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On buying a new guitar…..
Before discovering tac I was beginning another dabbling period of my life. I go back many many years. I dabbled then quit then dabbled then quit. I know that sounds way too familiar to many. This time I have really committed and play every possible day as well as jumping into forums and following more and more players.This is the route I would recommend for those who have the opportunity and commitment .Get The guitar you dream of now. I did not until recently. so I had a nice little learner guitar followed by a nylon string followed by a couple of others. each was different and better than the other. But, I lost money on each trade. When I finally got the guitar I really wanted I ended up spending about $1000 more since I had lost so much money on my bad trades. Now at a rather advanced age (78) I have a beautiful Martin hd28 in sunburst. This will be my last guitar but I could have had it earlier and enjoyed even at my kind of beginner stage the sound, the feel and the love of playing earlier. So, for me, I recommend not dabbling in other guitars if you are into it. Get the one You want first and then grow into it.Ps its cheaper in the long run
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32 Replies
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Now, now. You are tempting me to part with some of my wife’s inheritance. Bad boy.
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Of course you would be doing her a favor in that she could share the joy you would get by giving the new guitar a loving home. In addition she would not have worry about how well the money was spent.
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Better yet— albert_d could tell his wife he wants to buy a boat……..
(then “fall back” to a new guitar😉).
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This is sound advice, as I went down/going down a similar road. First guitar (almost two years ago) was a slightly damaged Yamaha. Picked it up for $80. Then thought I needed something better and bought a nice Recording King RD06. Well come to find out, that one was very difficult to play even though I thought it sounded great. It just did not fit me, and I didn’t understand the subtle differences between guitars. I then picked up a nice little Big Baby Taylor. Nice little full scale guitar, but still kind of a beginner guitar. My guitar disease continued, and I then picked up a Taylor AD17 thinking I wanted a US made solid wood guitar that I could grow with. What I really wanted was the Taylor 314ce. It was just out of the price range I wanted to spend. Every time I played the AD17, no matter how awesome it is, I still thought about the 314ce. It is a bit smaller than the AD17 and fits me better, and is a bit more versatile. Well, Taylor had a Taylor Days promotion, and I just ordered a 314ce, and get a Mahogany GS Mini for $199. I could have saved so much money if I just got the one I had always wanted anyway. Now I have a Recording King RD06, and a Taylor AD17 I need to part with.
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Skyman you are so right on!
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That’s great @skyman ,you got the GS Mini for $199!! It’s a nice little guitar to have around and at a fantastic price. What do you think of the Taylor 314ce so far? I’ll have to check them out next time at the guitar store. It’s a little bigger than what I have now (Grand Concert). Just like to know how it fits.
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The GS Mini is a fun little guitar, and so much more guitar than I thought it would be. I’m blown away by this little thing. I just want to keep picking it up and playing. The 314ce is actually not in my possession yet. They actually ordered a 314ce LTD Quilted Sapele Edgeburst instead of the standard 314ce. It is $800 more, and I’m going to make the final decision on the 314’s when they both arrive. They have both models coming in. Knowing me, I’ll end up getting the more expensive one. I think I have a problem. Is there a guitars anonymous forum out there? 😆
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Hey @Skyman,Love my GS Mini. It’s just a nice guitar to pick up at any
time. Great sound for a little
guitar. As for the 314 standard or the quilted
with edgeburst. I just pulled it up on
Google. They are both beautiful
guitars. I do have to say the one with the
edge burst is awesome. I am attaching a
video I pulled up. It this your 314 with
edgeburst your looking at? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk5OC5oHTvo
. Always remember , it’s only money. You don’t want to sit back next year and think, gee, I wish i would have bought the other. -
@Cadgirl, yes, that is the one. I can’t wait to see it.
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@Skyman, it’s awesome. I watched the video and there are so many good points with it. You are going to really love it. Like @Mrfredsporty said, get the guitar you dream of, now. Very excited to see what you pick to take home with you. Oh, does the store have a return policy? My store always gives a 45 days if I don’t fall helplessly in love with the guitar I chose. It takes a lot of pressure off your decision when you can try a guitar out for a couple of weeks. Good Luck
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That is wonderful that you can experience what life has to offer. I go to the guitar center quite often and play and observe all they have to offer. I also watch Alamo guitar on the web and dream, dream dream. I have enough guitars but it is nice to dream, accessorize, accessorize.
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I get the sentiment. But, I keep yearning for a Martin D28S Brazilian. They are not easy to find and run near $10,000. Hard to justify. 🙂
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sometimes there are some goals that remain a dream.But, darn! there is always a lottery win…..
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@David_Leo , I understand yearning for a guitar which is outside what you want to spend. But, an upgrade is a little different. When I bought my GS Mini i bought the standard because I was being practical. But I really liked the GS Mini Koa which was about $400 more. Now…. even thou I still love my GS-mini mahogany and use it a lot, I wish I would have spent the extra and got the Koa. of course, you have to stay within a budget.
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Right on, Cadgirl! What’s a budget?
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@Mrfredsporty I was thinking the same thing!! A budget?
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Tacers do have a tendency to think alike at least at times
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Wonderful analysis @Mrfredsporty , I figured this out fairly early on in my guitar journey. I only have two guitars in the guitarsenal that are not worth considerably more (today and volatile historically to say the least) than what I paid for them. One because it is a recent purchase and the other because it is a custom build made by an unknown but fantastic small bench luthier. I will acknowledge it was hard the first time I spend an uncomfortable amount of money on a guitar without knowing what would happen to its value but the 8 years of careful buying and selling has led to a collection that is more valuable than what I paid for it. I have bought broken guitars off of Craigslist and had them fixed. I have bought used/vintage from trusted reputable dealers (still had to have work done) and have bought new guitars from small bench luthiers. Guitar collecting for value is not for everyone and there is a definite learning curve on who to buy from and who to use for repair work. It is darn near a lifestyle but if you like it, totally satisfying and rewarding. All that said it is an adjunct to actual playing which can be done on any guitar the player finds pleasing to listen to and to play. One of the best guitars I had that fit this bill was a Yamaha Fg735s. You can find these used in the 200 or so dollar range.
I am chuckling hearing you say this Martin will be your last guitar. Lots can happen in 5 years especially if you keep hanging around and playing………Very happy you have found your “It” guitar,….for now, hehehe.
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Very very enlightening! Thank you so much!
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Hello, Mrfredsporty,
Congratulations on your new beautiful Martin hd28 in sunburst!
In early 2021, I was dreaming about a great sounding Martin made in the USA and thinking that I needed to wait for a few years. ‘Grateful that my husband Steve encouraged me to get my Martin 000-18 Standard sooner, rather than later! She fits me well and is comfortable to play. I’ve been enjoying playing every day and believe that I’m playing better because she’s such a fine instrument to hear, inspiring me to play as much as possible every day! I love finger picking and the sound of every note.
Enjoy your guitar journey!
Cherie 😀
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Fantastic!
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Thank you.
All smiles here, happy and grateful!
Happy guitar playing!
😀
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🎸
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@Cherie, you made a great choice. I had a Martin -18 and it was a good fit for me. I stupidly traded it in for the -28 which just was too big. I should have stayed with what I had. If it fits you, you’ll play it!
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Got that.even though I’m feeling slightly guilty for getting it. It’s a lot of money to me, as well as me not being a very good player yet. It’s a great guitar and I am into it. I forgot whether I mentioned that he has a name. Yup! “Marty D” (as in Marty D Guitar”
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@Mrfredsporty , You didn’t spend too much money on the guitar of your dreams. Who cares if you aren’t a rock yet. Your day is coming. The last Saturday of August (which is August 27th) is ‘Play Music on the Porch Day’. You better be out there. Make yourself up a collection of Tony’s licks that you like, print them up, put em in a book and get outside. Then you and Marty-D jam!
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This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Cadgirl.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by
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Oh, I like that idea. I’ll be working that morning and it will be 90 plus degrees. I’ll jam inside, but tell me more Cadgirl especially as we get closer. Thanx
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Hello, @Cadgirl Thank you for your encouragement. I’m happy that you found a guitar that you love, too! And thanks for letting us know about play guitar on the porch day. Our porch is not very big, but we do have a bench under a shady tree! My husband and I enjoy playing outside in the pretty late afternoon light. I’m putting August 27 on the calendar!
Hi, Mrfredsporty, I’m happy that you have a great guitar that inspires you that you can grow with. It’s fun to name our guitars. My Martin 000-18 is “Angel.”
Happy guitar playing everyone!
Cherie
😀
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Great response
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I’ve found this forum discussion very helpful as I continue my quest for “the guitar of my dreams”. I have found the anticipation of any new purchase as rewarding as the actual acquisition. I continue my search by saving up cash a little at a time to buy “the one” when I find that Martin or Gibson or ???? that meets or exceeds expectations. My son-in-law (formerly a professional guitarist) has many choice guitars and has pointed me to guitars he thinks worth considering (I found having him play before I buy a guitar invaluable in obtaining my past couple Taylor’s). He told me not to get hung up on brands or models but to play as many as I can yet buy a quality instrument for both enjoyment now and as investment into the future too.
I am wanting a high end one to enjoy in the present and, one day, pass on to the youngest generation in my family as “grandpa’s guitar”.
I do appreciate all the good advice from those who contributed their “dream” experiences to this forum post.
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Well maybe some day when he is not looking you could “borrow “ one of his best. Just a thought
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