New? Guitar

I suggest you look into getting an acoustic pickup and preamp which can be afforded at the same price you're looking to spend. Then save up for a better guitar that you would much rather have. Good Luck with your decision either way.

zguitar,
I have owned nothing but "seasoned' guitars since the 60's with one exception - a black Gibson 335 factory new with a bad neck.
A "hock" shop" or pawn shop, here in the U.S.A. is the best place to find a quality used guitar cheap. In the U.K. they have a different term for a place where you leave an item of value to secure a small cash loan.
It is usually true that:
Pawn shop owners may not be up to speed on guitar brands or playability.
Most hocked guitars have old, tired strings on them. If you see a real bargain possibility, restring it then and there.
If you need advice, drag an experienced guitarist you trust along with you and have him or her bring a tuner.
If the sun is shining on your back door and the moon is right, and you have spread a lot of good karma, lately, you may find a steal of a deal on a fine old guitar.
I bought a beat-up looking 1960 Gibson 330 in 1968 for $200 in a Mobile, Alabama pawn shop. Mucho playing had it sounding like a dream. I beat on it 6 nights a week for 20 years and I still strum it very hard. Did a little fret work. It doesn't look any worse and it plays and sounds great. I am told it's present value could be $2,000  to $12,000. Doesn't matter, my grandson is gonna get it.
My best friend dragged me into a pawn shop and we bought him a mid-70's Yamaha dreadnought - big body acoustic in 1985 for $185. He died and left it to me. What a big, nice sound it has. It was worth $300 back then and, probably, $300 today but with the price of a pro setting it up it is still the best playing, sweetest sounding flat top I have ever played and it still looks almost new.
toots

Thing with used guitars is finding them. Shops often accept the good ones as part-exchange but they go fast. Knowledgeable musos snap up the bargains. I noticed a 70s Japanese Gibson copy ('Loveson' if you can believe it) that played real nice in a local shop, put I left a few weeks and it's gone now :-(

With new guitars key thing is a solid wood top. These will quickly mature with playing in a way that laminated tops won't. Unfortunately shops don't label this. Ask the salesman which models are solid tops and you'll find the choice narrows right down.

The difference between Fender, Martin and Ibanez. Well Martins tend to be top quality, top dollar, nothing really affordable in their range. Fender make fine electric guitars but their acoustics are pretty sterile, people buy them because of the familiar neck or the 'cool' headstock. To me Fender acoustics are a case of a big brand name hoping punters won't notice it's dull offerings. Ibanez are great value, they tend to be very clean and tidy finishes with a decent sound. Once you know their soundstyle you'll find all their range has the same 'genes'.

You asked about multiple guitars. Well the simple fact is there's alot of people out there with lots of spare cash who are collectors more than players. Do a google search on GAS, Guitar Acquisition Syndrome and you'll find people can't help themselves.

If you begin to play live you'll discover the reason for a second intrument. Things happen. Strings break, idiots knock your guitar over, spill drinks etc. Once you really get attached to a particular model having a spare is reassuring, particularly if you make your living from it or have a band depending on you (I have two electric basses, the strings can break with no warning and then you only have 3 left to play). Stringing up whilst the audience waits is not fun. In fact it got Eric Clapton his nickname 'Slowhand'.

Hi All!!

I'm gonna revive this thread and add to it.

I've only bought one guitar so I need some advice.

I'm looking for an acoustic elec. My local music shops are too expensive. That leaves me with 2 big chain stores that I know of and the internet. So, I'm planning to go to these 2 big stores and play lots of diff guitars. But how does it work when I'm ready to purchase?

A brand new guitar out of the box can sound and play diff than the one in the store that has been banged on by 50 people. Do they give me the used one in the store?

If a store orders it, it gets shipped to them. If I order it online, it gets shipped to me. So it's gonna get shipped one way or the other. I read a post somewhere about shipping turning out to be bad for a guitar.

I've seen quite a few guitars online that I would like to try out. If I can't find them in a store somewhere how do I get my hands on one?

I'm kinda leaning toward an online purchase after try outs. Has anyone had a bad experience with this?

Price is the #1 factor in choosing my next guitar. I just can't bring myself to (or afford) paying $300+ for a guitar. My wife won't let me either. I want something decent, but I'm not looking for the best. Right now I'm playing a $199 Ibanez that I bought 8 years ago. One of those acoustic starter packs off the shelf.

Anyway, lay your advice on me.

Keep rockin!!!!!!!!!!!

If I was shopping for a good acoustic electric for under 3 bills, I'd be all over this http://cgi.ebay.com/NORMAN-ACOUSTIC-ELE … 27acd6bfc2  Same company ,and basically the same guitars, as Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Art & lutherie, etc... Solid top, North American made, Fishman electronics...  I've played several of their comparable models and all have sounded and played wonderfully.

Hi z...

with "cheap" guitars you basically have two options in my experience: If you want to buy online, you have to buy so cheap that it doesn't matter if it is bad (that goes for buying stuff of individuals) or you have to be prepared to send a lot of guitars back (that goes for buying from companies).

If you buy from a local store. make sure you get the guitar you tried there. If they insist that "oh, that one is just the display, we can't sell that one..." make them get the one they will sell you and try that one. If they are not willing to do this: make a fuzz, say really loud that they are a rippoff and morons and be prepared to never shop there again.

acoustic electric... do you mean an acoustic guitar with a pickup (Ovation style more or less) or an electric guitar with a semi-hollow body? With the later I have no clue at all, sorry...

Acoustics with pickups however I did try a few (though I currently don't own one). Personally I don't like the "Ovation back": Turtle-shaped plastic somehow does not sound like I want it on my guitar. But they can sound really good...
The best experience so far (other than my trusted Sigma with the clip in Martin Pickup) are the ones by Stagg. Here in Germany you get them for around $200 and they are a lot of fun. However: as with most cheaper guitars, I'd expect not every single one to be tiptop and shipshape. So again: try before you buy is propably best.

As to used guitars: The question is always: "Why do/did they sell it" Sometimes the answer is "Because it is crap!".

Anyhow: good hunting!

Cheers,

T.