Choosing a steel string guitar?

[beanzontoast]

After years of intermittent pootling on classical guitar, I'm looking for my first steel string.

What features should I look for?

 

[Andy in Sig]

Do you mean acoustic or electric?

 

[beanzontoast]

Sorry, should have said - acoustic.

 

[Andy in Sig]

Then being a bit of an innocent in the field of acoustic I can offer no more wisdom than to suggest looking for one with steel strings.

Or you could get an electric and fiddle with the amp so that it sounds almost acoustic.

 

[LLB]

Look for one with 'Takamine' written on it and you won't go far wrong

 

[Melvil]

I up the ante by suggesting that 'Martin' written on the side is the only thing to look for. Martin make some extremely lovely guitars. Not cheap but certainly class:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Guitar

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Have a look at www.moondogguitars.com. I've been playing guitar for nearly 30 years and I've just bought their Grand Master model. It's by far the best acoustic guitar I've played, at about half the cost of the big name equivalent. The other guitarist in my band was so impressed he bought one too. The best thing about them is that you can buy one, they'll deliver it next day and if you don't like it, just phone them within two weeks and they'll refund your money and come and pick it up.
As others have said, Martins and Takamines are also good. Crafters aren't bad either.

 

[Andy in Sig]

Out of curiosity RT, what features of that guitar elevate it above the other models as you would think that quality evens out between the better manufacturers?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Out of curiosity RT, what features of that guitar elevate it above the other models as you would think that quality evens out between the better manufacturers?

They're very innovative; many modern acoustic guitars are simply copied of older Martin models. My Moondog is made of a rosewood, balsa and carbon fibre laminate, with a solid, unbraced, spruce top (I think), so the sound is bright and warm at the same time, with great projection. It's much louder and clearer than my old Yamaha FG340, and that wasn't by any means a bad instrument.

 

[MichaelM]

Not really the sort of thing you'd buy as a first guitar, but drool away at these British guitars:

Fylde
Brook
Northworthy

 

[LLB]

Have a look at www.moondogguitars.com. I've been playing guitar for nearly 30 years and I've just bought their Grand Master model. It's by far the best acoustic guitar I've played, at about half the cost of the big name equivalent. The other guitarist in my band was so impressed he bought one too. The best thing about them is that you can buy one, they'll deliver it next day and if you don't like it, just phone them within two weeks and they'll refund your money and come and pick it up.
As others have said, Martins and Takamines are also good. Crafters aren't bad either.

I've got a crafter acoustic with an electric pickup and it is a lovely looking bit of kit, but it doesn't have the richness of tone of a takamine

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Hello RT

Whilst you're here. I'm after an electric guitar with amp for my 8 yr old.

Any recommendations?He can't play the guitar as yet (but can play the keyboards a bit and can read some music). So don't want to spend loads. £50-£70.

What you think of this?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5408009/Trail/searchtext>JUNIOR+GUITAR.htm

Cheers.

I'll buy you a drink in The Pub later tonight.

Yep, looks ideal. Should get him started, at least.
Pint of London Pride, please.

 

[Desert Orchid]

Crock of G have a look here

http://www.ebuyer.com/cat/Musical-Instruments/subcat/Guitars

 

[Amanda P]

I have a Takamine, about three years old, and a 25-year old Yamaha FG334.

The Takamine sounds nice, but after being played (by me) for 25 years, the Yamaha, although cheap in its day, has a gorgeous tone that I can't get on any other instrument. When I play it down at the Thompson's Arms, I get offers to buy it regularly.

This doesn't help the OP, I know...

Maybe this advice: whatever you buy, budget some money to have it set up really well by someone who knows acoustic guitars inside out. It'll be worth it: few guitars can't be made to play better and sound better after an hour on a luthier's bench.

 

[upsidedown]

My Yamaha F310 from Argos sounds lovely, well it would if i could play it properly. Think it was about fifty quid from argos.