[HANASHIR:6066] re: guitars

[Ethan Leigh Bueno de Mesquita <mesquita...>]

Wendy,

I'll add my two-cents about guitars (which I believe that I did to this
list a few months ago as well).  

The most important thing, in my opinion, when looking at
inexpenive/moderately priced guitars is to find one with really good
tuninig machines (Grovers are great).  There is nothing worse than a
guitar that cannot stay in tune.  

With respect to being able to plug-in I agree with the sales people that
you are better off adding an internal pickup if you are looking at
inexpensive instruments.  The amplification systems that are put in such
guitars are not too gerrat and you can get a wonderful fishman pickup with
an endpin jack installed for (as I recall) around $100.  

On to 12-strings vs. 6-strings.  6-strings are clearly the more versatile
guitar.  That being said, there are some real song-leeading advantages to
a 12-string, particularly if you are a string breaker.  However, tuning a
12-string on the fly is really tough and this can be a pain if you are in
the midst of a song session and don't want to break the flow.  

Now on to actual guitars. There is a huge difference in terms of sound,
quality, tuning machines, etc. between low-end laminated guitars and
moderate guitars with solid tops and lainated sides and back.  I strongly
urge that latter.  These types of guitars (as I recall) can be had for as
low as $300.  The Seagull that you wrote about sounds great (I think they
are wonderful guitars).  Guild also makes a really nice moderately priced
guitar (the D4), as do Yamaha, Ovation, and a host of other guitar makers.
Indeed, even Martin has come out with a moderately priced line.  

Also remember, you should never pay list price for a guitar.  List price
is always way over the actual selling price.

I hope this was helpful.  Good luck!  there is nothing more fun than a new
guitar :)

best,

Ethan  

 *************************
Ethan Bueno de Mesquita 
mesquita (at) fas(dot)harvard(dot)edu

Department of Government 
Littauer Center, North Yard
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA  02138



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