Members Gary Palmer Posted October 25, 2007 Members Posted October 25, 2007 Hi Folks, I'm pretty new to these fora, but have been happily playing and building acoustic and electric guitar for around 25 yrs. Anyway, my youngest daughter (Aged 10) recently decided to take guitar seriously (Almost 4 months ago), but her 3/4 size classical wasn't providing the feedback / sound she likes. Her being small in stature (4'6") the obvious option was to buy a 3/4 acoustic steel string, but most don't sound or handle too well so I thought I'd experiment a little. Hopefully without breaking the bank. The search was on for a reasonably small bodied guitar (00 or 000) with solid top and manageable neck that she could grow comfortable with. I honestly think we struck lucky in finding the Alvarez RF8 (Incl hardcase) for a relatively low sum, but two minor drawbacks were the facts she's a lefty and the lack of choice out there for left handed children. I asked if she'd mind trying to play right handed and she was very positive, so we gave it a try (She'd initially been struggling with trying to replicate my right handed playing and was becoming very frustrated). If unsuccessful I'd the option to strip the guitar down, alter the bracing and change the bridge over to left handed and re-build. Well...... the surprising fact is she's taken to right handed playing like a duck to water and is rifling through everything I present to her. She began taking an hour long quitar class at school (Two weeks ago), because we thought formal teaching may help and is somehow on a par with others who've been playing for the past two yrs. Hence my being a very proud dad. Her guitar plays and sounds pretty nicely (I lowered the action) and is very manageable for a child of her stature. It presently sounds a little too trebly, but I've no doubt things will improve vastly once my daughter's grown a little more and becomes more capable of handling a heavier string gauge than the 10's she's using now. ---------- Has anyone undergone a similar experience, or been surprised to find a reasonably voiced instrument among lower end pieces?
Members Stackabones Posted October 25, 2007 Members Posted October 25, 2007 Cool story, Gary. Thanks for posting. Hope to see you around a bit more! I think you'll find that plenty of the forumites around here relish in finding deals--good sounding guitars at reasonable prices. I'm a big fan of the ebay, craigslist, pawnshop approach. Most of my acoustics ... most? ... all except one have been second-hand instruments!!! Personally, I get a little nervous when guitars start getting over $300-400 ... though I've played (not owned) some pretty expensive instruments and have immense respect for the craft and sound that certain builders are able to put into their instruments. But that respect stops at my wallet! Most of my gear is for live performance and teaching, and it's amazing how many knocks a guitar can take in those two endeavours. I can't imagine my prized-possession guitar getting kamikaze'd by one my guitar student's falling music stand (I'm amazed at how often that happens).
Members Gary Palmer Posted October 25, 2007 Author Members Posted October 25, 2007 Hi Stack, Many thanks for the welcome, Being (Originally) a cellist I've always believed instrument choice should be based upon playability and sound. The deal maker for me is if the sound produced suits a given style or if I think it's sufficiently adaptable to fit multiple purposes, but an instrument is pretty much useless if one is afraid to use it in case of accidental damage. Regardless of whether it's
Members Broadus Posted October 25, 2007 Members Posted October 25, 2007 Another thanks for the story, Gary. I am a 50-plus geezer who took up guitar recently after not having touched it since a bit of strumming back in the mid-70's. And, I'm a lefty to boot. That's what I liked about the story of your daughter. I, too, play right-handed. I thought about trying it left-handed, but I reasoned that since both hands are obviously important (), why not play in the way that I would have the most buying options. Plus, if I happen to be somewhere without one of my guitars and there's one that can be played, what's the possibility it will be left handed. Maybe I'm too simplistic, but I don't see left-handed pianos or left-handed computers. I realize it's a bit of apples and oranges comparison, but this lefty enjoys playing the guitar right handed. Too, this is nothing against left-handed guitar playing! Have at it. It's just my reasoning for my playing right handed. Congratulations to you and to your daughter. May she do well. Bill
Members Amanda-Jane Posted October 25, 2007 Members Posted October 25, 2007 Thats great Gary. Since there are fewer options for lefties- I think that if she can learn to play right handed at an early age- and at the beginning of learning, she will be able to adapt much easier- instead of playing for 25 years and then trying to switch.. there will be a greater variety to pick from as she gets older. And what a nice dad
Members denvertrakker Posted October 25, 2007 Members Posted October 25, 2007 Another thanks for the story, Gary. I am a 50-plus geezer who took up guitar recently after not having touched it since a bit of strumming back in the mid-70's. And, I'm a lefty to boot. That's what I liked about the story of your daughter. I, too, play right-handed. I thought about trying it left-handed, but I reasoned that since both hands are obviously important ( ), why not play in the way that I would have the most buying options. Plus, if I happen to be somewhere without one of my guitars and there's one that can be played, what's the possibility it will be left handed. Maybe I'm too simplistic, but I don't see left-handed pianos or left-handed computers. I realize it's a bit of apples and oranges comparison, but this lefty enjoys playing the guitar right handed. Too, this is nothing against left-handed guitar playing! Have at it. It's just my reasoning for my playing right handed. My thoughts exactly, Bill. I'm another lefty playing righty, and for exactly the same reasons. When I got back into guitar after a (hmm)-year break, I thought about going with left-handed guitars, but ultimately decided to go with the (majority) flow and...guess what? I suck either way! But I'm happy to be playing the way most of the population does. And, I'm totally happy (for now) with my nylon-string Yamaha - I play it much more than my Cort.
Members Gary Palmer Posted October 25, 2007 Author Members Posted October 25, 2007 Thats great Gary. Since there are fewer options for lefties- I think that if she can learn to play right handed at an early age- and at the beginning of learning, she will be able to adapt much easier- instead of playing for 25 years and then trying to switch.. there will be a greater variety to pick from as she gets older. And what a nice dad Many thanks to everyone for the compliments, although I'd dreading my middle daughter beginning to learn drumming. My only hope is that she changes her mind and opts to play the triangle, or paper and comb. I honestly think lefties have an added advantage regarding chording and general fretboard dexterity. Especially when first beginning guitar. My ex-brother-in-law's also a lefty and - knowing how he began - it seemed a pretty natural option, but the biggest surprise has been just how quickly my daughter's leapt from knowing next to nothing and onto playing quite complicated chording, strumming patterns and fingerstyle. It's surprising just how much paint a blank canvas can absorb if the paint strikes it from the right direction. ----- Amanda, That's a nice pic of your Lab. She's very similar features when compared with our two black Labradors (One English and one American breed). Brilliant dogs, forever faithful and full of fun and mischief.
Members Amanda-Jane Posted October 25, 2007 Members Posted October 25, 2007 Amanda,That's a nice pic of your Lab. She's very similar features when compared with our two black Labradors (One English and one American breed). Brilliant dogs, forever faithful and full of fun and mischief. Agreed! Best dog- hands down- that I have ever had, and quite frankly that I have ever known.
Members Broadus Posted October 25, 2007 Members Posted October 25, 2007 Once you get them past the digging stage! Bill
Members Gary Palmer Posted October 25, 2007 Author Members Posted October 25, 2007 Once you get them past the digging stage! Bill Which ones? The kids or the Labs? I had both dogs house trained within a week, hunting well within six months and cooking breakfast within a year, but am still having to work on all four of my kids and getting nowhere fast . Although my ten yr old can carry out a basic guitar set-up:thu:, my twelve yr old has perfected the dropping of heavy hints , my seventeen yr old can just about get himself out of bed in the morning , whilst my twenty-one yr old is running wild at university.
Members Amanda-Jane Posted October 25, 2007 Members Posted October 25, 2007 Once you get them past the digging stage! Bill I don't have a digger.. I do have a sock theif.. I have very few socks that are a part of an original pair. and original rugs from puppy days have a few chewed corners.. but overall- I've been lucky- no lost shoes, furniture, or anything I cherish- had her house broken by the first week. Only had one poop accident in the house.. and that was on the first day. Very trainable dogs.. and loving.. most importantly she loves me as much as I love her.
Members Broadus Posted October 26, 2007 Members Posted October 26, 2007 I was in a more rural area when I had labs, and they were outside dogs. Those puppy years were digging years, but labs are some of the best pets you can have. Bill
Members Gary Palmer Posted October 26, 2007 Author Members Posted October 26, 2007 But Labs make crap guitarists. I've just made a couple of new bone saddles (Medium and low action) for my daughter's Alvarez and both tone and sustain have raised substantially in comparison to when it was fitted with it's original tusq saddle. Took the opportunity (This evening) to play a friends Martin 00 and strangely had a spooky feeling the little Alvarez may provide some competition. Side by side they were actually just about equal in tone and sustain, but the Martin edging ahead by a nose. We were like kids with new toys and are both now considering buying another couple of RF8's to play with!
Members Gary Palmer Posted October 31, 2007 Author Members Posted October 31, 2007 Just a quick update; Three of my daughter's friends have recently became proud owners of Alvarez RF8's following their guitar tutor's recommendations. This was after he'd heard how well they sound (They're pretty much brand new on this side of the Pond) and seen just how well she can handle her example. One potential downside / upside to all of this is that I've somehow been volunteered to teach an hour long session (Saturday morning) to six of her classmates. Last Saturday was the first of what promises to be many It was utter and total Bedlam for the first half hour , but fun at the same time. I'd sat in on two of their after school guitar lessons in order to familiarise myself with their tutor's methods and approach and we've agreed on a route, so things will hopefully fall into place fairly soon. Fingers crossed.
Members Broadus Posted November 1, 2007 Members Posted November 1, 2007 You're starting to make me wish I had checked out the RF8, or the RF20S, instead of the Ami (I'm never satisfied). Congratulations to all on their new guitars and their new Saturday instructor! Bill
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