Need to buy accoustic guitar...

[jared82]

Hi Harmony Central-ers, I am in the UK for a bit without a guitar and would like to buy the cheapest PLAYABLE accoustic guitar possible. I am talking REALLY cheap, I am broke as a joke right now. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? Preferably a guitar that will hold tune "alright" and will "play" ok. I have been looking into the really cheapest Yamaha's but then started considering an old EKO or Harmony or Kay or something to that effect. Anyways, let me know if you have any suggestions. There's gotta be a 70-150$ guitar out there that is better than the rest. The guitar will likelly end up in the garbage or left with a friend after it all so I don't want to put any more money into this than I have to. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

thanks,

 

luv Jared

[Tony Burns]

Thats neat , sounds like your just looking for something to have fun with , maybe take it serious or not - like stuff like that -- basically your not looking for any particular make- just look in the bargain shops and household sales - look for a straight neck and easy action - you can put different strings on it and possibly better tuners if the guitar is a real wreck, if the bridge is a floater you can always move it back and forth if the tonation is off - in the US id suggest an Old Harmony or Silvertone - usually on the cheap but durable side-- not sure whats available in the UK - im betting theres alot of the same stuff with different names - the more beat-up it is Im betting the more fun youll have with it - good luck my friend !

[Freeman Keller]

My only thought is that many cheap old guitars have structural problems - usually neck and/or action issues. Since one of your criterea is playability just be sure you don't buy something without inspecting and playing it first. That said, there are some great old Yamaha's (I own one), Washburns, Eppi's, etc that you might look into - yard sales, pawn shops, or players who have moved up to something new. There are also a lot of folks who both a guitar because they always wanted to learn how, and it just sittin' in a closet waiting for you. Just take your yardstick when you go shopping.

[theGOOCH]

My beater (and only guitar for the moment) Is a Squier SA-100. $100 or less brand new with a warranty. It plays and sounds better than you might think. It comes as a pack (guitar, strap, gig bag, pitch pipe, picks, instructional book) Everything is pretty much worthless except the guitar, picks and I use the pitch pipe to get it close when restringing etc. then dial it in w/ my tuner. Not bad considering the price. The only problem I had is the saddle cracked, but Fender sent me a new (and better one) immediately.