Beginner Acoustic Electric

[hardwired]

The wife says she wants to get a guitar for a 13 year old. Was expecting to hear he wanted an electric and was thinking the Squier Strat Pack with 3 months of free Fender online lessons. But apparently he wants an acoustic-electric similar to an uncle that plays at local establishments.

Want something decent sounding to keep him in the game. Free lessons would be good. A Fender CD-60 seems good but the electric add-on and a cutaway seems to jack up the price by a hundred. Maybe we can catch a BF sale but so far no great deals except maybe for a lefty.

Any recommendations?

 

[hardwired]

Also there seems to be a ton of beginner Dreadnaught acoustics, mostly no cutout and no electric.

Was expecting more Concert size for women and young kids…is there a reason for the lack of Concert size in this price range?

 

[Baelzebub]

I'd go with an Ovation Celebrity. It'll stand up to some punishment, sounds decent acoustically or electrically and can be had relatively cheaply.

Fender periodically offers introductory prices for Fender Play. If you take one and let it lapse, they make a very attractive offer after that for a year's worth to get you back.

There are a multitude of good sites with free beginner stuff too. One of those, like Justin Guitar or another might actually be better, if he finds one he likes and relates to, to later purchase more advanced content.

 

[Eric_G]

Also there seems to be a ton of beginner Dreadnaught acoustics, mostly no cutout and no electric.

Was expecting more Concert size for women and young kids…is there a reason for the lack of Concert size in this price range?

You may want to look at Breedlove, good instrument quality and reasonable price...

SweetWater is currently running a price drop on the Breedlove Concert and Concerto electro acoustic: 349$

Breedlove ECO Discovery S Concerto CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar - Edgeburst CE Sitka-African mahogany

6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Spruce Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, Ovangkol Fingerboard, and Fishman Presys I Electronics - Edgeburst

www.sweetwater.com

Breedlove ECO Discovery S Concert CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar - Sitka/African Mahogany

6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Spruce Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, Ovangkol Fingerboard, and Fishman Presys I Electronics - Natural

www.sweetwater.com

If you want smaller, they also have a parlor size and a travel size...

 

[Exhead]

FIXED THE LINK TO GO TO ACOUSTIC / ELETRIC.... Maybe a Slick Deal? These thing end in hours sometimes so if you think it good enough jump on it. You have to use that link to get the deal. I post the screenshots to verify that at this moment 11:55AM PST that the deal is available right now when using the link above.

 

[nickmsmith]

Yamaha, Breedlove, Guild, Seagull, Recording King all have some great guitars at good value.

Really, there are tons of brands putting out good “beginner” guitars.

 

[Exhead]

One for her one for you - Taylor Slick Deal

 

[FrieAsABird]

This thread is more or less useless without knowing your budget. Are we talking 100 bucks? Or 500? Or something in between? You can go from there. But without any kind of budget, you’ll get anything from 50 to 1000 bucks as recommendations…

 

[Higgins1980]

I'd go with an Ovation Celebrity.

Second this.

 

[Exhead]

This thread is more or less useless without knowing your budget. Are we talking 100 bucks? Or 500? Or something in between? You can go from there. But without any kind of budget, you’ll get anything from 50 to 1000 bucks as recommendations…

A Fender CD-60 with cutaway and electric acoustic is $359 at Amazon + Tax. That is why I threw in the Slick Deals. Start low with kids and improve as they do.

 

[mapleglo]

I'll second the vote for an Ovation Celebrity. Reasonably priced, great sounding, and very durable.

 

[hardwired]

This thread is more or less useless without knowing your budget. Are we talking 100 bucks? Or 500? Or something in between? You can go from there. But without any kind of budget, you’ll get anything from 50 to 1000 bucks as recommendations…

I think can talk her into 250ish on sale. 3 bills no way.

 

[Della Street]

used

 

[hardwired]

used

If it was for me yes/maybe, for a gift no.

 

[Bob the builder]

I started with a Ibanez a/e
And there ain't too many cheaper than me

 

[hardwired]

The Ovation was $500.

Found the Fender CD-60cse on the Amazon Fender store for $256 temporary MUSIC15 limited time deal. MF will also price match.

This is a solid top and sounds pretty good. She wasn’t too happy at that price either for a roll the dice newb but she’s a softy for making dreams come true.

Hopefully the kid enjoys it as much as I did as a kid. I had a junker until I save up for a used Gibson and Fender amps.

 

[Nadnitram]

If it was for me yes/maybe, for a gift no.

With a 13-year-old, string the guitar with electric 9's. Easier on the fingers, and the unwound G cuts down on finger noise.

A concert size acoustic/electric with a cutaway, new, in the sub 250-range. That's quite an ask. On a tight budget, used is typically the way to go because you can get so much more guitar for the money. I get why you can't buy used, but ...

Yes, the pre-amp is going to add $100 to whatever you're looking at. I feel like there's quite a jump in tone from an all-laminate guitar to a solid-top. My recommendation would be a Yamaha FSX800 -- It retails for $329, but you can find them on the used market for $150, sometimes with a case. This one is available near me as we speak.



Have you given any thought to an amp? What good is an A/E if you can't plug in? You might be able to get a used Fender Acoustasonic 15 in the $75 range. They run $130 new.

 

[3bolt79]

I would go with Ovation. It will be easier to play as the board is radiuses and action is Comparable to an electric guitar. Just run acoustic strings, coated like The D’Addario’s. Use an 11 gauge set. Or call Strings by Mail and get a set of acoustic tens. Don’t go too light on the strings. It won’t sound good. Or try Elixers in a ten or eleven set.

 

[hardwired]

With a 13-year-old, string the guitar with electric 9's. Easier on the fingers, and the unwound G cuts down on finger noise.

A concert size acoustic/electric with a cutaway, new, in the sub 250-range. That's quite an ask. On a tight budget, used is typically the way to go because you can get so much more guitar for the money. I get why you can't buy used, but ...

Yes, the pre-amp is going to add $100 to whatever you're looking at. I feel like there's quite a jump in tone from an all-laminate guitar to a solid-top. My recommendation would be a Yamaha FSX800 -- It retails for $329, but you can find them on the used market for $150, sometimes with a case. This one is available near me as we speak.

View attachment 607689

Have you given any thought to an amp? What good is an A/E if you can't plug in? You might be able to get a used Fender Acoustasonic 15 in the $75 range. They run $130 new.

When I was shopping for myself years back that Yamaha was on my short list. I found a used Yamaha A3M and went with that. Just checked it today, still in tune and haven’t used it in months.

The Fender I think is a good choice although wife is still robbing me “He won’t be able to tell the difference between the Fender and a Walmart Cat Jack”. WTH is a Cat Jack LOL

 

[crankmeister]

I think Breedlove makes great budget acoustics. Yamaha and Epiphone too, I once had an Epiphone l-00 that played really well.

Mind you, by “budget” I just mean ca. $500 or less, but none of those $150 models.