Buying your first acoustic guitar!?
Make life easier with this handy guide to buying your first acoustic guitar.
Whether you are a student looking to make music your career, a hobbyist looking to take up the greatest instrument in the world, or that non-musical parent trying to find the right guitar as a gift, buying your first guitar can seem daunting. Fear not, we at Scan Pro Audio have a wealth of experience to guide you through the tricky process of buying that most important of guitars, numero uno! Unlike “buying your first electric guitar”, acoustics can seem almost identical, but there are some key differences and considerations to make when purchasing an acoustic guitar.
For most the first step into the world of guitar playing is best taken with an entry level acoustic. Acoustic guitars don't require any electronics in order to be audible so make learning less expensive which is a genuine consideration particularly for parents who may facilitate several hobbies for their children. Entry level acoustics tend to be robust and despite the small cost still have great value features such as good hardware and tone woods. All guitars (with very, very few exceptions) are made from what is referred to as tone woods. These woods tend to transfer and shape vibrations from the strings as they are played, in a way that produces pleasant sounds across a range of frequencies.
Size is everything. Picking the correct acoustic guitar for you or your child’s age is critical. Some acoustics such as Dreadnoughts would be cumbersome for small children. Classical, ¾ or travel acoustic guitars would be ideal for pre-teens, while teenagers and older might be more comfortable with a grown-up steel string acoustic of a larger, louder size.
Let’s dive in with some entry level acoustics perfect for the aspiring guitar player. One of the features of taking up guitar in comparison to other hobbies is you get access to the biggest brands at the best prices. Companies like Fender are always looking to help the new guitar player. They not only provide great entry level acoustic, electric guitars and guitar packs, they also provide substantial support in learning through their Fender play subscription service.
The Fender ESC80 is a perfect starter guitar for younger students or players of a smaller frame. With a simple small classical body, it is ideal for guitarists of any age. This guitar can produce warm mellow tones. Great for the classical/Spanish guitarist it will also provide a great start for any beginner looking to learn open position chords and barre chords without breaking the bank or your hands. The softer more pliable strings make building calluses and learning difficult chords that bit easier and the larger frets make playing notes accurately a touch simpler. The guitar itself is made from a nice mixture of tone woods. The ESC80 has a spruce top, spruce is a tone wood that features across a spectrum of acoustics from entry level to acoustics worth many thousands. It provides a clear bright tone that tends to hold well over the life of the guitar and is often accompanied by a mellower body wood to provide balance. The back and sides are made from okoume a softer hardwood, ideal for classical acoustics, it has a slightly mellower tone than the spruce top but still retains a bright personality. The walnut fingerboard has a tight snappy sound helping the player to articulate every note. The fingerboard itself is effortlessly playable and married to the simple but reliable hardware will hold its tune well. With a decorated sound hole, the ESC80 will have good sound projection perfect for showing off your new skills at home, parties or even at school.
Fender - ESC80 Educational Series, Satin Vintage Natural Finish
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/fender-esc80-educational-seriesThe Tanglewood TW2 T is one of Tanglewood’s travel series of Tanglewood acoustics, travel acoustics tend to more compact acoustics ideal for travelling and parties due to the portability. Tanglewood is a British based company with an extensive history of producing a range of exquisite acoustic guitars. The TW2 T is a standard steel string acoustic with minimal decoration and fuss, the travel acoustic focuses on playing, portability, learning and writing. With an all mahogany back, side and top this acoustic will have a warm mid tone that will over time mellow with the guitarist. Mahogany provides excellent projection, and the larger sound hole means the beginner guitarist won’t fail to be heard when the time is right to show off their new skills. The techwood fingerboard will provide bright clear tones without the concerns of sustainability often accompanying pure tone woods. Techwood while not as snappy as walnut or Rosewood provides a solid foundation for clear articulate notes and good sustain and transfer of sound to the body for clear bright chordal play. Finally with the chrome plated machine heads, this guitar will provide steady reliable tuning. An all-mahogany acoustic at this price point is a rarity with some all-mahogany acoustics costing many hundreds of pounds. If you are a beginner looking for a long-term acoustic this is ideal, and even if you have been playing a while this is a great addition to your musical arsenal.
Tanglewood - 'TW2 T' Travel Size Acoustic Guitar
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/tanglewood-winterleaf-series-travel-size-guitarwith a hop and skip we are back to a Fender acoustic but with a modern twist. The Redondo Mini is a great small form guitar, built primarily with portability and travel in mind. With a spruce top and mahogany back and side expect a well-balanced tone, initially the spruce will help embellish the higher tones but over time should settle to allow the mahogany to add a lower timbre and aid sound projection. The striking feature for the Redondo range is the electric guitaresque Strat style headstock. The C profile neck should also give electric guitar players a sense of familiarity, equally the jump for a new guitar player making the leap from acoustic to electric should be less harsh using the Redondo mini.
Fender – Redondo Mini - Natural
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/fender-redondo-mini-naturalWhatever you decide to choose, know that as a beginner you can't go wrong picking one of these ideal acoustics. It’s always sensible to ask yourself two questions, what kind of music do I like to listen to? and what is my budget? These acoustics will provide a solid foundation for most musical styles. The Fender ESC80 and Fender Redondo are perfect for all ages and all styles while the Tanglewood may suit teenagers and beyond due to its slightly larger size. If you have any questions about guitars or guitar playing drop us a question
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https://www.scan.co.uk/shop/music-and-pro-audio/guitars/guitar-and-amp-packages