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February 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Portland, OR | So my brother has decided he wants to take up guitar, and i'm totally phsyched.. He's 38 and lives in Hong Kong (which may be a consideration when thinking about what guitars are available)..
So i'm thinking about recommending one of the korean made celebrities that are out there.. Any models in particular?? From what I've read here from time to time, they sound good for the price, and play decently. I assume that they will be readily available to him over in China.. I guess I want him to get something that is really playable.. that comes first over how great it sounds. I can imagine that he wants to look in the range of $200-600.. If you can think of something besides ovation, let me know that as well. The bummer about this is that I live in vermont, so a little too far away to give him a hand... and sending him into a store to play a few guitars is pretty much useless, considering he's never picked one up.. so its got to be something he can specifically find, and just get it and start playing.
Thanks for your help!
Todd |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Some of the new Celebrities have solid tops. I'd steer him that way. There are a bunch of decent sounding Chinese guitars. I played an Ibanez that was made in China and sounded and played pretty good. Have him go with a guitar player to pick one out. There's no way to describe how to test one for sound and playability if he doesn't know how to play guitar. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | There are lots of stores in Hong Kong. Have him take a friend with him who knows something about guitars and get what's available there. Having something in mind is good but being able to change and make the decision there is good too. |
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February 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Portland, OR | Totally, taking someone who plays is definatly the best option.. I'm not sure if he knows anyone or not. I sent him a long list of things to look for.. My realtionship with my brother is funny.. he's 8 years older, and has lived in Asia for the past 10 years, so while we are close as "family" we don't konw each other too well, so I'm not sure how he will go about this. One thing I am sure of is that he is not worried about money (another difference between us, he went the 100 hr work week route for big investment banks, I went the 20 hr weeks while I look after my 2 year old self employed route).. so if worse comes to worse I told him to just buy anything that says Adamas and looks nice, or any Martin or Taylor will do.. atleast at that point, he can't blame the guitar if he sucks. |
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Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | I've played three or four Takamine Jasmine guitars & they were all nice little guitars for well under $150. They were all set up close to the same & they came with a gig bag. I gave one to my teenage nephew a few years ago & it's survived so far. I think they're made over there someplace. Or maybe Al could send him one? |
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September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | Are you sure he wants to start with acoustic?
Id recommend starting with acoustic to get your chops, however, acoustic is far more difficult to play in my opinion. Depending on the setup of the guitar it could be TOO difficult and actualy turn him away from guitars.
Im basing this off of this quote from you:
" I guess I want him to get something that is really playable.. that comes first over how great it sounds."
Problem is that most cheap acoustic guitars are the exact opposite. Playability comes at a cost. Playability has to be crafted, it doesn't just happen by accident.
Electrics are the ultimate when you talk about "playable". You can go really low with the actions and there is nothing like the easy feel of 9-42 strings.
You could go with something like a Schecter Omen 6 and a Micro Cube and be all set with a decent first setup in your price range. Plus its totally portable like an acoustic and you dont have as much headache worrying about humidity. |
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February 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Portland, OR | Yak, I think you are right on that.. I started with electric, and didn't even think about how that helped me when I went to acoustic. I'll suggest that to him, but I doubt he will go for it. His appt is probably pretty small, and I can't imagine that he would want an amp (even a micro cube), or the inconveneice of having to plug anything in! What I love about the acoustic is the ultimate portability of just sitting and playing anwhere.. wether that be in any room in your apt.. the back of your truck, a park, etc..
I do think its a good idea though, and will let him know. Thanks! |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | He has to decide if he wants an acoustic or electric.
Then go to Tommy Lee's in Tsar Sim Tchewy (sp) with a friend who plays, and pick one out in his price range. Lee's has a geat selection of ovations, as well as the other acoustics, including Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Seagull and Takamines etc. Plus the staff will leave you alone to play if you want. Best time is early afternoon.
Ovations are popular in Hong Kong, because they resist humidity better than your all wood box. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I just noticed that he works for an IB in HK. He can buy whatever he wants, unlike a scrounger like myself. The skies the limit. So he should buy either, an Adamas, a takamine, a taylor or a martin. And price be damned.
On the electric side, he should get either a Parker fly, a Paul Reade Smith, or a Hamer.
But given his job, he won't have time to play. His he going to reduce is hours or something? Otherwise he shouldn't bother buying one, it'll just be something to chain him down. Unless he wants to buy it and let it collect dust. I've known guys in his situation that have done this, and they wind up giving the guitars away. They are better than drug addicts when getting a good deal on gear. |
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April 2007
Posts: 225
Location: Stow, Ohio | A Squier 51! and a Roland Micro-Cube
The 51's are way under rated, there are inexpensive, and the play great....watch out for the dogs ofcourse. every manufacturer has them.
And the Micro-Cube is a freaking awesome little practice amp. Perfect for the lviing room, and even in his office at lunch. I had one and regret selling it. AC and DC powered. |
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April 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Providence, RI | Hello all,
Sorry to jump this slightly off topic, however, I had a quick question. A couple people made the comment that electric was easier to learn on than acoustic. As a beginner I was curious why this was.
The details, incase you are interested:
I am in a similar situation as the poster's brother (minus the high expendable income ;) I have never even picked up a guitar before, however, I want to learn.
Last weekend I went to Guitar Center to look for an acoustic. I described my situation to the guitar guy there. He was an acoustic player himself. He explained to me the basics (solid top vs. laminate, dreadnaught vs. other styles, acoustic vs. acoustic-electric, etc.). Knowing that I was a beginner he then played for me several different guitars pointing out how the sound was different. Obviously I have no basis of reference, however, I found this sales person extremely helpful. I ended up buying an Ovation Celebrity GC057
So far I am very happy with my purchase.
Well that's my story, thanks in advance for the help. |
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January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | Welcome to the OFC Methosage and congratulations on your purchase. Keep asking questions, you'll get lots of help here. |
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April 2007
Posts: 225
Location: Stow, Ohio | Electrics are easier for beginners only because they tend to use a lighter guage of strings, and the action is done right is usually lower making it easier for a beginner to fret the notes and chords.
However it sounds as tho you purchased a decent guitar as apposed to a house brand special.
And yes Welcome Methosage |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I am glad someone at your GC gave an Ovation a fair shake. It doesn't happen here. I am a fairly regular visitor and I have never seen a local GC employee show someone an Ovation in our store. I've probably sold more Ovations at our GC than any of the salespeople. |
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Posts: 4413
| Welcome Methosage (gotta love a guy who flavors his dope with herbs).
Tell the guy at your GC that we love him.
I went into my first ever GC last week - between Boston and Salem - and they must have had 40 Les Pauls alone. Awesome display. Elites and Legends in the acoustic room, but no customs or Adamii.
Anybody who's close enough to Rockville Centre on Long Island should go and take a look at Monster Music - really nice guys and they have some great stuff on the Gibson electric front. Applauise/Celebrity and 2 USA Os, but a lot of one-off/hard to find Gibson acoustics. Tell 'em the spastic-voiced English guy sent you. They were especially nice to my 11 year old - this always works well with me. |
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February 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Portland, OR | Originally posted by an4340:
Then go to Tommy Lee's in Tsar Sim Tchewy (sp) Thanks for the tip AN430, I told him to go there, and it turns out that is where he had been going.. He said it was overwhelming! Since you seem familiar with HK, do you have any recommendations/tips for teachers that will go to his appt?
Methosage: Besides light guage strings, electrics are easier because the neck is so thin.. compared to ovations, it is not a huge difference, but compared to other acoustics, it is a big difference. It makes bar chords and hand positions much easier to learn. Also, i think when playhing through an amp, there is so much feedback and other stuff going on, that when you don't have a chord perfect it still sounds ok, unlike acoustic which the sound just dies if you don't have it right.. so it makes it more fun to learn if you atelast think you are sounding better. Of course when all else failed and I couldn't play the technical stuff, i just cranked up the distortion and played power chords, metallica, etc.. it kept me intersted enough to stick with learning everything else.. again, that's something you just can't do on an acoustic.
Anyone else have any recommendations for teachers in Hong Kong, please let me know! |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Playability is the most important factor in recommending a guitar to a beginner. Forget the sound, tone and other types of aesthetic "bling" associated with it ... those will come later as your brother becomes more competent with the instrument.
My suggestion? Go to one of the many music stores in Hong Kong and purchase one of the most reasonably (budget) priced guitars, and then have it set-up crazy low, so he can play it. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by Methosage:
Hello all,
Sorry to jump this slightly off topic, however, I had a quick question. A couple people made the comment that electric was easier to learn on than acoustic. As a beginner I was curious why this was.
...I ended up buying an Ovation Celebrity GC057
So far I am very happy with my purchase. Welcome Methosage-- Congratulations on your decision and your Purchase... I got one of those!
Why is it easier to learn on an electric guitar?...
Let's see...
The strings are close to the neck.
The neck is thin.
The strings are thinner than acoustic.
The body is thin, and easy to reach around.
And, because it is Amplified, you can make loud noises to annoy the neighbors!
(This keeps the beginner interested!)
Now to your situation. Since you have a GC057, with a thin neck, and I'm guessing good action, cuz mine has that. And a relatively thin body that is easy to reach around. And yours is amplified...
So, you now have the best of both worlds!
Get yourself a small practice amp if you choose, and Go For It! |
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Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Providence, RI | Thanks all for the welcome and the information!
You seem to have build a friendly and informative community here.
I am sure I will read this board periodically to gleam information and also ask new player questions.
Thanks again |
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Help me recommed guitar to beginner
