osonice
I've joined on son's behalf, he is 8 years old and is really keen to start playing guitar. He's saved enough money to buy his own....I'll provide the funding for lessons.....
Now before I walk into a shop and just buy any guitar I thought it might be a good thing to do some research and voila found this forum.
I'm hoping for some "sound" advice and leverage off the forum's expertise on classes etc....
warrenpridgeon
osonice wrote:
I've joined on son's behalf, he is 8 years old and is really keen to start playing guitar. He's saved enough money to buy his own....I'll provide the funding for lessons.....
Now before I walk into a shop and just buy any guitar I thought it might be a good thing to do some research and voila found this forum.
I'm hoping for some "sound" advice and leverage off the forum's expertise on classes etc....
Hello and welcome!
How big is his budget? Is he looking to play electric guitar or acoustic guitar?
Psean
Welcome. Well done on doing some research first. Getting a decent guitar will make a big difference to his learning experience.
osonice
Thanks Guys, I think all boys want to play electric. We decide together to start off with acoustic. Budget is around r1000 -to r2000 max. I don't mind a good 2nd hand guitar. Another question do I buy a full size guitar or should he get something smaller----this will affect the budget ?
Psean
osonice wrote:
I don't mind a good 2nd hand guitar.
That's the best way to get value for money. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chip in soon.
Psean
Bump. Any of you guys got some advice on a first acoustic?
warrenpridgeon
Psean wrote:
Bump. Any of you guys got some advice on a first acoustic?
I am wondering whether they should spend all the cash on the best second hand acoustic they can... or spend some on a guitar and the balance on a really good setup... Being so young, a guitar with a high action and bad playability is going to be an even bigger challenge than for us grown ups...
chris77
Still a youngster with small hands, so something smaller bodied with a slim neck and low action would be ideal. Taylor has the excellent Taylor Baby and GS Mini to consider, but there are others as well. My local store has an marvelous little small bodied mahogany Cort that plays like butter and sounds pretty decent too.(Not sure what model it is though)
And remenber to NOT pay full retail price. Or at least get them to put on new strings and do a basic set-up if you do.
Edit: Sorry, just saw your budget now, so the Taylors and that Cort won't do. Best bet then would be second hand. Look for something like a used Yamaha C40 perhaps - they're not too big, well made and budget friendly. Good luck!
Slayer
I'd have a look at Marshall Music in Woodmead.
They have decent 3/4 Fender Squires at around 1800.00 - not a bad choice long term (at least 2 - 2 1/2 years).
My daughter is also eight, and if the still have it, they have a pink one that I've had my eye on for her.
Welcome! 8)
Slayer
Slayer
I'd have a look at Marshall Music in Woodmead.
They have decent 3/4 Fender Squires at around 1800.00 - not a bad choice long term (at least 2 - 2 1/2 years).
My daughter is also eight, and if the still have it, they have a pink one that I've had my eye on for her.
Welcome! 8)
Slayer
Stoffeltoo
Howdy Osonice. I wish I had a dad like you when I was eight...
You can get 3/4 size classical guitars at fair prices. Chinese made Yamaha and Aria come to mind but I cannot recall the exact series of either.
IMHO the Classical guitar is more forgiving on the finger tips and does not always sound that bright. For home use the volume is acceptable.
With the right guidance and lessons he could be playing pieces, that I am still struggling with my whole life because of bad habits.
BTW why don't you join the lad and get quality family time as a bonus?
osonice
Thanks Guys, appreciate the feedback. I'm keen to also learn and will probably join him for lessons....
DaFiz
I would avoid the nylon string classical or flamenco style guitar and go straight for a steel string dreadnought...(full size).
I started teaching an 8 year old boy a week ago and found him a beautiful Cort (with fresh Elixirs and a built in tuner) on gumtree for R1200. I checked the action and played it myself and found it to be a guitar I would have in my own collection. I travel on a scooter to give guitar lesson and have a 40 year old Ibanez Concord in a bag on my back... It might not look like much but it has a great tone.
If I knew what area the original poster was I'd find something suitable on gumtree and send the link. ?
studmissile
DaFiz wrote:
I would avoid the nylon string classical or flamenco style guitar
Sorry DaFiz, Why you say that? That's how I started!
Squonk
studmissile wrote:
DaFiz wrote:
I would avoid the nylon string classical or flamenco style guitar
Sorry DaFiz, Why you say that? That's how I started!
Blasphemy Dafiz ?
What hasn't been chucked in yet is the Corth Earth Mini, which has a solid cedar top and mahogany back and sides. Possibly not as good as the Baby Taylor, but not far behind, but at a third of the price!
a 3/4 would be better for 8 year old, and you can play it forever, take it camping, picnics etc etc. It would not be a wasted investment.
Bob-Dubery
If Osonice has not already broken the piggy bank open, the approach I would recommend is to look for a teacher first - preferably a teacher with some track record of teaching pre-teens.
Then let the teacher advise you on the guitar. Any decent teacher will have no interest in recommending an instrument that is going to hinder the student. They'll have seen lots of guitars, may be able to negotiate a discount at a local shop and may know of good 2nd hand instruments for sale. They'll also have some good information on what SIZE and TYPE of guitar a child of that age should be starting on.
domhatch
remember to keep some budget aside for sundry tools like: a tuner (you could rather get pitch pipes, but you need a relatively good ear to tune your guitar with these), plectra (picks), a strap (if you need/want one), a string winder, a metronome, a better guitar, an electric guitar, your first amp, your second amp, an even better guitar, your first les paul (an epiphone), your first gibson (because the epiphone just didn't cut it for you), your first strat (which had to be a fender because, well, you'll understand when you get there), a bigger amp (which you sold the strat and the second amp to finance, and it's a marshall half-stack, because that gibson les paul sounded so damn fine through it in the store when the salesman played it, and why can't you get the same sound in your bedroom?), your first three pedals, a pedalboard with five empty slots, your next five pedals, your next three pedals which you sold pedals one, three and six to finance, and so on...
welcome to GAS. enjoy ?
dh|
Stoffeltoo
Uncle Dom!
You good man! Experience and advice is free but application always the tough part ?
My first guit was a yamie 12 string on which I learnt to play 30 years ago.
No more hand cramps for me! The yamie still gives the left hand a good work out 'cause I gotta take the claw position
DaFiz
Here is my newest pupil Ashley. I left him with a nylon string classical guitar last week with his first lesson which included the Em chord and some other finger exercises.
For his 8th birthday I found this Cort dreadnought with fresh Elixirs and built in tuner for R1200 on gumtree. I took his Dad along and we bought it there and then. The action is sweet and the guitar is a beauty that I would gladly add to my own collection.
One week later and here is Ashley showing me the Em on his birthday present.
The tone is way more impressive than a nylon string guitar and the finger reach is easier with the only problem being hardening the fingertips. ?
