Guitar Question

[Ophelia]

I am thinking about taking guitar lessons for the first time, and I have no clue about how to shop for a guitar. I am only 4'9," and my hands are fairly small, with broad, square palms and short, stubby fingers. I am not so sure a full-size guitar would be suitable. I've been looking around a little on-line today for acoustic guitars, and all I find are insanely expensive full-size, jumbo, and super-jumbo Gibsons. Any suggestions?

[talbot10]

Originally posted by Ophelia:
I am thinking about taking guitar lessons for the first time, and I have no clue about how to shop for a guitar. I am only 4'9," and my hands are fairly small, with broad, square palms and short, stubby fingers. I am not so sure a full-size guitar would be suitable. I've been looking around a little on-line today for acoustic guitars, and all I find are insanely expensive full-size, jumbo, and super-jumbo Gibsons. Any suggestions? Here is the link to two that i would suggest (3/4 size guitars)- Bill

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Acoustic?sku=514966

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MATLXM

[Cathy]

Maybe you should go with an 000 or OM size. The 000s generally have narrow necks, the same size as dreadnaught, but the body is smaller. The OM has a smaller body and a shorter scale, but the neck is usually slightly wider.
I started playig at age 8, and started on a 3/4 size Silvertone. By age 12, I had graduated to a dreadnaught. I don['t think you'd have any trouble with a full size. It wouldn't hurt to learn a chord, go to a guitar shop and try a bunch of them out.

[charlene]

I think you know wht I'll say folks...
AIR guitar....
one size fits all...
lol

[Cathy]

Another option: you might go with a parlor sized guitar. Martin makes one called The Little Martin. Taylor's is called The Baby Taylor, although, if I remember correctly, they may be even smaller than parlor size. Larivee also makes one, which has gotten great reviews, but it's much more expensive than the $200-$300 Baby Taylor or Little Martin.
Your best bet would be go to a music shop that has a good selection of guitars and strum a bunch of them, until you find one that feels comfortable.

[Jesse Joe]

Cathy & Charline are both right!

A little Martin,as Cathy says. But if you dont want to pay an elevated price for a first guitar then go with Charlene an air guitar.(LOL) Only one thing with the air one it wont have any sound.

[charlene]

Only one thing with the air one it wont have any sound. [/QB]and THAT dear Jessi-Joe is a blessing considering my complete lack of musical ability!
lol

[New 12 String Mike]

Hi Ophelia,

A 000 size guitar is probably what you need. Martin guitars use the "0" sizes. Alvarez and some other makers, use the term "folk" or "folk size" for a similar size guitar. Another option would be to consider a classical guitar. They have a small body and are easier to play with nylon strings, (easier on the fingers) with a wider neck and more space between the strings. The tone is much softer, than Gord's steel string instruments, but the notes are the same.

Like computers, or anything else, you can get tangled in technobabble very quickly. Cathy's point is an excellant one. Learn a chord or two and then you can go to guitar shops and play a few and check how they feel to you. Feel is what's important. Reaching around the neck with one hand and then trying to strum or pluck strings, while reaching over the guitar's body, with the other hand, can be like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach. It will feel very awkward at first. Trying different sizes of guitar bodies and necks will quickly give you a feel.

The one thing you really must do is to think about how much you want to do with your guitar playing. Lessons may, or may not, be where you want to go. If you already know how to read music, then lessons can be easier. If you just want to play for fun and a little self accomplishment, having a teacher throwing music notation at you can become more than you'd want to swallow. Getting a chord book and a few chord and lyric sheets to Gord's songs that you know and like is a route to the fun side. Lessons are great though and the music will be worth the time and money invested.

Don't be afraid to keep asking questions. There's lots of good info available here.

Welcome to the world of pickers and GAS.

Most of all, Have fun!

[Cathy]

Mike, do you by any chance hang out on rmmga? That's about the only other place I've heard GAS mentioned.
For anyone who's wondering, GAS is Guitar Acquisition Syndrome.

[New 12 String Mike]

Cathy, Nope, but I do spend some time at the UMGF, Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum.

What's rmmga?

[Cathy]

rmmga is a newsgroup. The official name is rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic. It's one of the biggest newsgroups in the world. I used to read it, but found the 300+ messages each day was just too much. And most of it was just the guys fooling around.

[New 12 String Mike]

Ophelia,

Having any luck?

[charlene]

Here's a pic of Ron and Kenyon with Ron's two 12 string babies...Gibson B-45's. (May 2005)

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/891/ronkenyon2ca.jpg

[ April 20, 2006, 10:49: Message edited by: charlene ]