Noob needs guitar advice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5QCs3PnQBc

 

This is true
Though I would have benefitted greatly (GREATLY) from having a teacher ( don't turn down the offer or possibility if it comes up) just playing around and developing a good ear has gotten me pretty far.

I've performed solo ukulele in front of thousands all over the state, and everything I learned was straight from having too much time on my hands

 

I think you generally have too much time on your hands anyways

 

Hendrix learned to play the blues on what was called the "Chitlin Circuit", he then went to England and turned rock and roll on it's ear, to everyone it seemed like he came from Mars, but his base was in the blues. Stevie Ray Vaughn couldn't read music, his was by ear and he too learned at the feet of the masters. I agree that a good ear is essential and trying different ways to do things is never wrong, but a couple of lessons could make the process more enjoyable.

 

For my acoustic, I have a Martin DX-1. It's one of the least expensive of the Martins. It has the real wood top, but the rest of the body is composite. The sound is remarkably good, and you can not worry about abusing it. As far as lessons, it's a crap shoot. Most of the time, the teacher will just teach you what they like and want. In my youth, I took lessons from a guy named Fred Johnson. His brother Gene is the mandolin player for Diamond Rio. Fred was a great musician. He could play anything from banjo to fiddle to steel guitar. He taught me some cool stuff, but it was way over my head at the time, and it probably frustrated him to death!

 

some strange advise in this thread. . . OP, the most important thing is buying a guitar that feels good in your hands and sounds good. my first guitar was a Washburn D10-B and i still love it. just find something that doesn't have a really high action (distance of strings from fretboard).

also, im a big Alvarez fan. fantastic guitars in my opinion. keep an eye on your local craiglists for RD8C's. that's a great acoustic/electric that is very versatile and sounds wonderful. i play mine everyday

 

My advice is this: Go to a shop that has several entry level models. Get an employee to play each of them while you listen. Pick one that has a sound that you really like, and feels good in your hands. There are a lot of decent entry to intermediate level guitars out there. Personally I went with a Simon&Patrick. I liked the warm sound and the fact that it was hand made here in good ol Canada(Quebec). I would avoid buying one that is made in China.

 

IMO, there's nothing wrong with a guitar, especially a starter guitar to be made overseas. my fender strat is the only American made guitar i own. im a big fan of buying american (same as you with Canadian products) when i can, but when it comes down to a starter instrument - low action, decent tone, general comfort, and intonation is really all i'd look for. . . ive said it in another thread somewhere where someone was asking the same question as the OP, i found a $200 random brand guitar in a store a while back that sounded absolutely amazing. almost bought it on the spot.

so anyway OP, if i was in your shoes id go to a guitar center with a knowledgeable player, try out a few and find the one you like that you can afford.

 

^^^just my feeling about it. If there are some really nice acoustics being produced in North America for a comparable price, i would rather not buy a mass produced item from China. For me, in the long run, I have ownership of something just a bit more special...

just a thought