Hi Andy! This is Steve in Phoenix. I watch your videos between lessons but this is the first time I've commented on one. To any viewers out there who don't know Andy, listen to him. He is the real deal when it comes to playing guitar and singing for the pure enjoyment of it. I watched many of Andy's videos about guitars, guitar history, playing technique, posture, singing... the list just goes on and on. Andy's channel is a goldmine of knowledge for the aspiring singer/guitar player. Following Andy's advice I discovered a forty-four year old Japanese Dreadnaught hanging on the wall at a local shop. I wasn't looking for a guitar like it but by keeping an open mind and playing it, the guitar found me. It's a bit of a beater and made of all laminated wood (not a bad thing in the painfully dry Desert Southwest US) but the body and especially the neck size and shape just feel right. The shop owner set it up for me with relatively light 11 gauge strings and got the action adjusted so that it plays a lot like an electric guitar. Before I found my Dreadnaught I had a smaller bodied Parlor guitar that I also liked. Unfortunately it developed a lifting bridge and I was able to return it under warranty. Buyer beware. As Andy advises, play a variety of guitars first hand and eventually you'll find one that speaks to you. You probably don't need electronics or a cutaway and buying something smaller than a Dreadnaught for your first acoustic is also good advice. That said, when you find the right guitar for you you'll know it. You just have to practice and play a bit to learn what works for you. Great video Andy! Keep ‘em coming and I'll see you online. Cheers!
YAMAHA acoustic guitars A good place to start your journey Great value from around 2to300 US$ new Very durable from my experience Many used models available Thanks Andy ✌🏼
From u.k. Good shout, bought, sold, given away! Guitars for decades! Entry level and high end! YAMAHA. Great instruments! Having had at one point more than enough acoustic guitars in my possession. My advice would be get a Yamaha and just keep it! Don’t bother with the rest! If you must go up a notch or two, but the entry level is fine! fantastic build quality, I know people who have the Same Yamaha for decades!
@@SillyMoustache Agreed! Yamaha has all those! Price is paramount with a lot of people! As you well know, get a guitar with high action as your first instrument!🤬 And it’s in the corner, gathering dust! The YAMS HAVE IT! build quality, and price! Just my opinion. Take care.
I love your story about music, I love your acoustic guitar playing style , I love your tutorial inspirational method. Absolutely fantastic my friend. Your great!! Thank you for sharing. All the best to you. I've subscribed to support your lovely channel.
Hello Andy, very good advice. I wish that I would have known these things before I bought my round shoulder dreadnought. I love it but you’re right - it’s tough to get comfortable with it while I’m sitting. Maybe I’ll trade it! Thank you for your information, thoughts and time. Be well. Bob from Chicago.
@@SillyMoustache Hello Andy, thank you for your reply. No, I’m sorry. It’s a 4 year old Taylor 14 feet. I’m thinking of getting a 12 feet 00 Taylor- they call it a Grand Concert. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Be well.
I recently purchased a Sigma and am surprised at just how good it is. They mirror the Martin range of course but the sound is very good (it is from the all solid range), finish is brill. Whether it has the longevity of a Martin only time will tell but so far can't fault it.
@@SillyMoustache Hi Andy, the model I was referring to is their SDM 18S. It says it is all solid woods mahogany back and sides grade three spruce top ebony fingerboard slotted head stock, 12 fret to body. I bought it direct off the Internet from Richtone music headline price £879 with a £200 reduction because they had had it kicking around for a while. Its a keeper and is now my go to guitar especially for singing with. Defo wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
I have gotten more than a few people started, including grandchildren. I was given a dreadnoght, so that is what I used. Guitar size is one thing. A beginner needs an easy to play neck and guitar. The question doesn't indicate where the person lives. Hopefully, they have a knowledgeable local guitar store. I had one 74-year-old young lady who had the right size guitar but a poor setup on a new guitar. The neck was not comfortable. I brought over a few guitars for her today try. It didn't take long to figure it out. Why it wasn't done at the shop originally is a mystery to me. Then again, I've sold people on guitars while in a music store... especially sad because the guitar I was considering is what they purchased. My grandchildren taught me a number of issues I never thought of. They continue to play. Oldest Grandson attends university and asked for a camping guitar. He got my camp guitar that sounded great. Both Taylor and Eastman make good starting guitars. I would add that the guitar has to look good to the beginner so that they pick it up often. My grandson liked the looks of my J45, abd my camp guitar was a Guild with a similar burst but fewer dollars with a much more rugged build. Just a few more thoughts for your viewers. Thanks, Andy.
That Eastman looks lovely. I fancy a parlour just for sitting on the sofa noodling, but can't really justify it. Nice to dream about new guitars though!
The yamaha FS 800 range are great beginner guitars. I have the 820 and play it daily despite having more expensive all solid guitars. Amazing value for around 300 quid.
Great advice from Silly Moustache, stick to full scale length and not 3/4, look for an 000 body size or so they go and 12 frets. Any modern western guitars, dreads with 14 frets put learners off quickly, well when I was learning they are just too much in size wise (and don't sound that great, 12 frets make a guitar sing, you can research that) - I guess it all depends on you though. Good luck! QQ. (The EN-30c Japan made Takamine or the Takamine Tan-30c would make a great learning guitar with its small body and wide nut width, it does have 14 frets though.)
Points you will learn from experience.The name on the headstock does not always indicate the quality of the guitar.Gibson for example spend the largest percentage of their annual budget on marketing/advertising etc not on building the best guitars they can...true for all the "top" brands.The sound of the guitar is a personal preference,not a hard fact...like food,music,art etc.The more expensive manufacturers "voice" the guitars..so generally,Taylor guitars will be "brighter",Martin,s will tend to be more "earthy".So until you have found your favoured sound..as long as the guitar is comfortable in terms of action,body size etc its a good guitar. Well known bands like Oasis for example achieved fame and fortune playing Epiphone guitars....now you will rarely see the guitarist without a Gibson!.Eva Cassidy played what she could afford and physically handle..the list goes on
Great stuff, Andy. Singing not practical for a drummer - tell that to Karen! Anyhow, you and I are about the same age, and The first thing I would say to thatpeterboy is that budget guitars are in a different world from those of the 1970s. My first guitar (no name) cost £7.00 (which is about £100 today) and you could have thrown a dog between the strings and the fingerboard! £100 will just about get you a playable guitar today. Add another £25 and it will be playable for sure. I've been playing dreads most of my playing life and I don't agree with your comment about them. It depends on the person, which is where your next piece of advice comes in. Play, listen to, sit with as many guitars as you can and see what feels right to you - for me, it's always been dreads and jumbos, even though I'm small and skinny! Finally, your best, best piece of advice - spend as much as you can afford. If you don't end up playing you can always sell it on and regard the loss you make as a rental fee. A good guitar is a joy, even a budget one; a poor guitar is a nightmare. For an intermediate, Yamaha and Epiphone both make fantastic all sold wood guitars at around £800, but by the time you can play a bit, you should be looking into the 2nd hand market, where that sum could be half. Looking forwrd to more Q&A from you. I don't always agree, but I can rely on you to know what you're talking about and express it with kindness and charm.
Hi again, firstly Karen was a one-off an enormous talent with other great talents around her! I was just another west London boy with far less equipment, ability,and opportunity- although I did try singing and playing with a mic stand between my legs! My first guitar cost £16 , second, £32, then a Harmony for £64.then a whole load of bad stuff until found "my Martin" in '75 - a d35 that I played for 21 years. It isn't for me to tell my clients which brand to buy - that is a personal decision esp as they are mostly in the USA with different options. Anyway, thanks for your input. Regards, ol' Andy
Thank you so much for answering my questions Andy. Very helpful indeed and confirms my thoughts exactly.
Thanks for your question !
Hi Andy! This is Steve in Phoenix. I watch your videos between lessons but this is the first time I've commented on one.
To any viewers out there who don't know Andy, listen to him. He is the real deal when it comes to playing guitar and singing for the pure enjoyment of it.
I watched many of Andy's videos about guitars, guitar history, playing technique, posture, singing... the list just goes on and on. Andy's channel is a goldmine of knowledge for the aspiring singer/guitar player.
Following Andy's advice I discovered a forty-four year old Japanese Dreadnaught hanging on the wall at a local shop. I wasn't looking for a guitar like it but by keeping an open mind and playing it, the guitar found me. It's a bit of a beater and made of all laminated wood (not a bad thing in the painfully dry Desert Southwest US) but the body and especially the neck size and shape just feel right. The shop owner set it up for me with relatively light 11 gauge strings and got the action adjusted so that it plays a lot like an electric guitar.
Before I found my Dreadnaught I had a smaller bodied Parlor guitar that I also liked. Unfortunately it developed a lifting bridge and I was able to return it under warranty. Buyer beware.
As Andy advises, play a variety of guitars first hand and eventually you'll find one that speaks to you. You probably don't need electronics or a cutaway and buying something smaller than a Dreadnaught for your first acoustic is also good advice. That said, when you find the right guitar for you you'll know it. You just have to practice and play a bit to learn what works for you.
Great video Andy! Keep ‘em coming and I'll see you online.
Cheers!
Hi Steve, I'm embarrassed - thanks for your kind comments.
YAMAHA acoustic guitars
A good place to start your journey
Great value from around 2to300 US$ new
Very durable from my experience
Many used models available
Thanks Andy ✌🏼
Thanks for sharing!
From u.k.
Good shout, bought, sold, given away!
Guitars for decades!
Entry level and high end!
YAMAHA.
Great instruments!
Having had at one point more than enough acoustic
guitars in my possession.
My advice would be get a Yamaha and just keep
it!
Don’t bother with the rest!
If you must go up a notch or two, but the entry
level is fine!
fantastic build quality, I know people who have
the Same Yamaha for decades!
@@madcyril4135 Sir, thank you for your opinion it isn't about the brand, it is about the shape, size, and comfort level for the beginner.
@@SillyMoustache
Agreed!
Yamaha has all those!
Price is paramount with a lot of people!
As you well know, get a guitar with high action
as your first instrument!🤬
And it’s in the corner, gathering dust!
The YAMS HAVE IT!
build quality, and price!
Just my opinion.
Take care.
I aways recommend Yamaha, you just can’t do better for the money.
That was good straightforward advice thank you. And that’s the coolest mustache on UA-cam!
Glad you liked it! Thanks
I love your story about music, I love your acoustic guitar playing style , I love your tutorial inspirational method. Absolutely fantastic my friend. Your great!! Thank you for sharing. All the best to you. I've subscribed to support your lovely channel.
Thank you Melvin, Please have a look at some of my other videos, and comments and queries are always welcomed, read, and replied to.
Hello Andy, very good advice. I wish that I would have known these things before I bought my round shoulder dreadnought. I love it but you’re right - it’s tough to get comfortable with it while I’m sitting. Maybe I’ll trade it! Thank you for your information, thoughts and time.
Be well. Bob from Chicago.
Hi Bob,You have an Original 12 fret Dread ? Maybe we need to discuss Seated playing posture ?Andy
@@SillyMoustache Hello Andy, thank you for your reply. No, I’m sorry. It’s a 4 year old Taylor 14 feet. I’m thinking of getting a 12 feet 00 Taylor- they call it a Grand Concert. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Be well.
I recently purchased a Sigma and am surprised at just how good it is. They mirror the Martin range of course but the sound is very good (it is from the all solid range), finish is brill. Whether it has the longevity of a Martin only time will tell but so far can't fault it.
Hi Nigel, I' ve been interested to see a Sigma guitar especially the 12 fret versions but there don't seem to be any to view in the south east.
@@SillyMoustache Hi Andy, the model I was referring to is their SDM 18S. It says it is all solid woods mahogany back and sides grade three spruce top ebony fingerboard slotted head stock, 12 fret to body. I bought it direct off the Internet from Richtone music headline price £879 with a £200 reduction because they had had it kicking around for a while. Its a keeper and is now my go to guitar especially for singing with. Defo wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
I have gotten more than a few people started, including grandchildren. I was given a dreadnoght, so that is what I used. Guitar size is one thing. A beginner needs an easy to play neck and guitar. The question doesn't indicate where the person lives. Hopefully, they have a knowledgeable local guitar store. I had one 74-year-old young lady who had the right size guitar but a poor setup on a new guitar. The neck was not comfortable. I brought over a few guitars for her today try. It didn't take long to figure it out. Why it wasn't done at the shop originally is a mystery to me. Then again, I've sold people on guitars while in a music store... especially sad because the guitar I was considering is what they purchased. My grandchildren taught me a number of issues I never thought of. They continue to play. Oldest Grandson attends university and asked for a camping guitar. He got my camp guitar that sounded great. Both Taylor and Eastman make good starting guitars. I would add that the guitar has to look good to the beginner so that they pick it up often. My grandson liked the looks of my J45, abd my camp guitar was a Guild with a similar burst but fewer dollars with a much more rugged build. Just a few more thoughts for your viewers. Thanks, Andy.
Thanks for this, Andy.
Thanks for watching
That Eastman looks lovely. I fancy a parlour just for sitting on the sofa noodling, but can't really justify it. Nice to dream about new guitars though!
You can do it! You would love one of those E10/20-Ps !
I think in hindsight it’s a good thing to know what you like and recognize that there are levels to every style.
All true, thanks for watching.
The yamaha FS 800 range are great beginner guitars. I have the 820 and play it daily despite having more expensive all solid guitars. Amazing value for around 300 quid.
Thanks for sharing! As I have no experience with these, I couldn't comment.
Great advice from Silly Moustache, stick to full scale length and not 3/4, look for an 000 body size or so they go and 12 frets. Any modern western guitars, dreads with 14 frets put learners off quickly, well when I was learning they are just too much in size wise (and don't sound that great, 12 frets make a guitar sing, you can research that) - I guess it all depends on you though. Good luck! QQ. (The EN-30c Japan made Takamine or the Takamine Tan-30c would make a great learning guitar with its small body and wide nut width, it does have 14 frets though.)
Thanks for sharing!
Sound advice my friend. George in Montana
Thanks as always, Andy
Points you will learn from experience.The name on the headstock does not always indicate the quality of the guitar.Gibson for example spend the largest percentage of their annual budget on marketing/advertising etc not on building the best guitars they can...true for all the "top" brands.The sound of the guitar is a personal preference,not a hard fact...like food,music,art etc.The more expensive manufacturers "voice" the guitars..so generally,Taylor guitars will be "brighter",Martin,s will tend to be more "earthy".So until you have found your favoured sound..as long as the guitar is comfortable in terms of action,body size etc its a good guitar.
Well known bands like Oasis for example achieved fame and fortune playing Epiphone guitars....now you will rarely see the guitarist without a Gibson!.Eva Cassidy played what she could afford and physically handle..the list goes on
Yes, good points well made.
Great stuff, Andy. Singing not practical for a drummer - tell that to Karen! Anyhow, you and I are about the same age, and The first thing I would say to thatpeterboy is that budget guitars are in a different world from those of the 1970s. My first guitar (no name) cost £7.00 (which is about £100 today) and you could have thrown a dog between the strings and the fingerboard! £100 will just about get you a playable guitar today. Add another £25 and it will be playable for sure. I've been playing dreads most of my playing life and I don't agree with your comment about them. It depends on the person, which is where your next piece of advice comes in. Play, listen to, sit with as many guitars as you can and see what feels right to you - for me, it's always been dreads and jumbos, even though I'm small and skinny! Finally, your best, best piece of advice - spend as much as you can afford. If you don't end up playing you can always sell it on and regard the loss you make as a rental fee. A good guitar is a joy, even a budget one; a poor guitar is a nightmare. For an intermediate, Yamaha and Epiphone both make fantastic all sold wood guitars at around £800, but by the time you can play a bit, you should be looking into the 2nd hand market, where that sum could be half. Looking forwrd to more Q&A from you. I don't always agree, but I can rely on you to know what you're talking about and express it with kindness and charm.
Hi again, firstly Karen was a one-off an enormous talent with other great talents around her! I was just another west London boy with far less equipment, ability,and opportunity- although I did try singing and playing with a mic stand between my legs!
My first guitar cost £16 , second, £32, then a Harmony for £64.then a whole load of bad stuff until found "my Martin" in '75 - a d35 that I played for 21 years. It isn't for me to tell my clients which brand to buy - that is a personal decision esp as they are mostly in the USA with different options. Anyway, thanks for your input. Regards, ol' Andy
Wow this guitar can talk...
If it's in the mood, yes.
@@SillyMoustache
Just like my ex wife. 😂