Acoustic Guitars

[guitarplayer888]

I'm an instructor with an adult beginner guitar student who wants a new acoustic guitar primarily to strum chords as accompniment for group singing, typically current rock, pop, folk.  She wants a comfortable, easy-to-play guitar that stays in tune well and sounds really nice for strummed open position and barre chords.  Does this exist for under $400?

[PurpleTrails]

Look at the 700 series Yamaha guitars.  They start at something like $200 street, but bumping up to the ones that run $300 gets you a pretty nice guitar.  The Takamini 300 series is pretty good, too, but a little more mid-rangy than the Yamaha ones. 

[guitarplayer888]

Thanks, I'll check them out.

[poppytater]

Another nod to Yamaha.

[Neal]

Many suggestions, but the one given, in that price range, is a good one. You'll see Recording King, Epiphone, Blueridge, Seagull, etc.... but in reality and in that price range, not a lot of difference.

[katopp]

FG7xx Yammies are hard to fault.

I still have one, even though I have a lot of more expensive and more sophisticated guitars. They are built like tanks, sond well, are easily playable and due to Yamaha's excellent QC easily set up to suit any style.

Negative aspects are that they lack "character", that they sound "neutral", but in a singer-songwriter context this also means that they fit almost every style and key.

If you're looking for something more upmarket, I can endorse the new Sigma guitars. They are shameless Martin rip-offs for not much money.

[Freeman_Keller]

Take your student on a little tour of every guitar store in your area.   Play, and have her play, every guitar in the 200 to 600 price range hanging on the wall.    Watch her hands on the neck as she chords and barres - you should be capable of evaluating whether the neck shape fits her needs.   Look at (and feel) the action - if you feel that it needs some adjustment talk to the store's tech people about setting it up for her.   Let her listen to you playing the kind of music she aspires to - does she like the sound?

Probably one of the best lessons you can give her is helping to select the right guitar.

[garthman]

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Freeman_Keller wrote:

Take your student on a little tour of every guitar store in your area.   Play, and have her play, every guitar in the 200 to 600 price range hanging on the wall.    Watch her hands on the neck as she chords and barres - you should be capable of evaluating whether the neck shape fits her needs.   Look at (and feel) the action - if you feel that it needs some adjustment talk to the store's tech people about setting it up for her.   Let her listen to you playing the kind of music she aspires to - does she like the sound?

Probably one of the best lessons you can give her is helping to select the right guitar.

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I can't better this excellent advice.

[EdBega]

FG700S for $170 all in all done you can't do any better. Follow this link for $30 off in store coupon.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-FG700S-Folk-Acoustic-Guitar-103114252-i1149962.gc

[guitarist21]

guitarplayer888 wrote:

... easy-to-play guitar that stays in tune well and sounds really nice for strummed open position and barre chords.

Hey Guitar Player 888,

I agree with everyone about Yamahas as well as having her try out some guitars.

I'm sure you're aware of this, but on the off chance you are not: the easy-to-play factor is for most folks pretty directly related to the guitar's action, which is usually adjusted easily by an experienced guitar tech. So don't necessarily let a guitar with high action scare you away - unless the high action is indicative of a structural issue, but I doubt that will be the case if you're buying a brand new guitar. 

Other, IMO smaller factors here include nut width (folks with big hands tend to prefer wider nuts than folks with small hands) and neck shape (most beginners, in my experience, prefer a slimmer profile). 

Just a couple things to consider when you head to the guitar store.

[recordingtrack1]

Can't slam the yam.....

For the money, they're consistently decent instruments, IMO

[TESmith]

Listen to Freeman, he really gave you first rate advice!

[EdBega]

Yeap good advice. Yamaha's the no brainer if they're going that route ...

[guitarplayer888]

This is a wonderful approach in theory but is simply impossible in the real world, or at least my real world.  In real life I run a busy music school and my student is a jam packed mother of 3 who carves out 30 minutes per week from her crazy schedule becasue she really wants to learn how to play guitar.  Its only possible because her daughter takes a drum lesson at the same time.  She was looking for me to say "click this link to buy this guitar" and then the magicians at UPS show up a few days later with the ax.  To consider both of us spending half a day demoing guitars is far outside the realm of realistic possibility.

After the feedback on this topic and my own reaseach online I recommended the Yamaha FG730S and she bought it yesterday.  After our lesson next week I'll post again to tell you what I think of the guitar and if my student likes it.

Thanks to everyone for fast and quality information!

[EdBega]

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guitarplayer888 wrote:

This is a wonderful approach in theory but is simply impossible in the real world, or at least my real world.  In real life I run a busy music school and my student is a jam packed mother of 3 who carves out 30 minutes per week from her crazy schedule becasue she really wants to learn how to play guitar.  Its only possible because her daughter takes a drum lesson at the same time.  She was looking for me to say "click this link to buy this guitar" and then the magicians at UPS show up a few days later with the ax.  To consider both of us spending half a day demoing guitars is far outside the realm of realistic possibility.

After the feedback on this topic and my own reaseach online I recommended the Yamaha FG730S and she bought it yesterday.  After our lesson next week I'll post again to tell you what I think of the guitar and if my student likes it.

Thanks to everyone for fast and quality information!

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Have her put some decent strings on it the stock strings are lacking in luster IMO ...

[Freeman_Keller]

Report back - there is a lot of love for that guitar here.

[guitarplayer888]

sorry for the delay replying, life getting in the way of my posting again.   The short story is my student loved the Yamaha and it sounds great, stays in tune well and is set up well.    Thanks to everyone for the excellent advise.

[OldTwelver]

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guitarplayer888 wrote:

sorry for the delay replying, life getting in the way of my posting again.   The short story is my student loved the Yamaha and it sounds great, stays in tune well and is set up well.    Thanks to everyone for the excellent advise.

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Now we'll see how long before you get one !!!

I sure like mine ......

Paul

[Opa John]

Yup! I've got one too. Had it for a little over three years now. I got a special deal when I bought mine. Got the FG730S in tobacco burst WITH the recommended hard shell case...both for a few cents under $300!! Best $300 guitar I've ever had. And, this thing sounds the best, to MY  ears, with Martin's el cheapo bronze bluegrass strings on it. I've tried different strings, but the cheap bluegrass strings sound the best to me.

[C70man]

I don't go anywhere without my Recording King...all wood model, top, back and sides...great strumming guitar, excellent picking guitar....Mine is the RO-26.