praisefor3 Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 We are looking at buying ds13 a guitar for his 14th birthday. We want: acoustic with electric plug in capacity and built in tuner. Other than that, I have no idea what to get. DS is musically talented. He already plays the piano and has an interest in the guitar so this isn't just a shot in the dark. I don't want trash from WM nor do I want a cadillac. I went to a local store today and saw 2 that interested me: 1.) Fender cd60ce classic AC/EL with hard case for $269. 2.) Takamine 360c with no case for $349. I did think the Takamine sounded better but I really have no idea what I'm looking for. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Did your son try them out? I would let him hold and play some and let him decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praisefor3 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 No. We are going to buy it as a surprise but then we have a week to exchange it so he will be able to do that. However, he has not played one so he will not know how to compare or what feels right for his first guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueinNC Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Do you know someone who not only knows how to play a guitar but is incredibly musically inclined? You are taking a shot in the dark purchasing one without having an expert opinion. Two identical guitars by the same maker can sound/perform totally different. One can be a dud and the other could have great sound. You really need to bring along an expert guitar player to test the instrument. My dd's guitar teacher is only 17 but he is one of those music geniuses. He hunted down a guitar (and a mandolin) for my dd. He knows what to look for and then he restrung it using better quality strings and took the pegs apart and re-aligned the spacing for even better sound. I would have not known that was important too. I am grateful for his expertise since I am completely clueless to what to look for. Turns out the guitar my dh bought back in the 70s is of excellent quality. He knew nothing about guitars. He just randomly picked one (about $100) with the intent of learning how to play. It stayed in the attic/shed/closets for the past 25+ years sans case. I brought it to dd's guitar teacher who was amazed it wasn't damaged by the places I had stored it. He cleaned it up with new strings and peg hardware. My dd now uses dh's old one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praisefor3 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 oh. :( I didn't realize that. I did have the guy at the local store play some and I definitely knew what sounded better tonally to me but beyond that I'm clueless. hmmm...didn't know this would be that hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 A good music store can really guide you. Someone musical posted on a question about 3/4 size guitars recently. (You would want a full sized of course.) pm them and see if they have any ideas. Dh says Fenders, Takamines, Yamahas are all good but he's not up on what's current for your son. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlmiraGulch Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 My fiance, a professional musician (guitarist) and former guitar salesman, says that of those two he'd recommend the Fender. The benefits are the built-in tuner, quality woods, and reputable name. He says the Takamine's are just not as high in quality. Not even close, he says. He also said that, as an alternative, if there is a Yamaha in that price range it would also be a good option, but that for his money he'd go for the Fender. Finally, he said to check to see the level of dealer support where you're buying it. A reputable dealer offers support for lessons, and also should have a favorable policy on trade-in value for when your son is ready to upgrade. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Did your son try them out? I would let him hold and play some and let him decide. :iagree: Depends on what type of music he plays and his playing style. If he is just starting out, I would have a teacher or someone else you trust who plays try them out. My ds plays a Taylor but we know a man with a Takamine and ds just loves the sound of that guitar in particular. Even two of the same style guitar may sound slightly different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elisabeth in IL Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 (edited) We just purchased our son, who turns 14 tomorrow, a Washburn upon the recommendation of his guitar teacher. It was listed for around $250 and we paid $219. They said that it is a very good beginner's guitar and it has the two items that you said that you want. ETA We didn't want to spend more then $250........ Edited November 12, 2011 by Elisabeth in IL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Element Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 After playing my (cheap) first guitar for 9 years, I saved up $350 to buy a nice® one. I played everything in that price range and ended up falling head over heels in love with a Cort. To this day (another 9 years later) I absolutely love my guitar. I have never really been a fan of Fenders but maybe I just haven't played the right one. Strings have a lot to do with the sound. You can put cheap strings on a beautiful guitar and it will sound and feel all wrong. If he is just now learning guitar, there is no need to get expensive strings since he will go through them often but once he starts to go a little easier on the strings, I would highly recommend Elixir (coated) strings. They sound and feel absolutely amazing. One of the ways a guitar will "fail" you is if you get one with cheap tuning keys. I personally prefer Grover keys, but I have heard that Schaller and Waverly are nice too. There is nothing more annoying than a guitar with cheap keys that won't stay in tune. It really is a personal thing, but I can promise you: Your son will not be disappointed with whatever you get him. :001_smile: I was thrilled with the $125 no-name acoustic my parents got me when I was his age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 My 13yo recently upgraded her guitar. She had been playing on a beginner Yamaha classical guitar. She wanted to upgrade to a higher quality acoustic-electric with steel strings (not classical). I do know that she couldn't stand the sound of the Martins. She looked at a TON of guitars a multiple guitar stores. The top one on her list was another Yamaha until she tried a low-end Taylor. Then she couldn't imagine anything other than Taylor. She was going to get a Taylor 114-e, but the day we went in to get the Taylor 114-e, somebody had sold a Taylor 410. It was the same price and that's what she ended up getting. Taylors are expensive, but she won't ever need to upgrade her guitar again. Of course, she has a mandolin, a banjo, a 12-string guitar, and a bouzouki on her Christmas wish list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyrooch Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 My son has a Steve Warner limited edition Takamine. It provides such a beautiful sound. He loves the guitar and really enjoys playing it. He is 13 too. I know that Takamine is a great guitar. Fender is good as well. It really depends on what sound you are looking for. A Takamine offers a different sound than a Fender. You really just have to try them out to see which sound you prefer. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Of course, she has a mandolin, a banjo, a 12-string guitar, and a bouzouki on her Christmas wish list. LOL...her wish list sounds just like my ds(14) except that he already has and is playing the banjo and mandolin. He is really wanting the bouzouki and 12-string though and has been saving for the bouzouki of his dreams for the past 8 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KellyGirl Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Fender makes some great electric guitars, but I would never buy a Fender acoustic. Takamine makes really nice acoustics. I have a top of the line Tak that is my forever guitar. I remember when I bought the guy at the music store talked about how a Takamine is a "working man's guitar", meaning they are built to sound the BEST when they are plugged in and amplified. I suggest checking for reviews of the two guitars on places like Musician's Friend, Guitar Center, and Harmony Central. You sometimes have to weed through the idiot reviews but it can still be helpful. Some things to consider are 1) the action (how high or low the strings are on the fret board and how "playable" it feels) 2) how well it stays in tune 3) the quality of the electronics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I would buy a Takamine over a Fender every day of the week. Yamaha does make some nice sounding beginner guitars. When you go to the music store, ask the person to play several guitars in your price range. Listen for the tone. Unless he loves country music, you don't want a brass, twangy sound. After you choose a couple that have a nice sound, ask which one has better action. (The strings are set lower.) When you choose one, ask if they will change to a set of DW strings and tune it. (I would put on light, but a 14 year old boy will switch to medium fairly quickly.) Also ask if you buy a guitar there if they will give you a certain percent off strings every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Ds has two guitars that haven't been mentioned here, an Alvarez and a dual voiced Godin. The first is an acoustic with a lovely sound that everyone who hears won't put down. (Go figure. We bought it for him when he was ten; it had a nice sound to our uneducated ears, but we picked it out b/c it wa the one that he felt most comfortable "stretching into", IOW it was pretty big for him, but he was right on the cusp of being ready for a full-sized guitar.) We've retrofitted it with a pickup. The Godin has both acoustic and electric pickups, and it is really nice for worship sets when you want an electric voice for band pieces but an acoustic voice for accompaniament. It probably isn't "the best" at either thing, but he really enjoys the versatility. I'm pretty sure he hasn't gotten his forever guitar yet. ; ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Element Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Fender makes some great electric guitars, but I would never buy a Fender acoustic. Takamine makes really nice acoustics. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Donna, since you're familiar with all the instruments my dd is interested in, what would you recommend as her best 2nd instrument when the music she's most interested in is country? All three are used for country music, but I would think that there's a lot more out there written for the banjo than for mandolin or bouzouki. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 What about a guitar shaped gift certificate? :D That way, he can pick out what he likes and take his time doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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