How to choose acoustic guitar - Everything you need to know is here!

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How To Choose Acoustic Guitar - Everything you need to know

I created this lens because I want to help everyone who is looking to buy a new guitar, doesn't matter if he is a beginner or an advanced player. I tried to point out only the main aspects and criteria which you should rely on when making the decision, and not divert from the topic too much.

From the type of strings to what top you should choose for your guitar, everything is explained here.

Steel String Guitar or Nylon (Classical) Guitar?

Which one is better for you?

Steel strings guitars are more popular and louder. They make up about 90% of the guitar population. They produce a brighter tone than nylon strings and have smaller necks. These guitars are designed ideally for finger picking and strumming.

Nylon string (or classical) guitars account for only about 10% of guitar made. They produce a softer, warmer tone than steel strings. These guitars are designed for playing more individual note and softer classical pieces. Although they are easier to play and softer to the touch, a draw-back is that they have larger necks and further spacing between the strings.

Choosing your top!

Solid or Laminated?

Choosing what kind of top is after all a matter of tone, price and preference. It is important to know the difference so you aren't disappointed when your guitar arrives.

Solid Tops are higher end guitars. They sound better with age and since the top is what resonates the sound, they generally produce a fuller, thicker tone. About the price, they are a little expensive: Solid Top Guitars can be found starting at $195. Also available are solid backs and solid sides.

Laminated Tops are generally used by entry level guitar beginners, and they are more suitable for beginners and casual guitar players. They are lower in cost, more durable, and more forgiving to the elements, that's why these are excellent to take with you in road trips or to play around most campfires and parties.

What kind of wood?

Which sounds better, and which is more durable?

The type of wood from which the acoustic guitar is made from influences the kind of sound it produces. There are many types of wood a guitar can be made from, and here are the most popular:

  • Spruce:
    This is the most common top. It produces a very balanced cool tone

  • Cedar:
    This type of wood is one of the most popular with classical guitars. It produces a very warm, mellow woodsy type of sound

  • Maple:
    Maple is a bit more expensive type of wood. Because it is very hard, it produces a very bright, crisp sound


Other types of wood are:Mahogany, Koa, Bubinga, Sitka, Rosewood, but these can be very expensive, so me, personally, I wouldn't pay too much money for a guitar I'm only gonna play at home.

The strings!

A couple of things you should know about!

Something to be careful when buying a guitar are the strings. They can be made out of nylon, brass, steel, or a combination. Nylon strings are usually only found on Classical guitars and Student guitars, because they're easier on the fingertips. They have a rich, warm sound to them.

If you are a beginner, then you should check out the distance they are above the fret board, because this makes a difference to the playability of the guitar. If the strings are too far above the fret board, then they will be hard to press down, making the guitar hard to play.

This will cause your fingers to hurt so much that you are likely to put the guitar away in discouragement and possibly stop playing altogether, which I don't want to happen to you. Learning to play guitar is a great thing, I just love my guitar, and love playing it.

String choices are purely personal taste. You can choose a guitar with "Heavy" Strings - these are usually quite thick in size and sound "beefy". If you buy a guitar with Strings that are light, or extra light, you will have very thin strings, and these kind of strings can usually have a brighter sound to them, but are also quieter sounding than heavy strings.

Buying new or used Guitar?

what are the advantages and disadvantages?

When coming to buy a guitar, in general, you get what you pay for, especially when you buy new. But be careful, there's a difference between getting a bargain and buying cheap.

But whether you buy new or used may be determined by many personal factors, and each has their own pros and cons.

Buying new, gives you a warranty and, hopefully, a return period, if for some reason you're not totally satisfied with your purchase, or something goes wrong.

Under "normal" circumstances, a used guitar can usually be purchased cheaper and has already gone through its "break-in" period.

Cheap, used guitar can be found very easy online, on Ebay or Amazon, but, please, be careful when buying from some guy on the internet, Always check his reviews, if he/she is trustworthy so you won't get scammed.

Also very important when purchasing a guitar online: it is a good idea to also buy a hard-shell case. This will help prevent damaging the guitar.

WARNING! It is not uncommon for manufacturers to produce an entry-level guitar that purports to have been made of exotic wood when it is actually made from plywood with a laminate top. Consult the retailer to ensure that the guitar you plan to purchase is authentic.

In conclusion!

A last recommendation

Even after you read all this information (which I hope was useful), when it comes to make a decision it all depends on how the guitar feels and performs, How does it make you feel when you first handle the instrument? How does it sound? How is the playability? At the end of the day this trumps all other criteria

Now that you have bought your guitar, it's time to get down to business and start playing it. If you don't know how to play guitar, then I recommend from all my heart a "Learn Guitar Software" to help you learn the basics, and turn you from a beginner to an expert player in no time!

The best "Learn To Play Guitar Software" I recommend is Jamorama: Acoustic Guitar. They have some very cool and easy to follow lessons, and it's a real pleasure to learn with it.

Check Out The Official Site Here!

The price is very reasonable, it's only 39,95$, but if you do think it is a little too much for you, don't worry. They have a Full 60 Days Money Back Guarantee Policy, so if you don;t like the program, you can just ask them for a refund, no question asked.

You Can Order Jamorama:Acoustic Guitar Here!

or, better, you can visit UltimaReviews.com site for a complete review of the most popular "Learn Guitar Courses" available. Jamorama is also included in their reviews, so go check it out!

Click Here to Acces UltimaReviews.com website!

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