This page is a resource for the students in my Guitar Lab classes to find tabs, instruments, and other useful links to help them grow as musicians. Being that there is no music for guitar in concert band, this page is dedicated to giving the guitar students new resources to developing musical skills as well as pertinent information about the guitar.
MUSIC LINKS:
www.ultimate-guitar.com (tabs)
www.harmony-central.com (gear review)
GUITAR MANUFACTURER LINKS:
www.ibanez.com has a huge selection of electric and acoustic guitars that you can read specs on. Ibanez is one of the hugest guitar manufacturers in the world that you should check out if you're on the market for a new instrument. Their high end electrics are great, if you have the money, but their intro/beginner line isn't so bad either. You can't order from this site so jot down the model numbers you are interested in and search for it through the dealer link below.
www.fender.com is a great site that shows you what Fender is all about. Their electric guitars are classic and have been proven to be long lasting and high quality. I personally am not thrilled by their acoustic guitar line but you should check them out anyway.
www.epiphone.com is a great resource for finding Gibson replicas and affordable guitars. Epiphone is a division of Gibson that makes great beginner to mid-range quality guitars that are affordable and great quality for the money.
DEALERS:
www.samash.com is a great place to buy your gear from. Although I feel it is better to shop at actual stores than online, Sam Ash does offer very good deals.
www.musiciansfriend.com is a great site to buy gear from. Their prices are very reasonable and the customer service is impeccable. Very prompt deliveries on in stock items are a huge plus!
www.music123.com is a great site to buy gear and read customer reviews.
www.rondomusic.com is a great store to visit if you're looking for inexpensive instruments that are of good quality. Rondo is a dealer of several high quality brand names but they also carry high quality beginner and mid-range instruments as well. They have great customer service and their prices are very reasonable if you are careful when you choose the instrument.
GUITAR
BUYING GUIDE:
Guitar Packs are affordable and are convenient for first time buyers but are usually lower in quality as opposed to buying a guitar by itself. They usually come as an acoustic/electric kit with an amplifier or as an ordinary acoustic without an amplifier. Packs include a guitar case, strap, extra strings, tools, picks, and sometimes a tuner. ($100-200)
Acoustic guitars can be affordable if you choose the right ones. They are not electric so in a performance setting, sound quality will be compromised with using a microphone to amplify the guitar. ($150-$250)
Acoustic/Electric guitars are the most versatile guitars to have if you find the right ones. Sometimes they don’t sound good unplugged so you have to find one of better quality which always means more money. ($200-$350)
BRANDS TO LOOK FOR
Washburn: Very reputable for acoustic guitars. These are the guitars we use at school for their sound quality and durability.
Ibanez: Mostly known for electric guitars but has a decent acoustic line. Their acoustic/electric guitars are better than their acoustic guitars.
Takamine/Jasmine: Very reputable for acoustic guitars. They make very good guitars from the low to high end models.
Yamaha: Decent acoustic guitars at the low to mid range.
Fender: Mostly known for electric guitars but has a very good reputation for acoustics at the higher end.
BRANDS TO AVOID
Carlo Robelli: Sam Ash exclusive guitars. They are very inexpensive for a reason. We stopped using them at school because they don't sound very good and don’t last.
Dean: Probably decent but I don’t know too much about them and they are suspiciously inexpensive.
GUITAR
SHAPES
Acoustics generally come in two body styles: Dreadnought & Cutaway. Dreadnoughts are the traditional shape and has been time tested to have the most balanced sound regarding bass and treble. Cutaway guitars give you access to the upper frets and can come as a dreadnaught or other shapes as well. Either shape is fine but if your child is advanced and would want to play high notes, cutaways may be the better way to go. Their sound, however, is not as full or balanced as a dreadnought.
RECOMMENDED MODELS
| Washburn D10* (acoustic) | $239 |
|
Washburn EA9 Festival* (acoustic/electric) Sam Ash exclusive |
$199 |
|
Washburn D9C* (acoustic) |
$149 |
|
Jasmine ES31C (acoustic/electric) |
$174 |
| Ibanez JamPack IJAE5BK (w/amp) | $199 |
*models we use at school.
ACCESSORIES
If you do not
purchase a guitar pack, you will need the following accessories.
Guitar case: $20-$30
(soft case) $45-$90 (hard case)
Electronic tuner:
$10-$20
Picks: $3-$4/doz.
Strings (light
gauge): $5-$6
Tools (Dr.Parts):
$9-$14
WHERE TO SHOP
Sam
Ash - Edison (ask for Mario - tell him Mr.I sent you) and