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. What
are your goals? Are you anticipating a serious
hobby or majoring in music? If so, buy the best
solid top guitar you can afford. An inexpensive
guitar is a good choice if your goal is merely
casual enjoyment for a semester or so (or if
you're really poor!). Do you need to be
amplified for church or stage? If so, an
acoustic-electric classical will afford maximize
versatility. Before shopping, decide on a budget
so the dealer can show you guitars in your price
range. Go
to a classic guitar dealer. Besides carrying
more models than a regular music store, they
have real classic guitarists on staff, not
rockers or non-players, to help you select the
best guitar for your needs. Most importantly,
the sales staff can play the guitars while you
listen and pick the best sounding one. After the
sale, they can make adjustments and repairs and
recommend books and accessories. A good dealer
will keep your best interests in mind as they
want your repeat business and referrals. Check
the list below for recommended
dealers. Obviously,
playability and sound differ between guitar
models and brands. However, even individual
instruments of the same make and model may
differ considerably. Thus, the best way to
select a guitar is to examine and play several
models in your price range one after the other.
It is helpful to bring an experienced friend to
help you judge the construction, playing ease,
intonation and sound quality (a good salesmen
should be able to play for you as well). Learn
from opinions that differ from yours. However,
individual musicians value different things so
you must be the ultimate judge of your
guitar-to-be. Each
guitar is unique in feel due to variations in
neck thickness and shape. If the neck is
comfortable, the guitar will be easier to play.
The string height above the fingerboard--the
action--also influences playing ease. The
action may vary according to personal taste and
playing style. High action is difficult to play
but allows buzz-free high volume playing. Low
action is easy to play but buzzes during
aggressive playing. A compromise between the two
is best for most players. Fortunately, the
action can be adjusted to suit your needs. If
you are a steel-string player, remember that
classical action is higher than steel-string
action due to nylon's lower tension. Listen
carefully to the timbre (tone color) of the
guitar. A balance between dark and bright is the
most versatile. However, timbre preference is
subject to taste and playing style. If your
right hand technique is on the bright side, a
dark sounding guitar will help balance your
tone. If you play without nails, a brighter
guitar will help bring out the upper
frequencies. Play
single notes throughout the guitar's range and
listen to how they sustain. Listen to the
relationship of the bass notes to the treble.
The bass should be firm with a long sustain.
However, the treble notes must be able to stand
out in relation to the bass so you can project
the melody. Finally, have someone play the
instrument so you can judge the
projection. What's
the difference in sound between a $300 guitar
and a $3000 one? Budget guitars are less
resonate and have a smaller tonal and dynamic
range than expensive guitars. Whether
you are a beginning or advanced player, a
quality guitar is crucial to your success and
enjoyment. A fine instrument is easy to play,
exudes workmanship, and sounds resonant and
responsive. A quality instrument inspires you to
practice and excel as a musician. Buy the best
guitar you can afford and it will greatly
enhance your learning and enjoyment. Note
the quality of workmanship in the seating and
polish of the frets, the binding between the top
and sides, and in the finish. However, in all
fairness, you normally get what you pay for.
Budget guitars cost less because cheap materials
and lesser workmanship are used to trim costs.
Budget guitars should be playable but will have
numerous finish defects, unpolished frets, messy
glue joints, unsanded bracing and poorly
adjusted action (a good dealer will adjust the
action if needed). Premium quality guitars will
have a near perfect fit and finish of all
components. Even the interior bracing will be
neatly glued and sanded smooth! Before
purchasing a guitar, especially a used or budget
instrument, confirm that the tuning heads turn
smoothly and allow reasonable pitch control.
Fortunately, cheap or broken turning heads are
relatively easy and inexpensive to
replace. Soundboard
and bridge checks are essential when buying used
instruments. The strings exert 75 to 90 pounds
of stress on the bridge and soundboard of a
classic guitar. After a few years--especially in
hot, humid climates--structural damage may
occur. Check that the soundboard is not warped,
and that the bridge is not lifting
off. Professional
classical guitarists play instruments
handcrafted by individual makers, e.g., Fleta,
Hauser or Gilbert. Depending on the maker's
reputation, these guitars cost $3,000 to
$20,000. Guitars made by a specialized group of
builders in a small shop cost from $1000 to
$10,000 e.g., Ramírez, Hirade or
Asturias. For most people these instruments are
out of reach. Most
beginners are looking for an inexpensive guitar.
Buyer beware: most guitars retailing for under
$100 are disappointing junk. Don't throw your
money away on a cheap toy, pay a little more and
get a real guitar. Really cheap guitars have
unacceptable compromises in design, materials
and construction quality. Fortunately, there are
many factory-made guitars costing from $150 to
$300 that make fine beginning
instruments. Guitars
normally require very little maintenance.
However, a little care in handling and storage
will protect your investment for many years to
come. •
Never lean the guitar on furniture or the
wall. The guitar is unstable (the lower bout
is round) and can easily fall and be damaged.
Always store your guitar in a case or on a
guitar stand. •
Wash your hands before playing. Dirt and oil
will clog and corrode the strings and
diminish considerably the sound and life of
your strings. •
Handle the guitar only by the neck. Squeezing
the top and body will damage the delicate
soundboard bracing. •
Wipe your guitar off with a soft cotton or
mircofiber cloth after playing. Clean and
polish your guitar occasionally with a light
polish such as Martin Guitar Polish. Avoid
heavy paste waxes as they eventually build up
into a thick, vibration muffling
coating. Good
Quality • $300-449 High
Quality • $450-899 Premium
Quality • $900-1600 *Most
popular classic in the USA; also available in an
acoustic-electric version D'Addario
Pro Arté Composite, EJ45C Normal or EJ46C Hard
(the best strings made!) Harry's
Music Store • 3457 Waialae Avenue.
(808) 735-2866. Previous
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• 3 7/26/1998 • Revised
10/19/2003 .
Setting
Goals
Finding
a Dealer
Trying
Out a Guitar
Workmanship
Price
Ranges
Taking
Care of Your Guitar
•
Never expose your guitar to high heat and
humidity. For example, don't leave your
guitar in a hot car or in direct sunlight.
Typical heat damage consists of warped
soundboards and unglued (detached)
bridges.
Recommended
Classic GuitarsThese
models are excellent values in their respective
price ranges. The Takamine, Hirade and Jasmine
guitars carry lifetime warranties. The remainder
carry one-year warranties.
Recommended
Strings
Where
to Buy in HonoluluFrary
Classical Guitar
• 1019 University Avenue No. 7 •
Honolulu HI 96817 • (808) 944-8108 (in
Puck's Alley above Greek Corner &
Magoo's)
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