How soon did you “outgrow (Page 1 of 2)

I've been playing my begginer guitar for over 10 years now and i choose to play it over some of my other guitars that i paid alot more for. Some begginer guitars are just too hard to lay down after you get use to playing it for a while. A word of advise is to be sure your next guitar plays as good as your begginer  or better and not bought just because it looks better and costs more. Another thing is you can always upgrade to a better guitar and still be learning and possibly make it easier on yourself.

Hey nevets17!

Good question.

I had my Tatra classical as my only guitar until I was 18 or 19. What was it like? When I started having lessons at Music College (aged 10/11) there was always a naff spare guitar in the cupboard that anyone could play. Once I discovered this I started leaving my guitar at home.

Aside from doing all my classical lessons and grades with it I went on to teach myself Rock and Pop beginning with the AC/DC Back In Black songbook - Barre Chord City!!! This guitar is probably why I inwardly smile at comments about the struggle to master F and Bb Barres - the strings were half a days hike from the neck!!!.

The thing here is that if you can make a dog of a guitar sound musical, anything else is easier.

I always set a goal for when I get better than I am right now(it's all relative) and I am playing most every day, then when I reach that goal, I buy a better guitar.  I have to retain the interest and excitement of playing before I decide to do it.  If I don't get any better, there is really no use in upgrading.  This theory keeps me going because I am always excited about a new guitar.  Works for me.

I'll let you know when it happens.

- Zurf

Started on a decent washburn electric. Learned my chords on it and got comfortable playing. This was February '09. Bought a decent Fender dreadnaught acoustic (dg-11) at a pawnshop about three months ago (May). I've played it till my fingers hurt every day. I am now about to buy this amazingly beautiful sounding Takime Cedar top concert size acoustic. It plays so easy compared to the dreadnaught and is smaller so easier to get your arm around, not as tiring. The Fender cost $100 even and the Takime is going to run me $300 ish. I've been taking lessons the entire time also which has helped me progress for sure. The Takime won't make me a better player, but will address the constant buzzing of the Dreadnaught. I'll keep it though for loud outside playing/campfire etc as theoretically Dreadnaughts are inherently louder than concert size. Hope this helps. - Shane

I'm not much of a fan of extra lights on acoustics, but if it sounds good to you that's the thing the matters.  Recommended or not - eh.  Recommendations are often marketing gimmicks.  I don't pay much attention when a manufacturer recommends a particular brand of strings.  Size of strings is a matter of setting up the guitar properly, which hopefuly your local shop did. 

You need to learn to change your own strings.  I do mine about every three weeks or so, and taking it to the shop every time would have me going broke faster than I already am. 

- Zurf

I would use lights rather than extra lights. 

I don't like extra lights because I don't think they've got enough "oomph" and sound kind of tinny.  If you like light, fast strumming, then they'd probably be just the thing.  I beat on my guitars pretty hard.  I like the sound of mediums, but not how tough they are to do proper hammer-ons and such.  So I compromise between extra-lights and mediums with lights. 

I usually use D'Addario phospher bronze lights, but I also like the silk and steel, and the nickle if I want something really really bright (which I usually don't). 

That's all stuff that should NOT be taken as gospel.  When compared to other expenses with guitar, strings are pretty cheap.  Plus they're expendable because they collect oils from your fingers and dull in sound pretty quickly if you play a good bit.  Given that they're not meant to last and that they're pretty cheap anyway, I'm a big believer in trying different brands, sizes, materials and such until you get a sound you like.  You might like D'Addorio phospher bronze lights on one guitar, Ernie Ball medium nickles on another guitar, and Martin silk and steel ultralights on yet another.  It's all what YOU like.  And the only way for you to find out what you like is to try different strings. 

- Zurf

Before beginning my journey I received what I believe to be excellent advice. Don't buy a beginner guitar. I paraphrase: like RC aircraft, telescopes, etc. the entry-level stuff will generally leave you frustrated and likely turn you away from your new venture. I walked past the entry-level instruments and purchased a used guitar with one key feature, a solid top (Spruce or Cedar). This feature alone will eliminate many, if not all, entry-level instruments but it will not necessarily empty your wallet especially if you look at used equipment. Now I'm sure there are laminates out there which are fine but this advice potentially kept me from making a mistake.

i started on my "beginner" in june and after 6 weeks realized i wasn't gonna get far with it.  it's a bridgecraft and the action is so high it's painful to play.  playing on it for a couples hours a day for just 6 weeks though was enough practice to learn about 4 songs, though they didn't sound too great on that beast.  anyway i went into guitar center and picked up a yamaha apx500 and discovered that i actually sounded great and could play those few songs much better on a quality guitar.  now the yamaha is my main guitar and i can play about 10 songs well enough that people can recognize them, after 2 months of playing that's good enough for me!  i don't know a thing about johnson guitars but if they are anything like bridgecraft you should at least start looking and playing around on a few until you decide what it is you're looking for next.

Yes, upyerkilt, I have been known to use the one "I just play enough to amuse myself."

Haha...

Humbling...isn't it? This happens to me on a regular weekly basis.
I'm learning to just keep my mouth shut when people mention guitars...lol.

=p
Dm