New - Opinions and Polls

Re: New

Sturn22 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:22:44 +0000

Pretty sure it's the DG - 8 S, I'm a little weiry of it, however, cuz it seems like it's just the base end of that series.

Re: New

Scrybe — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:38:37 +0000

any idea which DG it is? I'm getting a whole list of models on google - http://www.google.co.uk/products?hl=en&q=fender+dg&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wf

main thing is that you feel comfortable playing it. if the neck feels nice to run your hand along and the size of the body is not a problem and it makes a sound you like, go for it.

Re: New

Sturn22 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:42:31 +0000

Oh, and also..decided to go righty. Pretty much a standard thing, plus the guy was telling me that 90% of what they have in stock is right-handed. Might as well get it right from the start.

Re: New

Sturn22 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:40:08 +0000

Hey, been a while since I last posted but I'm gonna try to resurrect this thread. So I made it over to a local guitar shop after doing a bit more research..and I figured I'd get a little insight from people on here on what I chose. This guy there really helped me out through the whole process, and got me sold on this package deal that includes a Fender DG w/ tuner, gig bag, etc. At first I was iffy that the guitar would be lower quality due to the package deal n all, but after a little demo he convinced me it wasn't real cheapo. Anyways, I'm set to pick it up tomorrow, but it's not reserved or anything..so I still have the opportunity to change my mind. Any feedback is appreciated.

Re: New

Scrybe — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:28:54 +0000

Right, tried the CD-60, which retailed at 86 UK pounds in the shop I was in (its probs about $100-130 tops, I'd guess), and I've gotta say I was mightily impressed with it for the price. The build quality was really high for the price range, the neck on the one I tried being particularly good. The sound was about what I'd expect - as you move towards highger end acoustic guitars, you have to put more work into playing them to get a good sound, but they have a greta dynamic range and you really do get what you put in. With lower end guitars like the CD-60, the dynamic range is nowhere near as impressive, but this one held its own as far as dynamics go for its price-range, and you can't really expect more than that. I'd certainly note it down as one-to-try when you go shopping. But make sure you check the neck feels smooth and comfortable to play, as this can vary between guitars of the same model due to production errors. Run your hand along each edge of the neck to make sure the frets aren't protruding as they can snag against your hands when playing.

The Squire '51 is an electric guitar, and is made by Fender also, its just part of their 'Squire' subsiduary brand which is a low-end brand. It retails in the UK at around 100 pounds and, I think, $100 in the US. If you're really unsure whether to get an electric or an acoustic, and you have the cash to do so, you could always buy both. I'd suggest spending an afternoon at a guitar shop trying out different electric and acoustic guitars and then going for the one you feel most comfortable with/suits you best.

hope this helps.

Re: New

Ignar Hillström — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:15:38 +0000

A good (but certainly not foolproof) test is to grab an object like a broom or tennis racquet and, without thinking twice, pretend that it's a guitar. Even playing "air guitar" will work. Just do it without thinking and see which hand wants to strum. Maybe I'm really hopeless but I remember that when I started neither hand felt like strumming any coherent rhythm. And the few people I've seen starting after I did all had the same thing: initially neither hand could do anything, only after training one of them did that hand appear to be better able to do it. I play baseball left-handed, not because my left arm is so good but because nobody bothered to tell me I was doing it the wrong way. And since I initially missed all balls anyway neither did I. Only when I got more proficient did I start to notice most people stand the other way around but by then my 'superior' right arm was hopeless compared with my 'biologically weaker' left arm.

Re: New

hbriem — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:08:13 +0000

The main choice when it comes to playing lefty, if you're left handed, is which hand you will not let you down when it comes to playing rhythm. I play left handed after trying left handed - couldn't strum to save my life with my right hand. If you have no problem with that, then go right handed. There are all sorts of left handed people who play right handed. Paul Simon, Mark Knopfler, David Byrne, to name but a few. Joe Strummer was another lefty who played right-handed. He blamed this for his rather rudimentary skills as a guitarist. As he said, to a beginner it's the left hand, forming chords and so on that is the tricky bit, but as you grow, you realist that it's in the right (strumming, picking, string skipping) hand that the real skill lies.

Just another viewpoint is all.

Re: New

David Hodge — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:14:01 +0000

The main choice when it comes to playing lefty, if you're left handed, is which hand you will not let you down when it comes to playing rhythm. I play left handed after trying right handed - couldn't strum to save my life with my right hand. If you have no problem with that, then go right handed. There are all sorts of left handed people who play right handed. Paul Simon, Mark Knopfler, David Byrne, to name but a few.

A good (but certainly not foolproof) test is to grab an object like a broom or tennis racquet and, without thinking twice, pretend that it's a guitar. Even playing "air guitar" will work. Just do it without thinking and see which hand wants to strum.

Oh, and these days, price is not usually that much of a factor when it comes to choosing between lefty and righty. It did used to be but nowadays you shouldn't find all that much difference. Availability is a totally different matter, though... :wink:

Hope this helps.

Peace

Re: New

dubyatf — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:24:10 +0000

2. I'm left-handed. From what I've heard, lefty guitars tend to be more expensive, but I also heard that many southpaws have ventured out and just gotten right-handed axes and been just fine. For some reason when I think of this I think Joan Jett. ehh

Ditto what Twisted Lefty said! Danny Gatton would be another lefty who played a right handed axe. Myself too (I couldn't put my name in same sentence as the Humbler!). There's a recent thread on this and there's a whole lot of lefties who play right. I'd go play one of each and go with what feels less worse/more better. I wish I had 2 right hands instead of two left feet! :D

Good luck - this guitar thing is a blast!

Re: New

unimogbert — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:58:14 +0000

Nylon strings are *much* easier on your fingers. Also remember that thin streel strings cut far more then thicker steel strings.

On the other hand, if the classical sound isn't anywhere near the desired music style then the nylon string guitar will be rejected.

In my case, in my youthful ignorance, I put metal strings on a nylon guitar (and killed it). But I bought a then-$100 guitar (equal to $1000 today) and took some lessons and have enjoyed playing guitar ever since.

My brother-in-law, in his youth, bought his own "metal string guitar" because his sister's nylon string wasn't the sound he wanted.

There are a huge number of choices in the moderately priced acoustic guitar universe right now and they are really very good guitars on the whole.

I just bought a $100 campfire guitar that would be perfectly acceptable for a learner. (Epi PR-150) I had to do a little work on the 14th fret but a beginner won't be going there in the 1st 6 months. (Heck, I just got to the 12th fret on a regular basis myself!)

It would be good if you could find a (ahem) more mature guitar player to take to the store with you and sample the choices. I bet you'll find something very nice for <$300.

Welcome to a world of fun. And opinions. And choices :-)