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Location: New Hartford, Connecticut | Hello all - I have a question and I know you all are the right ones to help.
See I have an 11 year old son who is VERY interested in learning to play the guitar - and well seeing as though I have no clue how to play I would like to know where to begin for him (lessons of course) BUT the big question is what guitar to by for a beginner? ( an Ovation of course!!) Are there different sizes? (I told you I know nothing about them !!) I guess I am just looking for a beginners model. (such thing?)
Well any advice you could give to me would be much appreciated.
I felt Ovation was the way to go WHY you ask? Well I will tell you - when I sit out on my front steps and look across the way what do I see?
The Ovation Factory where they make all your WONDERFUL guitars!!!!! I live up on a hill right above the big Ovation factory - my son and I take walks down there and look in the windows and see all the beauiful guitars waiting to be finished - quite a neat place - never been inside though. - Only draw back is that in the summer when you are outside you get a strong odor of either the glues or finishes they use on the guitars - but ohhhhh well.
So I thought the best people to answer my questions would be you all -
Thanks so much for any advice you can give me.
Christine
New Hartford, CT |
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Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | Christine:
Glad to have you here. I'm going to pass on rendering an opinion. Ovation makes several 3/4 size guitars (in their Applause line) as well as inexpensive guitars that have very shallow bodies (super shallow bowls) in their Celebrity lines that would be great for an 11 year old. Others can tell you specifically which guitars they like.
By the way, rumor has it that one of our regular posters here, cwk2, used to have a fairly good size office up at the Ovation plant. He might be able to give you some direction. Heck, he'd know your neighborhood! |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Christine
I have two sons that are started playing guitar at about your son's age, and are both in their 40's and are top notch players in their chosen styles. You are right to want to provide a good quality instrument, and the only advice I would give is to let the child chose the kind of music he wants to play. If you push a child to play music that you like, they will consider that a chore and go of and play something else with their friends. All kinds of music have the same elements, rythym and melody, so it doesn't matter what he learns to play, he will learn. Also, always be positive and say something nice about his playing as he learns; criticism, especially from someone who is not experiencing the difficulty of playing guitar will stop him from trying. Try to discourage him from any type of music that involves destroying the instrument!
Bailey |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I think at 11 he can handle a full sized instruement.
go over to the factory and ask for John or Kim in the service department they can show you some guitars and take you for a quick tour.
I would check out the standard balladeer but many of the imported models are much cheaper.
Good luck |
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| I agree with alpep. My daughter is 11 and I just bought her a CS257. It's is a full size "shallow bowl" model and it fits her perfectly. |
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Location: New Hartford, Connecticut | Thank You - maybe we will do just that and take a stroll down the hill and see whats happening in there - I always wanted to see what they do in there - Thank you all for your advice - Christine
I should post a picture for you all of the cool looking factory!
Christine |
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Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Christine
I think a full size guitar is a good idea for 2 or 3 reasons.
It is a "real" guitar, important to a beginner because part of learning is showing your friends your guitar.
It will be useable through all stages of learning right up to playing in a band, and might become that beloved first guitar that one keeps for years.
Be sure to buy a good kapo, as small hands can play easier on the high frets, and the sound is pretty good too. Also the action is generally better with a kapo, and it shows how keys can be played in various positions on the neck.
Bailey |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Hi Christine, In my opinion (well, you DID ask):
1. Get a full size, narrow neck, good low action
2. Get a USED guitar. At that age, it may be a passing fad. Invest more later if they show real sustained interest.
3. Buy a used Ovation Celebrity shallow bowl. Look on eBay for model CC057. It's not made across the street from your house (unless you live in Korea), but it has all the qualities you need in a first guitar, including a pickup so your son can plug in into the family stereo and play it really load - won't that be fun.
4. You can find one for $150 to $200.
Dave |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I agree that you should just go down the hill and ask for a tour, JB or Kim in service. See what they sugguest for a guitar, maybe they have something there??
I never had an office there, I just did time there growing up. The corporate offices are in Bloomfield and mine was there. |
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Location: SoCal | Ah what do I know? I'm a California kid, and while I did spent time in them a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I ain't a corporate wonk. |
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Location: New Hartford, Connecticut | Once again Thank you all for your advice!!!!!
Much appreciated!!
Chrtistine |
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Posts: 196
Location: Shelton, Washington, USA | Go ahead and book a tour of the factory.... if you don't want to go on it, give me a yell, I'll go! I'd give my son's eye teeth for a tour of the factory!!!!!!!!!
(go with a full size. I started at 12 with a full size. the earlier post about part of learning is showing is dead on! There's an instant "coolness" factor with guitars. Don't be to quick to jump into lessons.... let your son play around with the guitar on his own at first and see what happens. As he develops, he may ask for lessons or he may just steal licks from other guitar players.... ya never know.) |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Tell Frank I said it was OK |
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Guitar Advice - I need some
