The right instrument (guitar)
There are so many preconceived ideas when buying the first instrument.
Like my first post on how to learn, I will say that it should be based on the style of music you want to play, in particular when it’s about guitars.
The options are endless.
Like a lot of experienced guitarists are saying, there has never been a better time to play the guitar.
Today, the cost of a first decent instrument is really accessible for any player into any style of music.
If you are a beginner, stick to a guitar that will be low on maintenance.
Avoid guitars with vibrato, unless it’s heavily used in the style of music you want to play.
Don’t buy the guitar only based on the price. Make your homework before going into a shop.
The web is an invaluable resource of information.
And if you did well, you will know more than the guy in the shop who is going to sell you the guitar.
Before going into the shop, look for second-hand guitars, there are really a lot of very good guitars that will be much better value for the same cost than a guitar that is sold brand new.
I am convinced that you can find enough information on the internet about a specific guitar so you don’t need the biased advice of a seller who is just going to try to make the most profit from the limited choice of guitars he has in the shop (compared to the internet). I have owned around 30 guitars, I worked as a seller in a music shop and I know how this works. For most of the sellers, the aspiring guitarist in you is not the first priority, it’s your wallet. I’m sure there are some honest sellers in music shops but it’s not the majority, and again you will have more choice in the second-hand market than in any music shop.
I’m happy to give you any advice if you have trouble choosing your first guitar.
The same applies to more advanced players, you can find cheaper guitars on the 2nd hand market with the same quality if not better than a brand new instrument for the same budget.
The difficulty is not to be influenced by all the marketing efforts of the big brands on the latest models they are putting on the market.
I will try to put up lists of guitars you can buy sorted by price range, used and new.