Welcome Carl.

If anyone is going to "hit" you it will be with information ?

Enjoy

Carl wrote: Hi all

I'm in the process of purchasing my first guitar, waiting for some info and replies etc, but I will definately get my guitar during December and then start going for lessons in Jan ?

So far it looks like I'm gonna get a Behringer EL TORO Guitar Pack (approx R2000), as I'm not sure yet if I am going to like playing or even if I can! If I've insulted anyone by my guitar choice, Just don't hit me yet, I know nothing of guitars and even less about playing them, I'll learn soon enough ?

I don't feel insulted

BUT

These cheap guitar packs are IMO not good for a beginner. The guitars aren't set up properly and QC is probably bad and so the guitars will have faults that a novice player can't deal with or will think is their fault.

Rather buy a 2nd hand guitar from a shop that can do some kind of setup for you. Or sign up with a teacher first and ask for recommendations. The teacher may know of a reasonable 2nd hand guitar going or be have a relationship with a reputable store.

If you have something a bit better you'll have a chance of selling it on if you decide that guitar playing isn't for you.

Welcome, Carl!

Welcome Carl, and take Bob's good advice!

Carl wrote: I know nothing of guitars and even less about playing them, I'll learn soon enough ?

Every single person on this forum, in fact all guitarists, were there too....... no problem, you'll learn soon enough! ?

Welcome Carl - Yeah, Bob's advice is very good.

Welcome Carl - Bob speaks words of wisdom... You don't say where you're from but most music stores have reasonable pre-owned guitars also. If you specifically want new then look at Ibanez low to mid-range.
Most important thing though, like what you buy! Hold it and if you feel like you want to kiss it then you'll want to play it...

Carl, where abouts are you? Which city? If we know that then we can maybe give you some pointers.

Jack Flash Jr wrote: Hold it and if you feel like you want to kiss it...

This kind of behaviour in music stores generally brings about a visit from Security, but it's worth the risk.

Stratisfear wrote:

Jack Flash Jr wrote: Hold it and if you feel like you want to kiss it...

This kind of behaviour in music stores generally brings about a visit from Security, but it's worth the risk.

Hmmm... initially I was quoting my wife who, after seeing Dan Patlansky play said "I thought he was going to whip his .... out and .... it."
Which I thought was amusing.
If the guitar doesn't at least coax a gentle caress out of you when you pick it up, it ain't the one buddy.

X-rated Bob wrote: These cheap guitar packs are IMO not good for a beginner. The guitars aren't set up properly and QC is probably bad and so the guitars will have faults that a novice player can't deal with or will think is their fault.

Rather buy a 2nd hand guitar from a shop that can do some kind of setup for you. Or sign up with a teacher first and ask for recommendations. The teacher may know of a reasonable 2nd hand guitar going or be have a relationship with a reputable store.

If you have something a bit better you'll have a chance of selling it on if you decide that guitar playing isn't for you.

Hey Bob

Thanks for the advice, the Behringer is actually my 3rd choice, I'm waiting for 'n friend of a friend to get back to me with info and price on a guitar he wants to sell. (this guy dumped his GF just for touching his guitar, so it must be good or at least better than the Behringer Pack, lol)

I actually wanted to start with a bass guitar, but at the moment they are just way out of my spending range. I may even put off buying a guitar for another month or so to save a little more. (the cool thing about the Behringer pack is that it has an amp and the guitar in one low price package), as for selling, I'm not one to sell stuff, I usually keep it just incase I change my mind about it later.

I've mostly been looking for guitars online, no time to go to the shops during the day. The one shop I did visit in Atterbury Valu-Mart does not sell 2nd hand guitars anymore (I forgot the reason because of all the eye-candy on the walls in the shop).

Jack Flash Jr wrote: Welcome Carl - Bob speaks words of wisdom... You don't say where you're from but most music stores have reasonable pre-owned guitars also. If you specifically want new then look at Ibanez low to mid-range.
Most important thing though, like what you buy! Hold it and if you feel like you want to kiss it then you'll want to play it...

I'll check it out, the biggest problem is the cost at this point in time.

X-rated Bob wrote: Carl, where abouts are you? Which city? If we know that then we can maybe give you some pointers.

I'm from Honeydew-Ridge in Roodepoort, Gauteng

Stratisfear wrote: This kind of behaviour in music stores generally brings about a visit from Security, but it's worth the risk.

haha, yeah that's not gonna happen ? I'll rather not have security throw me out of the store.

Jack Flash Jr wrote: Hmmm... initially I was quoting my wife who, after seeing Dan Patlansky play said "I thought he was going to whip his .... out and .... it."
Which I thought was amusing.
If the guitar doesn't at least coax a gentle caress out of you when you pick it up, it ain't the one buddy.

I feel that way about bass guitars, but playing it is a different story. Everytime I see a live band, my eyes/ears are focussed either on the bassist or the drummer, the rest of the music usually fades away to the background.

Carl wrote: I've mostly been looking for guitars online, no time to go to the shops during the day. The one shop I did visit in Atterbury Valu-Mart does not sell 2nd hand guitars anymore (I forgot the reason because of all the eye-candy on the walls in the shop).

Carl wrote: I'll check it out, the biggest problem is the cost at this point in time.

Carl wrote: I'm from Honeydew-Ridge in Roodepoort, Gauteng

OK... on the weekend pay a visit to Andy McGibbon's Guitar World in Randburg and Marshall Music in Woodmead. Also try out TOMS in Braamfontein or Sandton. Ronnies Allbang and Strummit in Darrenwood has a lot of 2nd hand instruments and they're not bad guys in there.

Ibanez has been suggested to you, and they have some good budget guitars. I'd also consider Cort and Tanglewood. Those are all brands where you have a chance of reselling and getting some money back if you decide to not carry on playing.

Good 2nd hand guitars will give you more bang per buck.

If you have contacted a teacher then ask the teacher for recommendations. They might even negotiate a discount for you.

I'd stick to real world stores rather than web sites. They will offer better advice on instruments, and good stores will offer some kind of set up so that you know the guitar stays in tune and is reasonably physically easy to play. Also you can get to know the guys behind the counter and they will get to know you and what you do and what you like.

And take your guitar playing buddy with you. He has some experience and can offer you good advice.

And ask what's included in the price. You may not have even thought of a set up or known that such a thing existed. Some stores will do a set up for an extra amount, some will include it in the price. This is where a teacher or a guitar playing buddy comes in handy because you won't be able to identify what needs to be adjusted - they will.

Ask if the price includes a case or gig bag.

Most of all don't be scared to bargain and ask the sales guys to sharpen their pencils. With some polite bargaining you can often get a better deal from a physical shop than you can get from an on-line store.

Carl wrote: I feel that way about bass guitars, but playing it is a different story. Everytime I see a live band, my eyes/ears are focussed either on the bassist or the drummer, the rest of the music usually fades away to the background.

Hey Carl, you seem to be set on Bass, rather than guitar. You also mention that you are not too sure if you are gonna like playing a guitar. I get the feeling your passion seems to lean more towards BASS. If I were you, I'd go with my gut feel.....BASS!!! There are some fantastic bass players in the world, who sometimes stand out just as much as guitarists.

Toms in Braamfontein has some nice Bass guitars, and it will NOT cost you more than a decent guitar!!!!

Here's my favourite little buddy.........Brandon Rose!! he's 11 now!!

X-rated Bob wrote: OK... on the weekend pay a visit to Andy McGibbon's Guitar World in Randburg and Marshall Music in Woodmead. Also try out TOMS in Braamfontein or Sandton. Ronnies Allbang and Strummit in Darrenwood has a lot of 2nd hand instruments and they're not bad guys in there.

Ibanez has been suggested to you, and they have some good budget guitars. I'd also consider Cort and Tanglewood. Those are all brands where you have a chance of reselling and getting some money back if you decide to not carry on playing.

Wicked, I'll try to go check out these shops on the w/e and ask what they have to offer (I have 30 days to decide, and then if I still don't know, I can wait a while longer). Thanks for the advice.

aubs1 wrote: Hey Carl, you seem to be set on Bass, rather than guitar. You also mention that you are not too sure if you are gonna like playing a guitar. I get the feeling your passion seems to lean more towards BASS. If I were you, I'd go with my gut feel.....BASS!!! There are some fantastic bass players in the world, who sometimes stand out just as much as guitarists.

Toms in Braamfontein has some nice Bass guitars, and it will NOT cost you more than a decent guitar!!!!

Here's my favourite little buddy.........Brandon Rose!! he's 11 now!!

Cool, and only 11.... wow!

I'm still tusseling between normal and bass, my uncle used to play bass in a band when he was younger, and says it's awesome too. (but he only did it to get the women, he got more attention than any of the other band members hehe)

Welcome Carl +1 to the advise Bob has been giving you!

Cheers,

Matt

Welcome Carl.

I can vouch that the bass players get the best chicks... but I better stop before I start staring of finto the middle distance reminiscing....

If you want to play Bass go for it. Great bass players are few and far between and if your interest is there then go for it.

DonovanB wrote: Welcome Carl.

I can vouch that the bass players get the best chicks... but I better stop before I start staring of finto the middle distance reminiscing....

If you want to play Bass go for it. Great bass players are few and far between and if your interest is there then go for it.

:-\ ** notice smoke from my ears ** I dunno what I should do, on the one hand it's the bass... the sound I know I love but do not know if I want to play it (for the sake of not knowing if I will suck at it), and on the other hand its the normal guitar (I say normal, there's probably nothing normal about it)..... I know I want to play at least one of them ?

Hi Carl

Welcome to the Forum

Maybe you should get an extra Christmas Job like selling christmas cake at clearwater (good name for a song... ?) and then you can buy a both.
8)