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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: Patty22
Date: 12-11-2006, 12:39 PM (1 of 17)
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My daughter wants a guitar from Santa. She does not play so it would be for a beginner. I was told an accoustic is good choice for newbies. HELP.........there are lots of brands out there...any advice from anyone? She LOVES music, has never played an instrument ( but danced for 16 years.) HELP....Santa's sled is empty so I thought I would bite the spool of thread and get this for her. Oh, did I mention that I need HELP? 
Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: Miss Spring
Date: 12-11-2006, 01:16 PM (2 of 17)
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My husband plays Personally I would order from www.music123.com They have awesome prices. I was also told that when you are first learning to start with the Acoustic. We bought are really nice Fender (made in Mexico) not as nice as the Made in usa ones and cost a lot less. I would recomend an Acoustic electic.....It sounds so pretty. Its got the soft sound of an Acoustic but the clarity of an Electric....I hate loud music...lol My husband just bought a new one. I havent seen it yet. It cost $2000.00 so he is trying to keep it out of my sight cause he doesnt want to have to play fare and get me a $2000.00 sewing machine...lol We have also bought some nice bundle packs on ebay. How old is your daughter? If she is a teenager just cave and go with the Electirc....lol Good luck! If you have any other questions I cn get hubby to help me answer them. Spring |
User: Miss Spring
Member since: 05-03-2006 Total posts: 87 |
From: Patty22
Date: 12-11-2006, 01:40 PM (3 of 17)
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Thanks Spring. My daughter is in her 2nd year of college. She is very frugal, so I know that she wants to learn or she wouldn't have asked. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-AJ1-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=518681 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-DG8S-Acoustic-Guitar-Value-Pack?sku=510705 Those were the ones that I looked at. I noticed from the site you listed that the prices on the fender are the same. This is like buying a sewing machine and you never picked up a needle and thread before 
Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 12-11-2006, 01:50 PM (4 of 17)
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Maybe you could go to a music store -- is Spino's still in Auburn? -- or in Syracuse to get professional advice about what would be best for a mature beginner. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Magot
Date: 12-11-2006, 02:09 PM (5 of 17)
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For a beginner go with an acoustic - I got a fender 6 string - get one with metal strings, DON'T go with nylon unless she is going to go the spanish lessons route. You can buy a pick up to attach to your six string if you get into a band or whatever - I tend to play my 12 string more than the six as it is a fuller sound. Acoustic electric is a good way to go if you are really going to be going on with it - I have played my friends washburn and it is lovely. Expensive though for a first guitar. Don't go electric only - you'll need a practice amp and fings. love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: Patty22
Date: 12-11-2006, 02:30 PM (6 of 17)
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Thanks for all the input. I told my daughter I could paint an oatmeal box and thread some strings through it.............but alas, she did not appreciate my humor.
Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: Pudge99
Date: 12-11-2006, 02:42 PM (7 of 17)
I just typed a long answer. The puppy just walked up and sniffed the keyboard and poof it is all gone. I have no clue what she hit as she was not on the delete side.Oh well! here I go again. I will try to type fast so she doesn't do it again. I bought one of those Estaban Guitars on HSN for about $89 plus shipping. I love it. It came with instructional DVDs, extra picks and strings, a carrying case that you can wear like a backpack, a chord chart and a few other things. Yes it was made in China and it smelled like spray paint when I opened the package but it sounds beautiful. It is perfect for me as a re-beginer (I learned the basics about 20 yrs ago). The instructional DVDs are easy to understand and you have the convenience of being able to rewind and pause as you need to. I have had it for about a week and I can now play a rather slow version of Silent Night. Not on the video but I wanted to learn some Christmas songs fast for the kids so I searched online for some easy guitar songs and found that one. Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: lsoutherla
Date: 12-11-2006, 04:28 PM (8 of 17)
| My 15 yo DD wanted a guitar also. Gotta have it type of thing. So, (having gone the gotta have it route before) instead of purchasing an electric - like she wanted - which does mean all of the bells and whistles have to be purchased as well - I just bought her a $150 simple acoustic at the local music store. If she stays with it, then .. who knows. Also, I purchased some chord books for her at the local bookstore. This is better than the drums she wanted a couple of years ago. |
User: lsoutherla
Member since: 05-04-2006 Total posts: 72 |
From: Bama
Date: 12-11-2006, 07:27 PM (9 of 17)
My 18yo son also asked for a guitar for Christmas. We shopped all day for one Saturday. He wanted to look at new and used ones so we went to pawn shops, an antique mall (they had several we couldn't afford), and a music store. I suggested Ebay but he said he wanted to hear it first. We told him he could spend up to $250 on it. After we looked at several dozen, he found a new one that he liked at a music store. It was a Fender acoustic for $250 (of course). The man said he throws in one month of free lessons with each guitar. I tried to get DS to go ahead and get it but he wanted to think about it. I told him it might not be there if he decided to go back to get it. He is so hard to please.  He said he had to have one that had the "right sound". He doesn't even know how to play one yet. His sister told him that even Jimmy Hendrix started out on a cheap, second hand guitar. She didn't know why he was being so picky about it. |
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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From: Patty22
Date: 12-12-2006, 07:03 PM (10 of 17)
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After work, my husband and I went to the local music store (Spenos - thanks for reminding me Dorothy) and bought one of their acoustic guitar packages. I had checked all day on the internet and had written some of the web sites with questions, but no one answered me back. I am sure they get lots of questions, but a little personal service goes a long way. Lessons are also available; even though the guitar comes with a dvd that has lessons - a lesson "in person" might be very beneficial for her. Thanks for all your help; I felt like I could ask a few intelligent questions about what I was purchasing. Good thing too is this guitar comes in different colors and if she doesn't like what we picked they will gladly trade it for something she picks out. (I would tell you the brand I got, but I wrapped it already and I can't read the salesman's writing 
Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: Sancin
Date: 12-13-2006, 01:59 AM (11 of 17)
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Gina - 2 things in your post got me giggling and nothing to do with guitars so the rest of you move on. My computer lately has started to do the same thing as your dog did to yours. I posted something the other day and went looking for a response and my post wasn't there! Mystery messages. I have the damnest pixies in my house. The second was the silent night. I played the piano (not well) after 9 years of lessons and sang well after about 3 years of lessons. And then nothing - lessons or playing/singing, for quite a few years. When my brother was married in a very remote location the priest was the only one who could play anything, a guitar, which he didn't have with him and he had to perform the service. There was also no music anywhere to be found near the ancient organ at the church. So I spent the better part of an afternoon tinkering to see if I could recall the whole of some piece of appropriate music. They were married in early October to me playing silent night (at least it wasn't chopsticks) and I kept saying I could sung something more appropriate except I was very pregnant and uncomfortable and not thinking clearly. It was a startling wedding in many ways. All the pregnant girls there talked about their wedding last month or nearer and gushed over me having a baby 'at my age' and why I been married for so long without a baby. For some reason the bride never told her father my brother had a 4 year old son whom he had custody of and her father kept hiding the Scotch whisky saying these young people have no idea how good this stuff is or how expensive and he was going to drink it all!! A good time was had for all. I drove back to civilization over mountain roads in the car with the brides' seasick father (had to take a ferry to get to a road). He was from the prairies and had NO IDEA how to drive on roads with curves. 
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: Patty22
Date: 12-13-2006, 08:07 AM (12 of 17)
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HOW FUNNY! Nancy that is a great wedding story. Now in the back of my mind I am thinking my daughter should learn a repertoire suitable for any occasion. When my brother was discharged from the service he needed to get married a bit quickly. Both he and his new bride-to-be didn't know anyone to marry them and weren't affiliated with any church. I had met the most wonderful pastor while working in a medical office through HS and college doing medical billing. The pastor's presence just filled the room with happiness whenever he went to the doctor. He agreed to marry my brother without a second of hesitation in the private chapel of his church. I was not invited to the service. When my brother came back to the house with his wife for cake (their reception?) my mother could only find a birthday cake at the grocery store. I took a knife dipped in hot water and scrapped off the birthday greetings to try and make it a little more appropriate for the occasion. We were still living in a racially segregated time in history and I failed to mention to my brother that the wonderful pastor was the largest black man I had ever met. Almost 7' and a girth just as proportionate. My brother asked me why I didn't tell him at his "reception" and I told him he never asked. Wow.......a guitar would have really livened that shindig up a bit! Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 12-13-2006, 02:48 PM (13 of 17)
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Wow! Some great stories in this thread. I hope your daughter enjoys the guitar, Patty! I'm rather partial to the instrument myself -- I hope I'll learn to play someday, but it's pretty far down on the list right now. Speaking of weddings, we had a classical guitarist for our ceremony. Unfortunately I didn't get to listen to much of his playing, but from what I did hear it was quite beautiful.
http://www.sew-whats-up.com - the new home for Sew What's New
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User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222 
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From: paroper
Date: 12-14-2006, 08:56 AM (14 of 17)
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My dd wanted one and I bought her an acoustic. It was a very bad mistake and she resented it. I bought electric for the other two when the time came and they LOVED them. I went to a local music store and bought a really nice little electic for each..and the colors were fantastic. I bought a small amplifier, paid $90 for it. When my son wanted to move up, I had gotten such a good price that he managed to sell it for most of what I had paid to put it toward the next one. I can't remember what brand I bought but I think they were Fender. I know that they were a major brand and they worked very well. This is the ONLINE source I've used to buy instruments, drums and accessories and woodwind over the last 12 years or so. My good friends have also purchase several things from them. I've had extremely good luck with them, they are reliable and they'll accept returns with no hassle. I did, though buy the guitars locally at a music store and negociated wonderful prices. http://www.wwbw.com/Guitars-d61+4294902542.music I've gotten fantastic deals with these guys!!! They also have used and new/damaged merchandise for sale. They rate both so that you have an idea what you are considering. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Bama
Date: 12-17-2006, 08:19 PM (15 of 17)
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We found DS a guitar today. One of the music teachers at work told me about a music store I should try. The young salesman was very helpful. He finally sold us on a guitar made here: www.normanguitars.com They're made in Canada. After hearing the young salesman play it, DS was pleased enough to finally pick one. 
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116
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From: Patty22
Date: 12-25-2006, 06:16 PM (16 of 17)
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Bama...hope your son enjoys his guitar! We hid the guitar behind the sofa this morning, so DD did not see it. Everyone had unwraped their gifts and then my husband gave it to her. She was so exited.........she has been strumming away in her bedroom as soon as she had a chance. She is happy as a clam (oh wait, she's vegetarian.....hmmmmmm she's happy as a tofurkey  ).
Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: Bama
Date: 12-25-2006, 06:21 PM (17 of 17)
My vegetarian son has also been strumming away happily on his new guitar. He managed what sounded enough like Silent Night that I recognized it. 
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116
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