Beginner Acoustic Guitar Packages

Is this a good acoustic guitar for a beginner?

Hi guys (:
I’m 14, almost 15, and really want to learn how to play the acoustic guitar! We have one from when my brother used to play a little, but it seems a bit small now, as it’s been awhile. (Is that right? Are there different sized guitars, and is it possible to be too small for me to use now?)
Anyways, I want to teach myself, annd obviously i’ll need a guitar! haha.
So any recommendations on a GOOD but cheaper guitar i could get? (I’ll probably pay for most of it myself…no job=/)

Is this a good package?

http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0950801100

Thanks soo much!

There are different sized guitars, so it’s likely that your brother’s was a 7/8 size one and seems small to you now. Lots of people use smaller scale guitars for travel, but the sound isn’t as good as you’ll get from a full-size guitar.

Fender acoustic guitars are really mediocre in just about every way. Their electrics are great, but I’ve never known anyone who was impressed with their acoustics. Since you’re a beginner, you’ll probably do better with an acoustic that has a really thin neck and low action (strings close to the fretboard), which will make it much easier and more comfortable to move smoothly between chords. Each brand tends to have its own feel and some necks are much more user-friendly than others, especially for beginners.

Ibanez makes fantastic guitars that are built like rocks, sound great and are often nicer than guitars costing twice as much. They’re also famous for their thin necks and low action. I bought a second-hand Ibanez more than 20 years ago figuring I’d use it to learn and then upgrade to a better guitar. I eventually did get more guitars, but the cheap old Ibanez is still my primary guitar for both recording and playing live because it sounds and plays as nice as anything else I’ve tried. And my guitar snob brother, who owns a recording studio and plays Gibsons and Martins exclusively, borrows my Ibanez when he needs to play something fast, since the neck is much thinner than the necks on any of his guitars. Jasmine by Takamine guitars are also very user-friendly and priced great. If I were you, I’d avoid Epiphone guitars. Those are well-made and sound great, but the necks are really chunky, which can make them challenging to play. I’ve known guitarists who started out playing Epiphones and concluded that guitar was just too hard to play. Once they realized there were guitars with thinner, more comfortable necks, they realized they’d just chosen guitars that weren’t a good fit for them.

I’ll post some links to guitars that are worth considering. They’ve all got thin necks and low action and have good reviews from other players. Ignore anyone who tells you there’s no such thing as a good guitar that doesn’t cost hundreds of dollars, since those people are more concerned with the name on the headstock than playability.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/-JamPack-IJV50-Quickstart-Dreadnought-Acoustic-Guitar-Pack?sku=519456

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/-SGT120NT-SAGE-SERIES-Acoustic-Guitar-?sku=512326

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/-S35-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=516451

There’s also a great DVD set that contains everything you’d learn from years of private lessons, but which costs less than $40. If you get stuck teaching yourself, I highly recommend the DVDs. I used them after playing for many, many years and can’t believe how much my playing has improved. Here’s a link:

http://books-videos-music.musiciansfriend.com/product/-Learn-Rock-Acoustic-Guitar-Beginner-Intermediate-and-Hands-of-Steel-DVD-Package?sku=942720

As for picks, any medium-weight one will probably be perfect. Musician’s Friend has their own picks that sell for $1.99/dozen. And a Korg makes a cheap but functional tuner small enough to fit inside your guitar case.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/-Standard-Celluloid-Guitar-Picks-1-Dozen?sku=110841

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/-GA1-Guitar-and-Bass-Tuner?sku=502062

Fender® SA100 Acoustic Guitar Package

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