Help - where to begin? what guitar?

mom · 2012-07-02T23:49:50+00:00

Hi my 7year old son start next term with lessons. Where to I start? All hs teacher said don't buy cheap as you cant "set" it, is that the word? I don't want to spend R1000's on his first guitar but also don't want to buy crap. She also said don't go to small/beginner as they then outgrow it in a year? Any advice will be HUGELY appreatiated! Thanks despirate mom

mom

Hi guys

Yesterday we were searching for my oldest son a specific PSP game and went from mall to mall and was refered to Parow centres Musica. A few shops from Musica is Pieter Smuts music shop Dihann's eyes lit up as there were A LOT of guitars.

Went in the guys were super helpfull. He first gave him an 1/2 size and then a 3/4 size Ella make (really really hope it's not bad!!!!) They let him play a bit on both he liked the 3/4 size beter and he also recommended the 3/4.

I bought him the 3/4 Ella guitar for R595 he set it up(tune) it for him and for me when the guy played it sounded good. He sad as it's new and the strings will stretch and will need to be tuned again till it's played in.

They also gave him an pick and a Rockbag (Warwick)

Please tell me this is all good?

singemonkey

Nylon strings? The three thinnest ones?

Hopefully it'll be ok. The guitar teacher will say whether it needs a proper set-up. This means making sure that the strings are close enough to the finger board - and that they stay the same height all the way along it - to be played easily. That's the real key at this point. If it's too hard to press the strings down it makes it tough to learn guitar. But hopefully it'll be fine.

Bob-Dubery

mom wrote I bought him the 3/4 Ella guitar for R595 he set it up(tune) it for him and for me when the guy played it sounded good. He sad as it's new and the strings will stretch and will need to be tuned again till it's played in.

Tuning the guitar is not a set up - and I hope the salesman didn't try to convince you it was.

The strings will stretch if they're new, but tuning problems are not necessarily attributable to new strings.

But the guitar is bought, the die is cast... let's hope it goes well for your son. Ask the teacher to give the guitar the once over.

mom

A few pics

just after I bought it

This is what he be doing since he got the guitar.

mom

X-rated Bob wrote
mom wrote I bought him the 3/4 Ella guitar for R595 he set it up(tune) it for him and for me when the guy played it sounded good. He sad as it's new and the strings will stretch and will need to be tuned again till it's played in.
Tuning the guitar is not a set up - and I hope the salesman didn't try to convince you it was.

The strings will stretch if they're new, but tuning problems are not necessarily attributable to new strings.

But the guitar is bought, the die is cast... let's hope it goes well for your son. Ask the teacher to give the guitar the once over.

I really hope all I wasn't taken for a ride flip xfingers. His first lesson is the 19th July. They guy didn't say anything about setup he tuned it (ingestem) and just said said it mayb go aff as the strings are new.

mom

singemonkey wrote Nylon strings? The three thinnest ones?

Hopefully it'll be ok. The guitar teacher will say whether it needs a proper set-up. This means making sure that the strings are close enough to the finger board - and that they stay the same height all the way along it - to be played easily. That's the real key at this point. If it's too hard to press the strings down it makes it tough to learn guitar. But hopefully it'll be fine.

yup nylon although the top 3 are apparently covered in steel?

I so wished I knew more or my grand father was still alive as he used to play guitar and various other instruments

Bob-Dubery

mom wrote I really hope all I wasn't taken for a ride flip xfingers. His first lesson is the 19th July. They guy didn't say anything about setup he tuned it (ingestem) and just said said it mayb go aff as the strings are new.

OK... and to be fair, at that price no shop is going to chuck in any kind of set up for free.

Hope the lessons go well ?

singemonkey

Haha. Pictures are great ? The little guy looks set to be the next Paco de Lucia.

Keep in touch and let us know how he gets on.

mom

X-rated Bob wrote
mom wrote I really hope all I wasn't taken for a ride flip xfingers. His first lesson is the 19th July. They guy didn't say anything about setup he tuned it (ingestem) and just said said it mayb go aff as the strings are new.
OK... and to be fair, at that price no shop is going to chuck in any kind of set up for free.

Hope the lessons go well ?

I was accually suprised at the price, as I didn't said anythng just told the guys he want to start his teacher recommeded that we go to a music store and not buy cheap from cash crusaders, ect. Also that it have to by nylon strings and not to small as then it has to be replaced to soon.

He then gave him the half size first and then the 3/4 he said he will recommend the 3/4 as he(sales person) can still play quit comfortable on a 3/4 so it will "fit" him longer.

What is set up ???

mom

singemonkey wrote Nylon strings? The three thinnest ones?

Hopefully it'll be ok. The guitar teacher will say whether it needs a proper set-up. This means making sure that the strings are close enough to the finger board - and that they stay the same height all the way along it - to be played easily. That's the real key at this point. If it's too hard to press the strings down it makes it tough to learn guitar. But hopefully it'll be fine.

ah ok - ja the guy did that, I just didn't know WHAT he was doing. Let him press the strings, ect i just thought he was "checking the size" went to the back came out again did that a few times and then he put an electrical thingy on to tune it. I really needs to get more clued up!!!

He also said if we need anything or have questions we are welcome any time.

I told the guy I know nothing (blush)

ZarK

I'm not familiar with the brand but also hold fingers x'd for you both! Hopefully this is the start of a fantastic journey...

P.s.

1. To nitpick: The top 3 (sometimes only 2) strings are nylon, the bottom strings (3 or 4) are wound over nylon.
2. If your son is going to take classical lessons, he needs to get in the habit of balancing the guitar on his left leg. (With the foot raised.) For classical guitar he won't be using a plectrum either but he'll use it for strumming after hours ?...
3. Once he's started with lessons, its a good idea to invest in both a tuner and a metronome. Technically one should never play/practice on a guitar that is out of tune or play out of time. (It'll train he's ear for correct pitch and develop his timing at a young age already. Will serve him very well down the line...)

psyx

I wish my mom spent some time on the forum gathering advice on gear when I was his age! :?
So well done on that!!

Bob-Dubery

mom wrote What is set up ???

It's not a precise term. There are various adjustments that can be made on a guitar. Exactly what can be adjusted varies according to the type of guitar (EG you do not have the exact same adjustments on a classical guitar as you will have on a solid body electric).

One aim of this (already alluded to by Singemonkey) is to get a guitar where the action (the distance you have to push the strings down to fret them) is not too high - which means extra effort - or too low - which would usually result in buzzes. Another thing you'd be looking at is the intonation - how well the guitar stays in tune as you move from fret to fret.

But no need worrying about that now. Really. Do not lie in bed tonight wondering about this stuff. That's an order ?. Let the teacher check the guitar out when your kid goes for his first lesson.

mom

Thanks!!!!

mom

Here is the stores website where we bought the guitar
http://www.pietersmutsmusic.co.za

Alex-B-Broadway

You should keep us updated on his progress. As ZarK said, this is a start to his journey and I think he's off to a really good start. My first guitar was a classical - although I was clueless about guitars and didn't know it at the time. ??? I eventually sold it and decided to save up for an electric guitar - which my parents ended up buying for me - and a few years and guitars later I'm still keeping at it.

mom wrote Dihann's eyes lit up as there were A LOT of guitars.

That still happens to most of us. ?

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