Should a new player young or old spend $ for a better guitar

[Jack FFR1846]

My younger son started back a couple years ago when he was 8. My wife got him set up at the music shop and I was still not playing again, so didn't have a lot of interest in what he got. Well....I started playing the guitar that he got (3/4 somethingorother) and it played like crap. I knew he would lose interest as it was very hard to fret notes. We went out and bought one of the Martin LM guitars. Far better and he liked it far better.

I play mostly solid body electrics (although my st302 isn't my first guitar, I got it a couple years after my first guitar). I have a mid range Godin on a stand next to my couch. I have to work up whatever I'm going to play in our church on the weekend and figure out leads and such. Near rehersal day, I'll break out whatever guitar I plan to use. It's always a big treat as I use the better guitars for performances. They are easier to play and sound better.

I'd expect that a lot of us meander into guitar shops and try this and that to see how high and low end guitars play. I'm always looking for the $1000 guitar priced at $100, but if I strike out on the needle in the haystack, I'll try out some very good guitars as a treat.

 

[fused]

My kid asked me to teach him to play when he turned 12.
I gave him my 1980 Ibanez GB-10 since it was a little smaller body and so was he. The guitar listed for $3000....

Was it worth it to start him with a good guitar?

Today he is in his second semester at Berklee in Boston studying Guitar as his major instrument. Of course he's now playing an Ibanez Jem at school.

Not sure what else I can say about the topic?

fused

 

[silverfox103]

Fused, that's a good story! Doing what you did, with out a doubt, influenced you son in what he will do for the rest of his life.

Tom C.

 

[taabru45]

+1

 

[capnjuan]

... I've just picked up an old Harmony Sovereign 1260, which was their top of the line model and sold for $73.50 back in 1968. I think theres someone else on the forum with an old Harmony, perhaps they bought it new back in the day ?

Hi Ian; I had a '66 Harmony 1260 Sovereign ... my parents bought it for me as a Christmas present. I don't know what they paid for it but for what it cost, they were far and away the value buy - the most guitar you could get for the money. Fatdawg's in Berkeley CA still buys and refurbishes them; re-set necks, pin bridges, and new tuners for $US 400 or so ...

 

[JerryR]

How many of you still own your first guitar? If you do, was it a "beginner" or entry level model? Do you still have it because you play it or just because your are somewhat of a packrat?

My first guitar was the Epi Texan bought new - I guess 'entry level' - but the action was too high and had a weird saddle set up in an adjustable metal tray set into a plastic wood effect bridge. I used it for years but tailed off while the kids grew up and the folk group I was in split up. A few years ago I started going to folk clubs again, doing solo. The D35, when I found it was a revelation - and the Epi has been re set up and is reasonably playable. Currently my eldest son is borrowing it but he is about to go to China for a year so will be leaving the EPI and will probably buy a guitar in China (I've suggested he checks out the GAD range).

 

[taabru45]

Your boys grown up...Hi Jerry....it'll be interesting to see what he can get a nice GAD for in China.....Probably less than half ....well maybe... :? Steffan

 

[adorshki]

..but he is about to go to China for a year so will be leaving the EPI and will probably buy a guitar in China (I've suggested he checks out the GAD range).

I'll betcha can't buy 'em there! :lol: I know it sounds unreasonable but I'm actually serious. And to paraphrase our friend Marcellis: "WATCH OUT FOR COUNTERFEITS!" But he also says you can get a decent instrument custom ordered and hand built for a pittance. 8)

 

[Ian]

Thanks Capn, that was really interesting. Now $400.0 for a rebuilt 1260 wouldnt be a bad buy would it ?

Interestingly my 18 year old son is enrolled at the local school of music doing the contemporary music course and is playing my old Epiphone electric that I bought ( and never learnt to play) in the 80's. He's now planning on doing a degree course next year. I'm sure if he had started with a crappy instrument instead of a pretty good one, he wouldnt have progressed this far. Incidentally he loves my new Custom Prestige, and he can actually play it properly too: he's teaching me how to do scales and runs....

Cheers, Ian

 

[taabru45]

So what do you think would have been cheaper Ian....taking lessons, or raising your son to the place where he could give you lessons for 'free'? :lol: Steffan

 

[capnjuan]

Thanks Capn, that was really interesting. Now $400.0 for a rebuilt 1260 wouldnt be a bad buy would it ?

It would be a good buy; you can't buy anything that old, in the equivalent condition, and with fine mahogany tone for the same money. The back and sides are laminated but we mature LTGers have figured out that how it sounds and plays counts more than how it's made.