Crafting with Kids

Have you finally made a decision to learn how to play guitar? Well, if you have and you’ve also made a decision that those loud electric guitars are not for you, then the next step is to determine what kind of best acoustic guitar to acquire.

Buying an acoustic guitar, however, is not as easy as it might seem. There are many varieties of gibson acoustic guitar available and a vast range of prices.

Be ready to spend about $100 for a beginners guitar and do not be surprised if you discover instruments costing $5,000 or more. You might pay less for an foreign, factory-made guitar than for a North American hand-made guitar.

This extreme price range is due to the quality of the materials used and the level of craftsmanship. It is crucial to realize however, that there are numerous outstanding guitars produced that are generally relatively inexpensive. The level of guitar manufacturing has improved substantially over the previous few years and many outstanding guitars can be had for under $500. Although it is tempting to invest in a more costly guitar, the typical novice does not require a guitar of that quality and may not even be able to value it.

Here are some specifications for buying an acoustic guitar:

1. Make a decision on your price range. Before you walk into your preferred guitar retailer determine how much you are ready to spend in advance. The following chart will give you a basic concept of what to expect:

Up to $500 – good beginners guitar

$500 – $1,000 – intermediate range

$1,000 – $2,000 – serious student

$2,000 – $5,000 – semi-professional or professional

$5,000+ – professional guitarist or you just love fine guitars and can afford it.

2. Determine if you want a soundboard produced from genuine wood. Many inexpensive guitars have plywood soundboards. The better guitars have soundboards built from spruce or cedar. Spruce or cedar soundboards generate a much better sound than plywood. There are a handful of guitar companies that manufacture affordable guitars with real wood soundboards.

3. Try out different styles. Each guitar maker will have several styles of guitar, many in the same model category. Different styles may include dreadnaught, jumbo, grand concert, etc. These styles are somewhat generic but vary a bit between manufacturers. These names refer normally to the shape and dimension of the guitar which will determine the sound of the guitar to a certain degree. You may also have to determine if you desire a cutaway design or a more traditional non-cutaway style.

4. Do you want to get a nylon string classical guitar or a steel string? Nylon string guitars are a lot easier on the fingers if you are a novice, but their necks are wider which means you have to stretch your fingers a little bit more. Steel string acoustics have a more narrow neck but the steel strings are a little bit painful if you have not yet created calluses on your left hand.

Classical guitars are best used for fingerstyle playing and are best suited to classical, jazz and latin styles while a steel string acoustic is better suited to strumming chords and using a pick.

5. Do you want to amplify your guitar? If you believe that you might want to amplify your fender acoustic guitar then think about getting an acoustic guitar with a built in pickup and preamp. This will permit you to plug your guitar into an amplifier without the need for a microphone.

You are now ready to go to your neighborhood guitar retailer and try out a few guitars. In the end, the final decision on which acoustic guitar to buy should be dependent on getting a guitar that you appreciate playing and that has a sound that is satisfying to you. After you get that new guitar, then the only thing left to do is to learn how to play it.

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