Any guitarist knifeknuts in the house?

I started to learn guitar at age 55, after I inherited an old (1940's) acoustic guitar. Took about ten professional lessons, and then went my own way.

One of the best decisions I ever made. The ability to make music (even as badly as I do) is truly one of life's greatest gifts.

My one regret is that I did not start earlier. Go for it, and above all, persevere.
 
Hi friend,

start by getting some lessons first if you can afford them this will insure that you don't form any bad habits that are difficult to get rid of later. Forget about the developing your own style first if you are a beginner. This will happen later after you learn the basics. try to find a teacher that will inspire you. some one that you like. Not a very good guitarist. It does not matter how a good guitarist your teacher is as long as you can have fun playing.
 
I've never had a Carvin, as talked about earlier, but I've had a slew of ESP/Gibson/Epiphone/Ibanez/Schecter (I've been through 25+ guitars, and still have about 15) - I think that for a beginner, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio is the way to go - starting w/ a "thicker" neck is good (easier to learn thick and switch to thin than vice-versa), and the feel is so close to that of a Gibson (someone will flip since I said that, so, yeah, the wood and hardware are cheaper, but the FEEL is very SIMILAR) that you can transition up to a real quality instrument that has the same feel/shape (I love a figured top)/etc. The Epiphone Elitist are FANTASTIC guitars - made in Japan - and closely rival the Gibson in terms of quality - same hardware/pickups/and qualityu wood (no joke, and for 1/2 the price - starting at just over a grand I think). If you've got some cash, look at PRS/Gibson/BrianMoore. Check out Ed Roman guitars online if you want to do some research - lots of good stuff on there. If you're a knife addict, you'll be prone to becoming a guitar addict, and if you fall in to both categories like I do, you're about 20 times more likely to get divorced - be careful.
 
diceman said:
I've never had a Carvin, as talked about earlier, but I've had a slew of ESP/Gibson/Epiphone/Ibanez/Schecter (I've been through 25+ guitars, and still have about 15) - I think that for a beginner, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio is the way to go - starting w/ a "thicker" neck is good (easier to learn thick and switch to thin than vice-versa), and the feel is so close to that of a Gibson (someone will flip since I said that, so, yeah, the wood and hardware are cheaper, but the FEEL is very SIMILAR) that you can transition up to a real quality instrument that has the same feel/shape (I love a figured top)/etc. The Epiphone Elitist are FANTASTIC guitars - made in Japan - and closely rival the Gibson in terms of quality - same hardware/pickups/and qualityu wood (no joke, and for 1/2 the price - starting at just over a grand I think). If you've got some cash, look at PRS/Gibson/BrianMoore. Check out Ed Roman guitars online if you want to do some research - lots of good stuff on there. If you're a knife addict, you'll be prone to becoming a guitar addict, and if you fall in to both categories like I do, you're about 20 times more likely to get divorced - be careful.
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Really good advice there. But one caveat Ed Romans website can be informative but i would caution against purchasing anything from him. Go to harmony central and type "Ed Roman" in the search engine. Read what is there then only after you have finished reading that (should take about three years!) should you contemplate doing business with Mr. Roman. Buy local if you can for a reasonable price, but If you must buy online there are lots of retailers (music 123, musiciansfriend etc.) and also ebay sellers to choose from.
And i would agree 100% about the Epi Elitists series. The only reason i have a Gibson Studio LP instead of an Epi is because the fates converged and i got an insanely sweet deal on the Gibson in a pawn shop! I haven't been that lucky with pawn shops since.
 
Actually you'll get alot of opinions on guitars.No offense to any Gibson or PRS lovers,but having owned two Carvin CT4M's for under $1400.00 each, they make the $3000.00 PRS look & play like crap at half the price.Plus you pick out what you want on the guitars like stainless fret option,fretboard material,radius,wood,color,hardware options.It is a factory made custom guitar,factory direct,and priced a couple thousand less than a music store equivelant.Carvin are instruments for professional musicians not caught up with name status on their headstock.As far as Ed Roman go's,well he really isn't that all highly regarded on many forums,though he makes some pretty nice overpriced stuff.
 
What guitar you buy is also important. I started out on a cheap Squier that I loved to play.

Shortly after I got cocky and bought a Jackson Rhoads electric. WAYYYYYY too advanced for me, I wasted ALOT of money. It was a stage guitar, impossible to SIT and play. I ahd to stand, and it's balance was not beginner friendly. It was so hard for me, I GAVE IT AWAY and quit guitar. I tried selling it for a couple of months first but to no avail.

Last week I bought a CHEAP acoustic guitar to start back up. It is very comftorable and sonuds amazing. Needs a little TLC (action lowered, new strings, basic stuff) but more importantly it is ON MY LEVEL. Hopefully I don't make the same mistake twice and trade up for an overpriced/too advanced guitar I don't enjoy/can't play.
 
I still think that the Epi LP Studio is a better idea for a beginner than running out and buying a $1400 guitar before they know that guitar playing will work out for them (some people just find out they can't pick it up) - even if it is a good deal for the $$. As far as the Ed Roman reference that I had made, I was just suggesting that his website is something worth looking at - it has a lot of good articles, etc., but I would agree not to buy from there. Those neck-thru Carvins on the website sure look nice though - I've never played one. I was picking up my Epi's and ESP's when I was stationed in Korea w/ the Army for like $200-300 when musicians friend prices were $400-$800 on the same models. I paid less than $300 for an LP Custom - $200 for an LP Goth, and $250 for a Casino w/ Bigsby. I don't know much about the new Chinese line that Epi has gone to, but my Korean Epis for the price that I paid were a steal. Anyways, Tombstone seems to have some strong opinions on PRS and Gibson - I don't really care one way or another, I'd agree with him that they are both over priced (but not that they play or look like crap on any level, or by any means). I will stand by the Epi Elitist though, as I stated before, as an excellent $1k guitar. Worth looking at.
 
Yes Gibson and PRS are way more expensive than they should be. And regarding Gibson (i don't have any experience with PRS) their quality control is occassionally spotty, which is almost unforgivable considering the price. But despite the price and intermittent quality control problems I do really love Gibsons, lots of classics designs there. But as i said above the only reason i actually have a Gibson is because of a really lucky break in a pawn shop. I paid the equivalent of 423$ U.S for it, a 150$ less than i paid for my used Korean Epi Dot. I love both and labels aside both are of equal quality. Really the safest bet is to assess a guitar up close and personal before buying. But depending on your locale that is not always possible. If i was starting over again i'd start with a Mexican Fender Telecaster or Strat or a handpicked Epi LP.
Wow Diceman when were you in Korea? I am contemplating teaching English overseas and Korea was one of the posible locals. I was pretty decided on Hong Kong but cheap guitars would be another reason to pick Korea instead!
:)
 
I left there about a year ago - China is the place for cheap guitars now - many factories moved there as Korean labor is getting expensive. Great place to live - send me an email if you want as I have friends teaching over there - dzrice at gmail dot com.
 
By crap,I mean they are not $3000.00 worth of guitar.Why pay that much for a guitar that play's and looks like a $1000.00 Carvin all for a name plate?
Why spend 700-1000.00 on an PRS Korean import? My opinions are strong because newcomers to the guitar World are generally uninformed, naive to gear quality,brand and price.Nothing wrong with a USA Gibson or PRS if you have money to burn just for name sake.
 
I'm definately disappointed that PRS would go w/ a cheap import just to broaden their market - it cheapens their "name." I remember about ten years ago when I was like 15-16, I played a custom 22 (it was only like $1200 then - well worth it) and was in love with it - now the "quality" PRS guitars are too expensive, and all the highschool kids "play a PRS" sine they brought out a junk line. And their "junk" line isn't even built like their good stuff - which they should have done - just like Epi makes Gibson clones for a fraction of the price. "PRS" w/ a slab body (at least the neck is still set)?

Also - check out "scratch and dent" sales on musiciansfriend and save another $80.
 
I am just starting out as well and will be taking a 2.0 unit class at the local junior college (in CA) for a grand total of $26 for three months.

There are a ton of sites out there for the budding guitarist.

For forum sites,
Ultimate-Guitar, harmony-central, and guitarnoise are a few I visit.

As for lesson sites,
freebasicguitar.com, Fender Players Club, Dansms home page, Big Daddy Doodle, and Cyberfret.com keep me busy.

And if that isnt enough for you, try Wholenote.com. That should be more than enough for now. :D
 
diceman said:
I left there about a year ago - China is the place for cheap guitars now - many factories moved there as Korean labor is getting expensive. Great place to live - send me an email if you want as I have friends teaching over there - dzrice at gmail dot com.
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Whats your take on the Chinese Epis? I haven't been guitar shopping (other than online) in quite a while so i haven't seen the new Chinese guitars in real life.
I'm going to do one of those short TESL certification courses before i go, right now i'm thinking spring/summer for my migration overseas. Unless of course i strike a good job here first.
:rolleyes:

P.S thanks for the email info offer i may take you up on that later!
 
I think I mentioned some time back on another thread that I'd bought a Mitchell guitar (a cutaway 6-string flat-top).
After playing it for some months, I continue to be impressed. A mere 200.00, this Indonesian-made instrument has excellent fit and finish, and came well set-up from the factory. I havn't had to tweak the action at all.

Sounds good and plays easily.
 
well im not a guitarist but i do play bass, drums, and percussion. And the only advice i could give to you is practice, practice, practice..etc. there are plenty of good sites on the web with free lessons, and i believe someone brought up TAB. thats a good place to start. good luck and have fun.
 
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