What kind of guitar should I get and where?

Question

Should I get one from a major company like Guitar Center, Zzounds or should I get one from a small music store? What brand should I get?

Answer 1

for buying a guitar i think you should go to sam ash i think it is by the 2-15....if you live in las vegas......but any way the people there are really nice just go up to a person that works there tell then what you looking for....like for what type of playing you are going to do and they let you play them and i would get a fender or a gresh you can get a cheap one ...like 200$ or an expensive 5,000$ even the cheap ones are very good guitars..i got me a 200$ one when it went on sell...i love my guitar...e-mail me if you have any questions

Answer 2

Yea I agree with Russell on the electrics, my first electric was a mexican strat.  Excellent guitar for the price, later down the road I upgraded the pickups.  Relatively cheap upgrades <100 for each, completly changes the sound.  Don't know if they still make mex strats anymore, but I'm sure you could find a used one somewhere.  Maybe under 300.

Definately go to a major retailer if you can find one and play around with the different styles and brands, find one that looks, feels, and sounds good to you.  If you were close to a big store like that I would suggest going home and looking at reviews online either at harmony central, musicians friend, or google the model.  

If you go acoustic, I would recommend Alvarez for around the 300 range.  If you want to spend a little more, I would strongly recommend the Guild GAD series guitars.  Around 600-700 range, but everything they have on them rivals guitars costing 2X to 3X the price.  Beautiful guitar too.

17 year hobbiest

blues, jazz, fingerstyle

Answer 3

Yamaha Pacifica or Epiphone SG/Les Paul

Stay away from the Fender Squiers

Check each fret for buzzing. The less string buzz, the better.