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Electro Acoustic Guitar For Beginners

daveofbradford

daveofbradford

Monica I said sack my cook
Does anyone have a make / model I should look at. So far I have seen reviews on YouTube for A Marina MR-06CE and a Marina MR-10SCE and an Epiphone AJ-220SCE. All these three seem to be recommended for beginners. All these range from £220 - £260 from Dawson's.
Is there any other in this price area worth considering?
Dave
 
Why electro-acoustic?

But, if that’s what you want I’d look at the the Yamaha APX500, or the similarity priced Ibanez*. Don’t buy off the web, get yourself to a decent local dealer (or two) and try them all out. It’s the only way!

*These sound best when amplified though - so...

Unless you really need to plug in (and that means buying an amp too, of course), you might spend the whole amount on a plain acoustic (or even an electro-acoustic, but don’t plug it in!).

If you can stretch to a 1 series Taylor (maybe s/h) you won’t regret it.
 
It's tempting to make a decision based on reviews but I'd recommend visiting your local guitar emporium, give them an idea of your budget and try a few out. If possible find a shop that sells S/H as well as new as there is a chance that you could get something for your budget that is a step up.

Even if you can't play yet, it's important to know how it feels, whether the size is right for you, nut width and neck profile to see if it fits your hand size. You can also ask one of the assistants to play it for you to get an idea how it sounds.


Visiting mid week is usually better than at the week end as it's quieter. Be prepared to try out half a dozen before you decide.
 
If you want something that's a pretty good acoustic, with an excellent amplified sound, the older Takamines about had it nailed. Failing that, I've been impressed with Yamaha electro acoustics - but not impressed enough to own an electro acoustic. Have an L R Baggs soundhole pickup on my Sobell, and its great - sounds like my guitar only louder.
 
Do you want an acoustic with amplification, or do you want to make primarily electric noises?

For the latter, think Steve Howe, Ted Nugent, Duane Eddy even ...
 
When I bought my guitar, I'm a late learner acoustic only I took a mate who is an experienced guitarist with me to the shop. He played various guitars and their was a vast difference in sound, even between different guitars of the same model. We picked the one he thought had the best tone. As my experience of using the guitar has progressed and I've got more used to it I have had absolutely no cause to regret his choice. So I agree with other posters ignore reviews, go to a shop with someone who knows and choose by using your ears.
 
buy second hand - you can sell it for minimal loss when the gas sets in

focus on the lowest action that sounds good to you - biggest killer of learners is string height

if you dont get it from a decent dealer then look into getting it set up

darren

ps did i say dont buy new:)
 
Thank you guys, I will go to a couple of local shops and have a listen. Second hand from these specialist shops I trust. Also I will focus on a low action DarrenW advises. The reason for electro acoustic is that the wife bought me a Fender amp a little while back when thoughts were going to an electric. The convenience of the electro acoustic is simply that. So practice doesn't entail lugging the amp room to room for a practice, with the added advantage that if power is required a year or two down the line then its there.
Yamaha APX500 is noted and will ask for a demo. The budget will be £200 to £300. Thanks again.
Dave
 
Putting an electro acoustic through an electric guitar amp may not sound that good and there is a risk of feedback. It may be ok but don't count on it.
 
Dave, unless the amp is of particular sentimental value (I appreciate it was a gift from the Mrs) I’d consider selling it and putting the money towards a better acoustic. You will never plug the acoustic into it more than once or twice, I feel sure.
 
Hi Jonn and Whaleblue, I will give these suggestions serious thought, and the idea of upping the budget a little with a sale of the Fender amp seems a logical step. I hope when I decide which will be before Christmas that my barrier to playing and learning is not my age of 57 LOL.
 
Dave, selling the amp sounds like a good plan then. If you can stretch to the best guitar you can afford you’ll likely find it easier and more rewarding to play, and will therefore play it more.

If you have a knowledgeable friend you might try s/h. In fact, plenty of guitar shops will have s/h instruments taken in p/x. Won’t be as cheap as a private purchase, but a lot safer. Personally, I think a well set up 1 series Taylor takes a lot of beating. 114c or 114ce would make a fantastic instrument that you’ll never grow out of. They’re laminated body (but, importantly, have solid tops). Some frown on laminates, but they are inherently more stable, which I personally value.
 
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Jonn said:
Putting an electro acoustic through an electric guitar amp may not sound that good and there is a risk of feedback. It may be ok but don't count on it.
Click to expand...

It can be very interesting to try though.

 
Buy a decent quality far east made instrument S/H. Invariably excellent instruments that lose half their value when they're taken out of the shop.

I recently picked up an immaculate Tanglewood TW40 O AN for £220 (Brand new £500+) and I reckon it's better finished and looks and sounds better than a Martin 000-15M (£1500 new/£1000 S/H). It even has bone nut, saddle & pegs - on my new Gibson J45 these were plastic.

Tanglewood, Blueridge & Epiphone all offer superb instruments for around £500 new that are staggering value S/H. And, yeah, budget for a setup.
 
Thank you guys, interesting video. Shows big, big differences, especially using the overdrive on the Boss to Fender. As a novice I did like the Fender. Over the years seeing a lot of live mainly pub sessions I have liked the Tanglewood sound. Is the TW20 O AN have a low action for the beginner? I have decided to in the first instance to buy second hand and get someone who plays to help.
The wife and I are up to Paisley this week to deliver Christmas presents for the family so will get a chance to go into Glasgow which I will look up a few shops.
 
daveofbradford said:
Thank you guys, interesting video. Shows big, big differences, especially using the overdrive on the Boss to Fender. As a novice I did like the Fender. Over the years seeing a lot of live mainly pub sessions I have liked the Tanglewood sound. Is the TW20 O AN have a low action for the beginner? I have decided to in the first instance to buy second hand and get someone who plays to help.
The wife and I are up to Paisley this week to deliver Christmas presents for the family so will get a chance to go into Glasgow which I will look up a few shops.
Click to expand...
Any guitar, as long as the neck is true and undistorted can be set up with a low action - I had an Encore (Argos Acoustic for about £100) set up by a top luthier that owed me a favour, it still sounded like an orange box, but it played perfectly. If you're used to playing electric with slinky strings, then factory set up on an acoustic with the ussual .52 strings will feel a little higher. A fret dressing & saddle adjustment by a luthier can bring the action as low as it can go without buzzing.
 
Thanks for the link Slavedata, enjoyed the advice. One thing I did notice was that a couple of the makes / model didnt link to their make and model in their top 5 lol. Thanks Fox thats just cleared up a mystery for me, as I thought the acoustics couldn't be altered. In addition to my earlier posting I heard a demo of a Takamine G Series EGS-430SC sounded a nice lush warm tone.
 
dont scrimp on cost with an acoustic guitar, electrics you can get away with they are low-fi instruments, the amplifer is more important there and what comes from your fingers. Getting an acoustic to sound good is a totaly different instrument. Good woods and electronics need to be better. Microphone being the best for getting the true to instrument sound, piezo pickups are always a compromise, but feedback is less of an issue for these (if you play live)
 
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