Another "Cheap Guitar" Story

[Ray G]

Hello,

I have a 12 year old nephew who wants to learn how to play. His mom & dad asked me about helping them find a beginners guitar. Well, I was on my way home and stopped in a Mom and Pop type music store in Montclair, NJ. and came across this excellent full size Oscar Schmidt/Washburn for $120. All laminated woods of course but it sounded good and played like you wouldn't believe! I was really knocked for a loop... it has low action and plays like an electric. So I called my sister-in-law to make sure they hadn't already found something else and I got the Green Light. The gig bag was extra $ but when all was said and done I got the guitar, gig bag, strap, 6 picks, and an extra set of strings for $145. Not bad... and this guitar is actually better than the one that comes with the Yamaha beginners pack that I tried early in the week which, BTW, I thought that was pretty good.

I wish the guitar I started on was this good, I guess cheap guitars are getting better these days.

[Chrismeyer]

My drumer has one of those with a single cut-away,and electric,it WAS pretty cool untill he decided it needed to be black,now it's just pathctic.
Anyway,I know what you're saying about beginners guitars,when I started I had a Sears electric.My teacher told my dad in the first week"Look,if he's gonna learn to play,he's gonna have to get a REAL guitar."I always loved that guy for that alone!I got an Epiphone the next day!One of those that were strat shaped with h-s-s config.and a locking trem,shark fin inlay on the frets.
THAT was a cool starter guitar,but it was $400..These days,you can get almost any brand or style you want for a couple bills.
I guess we have it better than our dads!My kids guitars will be E-bay!

[Rob Rent]

I play out a bunch..over the last 15 years or so I've become more and more hesitant to take an expensive piece to a barroom situation...or worse an outdoor thing where there are bunches and bunches of folks waking around coming and going and possibly one or more in the crowd who might fancy MY guitar........I've started looking toward more inexpensive things to use...I have a few friends who have enough disposable income so that they buy whatever they want whenever they want and I've been giveen a few guitars here and there to either use....or sometimes, keep........I recently used a friend's Epiphone AJ-something or other....and it felt every bit as good as a much more expensive Gibson....but it sounded weak and wimpy......until I stuck a pickup in it and fooled around with the eq a little......I have a Blueridge here that a friend hates....absolutely hates and I think it sounds better than his "Clapton" model Martin...I think he's letting the brand influence his judgement...I also take out 2 Johnson tricones now instead of my really cool old National....they know as many songs and if stolen...I can get another....rather than have to hang myself...I also started playing a Mexican 50's reissue tele...instead of the '63 Esquire that a lot of folks like to eye up...it's all shiny and knows just as many songs......NOW seems to be the "Golden Age" of guitars..