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If you’re looking for the best guitar and amplifier for your child, here’s what you should get:
That’s it.
You’re set.
If you want the details about any of these items, keep reading….
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So I have a confession.
I’ve never spent more than $200 on a guitar.
It’s not that I don’t like more expensive guitars… but I’ve just never really had the need.
So in this article we’re going to justify the use of cheap/inexpensive guitars and give some suggestions for the best inexpensive guitars.
We’ll cover both the top affordable acoustic guitars, as well as the best budget electric guitars.
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I used to be adamantly against guitar cases (as noted in my case against guitar cases here).
I still kind of am against them.
Guitar cases keep us from playing our instrument.
We shove the guitar in the case, then shove the case under the bed or in a closet and forget we own it.
This means we never practice.
This means we never play.
This means we never get better.
I think it’s even more true for kids: Having a guitar stashed away in a case makes us forget about it. Out of sight, out of mind.
And if we do remember that we need to practice, the chore of hauling the case out and unpacking the guitar often gets in the way.
I generally advise my students to use a guitar stand.
However, as someone who frequently (i.e. every day) travels with his guitars, I’ve learned the value of having a hard shell guitar case.
Obviously if you’re looking to keep your guitar intact while traveling (even if you’re just traveling down the street to your guitar lesson), you’ll need some sort of protective device.
Most people opt for soft guitar cases (or gig bags).
Gig bags are cheap, lightweight, and easy to use.
However, gig bags don’t offer much in the way of protection for your guitar.
You’re basically just stuffing your guitar into a guitar-shaped backpack.
Now, if you have a relatively inexpensive guitar maybe a gig bag is all you need.
If you’re going with a gig bag, I’d probably go with the Hola! Deluxe Padded Acoustic and Classical Guitar Gig Bag. It fits most acoustic guitars, and it’s reinforced (not just like a padded bag).
If you’re going to do any sort of serious travel, you’re going to need a guitar case… and a hard shelled one at that.
Let me tell you a story.
I give guitar lessons to my students in their homes.
This means on any given day, I’m going to anywhere between three and five different houses.
I’m hauling my guitar in and out of the car.
I don’t mind.
I used to use a gig bag to carry my guitar.
Until one day…
I grabbed the gig bag (with my guitar in it).
Threw the strap over my shoulder…. and the zipper gave way.
My guitar fell onto the street.
Now my guitar has a nice dent in the body.
It still plays ok (I was lucky).
But after that, I’ve only used a hard case for my acoustic guitar.
It’s simply not worth the risk.
If you’re in the market for a guitar case, here’s what to look for:
Durability. You want something that will (above everything else) stand up to abuse.
The Gator Cases Deluxe ABS Plastic Acoustic Dreadnought Guitar Case is my top choice.
It has a heavy duty aluminum valance, bolted-through handle (which will be nearly impossible to pull off), and five hinges.
In all honesty – the extra hinges are what sold this case for me. I’ve had nylon hinges break on other guitar cases (most only have three or four).
Versatility. If your guitar came with a hard case it’s possible that it will only fit the guitar that it came with. For most people that’s ok.
For me – it’s not.
I need a guitar case that can fit different guitars. The Gator Case fits the dreadnaught guitars that I own (as well as some of the cut aways).
Lightweight. The Gator Case is not the lightest hard shelled guitar case that I looked at, but it’s not the heaviest either. It clocks in at 8.7 lbs.
If you’re looking for something lighter (but still durable), Gearlux makes a guitar case that weighs 8 lbs.
I couldn’t find anything lighter that I felt was durable enough.
Cost. The Gator Case is about average when it comes to cost. You can definitely get cheaper guitar cases, though I think that you sacrifice quality and durability.
Other features. Some guitar cases will include accessory compartments and/or locking buckles.
The Gator case includes both of these… though I don’t really use them that often (if ever).
Guitar cases can cost anywhere between $15 for a cheap gig bag and $1500 for a handcrafted case.
I’d suggest staying within the $100 range.
However, consider the cost/value of your guitar.
You probably don’t need to break the bank on a guitar case that’s worth more than your actual guitar.
On the other hand – I have very cheap guitars that I love with all my heart (and I have no problem housing them in a case that costs more than they’re worth).
For the most part, when shopping for a guitar case – you get what you pay for.
The parts of the guitar case that tend to break most frequently are the parts that get the most use.
The parts that break on gig bags:
Pay close attention to the stitching. Some areas are glued rather than stitched – these will come apart and break. You’ve been warned.
The parts that break on hard cases:
Again, make sure all of the hardware is in good shape.
As I mentioned above, my pick for the best hard shelled guitar case is the Gator Cases Deluxe ABS Plastic Acoustic Dreadnought Guitar Case.
The extra straps/hinges make it worth it for me.
It’s not super heavy, yet it’s extremely durable.
I would trust this case for long term and/or frequent travel.
My only disclaimer: Make sure you measure your guitar correctly before purchasing a case (and check the retailer’s return policy in the event that your guitar doesn’t fit.
I’ve had instances where I forgot to account for the button at the base of the body of my guitar. Just that little piece prevented my guitar from fitting in some cases.
That’s it! Let me know what you think – or if you have any other suggestions – just leave a comment below!
(Jake Posko does Online Guitar Lessons and Coaching as well as in-home lessons in the Annapolis, Maryland area including: Annapolis, Edgewater, Severna Park, Pasadena, Crownsville, Arnold and Kent Island, inquire about lessons by e-mailing him at jake@jakeposko.com).
(Photo Credit: David Poe)
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The second most popular question I get asked as a guitar teacher is: “How often should I change my guitar strings?”
(Note: The MOST popular question I get asked is: “How long does it take to learn to play the guitar?“)
So how often should you replace the strings on your guitar? I usually recommend once a month, or as needed.
If you have strings like this, they’ll probably last a little longer.
If you’re not sure if you should change your guitar strings, here are some of the most common questions about replacing them:
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I usually do reviews of multiple products: This Guitar A vs Guitar B. Or here are the top 10 amps.
I’m not doing that anymore.
I’ve found the best amp for about $500.
If you’re a working musician, you can appreciate Peavey Bandit 112 TransTube Amplifier.
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So you want to buy a used acoustic guitar? Awesome!
Used instruments are an awesome way to save money on great instruments, or even just start playing guitar on the cheap.
I personally have taken advantage of the used guitar market… Case in point:
If you’re looking for a cheap guitar, you may first want to consider these online options. You can get some pretty decent acoustic guitars for $100 or less. My favorite is probably the Jasmine cutaway.
If you’re willing to do some work – you can probably get an even better deal on a used guitar.
It’s actually not that difficult. Here’s how…
You need to be informed if you’re going to buy a used guitar.
Decide what you want.
Determine your budget and (roughly) what kind of guitar you want purchase. In other words, don’t go in totally blind.
If you’re in the market for a guitar, decide what kind of guitar you want (and how much you’re willing to spend).
Once you have an idea, do some online research (Amazon) or in-person (local music store).
For example: Let’s say you’re looking for a beginner acoustic guitar and you’re not interested in spending more than $150. After a little research you land on something like this Fender FA-100.
Currently, the FA-100 is running about $120. Awesome, it already fits our budget, we could just buy it now.
But we may be able to do a little better.
Time to….
Search Craigslist.
A quick search on my local craigslist for “Fender acoustic” yields a good amount of results. I settle on a Fender GDC 100 SCE.
It looks like this:
They’re listing it as used (with a few nicks/bumps). This guitar also has a pickup installed (so I can plug it in if I want). Their asking price: $150.
Ok… so it’s at the top of my price range (ok).
It has a few nicks/bumps and is used (meh).
It has a pickup installed (nice!).
So should I get it… not yet. First I need to….
Do more research.
I do a google search for “Fender GDC 100 SCE”. I find a few other sellers asking $200 to buy it used online. I find original listing price to be around $299.
If I can get this guitar for $150 or less, I’d be happy.
Next I reach out to the seller and make an offer at $120.
I always ask for a lower price than what is listed (even if they say the price is firm). The worst thing that will happen is that they say no…. what have you got to lose?
It takes a few hours, but I hear back and the seller counters my offer with $140. Find with me.
We’ve settled on a price.
We decide on a time and place to meet.
Since it has a pickup in it I bring a small amp and cable to test out the pickup.
We meet up, I try it out, pickup works, guitar looks ok. The action seems a little high, but I’m pretty sure that this can be easily fixed by taking it to the guitar store and having the tech set it up.
So now I have a new guitar!
Super easy. Low stress.
Heres a recap of what you need to do:
You can walk away any time.
If you have doubts, walk away.
If it’s too expensive, walk away.
There are other guitars out there.
Speaking of other guitars… if you’re in the market for something that is more niche or unique, but if you’re not that knowledgeable, here are somethings you can do:
After you buy a guitar, you probably want to clean it up and change the strings. I usually taken mine to the music store to have a guitar tech set it up.
That’s it. If you have any tips, please share them below!
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(Note: If you just want the recommendations, scroll to the bottom of the page)
I often get asked: “What is the best way to teach yourself guitar?” or “How can you learn how to play the guitar by yourself?”
They are good questions, but I usually stay away from answering these questions because the answers are so specific depending on each individual’s goals. There are a lot of factors to consider: electric guitar vs. acoustic guitar; what kind of music do you want to learn, how much time can you devote to practice, etc.
Obviously, having a private teacher will give you a leg up on any of the services listed below…. but not everyone has the time or budget for private guitar lessons.
On the other hand, YouTube is an awesome source of free lessons… but there are a lot of gaps, it’s hard to know what is quality, and it can be frustrating and time consuming to search for specific guitar lessons or tutorials (and that’s assuming you actually know what you’re looking for).
To make things harder, even just Googling something like: “beginner guitar lessons” is incredibly overwhelming. You have ads for guitar-related services, random youtube videos, and a few guitar-related websites… it’s hard to tell what’s good and what’s just spammy crap.
So without any kind of teacher, this is how to teach yourself guitar…
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Whenever I give beginner guitar lessons I usually let the student decide what we’re going to learn. It’s usually more fun when they pick their own songs.
However, sometimes they struggle to come up with a song to learn, or they’ll ask me “what’s the best beginner guitar song” or “what is an easy song to learn on the guitar.”
I don’t really like answering these questions because most often: The song you know (and like) is the best song to learn.
But I understand that it can be tough to chose and (in all honesty) some songs just don’t translate that well to guitar… especially for beginners.
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If you or your kids are planning on taking any sort of private music lessons, you should probably consider the following before you make any sort of commitment.
Here are a few things that I’d suggest considering before selecting a music teacher….
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Am I too old to play the guitar?
Should adults even bother to learn to play the guitar?
About half of my students are adults, and the majority of the subscribers to my email list and participants in my online guitar courses are adults.
None of them are too old to play the guitar. And I’m extremely happy they decided to pick up the guitar and start to learn (even as a grown up).
That doesn’t mean that there aren’t a special set of challenges that adults face.
There are tons of reasons why it can be difficult to learn the guitar, but for adults, two reasons stand out:
