Dad3353

Good evening, Mat, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

Any of these three guitars will give satisfaction 'on the beach', or at home on the sofa. I doubt that it would be useful spending much time doing one-on-one comparison in a shop, especially if you're 'tuned' to hearing Marin or Taylor stuff. My 'go-to' guitar is a Takamine G220 (discontinued, bought second-hand but inexpensive when new...) and it does a fine job. I'd go for the Takamine with no hesitation, unheard, as I don't think that they make duff guitars, at any price point. Just my tuppence-worth.

I have a Daisy Rock Retro 12-string, and a fine guitar it is, too. Just sayin'.

Is there a comfortable 'man's guitar' (except, maybe, the Ovation Breadwinner...)..?

Wot 'e sed ^^. I'm 'righty', but play drums 'lefty'. I've a 'totally lefty' brother who plays guitar, very well indeed, 'righty'. There are no rules, really. Try both, and do whatever gives most satisfaction. Hendrix, apparently, was no slouch with a 'righty' guitar, played 'righty'.

I'd take the view that there are multiple answers to this question. One important (maybe the most important..?) factor in learning stuff, any stuff, at any age, is motivation, that's to say: wanting to. How many children were sat at a piano, or handed a recorder or violin, even having expensive lessons thrust upon them, but didn't take it on board, or even rejected the whole thing..? If the itch that needs scratching is for an electric guitar, then start off on an electric guitar. If the motivation is more towards classical music, a classical guitar would be the way to go. To get one's hand in by the (relatively..) easier route, an acoustic guitar can bring more rapid satisfaction (as long as the effort is put in, naturally...). For starting out, a decent acoustic guitar gives very rapid, almost instant, gratification, and will be held onto, even if other guitars are acquired over time. To get the best out of a classical guitar, there is, in my view, no substitute for a good classical guitar teacher, and will certainly involves reading music from the outset. The road is harder, but the rewards are commensurate. If it's a question of idolatry, and wanting to join in with the modern rock idiom, then an electric has its appeal, and can be enjoyed, at least for starting out, with only a practise amp, or even a jack-plug amp and headset. Complete beginner..? Find out why and what their interest is in the instrument, and get 'em started on that. Whatever the choice, a good tutor is a great asset, with the proviso that the pupil is willing to cooperate. If not, 'laisser faire' has produced legions of virtuoso players over the years, although the path is longer and more strewn with rocks. Better that, though, than being forced to learn in a way that doesn't fit the motivation. Have I answered the question..? Probably not; sorry.

Surely you mean Boobies..?

If you're interested in pushing your boundaries a bit (or even quite a lot, in time...), I'd recommend Mark_Levine's 'The Jazz Theory Book ... Amazon : The Jazz Theory Book ... There's a lot to read without an instrument, and the notions can be applied to most fields; it's not reserved just for 'jazzers'..! Worth a glance..? A little more 'out there', but a fascinating concept, is Conrad Cork's 'The New Guide To Harmony With Lego Bricks', available from Boosey & Hawkes ... Boosey : The New Guide To Harmony With Lego Bricks ... These are definitely not biographies..! Hope this helps.

Neither of these pick-ups need specific pre-amps to work well. How to 'liven up' the recorded sound..? Depending on the 'quality' of your acoustic sound, the recording room, and your budget, a decent large-diaphragm condenser mic, placed a foot or so away from the guitar, might be an option, if your mixer can supply phantom power. Superlux E205 (£33...)..? AKG P120 (£73...)..? Rode NT1-A (£153...)..? Just a few from an enormously wide selection available. I can't think, off-hand, of a pre-amp or such for magnetic pick-ups that 'warms' the sound up, but others may have suggestions. Hope this helps.

Do you know (and can you tell us...) what kind of pick-ups these are..? Basically, there are piezo pick-ups, magnetic pick-ups and 'microphone' pick-ups. These will all require different treatment, so any worthwhile reply would need to know. A photo might help. Any joy..?

I've just watched one of the sessions (three notes per string...), and have learned more in those few minutes than in the past couple of years..! Very pedagogic, it makes sense, and the notions are ably demonstrated. Thanks for the link; a Good Call.

Play within your own personal and unique boundaries; no-one plays the way you do. We each have our limitations and handicaps, which evolve over time, and, whilst it's a Good Thing to push the envelope and strive for more, or different, not all these efforts are rewarded with success. Embrace your capacities, and put your best efforts into what works for you, instead of fighting the demons. In most contexts, no-one would notice any 'issues', anyway, so just play on, whatever... Hope this helps. Disclaimer: I drop sticks (I'm a drummer...), so I have a pocket hooked onto the floor drum with my spares. When one goes, I just reach for another. Between songs, if there's time, I try to retrieve 'em all. Sometimes there isn't.

There won't be much oxydation on the carbon tracks, generally, and turning 'em down, then up will, in time wear 'em out. Still, in the expected life of, not only the guitar, but also the guitarist, I doubt that this would be the worst issues encountered. If it's a worry, and the controls are always to be at 'max', swap 'em out for direct connections and eliminate the pots altogether, maybe..? Some players do this, with simply a 'kill switch' to turn it off between songs. (... and it's 'brake' pads.).

There's an up-side and a down-side, of course. Leave 'em turned up and it's possible (or even likely depending on one's age...) that the amp will produce an overpowering 'Screech..!' when the guitar is plugged in. On the other hand, turning it all down implies that there's a pretty good chance (depending on one's age...) that there'll be silence for a while at the beginning of the session, with much testing of leads, looking baffled, scratching of heads etc before the penny drops. It's a no-win conundrum that only you can solve. Personally, I turn it all down, despite the head-scratching risk (yes, I'm old, too...). Hope this helps.

Good afternoon, Wuggis, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. As mentioned above, you're spoilt for choice these days. Good luck with the 'fettling'; be comforted to know that it's the first forty years that are the hardest, after which things sometimes tend to get slightly better.

I'm sorry, I forgot that you're rather new here. Never mind; have it be known that I'm old, and these things that happened to me are in a dim and distance Past. I really can't remember quite how long ago I bought the Daisy Rock, but I doubt that the Seller is still advertising, or if he is, he's very old now, too..! That 'Venus' guitar looks to be excellent; I'd be pleased too..! Keep looking; meanwhile... Keep well, stay safe Douglas

Ha..! I am the proud possessor of a Daisy Rock Retro 12-string... ...and a fine guitar it is, too..! Bought second-hand from a bloke in Holland, for a very modest price, and a staple of my humble 'collection' of instruments. Daisy Rock are maybe aimed, demographically, at girls, but they are real guitars, not toys.

Good evening, Conmac, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. Most guitars from the leading makers in the 'starter' price range are decent guitars (I certainly wish that they had been available when I started out with a real cheese-grater of a guitar..!). The Fender you mention is fine. There's quite a bit less to bother about with an acoustic for a beginner. First thing is learning how to tune it (and listen to when it needs tuning again...). A good tip for anyone starting out is to find a local tutor, if at all possible. It's so uch worth it to get good advice from the 'off', and makes progress that much more certain. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it really does help. Good luck with the project to the pair of you.

@GNewbie: Ignore the above ^^; an acoustic guitar needs heavier gauge strings than an electric, which is what is referenced by Kiwi. Those links are the safe route to start you off, bronze strings at something like 12's for the top 'E'.

I looked them all up, and if the price suits you, can't really say much bad about any of them. 'Used' can be a Good Thing, if the guitar has been looked after, as it's already 'set up'. One would have to have some confidence in the Seller, though, to be able to judge that. 'New', of course, has the advantage of having a guarantee, which is seldom needed to be called upon, but is at least reassuring. If buying second-hand, it's a Good Idea to have a friend 'player' to come along and try it out. This may be difficult in today's circumstances, but is to be considered. A 'player' could better judge an instrument than a complete novice (as long as that judgement can be trusted...). One last aspect: what about the aesthetics of the thing..? A preferred colour, or finish..? Trivial, up to a point, but an instrument that one 'bonds' incites more practise time, and pleasure. Think about a case of some sort, too, in the budget. A soft 'hard case' is a worthwhile investment to protect the guitar, and those referenced in your question merit looking after properly. Hope this helps.

I'd recommend getting two guitars, a 1/2-size for the tot and a 3/4 for the elder. That way, no fighting. Don't buy toys, the Yamaha range is a Good Recommendation. A guitar emporium will either have them in stock or can order them, and they're not that expensive (around £50 or so, I think..?). It's a Good Plan to get the kids interested, and, even if they don't pursue as ados, they'll have a head-start if/when they decide to take it further.

... and find a Telecaster 'ashtray'..?