Question for the guitar players...

[Bobblehead]

I need a new guitar. Mine was stolen in a break-in quite a while ago and now I have the extra $ to be able to replace it.

I'm not a very good player. I can do a bit of picking and strumming but not in front of anyone (I just learned from Tab and repetition, repetition, repetition). I just get the urge to play every so often and the past couple of months really missed having it around.

Where is a good place to go to get a good guitar for a novice? Should I go to a music store, or might I find a nice acoustic at a pawn shop?

[pope04]

I'd consider the Bargain Finder or the Herald's classified.

[V]

I'd do the Bargain Finder too, but I'd probably enlist the help of someone who knows a thing or two about guitars so that I don't get taken for a piece of garbage.

I know I've saved some friends some serious coin by inspecting the pianos they wanted to buy.

[Jayems]

I would reccomend Music Centre Canada. Its on 37th Street, just south of 17th SW.

The guys there are great, and they have a huge selection of acoustics.

I personally bought an old acoustic from a pawn shop when I lived in Medicine Hat. It was actually a pretty good guitar, but I got ripped off by about $100 because I didn't really know much.

My GF bought me a new Ibanez acoustic w/ pick-ups and an acoustic amp (yes, there is a difference).

That was about $400-$500, so while it may not be the most expensive thing out there, it sounds great. That is also considerably more than you could expect to spend also, and you can get some great deals out there, and most music stores will have used acoustics. When buying used, you will want to make sure that the frets are still ok, and the only way I can describe it would be sometimes when you play a specific note/chord, the fret will be bent and the fret and string will make almost no noise, and will sound really noticibly off. Even my new guitar has this, its fixable, but since I don't solo, and the problem is in the 12+ fret range, it doesn't really bother me.

As per playing, I've been playing since I was in about grade 5, and got my first guitar, a fender, and still have it.. all self taught.

What got me for acoustic was country music. I absolutely love playing along on my computer with country music. I play for about 30-60 minutes a day, sometimes more. What I found, was heavy metal and rock and roll was some times too hard for me to follow back then, as I couldn't play all the complex chord progressions or riffs. With country rythem, you can learn a lot of new chords that you may not have known about, but it also teaches you what chords sound good when played together etc.

Buy a capo. Great fun, and sounds cool to switch it up. A lot of country songs use capo's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capo

Other than that, practice practice practice. You'll never get better if you don't play almost every day, but on the same page, you have to enjoy it. I've bought 3 harmonicas, but never had the drive to learn. I just blow into it, then get fed up that I can't do it, and quit. I'm really glad I never did with guitar.

Don't be afraid to explain to the guys/gals working that you may not be the most experienced, so ask them to explain what would be in your best interest. I find most musicians (as most who work there are) will not try to screw you over just to make the store a few more bucks.

There is nothing better than taking your old acoustic out camping and having a campfire jam at 2 am with beer and chicks... man, its something else...

Anyway, I'm rambling... excuse the possible terrible spelling, but I hope that helps a little, any other questions just ask, I'm no pro, but have been playing for a while, so if I can help, just ask.

Cheers,

James.

Edit: After re-reading your post, I see you didn't actually ask anything about playing, so i misread that... but i'll leave it up incase it helps you or someone else.

[Hack&Lube]

The best service I've had at a guitar store in Calgary was at Axe Music.
http://www.axemusic.com/

The staff are fantastic, many of them stayed way past their shifts to help me out with guitars, do free work on my guitars, or just chat and be friendly.

The online webstore there is probably also the best online guitar catalog in Alberta but they have more brands in store like Fender guitars that aren't listed on their website for some reason. Great acoustic guitar room that you can just sit in and play, beats out the little jail cells that Guitar Works (pushy used car salesmen for guitars) has or the dinky room that Long & Mcquade (horrible customer service) has.

They are up at Blackfoot Trail.

And Jayems, thanks for the guitar tips. I'm also self-taught but I started at 21 and therefore I'm not very good and I think I've hit a wall with progressing any further. I don't know quite what to do at this point.

[Bobblehead]

I got interested in university. I guess that happens when so many other people in residence played and made it look so easy.

I'm happy just strumming away, but I hadn't played much at all in the last few years. Not having a guitar for a while really showed me how much I missed it.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Jayems

There is nothing better than taking your old acoustic out camping and having a campfire jam at 2 am with beer and chicks... man, its something else...

Try that at 2:00 a.m. where I am camping and your guitar will become fire wood.

[fanforever1986]

Guitarworks just charged me $100/hr labour to fix the pick up on my acoustic. Probably took them 20 minutes and they charged me an hour of labour.

Please don't go to guitarworks.


Oh and $100/hr??? Are they lawyers or repairmen?

[Flames0910]

Music Centre Canada for sure. Great service and great selection.

[Igottago]

If you plan on buying used, just be careful you don't pick one up that has a warped neck or anything. I know a couple of people who've made that mistake.

There are great canadian made acoustics you can buy brand new from $400-500 range. Simon & Patricks are pretty nice. I would say get something like that, Long and Mcquade has a good selection with a knowledgable staff.

[Torture]

I would reccomend Music Centre Canada. Its on 37th Street, just south of 17th SW.

The guys there are great, and they have a huge selection of acoustics.

I second that...Music Centre Canada is easily the best place to go...great service, great selection. I bought both of my guitars there and loved the shopping, and love the guitars (A Classical and an Electric)

I got interested in university. I guess that happens when so many other people in residence played and made it look so easy.

Haha, I'm one of those who gets others interested in guitar in residence

[guzzy]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I need a new guitar. Mine was stolen in a break-in quite a while ago and now I have the extra $ to be able to replace it.

I'm not a very good player. I can do a bit of picking and strumming but not in front of anyone (I just learned from Tab and repetition, repetition, repetition). I just get the urge to play every so often and the past couple of months really missed having it around.

Where is a good place to go to get a good guitar for a novice? Should I go to a music store, or might I find a nice acoustic at a pawn shop?

Seriously consider buying an Art & Lutherie or Simon & Patrick. You can buy a great guitar for $400. I guarantee you won't find a better sounding guitar than these (for a $400 guitar). It is a Canadian company and the quality is amazing. It sounds like most guitars worth twice as much. Try Guitarworks. I can't believe I just said that as I have long been a Long & McQuade guy but the selection of A & L and S & P guitars, especially at the 16th ave location is amazing.

[kermitology]

I have to say that MCC and Guitarworks are the lowest on my list of places to buy. I'd go to Long and McQuade or Axe first for sure. Long and McQuade usually has a good selection of QUALITY guitars.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I have to say that MCC and Guitarworks are the lowest on my list of places to buy. I'd go to Long and McQuade or Axe first for sure. Long and McQuade usually has a good selection of QUALITY guitars.

I second the Long and McQuade recommendation...I've bought a lot of gear (live sound gear, amps, basses) from them and they've always been helpful (minus one employee). They offer a lot more higher end gear I find than other places I've looked around in the city.

[kermitology]

Yeah I've bought amps, guitars, pedals and rented a lot from L&M and I love them.

[Sparks]

I'd go with Long & McQuade. Great staff, selection, etc. I had them do some simple work on one of my guitars and they did a fantastic job - good price, too. It's a bit of a drive from my place, but I find the trip is worth it.

I've always thought (rightly or wrongly) that Music Centre Canada was a bit overpriced, but I can't say enough about their staff.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by fanforever1986

Guitarworks just charged me $100/hr labour to fix the pick up on my acoustic. Probably took them 20 minutes and they charged me an hour of labour.

Please don't go to guitarworks.


Oh and $100/hr??? Are they lawyers or repairmen?

Axe Music always does that for me free if I bought the guitar there. The guy even replaced my bridge for free.

At first the problem might have been a neck warp and so they informed me that if they had the entire guitar brought into the shop...taken apart, refinished, and redone for a complete overhaul...it would be a $25 one time fee.

Seriously, Guitar Works is the shoddy used car salesman of guitars. Never buy anything from there. I feel sorry for all the kids that they have ripped off on "beginner" guitars which are more expensive than they should be with crap they don't need pushed onto them with the kind of slick "I can throw in a humidifier and case for $$$$$" BS they give people.

Truely, worst Guitar store ever.

I have a friend who works AT Long & Mcquade and I still get poor service and the place just doens't feel friendly to me...plus they charge $50 for a guitar setup. Axe said they'd do it for free. I say Axe Music definetely. They went out of their way to help me many times, including when I needed to ship a guitar to Hong Kong I asked them for a box and they had no problem finding me one for free.

The kind of service I got at Axe convinced me that I should go there for anything I needed. Plus it's less crowded and cramped like L&M often gets (which probably is the cause of the bad service). I also like being able to browse the catalogue online with free shipping to Alberta (I would go in store to try though, before ordering)...and again, you can find S&P acoustics and fender electrics in the store which are not actually on the website for some reason.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by troutman

Try that at 2:00 a.m. where I am camping and your guitar will become fire wood.

I'd hate to see you get out of the motor home

[Torture]

I've always thought (rightly or wrongly) that Music Centre Canada was a bit overpriced, but I can't say enough about their staff.

Maybe...but you usually don't end up paying the price on the sticker if you get a good guitar
My classical guitar..the sticker said 1500, i paid 1000
My electric guitar...2000+, i paid 1500 for guitar and amp
And some freebies like strings and they'll always throw in a free case

[Bobblehead]

Excellent advice everyone. I'll be going out in the next few weeks to check them out.