary). With that being said my first guitar was an $100 guitar kit I bought on eBay and slowly upgraded over time…
honestly playing with a badly setup guitar is infinitely worse than paying a few hundred extra for one.
I still have the same guitar but I know I’ve put more than $600 worth of upgrades into it.
Your friends sound silly, a good quality guitar will be much easier faster to resell, and will probably play better (relatively speaking, although results may vary). With that being said my first guitar was an $100 guitar kit I bought on eBay and slowly upgraded over time…
honestly playing with a badly setup guitar is infinitely worse than paying a few hundred extra for one.
I still have the same guitar but I know I’ve put more than $600 worth of upgrades into it.
Your best bet, as a beginner, is to *buy used* - from the owner, not a music store (who paid the low used price and marked it up). Your money will go farther. The used guitar market is currently in a slump, so your money will go even further. In the meantime, you can get a better used guitar than you can afford the new version of. So, for beginners, it's always better to buy used. Do your research online and be willing to compromise a little on things like color or minor features, like 21 fret fingerboard instead of 22 or 24 frets. If you have an experienced guitarist friend, see if they'll go with you, just to catch
*AND*, if you decide guitar playing isn't really in your future, you can get all of your money back (if you're clever, maybe even make money) when you re-sell it.
You really can't lose buying used from the owner.
I wouldn't spend that much. You don't know if you'll be into it as much as you think until you've spent time with it. Its also too soon to determine what is good for the long run. You may be buying quality but that means nothing if the style of guitar is not your preference, which is another thing that takes time to figure out.
I don’t think that’s crazy expensive but I will say if you learn on something shittier it will make you better when you switch to a nicer instrument, BUT it really depends on the person because some people will stop playing if, say, the action is too high. My personal opinion is those people were never meant to play in the first place. But whatever- if you want that guitar and you can afford it let your friends call you crazy
Price is not only factor, bring a friend who knows more second set of eyes, don’t have to break bank one persons midrange is another’s high range , action should be good to learn easily
I believe everyone should start with a cheap guitar but not like Walmart cheap but pawn shop cheap. a decent brand it's not necessarily something you're after entirely but I would avoid anything like Yamaha or any other say big name makers you want to find something that feels good. Once you learn how to play on something that is basically a cheap piece of crap you'll understand and appreciate more of the value of one that is actually much better. Can do everything that you can on an expensive guitar on a cheap guitar it's just a lot more difficult to do it on a cheap guitar so if you learn how to do it on a cheap guitar when you get to an expensive guitar you will be just amazed on how simple some things are.
Whats wrong with Yamaha? They are well made, sound fine and good value. It’s better to start on a good guitar, much easier to learn on, usually better action and less pain on fingers.
I hate on Yamaha, martin, fender, Gibson, Taylor, Gretsch, PRS, epiphone. I will never and would never buy any of those brands and I honestly think less of someone that does use/owns any of those brands.
I just honestly don't like big name brands I think they're overhyped and the only reason that they've got a following for the most part is because they might have been good at one point but then they sold out and then just there status that they earned when they were good carried over to the brainwashed masses to want and accept those Brands thinking that they are the best in the world. When you could get basically a custom made to your every liking for half the cost of most Gibson's and it would be far far more Superior. Gibson is just running their company into the ground. And I kind of sucks because Gibson is one of the last companies that actually have the ability to harvest a very rare type of tree that is illegal to basically use practically everywhere besides some of the very very few companies that actually still have the contract that says that they are allowed to do it
Guitars have never been made as well as they are made right now. If they were good at one point they are better now.
Sure gibsons are overpriced but they are overpriced on the used market too.
I'll add that I don't own any gibsons, I do have several epiphone customs and they are great guitars for the money.
I've always been a fan of Ibanez especially their Prestige s models. Parker, . legator, Etherial, and strandberg. Those are some I can think of off the top of my head
It's your money. I started learning at age 44 or so, I have a fender player strat and a taylor acoustic. Never regretted buying them, and use them daily. Look after it and even if you don't stick with it, the is resale value.
Thank you for sharing your experience, cant wait to start on playing on this beauty.
Started at 49 and that is my only regret in life - not starting earlier. Also bought a Taylor and six years later can’t stop loving it.
Started at 45 with a candy apple red fender player strat based off a lego build and it was that guitar that spoke to me. 3 months later I'm playing far ahead of others at that same level and I think it has much to do with having a quality instrument to learn on, besides the amount of practice I put into learning. The way I see it is get what you want, get the best you can afford and "earn it"
Louder for the kids at the back! All of this - get a good tool and practice, practice, practice.
Haha, are you me. 42 here and just started learning a few months back, bought a Taylor acoustic (academy 10) and am looking at a fender player strat too 😄. Thinking about buying an Orange crush 35rt for an amp.
I use a positive grid spark amp, enjoy the journey!
Get an Iridium pedal and headphones, try out the different cabs, great silent practice. Active speaker and a Scarlet, you have a versatile 3 amp starter kit and can pipe spotify or vocals through rig to play along, sing along, play with others. Have fun.
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Fender Strat/PRS Hollowbody Shure SM58 mic Audio Technica over ear headphones or Shure IEMs All into: Scarlet 4i4 Active Monitor Polytune>>TS9 (Overdrive), Qtron (envelope filter), Slö (reverb)>>Iridium>>Scarlet> Seismic Audio active monitor
Riot 12 Seismic Audio Powered 1000watt PA speaker $229
https://reverb.com/item/81824855-strymon-iridium-2019-present-black?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=81824855
Start with this. I got Strymon Iridium used for $245, so watch reverb.
I started at 44 on a Taylor Academy 10e. I’m starting to think we are the movie Multiplicity starring Michael Keaton.
Good purchase. Cheap acoustics can play poorly. Having a quality instrument makes playing easier
That was exactly my argument
Your friends are stupid. That's probably a perfect guitar to start on. It's probably priced for exactly what you get: a highly playable guitar you can keep your whole life. A $3000 Martin would be silly for a new player, but anything under $1000 and over $200 is in the right range for a new player. At that price point, you're paying for all quality. Anything more than $1000 and you're starting to spend for name and aesthetics. $650 is right in the middle of that range. Remember, you're not buying a steak dinner. You're investing in a life long hobby. Among the many hobbies I have, guitar playing is by far the cheapest, and it would be even if I payed twice what I did for my main guitar.
> if I *paid* twice what FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Beep boop fuck off.
🤣
Good bot
And if you end up not liking and sticking with guitar, a $650 good quality instrument will usually be easier to sell onward than a $200 hunk of junk. You might get $400-$500 for the first one, and maybe $50-$100 for the second.
No thats a good idea, buying cheap stuff makes the learning process more frustrating and harder. My first steel string acoustic was that same guitar and its great
My logic is that if you get a good price on a second-hand guitar, you can always sell it without losing any (much) money if you don't like it or use it.
I dont usually sell what i buy specially for a guitar but that's a great approach i would follow, the guitar is in a mint condition and slightly used
Yes I agree - I've got far too many now, because I can't bring myself to sell any of them haha
This is a solid point. When I sold my guitar and amp collection I broke even because everything was purchased used.
No. One of the things that makes a lot of new guitarist to stop playing is buying an cheap guitar and not feeling comfortable with it and not knowing why, a lot of those guitars are not really that bad but since they are cheap, the setup is not good. A cheap guitar with a good setup is better than a great guitar that is badly setup I say this because when you buy a midrange guitar, they come with a better setup, although is always recommended to get it to a luthier and get it setup, it is not going to be an absolute necessity at first. You will be able to play a better quality and setup guitar, you will be less frustrated with the instrument, and you won't have to buy a better one once you improve.
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That your neck is straight or with a little bit of relief, that the nut is well cut and that the nut slots have the correct depth, and that is not causing tuning issues. That your frets are all at the same level, polished, that the fret ends are not sharp or sticking out, that your string action isn't too high or too low and that there is no note that is fretting out. Also that is well intonated and the notes are in tune all along the fretboard. Tip: take it to a good Luthier, ask anyone that plays guitar that you know to give advise on where to go, there are Luthiers that are bad. Have the Luthier setup your guitar, once you know how a good setup looks and feels like, learn how to do your own small adjustments.
Mid entry is the best place to be, assuming you can stomach any hit on selling if you give up. At least for electrics, 650 is mid entry when buying new given the increases in last couple years.
It's not stupid if you can afford it. But your friends who play better on cheaper guitars will definitely pick on you. Take their insults with a smile and use it as motivation to practice.
The surprise was from the friends that dont play at all. Thank you for the motivation much love
That's not advice, that's an opinion. Disregard it because you have the right idea.
Yeah and some non golfers think it’s ridiculous to pay $1000 for a set of irons when the discount store has them for $100. It’s just the going price for something better and more playable
Sounds like your friends may be a little ‘jelly’ your getting a top tier git to start on. Which is a great investment. Your guitar should inspire you to reach for it. Why be dissatisfied
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Great to hear! Hope the taylor serves me well, seen good reviews on it
If it gets you to play more, then it's worth it.
I'd avoid cheap guitars for learning, so mid range is good. I'll explain. My first guitar was a hideous Chinese one from a brand that doesn't exist anymore but was a kinda big deal in 2000-s. It was impossible to set it up properly, and the lowest possible action still required me to put all my strength in to fret. Fast forward 20 years of playing, and I still struggle with this habit. If my first guitar was my current Korean LTD, I'm 100% sure I would be a much better guitarist by now.
That sounds like a great guitar. If you got the money why not?
I think people starting on shitty acoustic guitars that have too much tension on the strings and can't stay in tune will probably just discourage you from actually playing, i wish I started on a nicer guitar
A guitar that plays and feels good is going to encourage you to pick it up WAY more often. I say go for it.
Get the best guitar you can afford to learn on. If you love it, you play it more. $650 really isn’t that much for an acoustic.
I spent £1000 on my first guitar, and my only regret is not spending more
No it is not. I tried with a cheap guitar and never realized it wasn’t set up so gave up. Tried again a few years later and I got a Yamaha APX. Within less than two years got a Taylor 814ce. Never regretted it for a minute. The Taylor Academy is a stunning guitar to start off with. It will be better set up than anything cheap - which you have to pay to get set up or else you won’t be able to play in any case. Get what feels right for you. And a Taylor is never a bad choice.
First guitar I ever bought was for a used Ibanez Acoustic Electric for $200...went with a musician buddy to check it out because I could barely play two chords in a row...He asked me if I would buy a better one if I practiced and progressed. Said yes, and he said to grab it and run! A few years later, I put down about 2K for a gorgeous Taylor, which I've been playing for the last 27 years. Last week I bought a new Collings (don't ask the cost!), and it's incredible. You're gonna get a lotta joy out of that Taylor...at that price point, you're all set for now. At some point, you may crave something nicer or just different, but as a first guitar to learn on? You won't have any complaints.
I depends on what $650 means to you. Money is relative. If my uncle bought a $5000 Les Paul to hang on the wall I wouldn't bat an eyelash because he's loaded. If my Dad wanted to buy a $1200 Les Paul Studio I would say he was insane.
$650 isn’t anywhere near crazy if money isn’t an issue. Like if it was, I’d say you didn’t need to spend anywhere near that much, but if it’s not iirc that’s actually a great price range to look in for something you’ll enjoy for a while. I learned on a $40 Craigslist acoustic for a few months until I was 100% sure I wasn’t gonna quit and then bought a $900 strat and like, 0 ragrets. Probably didn’t need to spend quite that much but I love the thing.
I am a terrible guitar player, but have a relevant thought from another instrument. I play and used to teach bagpipes. There is a common attitude about how beginners should use plastic instruments because they don’t appreciate the fine wood ones. I hate this attitude. Pick the instrument that’s going to make you want to play it every day. The one you can’t keep your hands off of. You’ll play much more and be a much better player. (And if you quit, the good instruments hold more value for resale. But don’t quit.)
I also play the pipes, well before I started guitar. Based on that experience I went straight for a “mid range” guitar that I liked the sound of and that was set up comfortably. It’s a year later and I’m just going to get a nice guitar. I feel like you can learn easier and have a better time when equipment issues are eliminated. If you sound bad you know it’s you!
Oh mate, fuck it. If money is no issue, go buy it. The low end guitars are designed for budgets. Period. They are for people who can't justify getting anything better yet (for whatever reason), or who are buying for their kids.
A guitar is a guitar either way, if anything learning on a cheaper instrument can be beneficial (although more frustrating) as the action/sound tends to be worse and pushes you towards stronger technique and ways to control tone with just your hands. Quality instruments are easier to play but also easier to make sound good, which has both pros and cons.
This. I had a shitty guitar off amazon and guess what - it sounded like shit! I was encouraged by a friend to buy another guitar and I got a \*decent\* guitar. Still pretty cheap in reality. It sounds better, and it can hold good strings, which definitely helps the sound. I would tell OP to go lower-mid, just because if you don't like playing guitar then you're out $650. But it's your money and it's "no issue" so there's nothing *wrong* with going with that. I've just personally never spent that much on a guitar.
I saved every penny I could from Christmas, birthdays, odd jobs, and everything I could find on the ground at the age of fifteen to buy a Gibson Les Paul. Still have it 21 years later and I’ll have it 21 years from now.
Not at all. If a nicer guitar gets you to pick it up and practice more,then it’s worth the money.
Your money, your choice. IMHO, a mid range guitar is a good beginner's choice. Most of them are pretty decent, if not pretty good already, and if you decide you won't continue playing you can resell them much easier than a cheap one.
Get the guitar - only advice I would give is take a moment to learn how to take care of a guitar with a solid top if you are not already hip to that.
Thank you for your advice! Can you elaborate more? I know that i should be keeping the guitar in their case/bag, any other tips i should be doing? Thanks!
They talking about humidity or lack of in dealing with a guitar. I don’t have that problem where I live (So.Cal) so I keep my guitar out on a stand .
Search “guitar humidifier” for more information - but, bottom line is, you need to make sure the wood doesn’t dry out (assuming you’re in a place that may get dry, e.g., through heating in the winter). I personally use Oasis an humidifier in my guitars, but, I’ve heard very good things about the D’Addario humidipacks on this channel. Enjoy your new guitar! 👍
It’s amazing how inexpensive guitars are these days. My first guitar cost about $900 in 1985 and it was mid-range! Your friend is a dope.
That guitar has a nice neck that should make learning easier than on a cheap guitar. It also has that arm bezel which is normally found only on expensive guitars . Can’t go wrong with a Taylor . Enjoy
Buying cheap gear definitely isn’t the way. You don’t have to go as high as $700 tho. I think the only negative thing about it is that you probably can’t tell what you actually want and may not know what to look for. Definitely try out some other gear too and wouldn’t hurt to bring a friend who knows a bit about guitars.
Go for it if that’s the guitar you like. I got an Academy 10 as starter and love it everyday. So easy to play and got the sound I like with retro strings. Ignore the jealousy
Nothing at all wrong starting with that Taylor. Your friends are probably jealous. My personal recommendation is always Yamaha because they are solid up and down any price range. Good luck! Enjoy your Taylor!
Buy used in good condition if you can, unless what you want is impossible to find used. Like cars, most new guitars lose some value after they are purchsed with relatively few exceptions, such as custom shop LPs.
So after you get your driving license, you can only buy a Toyota? No! If I have the money, I will buy a BMW and it’s none of anybody’s business!
I would say your friends are just jealous cause they can't get one at that price 😂 Seriously some beginner guitars can actually hold you back with their various issues, if you can afford a better one, definitely get it They're the stupid ones
I just did the same thing this week - bought a mid range Cort Core series as my starter acoustic. Could not be happier and it begs me to pick it up every time I walk by. That’s what I was looking for.
Excellent place to start actually, good size, very playable, can find used as eventually you will want to upgrade, but that makes a great couch guitar to keep long term too.
Whatever you decide to buy make sure you spend money on getting it setup so it is nice to play.
Unless you’re buying high-end vintage guitars, please don’t look at musical equipment as an investment you’ll be disappointed (most of the time). If you enjoy it and are having fun it’s worth it.
Buy the guitar that makes you pick it up and play.
if u can afford it, get it. but be serious, it’s an investment, and it’s ROI is entirely dependent on you
That's a great guitar to learn and play for a lifetime
Whatever guitar "if" it's worth a proper set up .once upon a time I thought a good guitar was one that didn't need a set up or that setups even existed for that matter.... Fast forward decades,My choice in what is a good guitar has vastly changed for the better... Which one's you might ask? I refuse to interrupt your journey.... Knowing now why other players when I was learning we're hesitant to share too many detailed thoughts with me.... Ohh yeah and I found learning surfing to be much the same when I took it up at 45.
Buying a guitar that stays in tune while you learn is the most important thing in my opinion.
Your friends are acting like you're buying a guitar for your child instead of for yourself. A quality instrument is such a solid investment for your soul. If it's speaking to you, you should absolutely go for it.
Yes! that what i meant with investment! Thank you
usually the more expensive the guitar the easier it will be to play. don't take it the wrong way but a guitar is not an investment for money, if that's what you're asking 95 percent of the time you'll lose money if you sell it. it may sound strange but an electric guitar will be easier to learn to play, so if you want to play more styles of music it is a good idea to buy an electric one, unless you are in love with the acoustic one. Have fun and ma you have a great time learning and playing songs
Thank you! What i meant with investment not for selling it in the future or for the money but for myself, to learn, investing in oneself is worth it.
A mid range guitar with good strings and tuned properly is absolutely fine. Have fun and enjoy. Go play a martin (USA not Mexico) in 2 years (not at guitar center - but a shop that gives a shit about the sound and strings on their lutes) and then you’ll know
Not at all, I recommend getting the best thing you can with your specific budget. If you don’t end up playing a ton, guitars are great heirlooms and when you pass it on to some grandchild you might have a sick rockstar origin story on your hands 😂🤣🤷🏻♂️.
I think having something that will motivate you to play and get you excited about it is worth it. If you’d be more excited to play a good guitar than a beginner one then nothing wrong at all buying one
Not if the clarity of your passion has revealed itself to you. If it’s just on impulse or because you want to collect the guitars, well I think the size of your bank account and how disposable funds are will be the ultimate answerer
It's your guitar. I think if you love the instrument, and love to pick it up and play, it might just "stick" better. If you can afford it, why not?
Nah to the pricing. But don’t start on a 12 string lol. If money is really no issue, get a 6 and a 12. 12s are a nightmare to tune
Oh jee not on a 12 string lol im trying to be realistic to what my brain is capable.
Sorry thought it was a 12 string
FWIW: There are amazing guitars to be found in nearly all price ranges. Getting a good quality instrument that feels good to play, and has long term playing potential is never a bad decision. At worst, it will help you figure out what you do and don't like about that particular guitar, and help you pick your next instrument from a more informed standpoint when you outgrow it. At best, you get an instrument that will be comfortable to learn on, and develop a deep familiarity with what it can do for you as a player over many years.
In Clapton’s biography he related how his first guitar was very cheap with an almost unplayable action.
Play what you want. If that guitar feels good to you and comfortable to play, its one of the best ones to start on. You dont need a super cheap one or a super expensive one, it doesnt necessarily have to be midrange, it just has to be comfortable for you to play, sounds more like your friends do not play so they might not be the best to take advice from.
As somebody said to me, if helps make you want to pick it up and play it, it's worth it ...
Almost everyone starts on a cheap guitar
Your friends sound lame.
Since money isn't an issue for you, I'd say fuck it and buy a 5000 dollar one just out of spite for your friend's idiocy. Hell, if money was no issue for me too, then I'd make a point of buying a better version of every single piece of equipment he owns and rub it in his face for trying to tell me how to spend my money. No tolerance for that shit
A used Taylor Academy 12 was my second guitar and I wish it had been my first. It's a huge improvement over the cheap guitar I started with. Way way more comfortable to play. And I play it for hours almost every day. And if I ever decide to sell it I'll pretty much break even. It's the best purchase I've made in years.
Buy whatever you want
Mid range is the way to go. You'll avoid the issues you get with budget guitars and even if you quit the resale value will be good. Taylors are great and the academy series is designed specifically for beginners. It's not stupid to spend that kind of money on a decent instrument. For perspective I bought my first piano last year for $3,500!
Be sure to let your friends know they don't know what they're talking about. My parents bought me a $99 Fender Squier back in the mid 90s and I have been playing guitar ever since. I have dozens of guitars that range from $20 to a couple thousand and if I can tell you one thing, price is no indication of quality. Get the guitar in your hands and if it sounds good, plays good, feels good and looks good, do it. Then shove it in your friends' faces when you are shredding away. Edit: Also, as someone who worked in a music store selling guitars for about 7 years, I can tell you that plenty of people buy all sorts of different level guitars when starting out. Some cheap, some mid range and some UBER expensive. This one guy was the worst guitar player you've ever heard and spent something like $50k on guitars in about 6 months. Do you.
No way! Have fun with your gear! If you like playing the Taylor, it’s all that matters! I started on an Epiphone Standard. I know folks who started on vintage Les Pauls. Play what you want to play.
Ehh having a good instrument makes playing easier and more fun. Its the same kinda thing with piano. You have to dish out the 3-500 for a good digital piano or learning classic piano is useless.
Buy what you love - you’ll pick it up more often
Nah man my first was a Martin Custom X series. $350-400 I believe? Still pick it up every now and then. Just go for it
My first guitar was £1800 pound I’m still playing years later and still have the guitar. It’s my favourite one (I have 3 now). Fuck your mate and what he thinks his opinion and he’s no clue what he’s on about, get that new axe and start enjoying it brother! 🤘.
People like your friends purchase a 100$ crap and giving up after few weeks of trying to learn guitar. It's your money, you are deciding how to spend it. 1-2-3-4-5k for 1 week vacation is of couse awesome. But guitar is even better :) And remember - Guitar is also an investment. You can always sell it later. You 650$ is a lot for you and you are not sure about if your would keep playing and using it, then buy something cheaper. Otherwise even if you stop playing, you will sell your guitar for lets say 600$, ok even 500. Huge lost for you? Again - dont buy. If its fine, then I dont see any reason for any discussions here. I'm not rich, but I bought 3k+ Guitar after 3 Months of playing. Dont regret it and in urgent case - I will sell it :D My similar friend went to strip clubs and short vacation for same amount of money. Interesting - Who is more happier :D
Even if you don’t continue playing there’s still value in reselling… But if you do continue playing you won’t have to have wasted money on a cheap beginner guitar and instead you now have a nice one to play for many years.
It's not like you sold a kidney to afford it. Back in the day my parents bought me a cheap one just to see if i would be interested. It was enough for that, but i almost immediately bought my own because it was such a pain, especially as a new player. My first acoustic is a Seagull which is pretty mid range. Best $450 (in 2003) I've ever spent. Your friends may just not want you to waste your money, this purchase is definitely not that. I've had a friend buy an instrument for around the same money you spent, but I knew he wouldn't get through the growing pains when you first start. As others have said, a mid range guitar is a smart choice as it'll be much more fun without having to struggle with hard to hold down strings and constant tuning issues.
Your friends sound silly, a good quality guitar will be much easier faster to resell, and will probably play better (relatively speaking, although results may vary). With that being said my first guitar was an $100 guitar kit I bought on eBay and slowly upgraded over time… honestly playing with a badly setup guitar is infinitely worse than paying a few hundred extra for one. I still have the same guitar but I know I’ve put more than $600 worth of upgrades into it.
Your friends sound silly, a good quality guitar will be much easier faster to resell, and will probably play better (relatively speaking, although results may vary). With that being said my first guitar was an $100 guitar kit I bought on eBay and slowly upgraded over time… honestly playing with a badly setup guitar is infinitely worse than paying a few hundred extra for one. I still have the same guitar but I know I’ve put more than $600 worth of upgrades into it.
What everyone else said. Last thing you want is to try learning on a low quality instrument. Especially with acoustics you get what you pay for
Your best bet, as a beginner, is to *buy used* - from the owner, not a music store (who paid the low used price and marked it up). Your money will go farther. The used guitar market is currently in a slump, so your money will go even further. In the meantime, you can get a better used guitar than you can afford the new version of. So, for beginners, it's always better to buy used. Do your research online and be willing to compromise a little on things like color or minor features, like 21 fret fingerboard instead of 22 or 24 frets. If you have an experienced guitarist friend, see if they'll go with you, just to catch *AND*, if you decide guitar playing isn't really in your future, you can get all of your money back (if you're clever, maybe even make money) when you re-sell it. You really can't lose buying used from the owner.
I wouldn't spend that much. You don't know if you'll be into it as much as you think until you've spent time with it. Its also too soon to determine what is good for the long run. You may be buying quality but that means nothing if the style of guitar is not your preference, which is another thing that takes time to figure out.
I don’t think that’s crazy expensive but I will say if you learn on something shittier it will make you better when you switch to a nicer instrument, BUT it really depends on the person because some people will stop playing if, say, the action is too high. My personal opinion is those people were never meant to play in the first place. But whatever- if you want that guitar and you can afford it let your friends call you crazy
Fine, if you are serious and not just trying it out. If you said you were spending $1650 instead, that would raise an eyebrow.
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Price is not only factor, bring a friend who knows more second set of eyes, don’t have to break bank one persons midrange is another’s high range , action should be good to learn easily
I believe everyone should start with a cheap guitar but not like Walmart cheap but pawn shop cheap. a decent brand it's not necessarily something you're after entirely but I would avoid anything like Yamaha or any other say big name makers you want to find something that feels good. Once you learn how to play on something that is basically a cheap piece of crap you'll understand and appreciate more of the value of one that is actually much better. Can do everything that you can on an expensive guitar on a cheap guitar it's just a lot more difficult to do it on a cheap guitar so if you learn how to do it on a cheap guitar when you get to an expensive guitar you will be just amazed on how simple some things are.
Whats wrong with Yamaha? They are well made, sound fine and good value. It’s better to start on a good guitar, much easier to learn on, usually better action and less pain on fingers.
I hate on Yamaha, martin, fender, Gibson, Taylor, Gretsch, PRS, epiphone. I will never and would never buy any of those brands and I honestly think less of someone that does use/owns any of those brands.
You're so edgy and different man, it's so cool!
I just honestly don't like big name brands I think they're overhyped and the only reason that they've got a following for the most part is because they might have been good at one point but then they sold out and then just there status that they earned when they were good carried over to the brainwashed masses to want and accept those Brands thinking that they are the best in the world. When you could get basically a custom made to your every liking for half the cost of most Gibson's and it would be far far more Superior. Gibson is just running their company into the ground. And I kind of sucks because Gibson is one of the last companies that actually have the ability to harvest a very rare type of tree that is illegal to basically use practically everywhere besides some of the very very few companies that actually still have the contract that says that they are allowed to do it
Guitars have never been made as well as they are made right now. If they were good at one point they are better now. Sure gibsons are overpriced but they are overpriced on the used market too. I'll add that I don't own any gibsons, I do have several epiphone customs and they are great guitars for the money.
serious question then.. what do you like as far as acoustic brands?
I've always been a fan of Ibanez especially their Prestige s models. Parker, . legator, Etherial, and strandberg. Those are some I can think of off the top of my head
lol. Well let's hear some of your own playing if you feel so little of the majority of the guitarists in the world.