Question for guitarists (off topic)

Thy_Will_Not_Mine · May 31st, 2007, 10:09 PM

I know this isn't a Social Distortion topic, but I know there are quite a few guitarists on the board, and I need some help with a guitar decision. For a long time now, I've been planning on getting a Fender GDO 300 OM Acoustic Guitar. Click HERE for the link. I'm a beginner, and I like the way it feels and plays. Does anyone here have any experience with this particular guitar and/or recommend a similar yet better one for the same price range (under $300). Any suggestions would be appreciated, as I want to buy a guitar this weekend. Thanks.

**Love_Pain** · May 31st, 2007, 10:26 PM

Looks like it'd suit you just fine. When you're just starting out, it's more important that you like how it plays and feels more than anything else. I've got a 200 dollar takamine G-series acoustic that sounds better than the more expensive guitars I've owned or used.

**mlm13** · May 31st, 2007, 10:41 PM

agree with the Takamine, have one also and plays/sounds better than a lot of higher-priced acoustics. Guild for me personally had the nicest feeling/sound/action but is still a little out of my price range.

**wolfpits** · May 31st, 2007, 11:47 PM

I really wanted to buy a Gibson hummingbird acoustic because I loved how it sounded and felt in my hands, but I couldnt afford it. I picked up an Epiphone Hummingbird one day to see how it compared and I was very pleasantly surprised. I loved it so much that I bought it and took it home. It needed a good set up, but once I had it to my liking, it was a very good sounding acoustic and it was less than $250

Thy_Will_Not_Mine · June 1st, 2007, 01:48 PM

It looks like I'm going with that Fender, it's only $250, but the quality is well worth that price. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced acoustic guitar capo? I have no clue which one to get.

**mattSF** · June 1st, 2007, 06:18 PM

Originally posted by Thy_Will_Not_Mine:
It looks like I'm going with that Fender, it's only $250, but the quality is well worth that price. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced acoustic guitar capo? I have no clue which one to get.

Good for you, you made a choice...we can still make this a Social D thread, 'I WANT WHAT I WANT'!!! Still, excellent calls by other posters' recommendations.

Capos-
You can't go wrong w/ either screw-on tension types like Shubb or spring-tensioned/trigger ones like Kyser or Dunlop. I currently use a shubb and have no regrets. If I didn't have that, I'd definitely try out a trigger-type capo. Price-wise pretty close, only few $'s difference.

Here are some pro's & cons:
Pro's: Screw-tension~smaller profile and variable tension (depending on how far you tighten), Spring-tension~easy on, easy off.
Con's: Screw-tension~some consider it a hassle to tighten a screw, costs a few dollars more. Spring-tension~over time, the spring will wear out and I heard the rubber pads on some don't last long. Also, some say the trigger types have a tendency to pull your strings out of key, but I am a bit skeptical with that reasoning, because while those capo types provide a stronger tension, I'd ask those musicians whether they properly stretched their strings when they last strung up their guitars. If you stetch your strings out when you put new ones on, you're less likely to have them go out of tune, even with some string bending, unless you leave the capo on indefinitely, which in that case, doesn't matter which type you have on because the strings will be less elastic over time.

You can't lose...either way. Just have fun with it!

Thy_Will_Not_Mine · June 1st, 2007, 09:47 PM

Originally posted by scuffed 8ball:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Thy_Will_Not_Mine:
It looks like I'm going with that Fender, it's only $250, but the quality is well worth that price. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced acoustic guitar capo? I have no clue which one to get.

Good for you, you made a choice...we can still make this a Social D thread, 'I WANT WHAT I WANT'!!! Still, excellent calls by other posters' recommendations.

Capos-
You can't go wrong w/ either screw-on tension types like Shubb or spring-tensioned/trigger ones like Kyser or Dunlop. I currently use a shubb and have no regrets. If I didn't have that, I'd definitely try out a trigger-type capo. Price-wise pretty close, only few $'s difference.

Here are some pro's & cons:
Pro's: Screw-tension~smaller profile and variable tension (depending on how far you tighten), Spring-tension~easy on, easy off.
Con's: Screw-tension~some consider it a hassle to tighten a screw, costs a few dollars more. Spring-tension~over time, the spring will wear out and I heard the rubber pads on some don't last long. Also, some say the trigger types have a tendency to pull your strings out of key, but I am a bit skeptical with that reasoning, because while those capo types provide a stronger tension, I'd ask those musicians whether they properly stretched their strings when they last strung up their guitars. If you stetch your strings out when you put new ones on, you're less likely to have them go out of tune, even with some string bending, unless you leave the capo on indefinitely, which in that case, doesn't matter which type you have on because the strings will be less elastic over time.

You can't lose...either way. Just have fun with it!<hr /></blockquote>Thanks for the tips! I found a stainless steel Shubb screw-on for $20. The only downside will be those rubber pads, but other than that, looks like a good capo.

**mawpizzle** · June 1st, 2007, 10:34 PM

Also take a look into Alvarez and Seagull acoustics. Great bang for your buck right there. I played quite a few when I was shopping for an acoustic a few years back and liked them, but decided to buy a Breedlove. As for capos, I use a Kyser and it's great.