Gamerz asked:
I need a cheap acoustic guitar while I learn how to play. I'll buy a better one after I learn the basics and have some more money to spend. But for now are there any acoustic guitars for under $100 that are good enough for me to learn on? Wal-Mart has a guitar for about $60 but I'm trying to find out if there's anything better than that.
Tags: wal mart, Acoustic Guitar, acoustic guitars
A friend of mine once had a Wal-Mart guitar and it was really a sad ass guitar. But at the same time, it’s difficult to find a good guitar without paying more than 100 dollars. If I were you, I’d look at some used lower end acoustic guitars from real guitar companies like Fender or Epiphone. If you have a little more money, look at Yamaha or Seagull. In any case, try to find a used acoustic guitar from a reputable brand name. Also, look for a used acoustic guitar that is beat up…has some dings and scratches on it. This won’t affect the sound or the playability of the guitar, but it will save you money because a lot of people want a pretty and shiny guitar…whether it be used or new.
I’ve played acoustic guitar for over thirty years and taught a couple of friends how to play. I’ve also taught some of the neighborhood kids how to play and made some money at it. However, I’ve never seen a decent acoustic guitar for under $100. At that price, they are all a piece of crap.
The best ‘cheap’ acoustic guitar that I’ve come across is the Yamaha acoustic guitar. It’s about $200.00 new, but you can find them for a little less when one sale and if you can find a used one you might be able to get it for $100 or so. If you want a new one, try to swing a deal at Guitar Center because they will often discount the prices on their guitars if you ask. The Yamaha is a pretty good acoustic guitar at this price point.
I’d think that you’d probably be better off with a used acoustic guitar for the amount of money that you’ve got to spend. However, whatever you do you need to be extra cautious with cheaper guitars to make sure that you get one that is playable.
Play notes up and down the fingerboard to check for buzzing. Also, make sure that the action is not so high that the guitar is unplayable. That is, make sure that the strings aren’t too hard to press down. If you find a guitar that you like, ask someone at the store to play it for you if you don’t have a friend with you to see if you like the way that it sounds.
All of the really cheap guitars that I’ve seen are so terrible that I’d advise you to wait until you save your money and have at least $200.00 for a Yamaha. Most of the cheap guitars that they sell at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Sears and JC Penny sound bad. Worse that that, though, is that the strings sit so high above the fretboard that I don’t see how anyone could even play them. These are not the types of guitars that you want to learn on.
If Guitar Center doesn’t have any used acoustic guitars, try Sam Ash, a pawn shop or craigslist. Even better, take a look at eBay and look for a used acoustic guitar from a reputable seller that honestly describes the guitar. Good luck!