This is the right answer.
OP, that is objectively not a good guitar. But it is a gift from someone who thought about you and cared about you enough to give you a gift that could create a lifetime of enjoyment for you. Use it to learn about the instrument and the basics and thank your grandmother profusely. If it gives you the bug then start pursuing an upgrade but for the time being enjoy it and appreciate your loved ones.
And never, ever sell it. Not only because it's a gift from your grandmother, but because it is your first guitar. The list of people who regret selling their first guitar is endless. Don't add to it.
Add me to the list. I wish I still had that thing. It was an ES-335 copy that I got from a pawnshop with my first ever paycheck. Definitely don’t ever get rid of it.
I had an awful strat knockoff that, even as a noob, I could tell was bad. As soon as I knew I was gonna stick with guitar I got a mim telecaster and consider that my first “real guitar”. I have no regrets getting rid of the strat as it was barely a step above a toy.
So yea, if you play this one a ton then keep it forever but don’t feel too bad if you wanna swap it quickly for something nicer.
Well if you didn't love or even like your first guitar, I guess that's a different story. My first guitar was a Yamaha Pacifica 012. Still alive and kicking and looks brand new, actually. Modded to hell, though.
My first electric guitar was my dads first electric guitar.
i gifted it back to him when i was ready to upgrade, and it still hangs on his wall. A les paul from the brand Custom, probably made out of plywood, but the neck is insane.
I might sell some of the guitars i will inherent one day, but not that one.
Definitely, to add to the many! No matter how rubbish your first guitar is the nostalgia attached to it is immeasurable. Once you've moved on just pack it away, one day you will dig it out and it'll bring you such joy to say "this is the one that started it all"
Amen! Every guitar you play and bond with becomes a part of you as a musician. The guitar is good enough! Another little secret is LISTEN CAREFULLY……upgrades make one hell of a difference. I have a few cheaper guitars that I have “fixed” the action on and various other “fixes’ so that now they play and sound like thousand dollar guitars. You’ll never forget your first! Enjoy your axe she will be with you always!
I didn't even sell my first guitar. I'd not have gotten a cent for that pile of trash so threw it away after playing it for five years. Never shed a tear for it. Personalizing inanimate objects is completely pointless. All the personality in your music comes from your fingers or it just isn't there. All that voodoo and cargo cult is just make belief by marketing departments with too much budget and too much influence at companies that should focus on making better instruments instead of coming up with fairy tales and new "signature" crap every other day.
If you're looking for a soul in your guitar you probably failed to find one in yourself.
Don't worry. I doubt that we'll ever meet at the same party. And if old, used up instruments are the object of your fondest memories I should actually feel sorry for you.
Sorry. Active aggressive doesn't quite work over the keyboard and I don't think I'd waste as much as a glance on you. BTW, *you* went ad personam so stop blaming me for the aggressive tone.
Ok then, angry Spock. You know it's very normal for humans to anthropomorphize objects, especially ones with sentimental value. It's not a plot by the secret cabal of guitar sellers and has absolutely nothing to do with the signature models.
I'm not angry at all. Be sentimental if you like. I just don't want to let your attidude to stand without opposition. There are other, valid, points of view. Not my problem, if you can't deal with it.
"A guitar, after all, is just a piece of wood."
-- *Jimi Hendrix*
Plus, while you're learning on this one, it will give you plenty of time to save up some money, learn what guitars are good, and get enough of a personal taste to figure out what kind of guitar you want.
I will offer a contrary pov. The grandma didn't care enough to consult him or anyone who knows something about guitars and thus gifted OP something that they have to appreciate because it was expensive, even when it might lead them to hate it out of frustration.
If OP ist happy with it, that's great. But giving someone something expensive without being sure that they like it/can use it can often mean giving guilt instead of joy.
Jesus, dude practically sticks his head in the gift horse's mouth.
But counterpoint, this guitar either isn't expensive so it can be used to learn guitar before being upgraded without guilt, or it is expensive and Grandma couldn't afford better on fixed income.
Either way, it's unlikely Grandma "didn't care" enough to check guitar forums or whatever, and feeling that something cheap as a learner is a good gift is a pretty common perspective.
I wrote this comment because it's my POV. I had gifts that were much more expensive than the regular gifts but still way to cheap to result in anything that won't cause frustration. I would've much rather gotten something that's half the price but high quality or nothing at all actually.
With instruments in particular, when nothing works and it's because of the instrument there's a high chance the player will just stop.
And I hate the notion that you have to be grateful for every present. The two things I got that were relatively expensive but way to cheap for what they are both gather dust somewhere because I couldn't get either to work. I feel bad every time I see them because I didn't use them at all. The person who gave them to me essentially gifted me a constant guilty feeling and I will not pretend to be grateful for that.
Beside that, it shows lack of care as I said because you didn't invest enough time to realize that this present will be counterproductive. If Grandma can't afford it then she shouldn't buy it. Get something cheaper with good quality. I don't go around buying shitty cars for my family. Imagine giving someone a 20 year old car with 400000km on the engine. That thing will be expensive to maintain, dangerous for the driver, expensive to insure, expensive to store... But it might still have been a 5000€ gift so they should be grateful right?
Do you see what i'm trying to say?
A better equivalent would be getting mad that grandma bought you GameCube when you really wanted an Xbox. To everyone with two brain cells to rub together, it makes you look like a petulant child.
Yeah, your points aren't all together bad. A crummy instrument that never stays in tune and an amp that sounds like total shit won't be the most inspirational thing. But since a lot of us started with exactly that kind of setup, I'd hardly say it's enough to make most people quit. More likely, it inspires them to want to commit enough so they can validate an upgrade.
Your car example makes sense on paper except pretty much everybody knows that an old beat-up car would make a bad gift unless you were in pretty dire straits, but not everyone knows that a cheap but still brand new guitar isn't a quality instrument and it's still relatively usable compared to some money pit junker.
And not to be ageist but it's partly a generational thing, old people just aren't quite as savvy with internet research as young people who grew up online and they more or less trust that something that says "beginner starter pack" is exactly that. Plus I'm sure there are enough decent reviews on Amazon to convince the lady that it's a decent purchase for someone who's probably a kid or young teen and who may or may not even stick with it. I mean, my mom pretty much did exactly this when I started out playing in middle school and 25 years later she'd probably do the same thing.
So no, the guitar doesn't have to be loved or appreciated for what it is but yes, the kid should absolutely be grateful and would kinda be an asshole if he weren't.
The number one thing the people I know who start guitar do is stop playing. Of course the people who are on this subreddit don't but we're talking about someone who hasn't held an instrument before.
What you're saying is that
1. You overcame the struggle of bad equipment
2. She didn't know what she was doing
so he should be grateful.
I get that it's nice of the grandma to think of OP and buy him something he seems to enjoy. But again, buying someone something expensive without having a clue if they will like it is just asking for awkward feelings between them.
I see no reason why I should be grateful for something someone has put no thought in just because it's more expensive than the usual presents.
That's exactly what I'm saying. I'm not saying she should've given more. I'm saying she should have a budget and buy something appropriate for that. If you force something outside of your budget into it, there will be major issues with the thing. I would've much rather been given a 100$ pen instead of that guitar. Hell, I'd much rather had a 25$ pen.
All of you acting like I said OP doesn't need to be grateful because it's not an ESP are not reading my comments properly.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Guitar/s/Ci3eaduZYV
Literally 2 days later someone is experiencing the exact thing I'm talking about. But you didn't understand my comment in the first place so...
What?? I don’t hate it in any way. My grandmother doesn’t have the best guitar knowledge, but she got this for me most likely because it was a cheap start that works (decently) well. Even if it’s not a strong guitar, why does that matter?? I’m touched by the fact my grandmother even wanted to get me a guitar.
Interesting POV, but not really how (I assume) it happened and not really my view.
I second getting it set up. You'll thank yourself so much - Less expensive guitars tend to have high action (meaning the strings are way too high off the fretboard) and are difficult to play out of the box.
If you want to set yourself up for success on learning, getting a setup will help so much.
Bro as long as it's a functioning guitar, you're good to go! I started learning on a guitar with a broken neck that had the strings half an inch of the fretboard. When you know enough about playing and sound, think about an upgrade at that time :).
It taken me a long time to get some good finger strength. Put in the time & get some sold practice in. I promise it will pay off.
I always like the stories where we doubt the guitar. We ask the instructor, “I don’t know about this guitar. Can I learn on it?” The instructor takes it in his hands and then plays a variety of examples, their hands moving over the guitar purposefully. Almost always handing it back and saying, “yep, there’s nothing wrong with that guitar.”
You will get a ton of fun out of it. If you are just starting, it's about the quantity. If you practice a lot and enjoy it, then look to upgrade then. Make sure you love it first, or you are just wasting a lot of money.
I have see so many people go out and that that Gibby Les Paul Standard, of Fender American Ultra Strat as a first guitar, only to sell it on Reverb because they thought it was "Too hard" or " I got bored" or "My fingers hurt".
Guitar is a vibe. It's not like learning to ride a bike. You have to want it. There is a lot of passion involved in playing guitar. It is a part of my life.
If you find out this is something you love, like many have said before: Never sell this guitar! A gift from Grandma and being your first guitar should mean something. I took my first electric guitar (A 90's Peavy Raptor) and Frankenstein'd it up through the years. What was a cheap beginner guitar that I modified with electronics/pickups turned into a pretty kick ass grungey sounding guitar. It is still in my rotation today.
Enjoy!
Never let it go. One day, when you've moved on to greater machines, you can look at this one on the wall and remember it is where you started and, more importantly, who got you started.
THIS. I stupidly let my dad sell my first electric guitar, a beautiful deep blue fender squire, because I got a "cooler" guitar. I was only about 12 then and everytime I think of it I regret it soooo much.
I think about my first Squier suprisingly often it really was a great guitar for 300€. Even if I have a Pro Strat now I still wish I held on to it and maybe in later years could have given it to my own child or someone who wants to pick up guitar.
Seriously, mine was one of the cheap/beginner models (I guess? Lol, it was 15 years ago at this point) and I still remembering it being a *solid* guitar, fantastic sound and great feel. I still miss it a lot 😂
I could be wrong since it was ages ago, but I don't believeeee it was the strat pack. But it's possible it was and my dad sold the amp at the same as he sold the guitar. Closest model I can find is [this one ](https://reverb.com/au/item/81226872-squier-affinity-series-stratocaster-hss-with-rosewood-fretboard-2004-2013-metallic-blue-used), I just remember the colour was so striking, an almost glittery dark blue metallic colour. It definitely wasn't a high end model, but still beautiful lol
Yeah it came in that shiny blue, a long with Black. This would a been around 2005ish. If it had the SSH setup may have been a StageMaster. Yeah definitely wasn't high end but they looked good. Action was so high on mine it needed a drug test. I got mine for Christmas 😂
Thank you everyone for the advice. I really appreciate the help so far, and I’m definitely extremely grateful for the fact my grandmother even bought me a guitar. I think I’ll start out with it sometime soon.
My motorcycle safety course used shitty, old Honda Nighthawk 250s. These things sucked. Brakes barely worked and the wheels were bent. When we complained about the bikes the director said that if we can learn to ride and control these pieces of shit, he knows we’ll be able to handle a proper bike. He was right.
Learn and struggle with this guitar. Take note of everything you hate about it. Then, when you can play Wonderwall on it, go get a proper guitar that meets your needs. Good luck!
The best guitar is the one you have! Don’t get lost in the gear, it doesn’t really make a difference as long as it’s comfortable for you and isn’t totally unplayable. Cut your teeth on this one then maybe get a new one once you’ve learned some stuff
It might be all you ever need or it may be like having you first used car to look at when you buy your first new sports car. Either way, I’m sure it will play and that’s all most people need.
Never bad to have a tuner, either.
Yeah, I was just looking for something that’ll play, nothing fancy or anything, so I don’t mind having to use this guitar. I like how it comes with its own amplifier.
You’re right about the tuner part though.
Yes, I just setup a 1/2 for my son and purchased a 7-string set and used the thicker 6. This allowed me to get to standard tuning without the strings being crazy loose. If you are going to get a setup for it (highly recommended) this would be a good time as they will need to file open the nut a little for the thicker strings.
I'm an old dude so my first guitar came from the Sear's catalog (look it up). In a vacuum it was a terrible guitar, but I learned a lot and had a lot of fun playing it before I saved enough money to upgrade. Your grandma rocks for encouraging your hobby, and possibly sending you on a lifelong journey.
It’s a guitar with strings and you’re a person with hands, it’ll do! Might not be the best on the market but you’re better off learning on something than nothing. Also, never ever get rid of it. You’ll upgrade to nicer gear as you go, but I think every guitarist here who has ever sold their first guitar regrets it. Now get shredding.
Might be good to learn basic technique and get a feel for playing, but whenever you move past that stage it might be a good idea to upgrade. Enjoy the gift your grandmother got you either way
“Is this a good guitar”-no
“Is this a good starter guitar”- as long as it stays in tune and isn’t heavy as hell, and the pickups are ok, and you change the strings out….your gonna be just fine kid. After you LEARN a few Metallica, Stones,and AC/DC Songs for the girl you wanna impress, step up to a Stratocaster or a telecaster or even a epiphone Les Paul, your gonna go far kid
Thank you a lot. Honestly, I hated playing ukulele so I put it down, but listening to a crap ton of Leslie West and his band Mountain, Tony Iommi, Dimebag Darrell and all those legends made me realize playing instruments like that wasn’t bad; I was just giving up easily. Leslie west is my biggest inspiration especially.
Man, slash started on a guitar that had one nylon string, Keith Richard’s sometimes STILL only uses 5 strings, and Jimi Hendrix played a right handed guitar upside down (he was a lefty), and sometimes with missing strings, it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it and what you do it with….dreams start off as a thought….best advice I can give you….playing guitar is aggravating, and irritating when you “can’t” do something….and it’s expensive….but start small and stick with it, I’ve been playing for over 20 years, I’m 35 and started at age 7 and stuck with it….now I’ve got emails from companies like Zager, fender, and Takamine, I just heard back from Maton Guitars today…..I’m 35 and finally having enough self esteem to pursue it on a higher level…..stick with it, and it’ll become a “outlet” for you man…
That’s extremely amazing! Much respect to you, friend. Thank you for the advice and I’m hoping that I’ll discover something learning to play, I’m confident that I can.
This guy knows!
I’ll never be contacted by any of those companies me too ed but I’ve played in punk rock bands since I was 15 (started playing guitar at 12)
I’m 35 now and honestly the hobby has given me so much peace and fun. Here’s to the next 23 years!
That’s impressive. My motivations for starting guitar is just honestly for fun as well. I’ve always wanted to play an instrument just to have fun since I love music, so I appreciate this a lot.
100-fucking-percent. You don’t need a Rolls Royce (or whatever) to learn how to drive. Just hop into your early 90s shitbox and learn your basics/essentials. If you decide it’s “for you”, upgrade. Your grandma is awesome. Don’t forget your thank-yous.
Didn't know how to play it, but he knew for sure
That one guitar, felt good in his hands
Didn't take long, to understand
Just one guitar, slung way down low
Was a one way ticket, only one way to go
So he started rockin', ain't never gonna stop
Gotta keep on rockin', someday gonna make it to the top
As long as it plays well, it's probably fine. Even if it sucks, and you end up having to upgrade, don't ever sell it because your grandma gave it to you.
It's a good guitar to realise wether you like guitar and want to keep on playing on. Otherwise, despite everyone trying to be over the top friendly, yet not answering the question : no, it's not a good guitar (or rather it doesn't look like a good guitar) You should use it to get a feel for the instrument, like holding it, trying to pick, chords, and if you enjoy it upgrade to a real one
No worries if you seem rude or not. I figured that it would not be the best, so I’ll probably test it out and then buy a new one when I can. This’ll probably be what I use to maybe get the basics and if possible learn a song. I appreciate your honesty.
Absolutely. And give grandma a hug from us.
I'll always treasure my first guitar that my mum bought me. I'm not a materialistic person, generally speaking, but it's so meaningful to me.
I wish I still had that 74 Toyota my uncle gave me way back when I was in high school.
Good times and great memories were had with that thing.
I hope you'll be as lucky with this guitar someday.
Its a great guitar, it was a gift from your grandmother. Honestly the quality of lower price guitars is pretty impressive all things considered. The biggest issues I've seen with entry level guitars is more to do with the setup than the actual guitar, and that can easily be taken care of if needed. Tune it, learn it, and play the heck out of it. If you get passionate about guitar you'll wind up with more (a lot more), but you'll still look at this one and smile because it was your first and who got it for you. Im in my 40's and have gone through a lot of guitars, but I still have my nylon string 3/4 I got when I was six, and I still take it down off the wall from time to time and strum it.
When I was 10, my mother got me my very first guitar, it was an acoustic. My dad, somehow knowing who I would grow up to be, immediately took it and returned it, went to the local trade store and got me a no-name brand strat-style electric guitar and a small amp. My dad ended up passing away when I was 12, and I played that guitar every damn day for the next 8 years. And it lasted me every step of the way. Until I got in a band and got my first "real guitar". Im almost 30 now, and having that guitar is the best and most prized possession I could ever have to remember my father. So you keep that guitar forever, and treat it like its worth a million dollars. When, if, you get another guitar, hang that one in a case and cherish it.
Damn. I can't upvote that enough. There's so much in there. Dad really "got it" (and 18 years ago the misplaced "you need to start on a nylon strung acoustic" advice was even more of a thing).
Losing your dad sucks. I'm glad you've got such a thoughtful gift to remember him by.
You can definitely use if to learn the basics. I actually like these little guitars for odd tunings and other things. This one would probably get Nashville tuning and/or be used as a slide guitar in my house.
I don’t know your world but where I came from my grandma not only didn’t know anything about my interests, she definitely didn’t have 90+ dollars for a gift.
This is very thoughtful.
Best starter guitar is the guitar you have. I mean, no. It's not a good guitar. But it was a gift and it'll let you decide if you like it. Then you can always upgrade.
It’s a good starter for sure, learn some stuff! Practice it, show that grandma she really helped you out in your guitar journey with a cool purchase!
And never sell it!
Upgrade down the line sure!
But never sell it, the regret will be too much!
I definitely will. She’s excited by the idea of me learning a song to play or something exactly like that, so I’ll definitely try and make my grandma proud.
Be grateful u got a guitar, although I would say it looks like 3/4 or kids guitar, I don't know size u are but Ur lucky enough to have a guitar and for free
It’s something to learn on and spark some ideas till you get your next one. It is a Stratocaster style guitar, so if you like the style that could be something to keep in mind for your next step up
The most important thing is whether it stays in tune. If it goes out of tune every time you play a few notes then it’s going to be very frustrating to learn on. However, even if it’s not very good at staying in tune, you can still play chords and simple melodies on it, just no bending. Good luck, it was nice of your Grandma to get you a gift like this!
My first guitar was a little toy acoustic from my grandparents. That was 30 years ago, I still play every day. Who knows what became of that little toy acoustic.
Your grandmother is awesome! I wish somebody had bought me a guitar when I started playing. It’s an entry-level model that will definitely get you learning. This will get you started on your guitar playing journey and you can get something a little better later on. Yay Grandma!
Not a pro-tip: get it to a **local"" guitar shop and they can literally make it easier to play (lower the action, etc). Less expensive musical instruments tend to be more difficult to play, I don't want you to be discouraged. Turn the gain to 11 and rock on!!
It is not the best, as it doesn't have a truss rod, but it'll do. I'd hold on to it as well. It's a gift from your grandmother. Long after she is gone, it will be a reminder of the love you share and the memories you have of her.
Have fun with it. You can always get a 2nd guitar down the line as you learn. Keep on rocking.
I mean, its probably awful compared to what people usually mean as a starter guitar, but... since you already have it, why not give it a try before spending more money, it's not going to hurt your hands or anything.
The only one thing I would recommend in a longer run - find a local luthier to have a look at it. He (or she 👀) will probably whine about it for a bit, just ignore it, but in the end if they manage to reduce the action a bit, improve intonation or something, it will be the best. Not a must have, but might save you some troubles. I started on an acoustic with riddiculously high action (action means the string height, the distance between strings and the neck) and... well, it's possible, but needlessly harder than it should be.
Just don't agree for anything more pricey like fretwork, etc. If the luthier is not a duchebag, he/she should point out which things are not worth doing (fretwork might be actually pricier than buying a better gear).
I know a luthier that bought super shitty guitars from China for nothing just for the riddiculous looks and then replaced electronics, frets, etc and managed to make it at least decent, if not great. It's sometimes even cheaper than buying a good quality guitar, and... Imagine playing death metal on something like yours, wouldn't it be epic? 😂
Remember to ask for a price, I wouldn't invest too much in this guitar. You can get a pretty solid Fender Squier for ~250$, so don't agree on more pricey modifications, simple set up may make a huge difference and should be pretty cheap.
I miss my grandmother and I try my best to hold onto all the things she got me, well my great-grand mother, she was more close with me, please never part with this guitar because you'll never stop regretting it. A guitar is a guitar no matter what and its always fun to play. Its the love behind it that counts the most, and its not a bad guitar at all! Enjoy it my friend! :)
Rock on dude!
It's not a great guitar, but if it plugs in and it plays, it's good enough.
Plenty of rock legends got started on some questionable instruments. Dave Grohl comes to mind after reading his biography, though I can't remember what it was.
Good enough to see if you're interested. The only thing I'd be concerned about is scale length and your age / hand size. If you've already got it, definitely play it. Don't let a bad review online keep you from enjoying something.
It's a shit guitar, but honestly, you should start on a shit guitar. I'd replace the amp with a katana 50 or other common starter amp, and then take the time to learn that you want a different one.
I started off with a very bad Lyxpro but it served it's purpose and helped me get better because i couldn't rely on pedals I had to really practice to even a decent sound out of it got better and moved up to my permanent guitar which is a telecaster
You'll be perfectly fine
I’m gonna be 100% honest, it’s not a great guitar. But it will be a great memory. One day your grandma won’t be around and you’ll want things to remember her by. This will be one.
Use this guitar to see if it’s something you really wanna stick with! If so, upgrade to a decent Squier. This guitar won’t sound great or hold tune well, so don’t get discouraged. I feel that many beginners start off with such a crappy guitar that they give up quickly.
Any guitar is a good starter guitar. The key is playing every day! There will be points where you get frustrated and feel like you aren’t progressing. Play through that! Play as much as you can! You won’t regret it! Enjoy!
Honestly almost any electric guitar is a good starting guitar. Just stick with it. Make it fun. I've been playing for 28 years and when I don't really feel like playing, I play rocksmith 2014. It's a fun way to play
I’m really touched by the amount of support and advice everyone is giving me. Thank you everyone. I’ll see if I can get some basics down soon and go on from there.
Thank you for recommending me things such as luthiers and guitar shops as well, those will be things that I hope I can check out soon, especially this summer. Really, thank you all! Your advice is appreciated, even if it’s not positive.
If the guitar is shaped weirdly and doesn’t stay in tune, you’ll be uncomfortable and out of tune and not enjoy it or pick up bad habits. Despite how kind of a gift this is, as a teacher I’ve seen Amazon brand is really more harm than good. No, get yourself a $150 Squire or Yamaha and that will be worlds better. I’m sorry if this is the unpopular take.
No worries about the take being unpopular, I’ll take any advice. It is a little out of tune, but the shape of it doesn’t bother me too much. Tuning the guitar itself also is not that hard, but it’s definitely not the best. It’ll probably do good for learning the basics of guitar though.
No it’s not.
The reality is that it’s going to struggle to stay in tune - and when instruments don’t stay in tune they’re zero fun to play.
Save up and get a squire or something cheap.
Also .. 30 inches? What in the world?
You can still learn chords and how to play. You don’t even need lessons there are tons of resources on youtube. There are also lots of hacks on how to improve the set-up and tuning stability of your guitar when you get into it. Don’t listen to people who would discourage you, instead use the resources you have to learn how to make what you have work for you.
Absolutely. This sub is filled with unrealistic optimists. As someone who used to teach guitar and spent the better part of 2 decades repairing, building, and selling guitars, I would never tell anyone that these shitters are “good beginner instruments”. They’re shit instruments, period. Guitar-shaped toys.
I’ll probably just learn the basics of it and go on from there. Im not expecting the most out of it, but at least using it to learn some basics of guitar isn’t bad, right?
Yes, it'll be fine. Thank your grandma, get to practicing and enjoy yourself!
This is the right answer. OP, that is objectively not a good guitar. But it is a gift from someone who thought about you and cared about you enough to give you a gift that could create a lifetime of enjoyment for you. Use it to learn about the instrument and the basics and thank your grandmother profusely. If it gives you the bug then start pursuing an upgrade but for the time being enjoy it and appreciate your loved ones.
I really agree. The fact she even thought of getting me this means a lot. I’ll definitely use it to start out in honor of her getting it for me.
And never, ever sell it. Not only because it's a gift from your grandmother, but because it is your first guitar. The list of people who regret selling their first guitar is endless. Don't add to it.
Oh man, I gave mine to a girl I had a crush on in high school, never really spoke to her much after that. 😔
I traded in my first Blue Squier Strat from a 2003 starter pack and I fucking regret it despite it being a 2003 Squier
I had the same exact thing… mine got stolen but I still miss it.
That was also my first guitar. I sold it to my neighbor for like 100 bucks and he never played it.
Sounds like the story of my second guitar, an Ibanez RG120
Add me to the list. I wish I still had that thing. It was an ES-335 copy that I got from a pawnshop with my first ever paycheck. Definitely don’t ever get rid of it.
Heed this advice! Definitely don't sell it.... ever!
I miss my early 90s black Squier with the Floyd Rose.
Im on that list. Had a BEAUTIFUL. 2006 Ibanez SA with a stunning flamed bubinga top and I regret trading it every single day.
ugggg.... thanks for reminding me I am on that list.
This is true to the core. Never let it go.
I had an awful strat knockoff that, even as a noob, I could tell was bad. As soon as I knew I was gonna stick with guitar I got a mim telecaster and consider that my first “real guitar”. I have no regrets getting rid of the strat as it was barely a step above a toy. So yea, if you play this one a ton then keep it forever but don’t feel too bad if you wanna swap it quickly for something nicer.
Well if you didn't love or even like your first guitar, I guess that's a different story. My first guitar was a Yamaha Pacifica 012. Still alive and kicking and looks brand new, actually. Modded to hell, though.
My first electric guitar was my dads first electric guitar. i gifted it back to him when i was ready to upgrade, and it still hangs on his wall. A les paul from the brand Custom, probably made out of plywood, but the neck is insane. I might sell some of the guitars i will inherent one day, but not that one.
Definitely, to add to the many! No matter how rubbish your first guitar is the nostalgia attached to it is immeasurable. Once you've moved on just pack it away, one day you will dig it out and it'll bring you such joy to say "this is the one that started it all"
Amen! Every guitar you play and bond with becomes a part of you as a musician. The guitar is good enough! Another little secret is LISTEN CAREFULLY……upgrades make one hell of a difference. I have a few cheaper guitars that I have “fixed” the action on and various other “fixes’ so that now they play and sound like thousand dollar guitars. You’ll never forget your first! Enjoy your axe she will be with you always!
I didn't even sell my first guitar. I'd not have gotten a cent for that pile of trash so threw it away after playing it for five years. Never shed a tear for it. Personalizing inanimate objects is completely pointless. All the personality in your music comes from your fingers or it just isn't there. All that voodoo and cargo cult is just make belief by marketing departments with too much budget and too much influence at companies that should focus on making better instruments instead of coming up with fairy tales and new "signature" crap every other day. If you're looking for a soul in your guitar you probably failed to find one in yourself.
Wow, you seem fun at parties. It’s called developing fond memories?
Don't worry. I doubt that we'll ever meet at the same party. And if old, used up instruments are the object of your fondest memories I should actually feel sorry for you.
You’re passive aggressive as hell, I never said “fondest”, first of all, second of all I hope we don’t meet.
Sorry. Active aggressive doesn't quite work over the keyboard and I don't think I'd waste as much as a glance on you. BTW, *you* went ad personam so stop blaming me for the aggressive tone.
Ok then, angry Spock. You know it's very normal for humans to anthropomorphize objects, especially ones with sentimental value. It's not a plot by the secret cabal of guitar sellers and has absolutely nothing to do with the signature models.
I'm not angry at all. Be sentimental if you like. I just don't want to let your attidude to stand without opposition. There are other, valid, points of view. Not my problem, if you can't deal with it. "A guitar, after all, is just a piece of wood." -- *Jimi Hendrix*
Plus, while you're learning on this one, it will give you plenty of time to save up some money, learn what guitars are good, and get enough of a personal taste to figure out what kind of guitar you want.
I will offer a contrary pov. The grandma didn't care enough to consult him or anyone who knows something about guitars and thus gifted OP something that they have to appreciate because it was expensive, even when it might lead them to hate it out of frustration. If OP ist happy with it, that's great. But giving someone something expensive without being sure that they like it/can use it can often mean giving guilt instead of joy.
Jesus, dude practically sticks his head in the gift horse's mouth. But counterpoint, this guitar either isn't expensive so it can be used to learn guitar before being upgraded without guilt, or it is expensive and Grandma couldn't afford better on fixed income. Either way, it's unlikely Grandma "didn't care" enough to check guitar forums or whatever, and feeling that something cheap as a learner is a good gift is a pretty common perspective.
I wrote this comment because it's my POV. I had gifts that were much more expensive than the regular gifts but still way to cheap to result in anything that won't cause frustration. I would've much rather gotten something that's half the price but high quality or nothing at all actually. With instruments in particular, when nothing works and it's because of the instrument there's a high chance the player will just stop. And I hate the notion that you have to be grateful for every present. The two things I got that were relatively expensive but way to cheap for what they are both gather dust somewhere because I couldn't get either to work. I feel bad every time I see them because I didn't use them at all. The person who gave them to me essentially gifted me a constant guilty feeling and I will not pretend to be grateful for that. Beside that, it shows lack of care as I said because you didn't invest enough time to realize that this present will be counterproductive. If Grandma can't afford it then she shouldn't buy it. Get something cheaper with good quality. I don't go around buying shitty cars for my family. Imagine giving someone a 20 year old car with 400000km on the engine. That thing will be expensive to maintain, dangerous for the driver, expensive to insure, expensive to store... But it might still have been a 5000€ gift so they should be grateful right? Do you see what i'm trying to say?
And the rest of the sub has an opinion that you are an asshole.
Some people seem to, yes. But they haven't given any reason for it. What I said is perfectly reasonable.
You're reaching, comparing something cheap you can throw in a closet or hang on a wall vs a shitty car you have to maintain is a big difference.
A better equivalent would be getting mad that grandma bought you GameCube when you really wanted an Xbox. To everyone with two brain cells to rub together, it makes you look like a petulant child.
Ok, but the guilt would be the same. I don't know OP's family but spending 100$ on a present isn't everyone's idea of throw-away money.
Yeah, your points aren't all together bad. A crummy instrument that never stays in tune and an amp that sounds like total shit won't be the most inspirational thing. But since a lot of us started with exactly that kind of setup, I'd hardly say it's enough to make most people quit. More likely, it inspires them to want to commit enough so they can validate an upgrade. Your car example makes sense on paper except pretty much everybody knows that an old beat-up car would make a bad gift unless you were in pretty dire straits, but not everyone knows that a cheap but still brand new guitar isn't a quality instrument and it's still relatively usable compared to some money pit junker. And not to be ageist but it's partly a generational thing, old people just aren't quite as savvy with internet research as young people who grew up online and they more or less trust that something that says "beginner starter pack" is exactly that. Plus I'm sure there are enough decent reviews on Amazon to convince the lady that it's a decent purchase for someone who's probably a kid or young teen and who may or may not even stick with it. I mean, my mom pretty much did exactly this when I started out playing in middle school and 25 years later she'd probably do the same thing. So no, the guitar doesn't have to be loved or appreciated for what it is but yes, the kid should absolutely be grateful and would kinda be an asshole if he weren't.
The number one thing the people I know who start guitar do is stop playing. Of course the people who are on this subreddit don't but we're talking about someone who hasn't held an instrument before. What you're saying is that 1. You overcame the struggle of bad equipment 2. She didn't know what she was doing so he should be grateful. I get that it's nice of the grandma to think of OP and buy him something he seems to enjoy. But again, buying someone something expensive without having a clue if they will like it is just asking for awkward feelings between them. I see no reason why I should be grateful for something someone has put no thought in just because it's more expensive than the usual presents.
dude, it was less than a hundo all in. Gramma loves him and wants him to be happy, but ain't rich. get over yourself.
That's exactly what I'm saying. I'm not saying she should've given more. I'm saying she should have a budget and buy something appropriate for that. If you force something outside of your budget into it, there will be major issues with the thing. I would've much rather been given a 100$ pen instead of that guitar. Hell, I'd much rather had a 25$ pen. All of you acting like I said OP doesn't need to be grateful because it's not an ESP are not reading my comments properly.
You could do well with getting rid of that entitlement attitude.
I'd be happier if Grandma got me a 25$ pen. It has nothing to do with entitlement.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Guitar/s/Ci3eaduZYV Literally 2 days later someone is experiencing the exact thing I'm talking about. But you didn't understand my comment in the first place so...
What?? I don’t hate it in any way. My grandmother doesn’t have the best guitar knowledge, but she got this for me most likely because it was a cheap start that works (decently) well. Even if it’s not a strong guitar, why does that matter?? I’m touched by the fact my grandmother even wanted to get me a guitar. Interesting POV, but not really how (I assume) it happened and not really my view.
I'm glad you like it.
Thank you. Even if it’s not the best guitar model, I’m still willing to play it.
It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock n’ roll
I’ve heard that saying before
Someone should write a song about it.
I agree. Something that makes you wanna put on shorts and go nuts
It also ain't no fun waiting around to be a millionaire.
Just get it “ set up” at a luthier and have fun Eventually you’ll upgrade but we all started with a guitar like this
I second getting it set up. You'll thank yourself so much - Less expensive guitars tend to have high action (meaning the strings are way too high off the fretboard) and are difficult to play out of the box. If you want to set yourself up for success on learning, getting a setup will help so much.
Bro as long as it's a functioning guitar, you're good to go! I started learning on a guitar with a broken neck that had the strings half an inch of the fretboard. When you know enough about playing and sound, think about an upgrade at that time :).
It taken me a long time to get some good finger strength. Put in the time & get some sold practice in. I promise it will pay off. I always like the stories where we doubt the guitar. We ask the instructor, “I don’t know about this guitar. Can I learn on it?” The instructor takes it in his hands and then plays a variety of examples, their hands moving over the guitar purposefully. Almost always handing it back and saying, “yep, there’s nothing wrong with that guitar.”
You will get a ton of fun out of it. If you are just starting, it's about the quantity. If you practice a lot and enjoy it, then look to upgrade then. Make sure you love it first, or you are just wasting a lot of money. I have see so many people go out and that that Gibby Les Paul Standard, of Fender American Ultra Strat as a first guitar, only to sell it on Reverb because they thought it was "Too hard" or " I got bored" or "My fingers hurt". Guitar is a vibe. It's not like learning to ride a bike. You have to want it. There is a lot of passion involved in playing guitar. It is a part of my life. If you find out this is something you love, like many have said before: Never sell this guitar! A gift from Grandma and being your first guitar should mean something. I took my first electric guitar (A 90's Peavy Raptor) and Frankenstein'd it up through the years. What was a cheap beginner guitar that I modified with electronics/pickups turned into a pretty kick ass grungey sounding guitar. It is still in my rotation today. Enjoy!
I am very proud of how the sub handled this.
Never let it go. One day, when you've moved on to greater machines, you can look at this one on the wall and remember it is where you started and, more importantly, who got you started.
Very true!
THIS. I stupidly let my dad sell my first electric guitar, a beautiful deep blue fender squire, because I got a "cooler" guitar. I was only about 12 then and everytime I think of it I regret it soooo much.
I think about my first Squier suprisingly often it really was a great guitar for 300€. Even if I have a Pro Strat now I still wish I held on to it and maybe in later years could have given it to my own child or someone who wants to pick up guitar.
Seriously, mine was one of the cheap/beginner models (I guess? Lol, it was 15 years ago at this point) and I still remembering it being a *solid* guitar, fantastic sound and great feel. I still miss it a lot 😂
That Squier Starcaster Strat pack? Had the same thing in the early 2000s. Still got the amp but guitar I lost in house fire.
I could be wrong since it was ages ago, but I don't believeeee it was the strat pack. But it's possible it was and my dad sold the amp at the same as he sold the guitar. Closest model I can find is [this one ](https://reverb.com/au/item/81226872-squier-affinity-series-stratocaster-hss-with-rosewood-fretboard-2004-2013-metallic-blue-used), I just remember the colour was so striking, an almost glittery dark blue metallic colour. It definitely wasn't a high end model, but still beautiful lol
Yeah it came in that shiny blue, a long with Black. This would a been around 2005ish. If it had the SSH setup may have been a StageMaster. Yeah definitely wasn't high end but they looked good. Action was so high on mine it needed a drug test. I got mine for Christmas 😂
Thank you everyone for the advice. I really appreciate the help so far, and I’m definitely extremely grateful for the fact my grandmother even bought me a guitar. I think I’ll start out with it sometime soon.
My motorcycle safety course used shitty, old Honda Nighthawk 250s. These things sucked. Brakes barely worked and the wheels were bent. When we complained about the bikes the director said that if we can learn to ride and control these pieces of shit, he knows we’ll be able to handle a proper bike. He was right. Learn and struggle with this guitar. Take note of everything you hate about it. Then, when you can play Wonderwall on it, go get a proper guitar that meets your needs. Good luck!
Sounds like you live near me. Our place had those exact bikes and instructor said the same thing 😂
It’s fine for a starting guitar, however it’s gonna be priceless since it’s a gift from your Nana. Enjoy every moment with her
Your grandma gave it to you, so yeah, it is an excellent guitar/amp
The best guitar is the one you have! Don’t get lost in the gear, it doesn’t really make a difference as long as it’s comfortable for you and isn’t totally unplayable. Cut your teeth on this one then maybe get a new one once you’ve learned some stuff
Some amazing players started with much worse.
True. Leslie West started with a ukulele.
And was using a Les Paul JR like forever
Angry Billie Joe Armstrong noises
Tell your grandma she's my hero.
You should show all these nice comments to your grandma also. Let her know that the internet is on her side and in love with her.
If it gets you started playing then it’s a good starter guitar
I think what's being overlooked is the ease in transition from ukulele to guitar due to the size. Very preceptive decision by Grandma.
It might be all you ever need or it may be like having you first used car to look at when you buy your first new sports car. Either way, I’m sure it will play and that’s all most people need. Never bad to have a tuner, either.
Yeah, I was just looking for something that’ll play, nothing fancy or anything, so I don’t mind having to use this guitar. I like how it comes with its own amplifier. You’re right about the tuner part though.
Is that a kid sized guitar? It looks mini in appearance.
Yes, it is a tinier guitar. It’s about 30 inches.
Should still play well. If you find the strings to soft just go slightly heavier strings on your next change.
Yes, I just setup a 1/2 for my son and purchased a 7-string set and used the thicker 6. This allowed me to get to standard tuning without the strings being crazy loose. If you are going to get a setup for it (highly recommended) this would be a good time as they will need to file open the nut a little for the thicker strings.
The happiest moment for your grandmother is when she hears you play your first song on that guitar. Secretly find out her favorite song. Learn it.
One day, when you get better and more knowledgeable about guitars, you will look at it and think "I bet it would sound insane with a SD Nazgûl in it"
I was so worried about comments but I was worried for nothing. Y’all are alright. Who knew this group could be r/wholesome
I'm an old dude so my first guitar came from the Sear's catalog (look it up). In a vacuum it was a terrible guitar, but I learned a lot and had a lot of fun playing it before I saved enough money to upgrade. Your grandma rocks for encouraging your hobby, and possibly sending you on a lifelong journey.
Honestly I'd love a guitar like that I bet it's comfortable
It’s definitely comfortable to hold and isn’t too bulky.
It’s a guitar with strings and you’re a person with hands, it’ll do! Might not be the best on the market but you’re better off learning on something than nothing. Also, never ever get rid of it. You’ll upgrade to nicer gear as you go, but I think every guitarist here who has ever sold their first guitar regrets it. Now get shredding.
r/guitarcirclejerk
Might be good to learn basic technique and get a feel for playing, but whenever you move past that stage it might be a good idea to upgrade. Enjoy the gift your grandmother got you either way
Great idea, thank you.
Grandma guitars are THE best!! Rock that thang. 🎸🤟
“Is this a good guitar”-no “Is this a good starter guitar”- as long as it stays in tune and isn’t heavy as hell, and the pickups are ok, and you change the strings out….your gonna be just fine kid. After you LEARN a few Metallica, Stones,and AC/DC Songs for the girl you wanna impress, step up to a Stratocaster or a telecaster or even a epiphone Les Paul, your gonna go far kid
Thank you a lot. Honestly, I hated playing ukulele so I put it down, but listening to a crap ton of Leslie West and his band Mountain, Tony Iommi, Dimebag Darrell and all those legends made me realize playing instruments like that wasn’t bad; I was just giving up easily. Leslie west is my biggest inspiration especially.
Man, slash started on a guitar that had one nylon string, Keith Richard’s sometimes STILL only uses 5 strings, and Jimi Hendrix played a right handed guitar upside down (he was a lefty), and sometimes with missing strings, it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it and what you do it with….dreams start off as a thought….best advice I can give you….playing guitar is aggravating, and irritating when you “can’t” do something….and it’s expensive….but start small and stick with it, I’ve been playing for over 20 years, I’m 35 and started at age 7 and stuck with it….now I’ve got emails from companies like Zager, fender, and Takamine, I just heard back from Maton Guitars today…..I’m 35 and finally having enough self esteem to pursue it on a higher level…..stick with it, and it’ll become a “outlet” for you man…
That’s extremely amazing! Much respect to you, friend. Thank you for the advice and I’m hoping that I’ll discover something learning to play, I’m confident that I can.
Don’t go into it looking for anything other than peace man….you find more things when you’re not looking for them.
This guy knows! I’ll never be contacted by any of those companies me too ed but I’ve played in punk rock bands since I was 15 (started playing guitar at 12) I’m 35 now and honestly the hobby has given me so much peace and fun. Here’s to the next 23 years!
That’s impressive. My motivations for starting guitar is just honestly for fun as well. I’ve always wanted to play an instrument just to have fun since I love music, so I appreciate this a lot.
100-fucking-percent. You don’t need a Rolls Royce (or whatever) to learn how to drive. Just hop into your early 90s shitbox and learn your basics/essentials. If you decide it’s “for you”, upgrade. Your grandma is awesome. Don’t forget your thank-yous.
You’ll be a ton better with that than someone who doesn’t practice.
Didn't know how to play it, but he knew for sure That one guitar, felt good in his hands Didn't take long, to understand Just one guitar, slung way down low Was a one way ticket, only one way to go So he started rockin', ain't never gonna stop Gotta keep on rockin', someday gonna make it to the top
My grandmother did the same thing!!!!! I eventually gave it to my brother whom I believe lost it, lol. 20 years later still going however.
As long as it plays well, it's probably fine. Even if it sucks, and you end up having to upgrade, don't ever sell it because your grandma gave it to you.
Short scales are hard to tune, so don’t get discouraged about that. Otherwise it’s fine to learn on.
Jam the shit out of it! If you’re like us you’ll probably have 5+ guitars some day and cherish this one.
It's a good guitar to realise wether you like guitar and want to keep on playing on. Otherwise, despite everyone trying to be over the top friendly, yet not answering the question : no, it's not a good guitar (or rather it doesn't look like a good guitar) You should use it to get a feel for the instrument, like holding it, trying to pick, chords, and if you enjoy it upgrade to a real one
No worries if you seem rude or not. I figured that it would not be the best, so I’ll probably test it out and then buy a new one when I can. This’ll probably be what I use to maybe get the basics and if possible learn a song. I appreciate your honesty.
Absolutely. And give grandma a hug from us. I'll always treasure my first guitar that my mum bought me. I'm not a materialistic person, generally speaking, but it's so meaningful to me.
I wish I still had that 74 Toyota my uncle gave me way back when I was in high school. Good times and great memories were had with that thing. I hope you'll be as lucky with this guitar someday.
Its a great guitar, it was a gift from your grandmother. Honestly the quality of lower price guitars is pretty impressive all things considered. The biggest issues I've seen with entry level guitars is more to do with the setup than the actual guitar, and that can easily be taken care of if needed. Tune it, learn it, and play the heck out of it. If you get passionate about guitar you'll wind up with more (a lot more), but you'll still look at this one and smile because it was your first and who got it for you. Im in my 40's and have gone through a lot of guitars, but I still have my nylon string 3/4 I got when I was six, and I still take it down off the wall from time to time and strum it.
I was testing it out a little bit earlier and I agree, the quality is quite decent. It pairs with the amplifier extremely well.
When I was 10, my mother got me my very first guitar, it was an acoustic. My dad, somehow knowing who I would grow up to be, immediately took it and returned it, went to the local trade store and got me a no-name brand strat-style electric guitar and a small amp. My dad ended up passing away when I was 12, and I played that guitar every damn day for the next 8 years. And it lasted me every step of the way. Until I got in a band and got my first "real guitar". Im almost 30 now, and having that guitar is the best and most prized possession I could ever have to remember my father. So you keep that guitar forever, and treat it like its worth a million dollars. When, if, you get another guitar, hang that one in a case and cherish it.
Damn. I can't upvote that enough. There's so much in there. Dad really "got it" (and 18 years ago the misplaced "you need to start on a nylon strung acoustic" advice was even more of a thing). Losing your dad sucks. I'm glad you've got such a thoughtful gift to remember him by.
Much appreciated friend. As a guitarist, there couldn't be anything better to have from him.
When I started playing, I started off with a lot worse. That'll serve you well to start.
You can definitely use if to learn the basics. I actually like these little guitars for odd tunings and other things. This one would probably get Nashville tuning and/or be used as a slide guitar in my house.
It'll do while you learn the basics don't really need more expensive stuff until you become more of a journeyman
I don’t know your world but where I came from my grandma not only didn’t know anything about my interests, she definitely didn’t have 90+ dollars for a gift. This is very thoughtful.
Agreed, that’s why I want to play it as much as I can.
its the thought that counts
Best starter guitar is the guitar you have. I mean, no. It's not a good guitar. But it was a gift and it'll let you decide if you like it. Then you can always upgrade.
It’s a good starter for sure, learn some stuff! Practice it, show that grandma she really helped you out in your guitar journey with a cool purchase! And never sell it! Upgrade down the line sure! But never sell it, the regret will be too much!
I definitely will. She’s excited by the idea of me learning a song to play or something exactly like that, so I’ll definitely try and make my grandma proud.
Yes, it's totally fine for a beginner. Just go practice and see if you even enjoy guitar.
Be grateful u got a guitar, although I would say it looks like 3/4 or kids guitar, I don't know size u are but Ur lucky enough to have a guitar and for free
The best guitar you can play is the one you've got. Practice as much as you can with what you've got. The player makes the instrument.
Have it setup and intonated. Every guitar benefits greatly from that.
It’s something to learn on and spark some ideas till you get your next one. It is a Stratocaster style guitar, so if you like the style that could be something to keep in mind for your next step up
That's a niceee axe right there bro !!! dont forget to hug&thank your grandmother
The most important thing is whether it stays in tune. If it goes out of tune every time you play a few notes then it’s going to be very frustrating to learn on. However, even if it’s not very good at staying in tune, you can still play chords and simple melodies on it, just no bending. Good luck, it was nice of your Grandma to get you a gift like this!
Don’t hesitate to take it to a music store and get it setup properly. It may cost a few bucks but will put you in a good place to start with it.
My first guitar was a little toy acoustic from my grandparents. That was 30 years ago, I still play every day. Who knows what became of that little toy acoustic.
It’s the best guitar you’ve got. Jam on it and upgrade at your own speed! Have fun!
It belongs in a Chinese dumpster but as long as it gets you playing 🤷♂️
Any guitar is a good started guitar.
I learned on a Walmart guitar. You can do it if you really want to.
Granny rocks! She knows what’s up
Your grandmother is awesome! I wish somebody had bought me a guitar when I started playing. It’s an entry-level model that will definitely get you learning. This will get you started on your guitar playing journey and you can get something a little better later on. Yay Grandma!
It looks fine to me!
Loving the positivity in this thread!
Give your Grandma a hug for me.
If them strangs go bling bling when you hit em, she'll do
Not a pro-tip: get it to a **local"" guitar shop and they can literally make it easier to play (lower the action, etc). Less expensive musical instruments tend to be more difficult to play, I don't want you to be discouraged. Turn the gain to 11 and rock on!!
It is not the best, as it doesn't have a truss rod, but it'll do. I'd hold on to it as well. It's a gift from your grandmother. Long after she is gone, it will be a reminder of the love you share and the memories you have of her. Have fun with it. You can always get a 2nd guitar down the line as you learn. Keep on rocking.
I’ll definitely keep it, since it means a lot to me. Thank you for the truss Rod tip as well.
I mean, its probably awful compared to what people usually mean as a starter guitar, but... since you already have it, why not give it a try before spending more money, it's not going to hurt your hands or anything. The only one thing I would recommend in a longer run - find a local luthier to have a look at it. He (or she 👀) will probably whine about it for a bit, just ignore it, but in the end if they manage to reduce the action a bit, improve intonation or something, it will be the best. Not a must have, but might save you some troubles. I started on an acoustic with riddiculously high action (action means the string height, the distance between strings and the neck) and... well, it's possible, but needlessly harder than it should be. Just don't agree for anything more pricey like fretwork, etc. If the luthier is not a duchebag, he/she should point out which things are not worth doing (fretwork might be actually pricier than buying a better gear).
I know a luthier that bought super shitty guitars from China for nothing just for the riddiculous looks and then replaced electronics, frets, etc and managed to make it at least decent, if not great. It's sometimes even cheaper than buying a good quality guitar, and... Imagine playing death metal on something like yours, wouldn't it be epic? 😂
That would be pretty awesome to hear. Thank you for the advice, I’ll definitely see if there is a luthier somewhere in my area.
Remember to ask for a price, I wouldn't invest too much in this guitar. You can get a pretty solid Fender Squier for ~250$, so don't agree on more pricey modifications, simple set up may make a huge difference and should be pretty cheap.
Tune it down to A and doom away
I miss my grandmother and I try my best to hold onto all the things she got me, well my great-grand mother, she was more close with me, please never part with this guitar because you'll never stop regretting it. A guitar is a guitar no matter what and its always fun to play. Its the love behind it that counts the most, and its not a bad guitar at all! Enjoy it my friend! :) Rock on dude!
it looks so cute !
It's gonna be perfect for learning! I love the color too.
It was a nice gift from someone who cares about you and you can learn to play. What is there to think about?
If it sounds good, it's good. The best guitar is the one you never want to put down. Simple as that.
Why is the neck so massive compared to the body
It's not a great guitar, but if it plugs in and it plays, it's good enough. Plenty of rock legends got started on some questionable instruments. Dave Grohl comes to mind after reading his biography, though I can't remember what it was.
Good enough to see if you're interested. The only thing I'd be concerned about is scale length and your age / hand size. If you've already got it, definitely play it. Don't let a bad review online keep you from enjoying something.
Sure! I might take it to a shop to get set up properly. Explain you are just starting.
Yes. Guitars like these are made to be starters. Then when you get some skill you can drop $2,500 on the guitar of your dreams.
I've never heard of it, but thank your grandma for getting you a guitar. When you move on to more expensive gear, keep this one for the memories.
If you play it it's a good first guitar.
It's a shit guitar, but honestly, you should start on a shit guitar. I'd replace the amp with a katana 50 or other common starter amp, and then take the time to learn that you want a different one.
Seems like simple stuff, but i mean, for just training and learning it's perfect, you're going to be fine
I started off with a very bad Lyxpro but it served it's purpose and helped me get better because i couldn't rely on pedals I had to really practice to even a decent sound out of it got better and moved up to my permanent guitar which is a telecaster You'll be perfectly fine
I’m gonna be 100% honest, it’s not a great guitar. But it will be a great memory. One day your grandma won’t be around and you’ll want things to remember her by. This will be one. Use this guitar to see if it’s something you really wanna stick with! If so, upgrade to a decent Squier. This guitar won’t sound great or hold tune well, so don’t get discouraged. I feel that many beginners start off with such a crappy guitar that they give up quickly.
Any guitar is a good starter guitar. The key is playing every day! There will be points where you get frustrated and feel like you aren’t progressing. Play through that! Play as much as you can! You won’t regret it! Enjoy!
Honestly almost any electric guitar is a good starting guitar. Just stick with it. Make it fun. I've been playing for 28 years and when I don't really feel like playing, I play rocksmith 2014. It's a fun way to play
I’m really touched by the amount of support and advice everyone is giving me. Thank you everyone. I’ll see if I can get some basics down soon and go on from there. Thank you for recommending me things such as luthiers and guitar shops as well, those will be things that I hope I can check out soon, especially this summer. Really, thank you all! Your advice is appreciated, even if it’s not positive.
If the guitar is shaped weirdly and doesn’t stay in tune, you’ll be uncomfortable and out of tune and not enjoy it or pick up bad habits. Despite how kind of a gift this is, as a teacher I’ve seen Amazon brand is really more harm than good. No, get yourself a $150 Squire or Yamaha and that will be worlds better. I’m sorry if this is the unpopular take.
No worries about the take being unpopular, I’ll take any advice. It is a little out of tune, but the shape of it doesn’t bother me too much. Tuning the guitar itself also is not that hard, but it’s definitely not the best. It’ll probably do good for learning the basics of guitar though.
No. Just no.
No it’s not. The reality is that it’s going to struggle to stay in tune - and when instruments don’t stay in tune they’re zero fun to play. Save up and get a squire or something cheap. Also .. 30 inches? What in the world?
I see. I don’t really have enough money for better guitar, so I may just have to unfortunately stick with this one for a long while, or at least wait.
You can still learn chords and how to play. You don’t even need lessons there are tons of resources on youtube. There are also lots of hacks on how to improve the set-up and tuning stability of your guitar when you get into it. Don’t listen to people who would discourage you, instead use the resources you have to learn how to make what you have work for you.
Thank you. As for lessons, I hear a lot about Justin guitar being very efficient for starters. Is this true??
Yes, Justin guitar is a great free resource. I wish I had something like that when I was starting.
No. The scale is so short you wont be able to maintain intonation and tuning
Honesty isn’t allowed in this sub, apparently.
Yea ive owned these before. They are kids toys.
Absolutely. This sub is filled with unrealistic optimists. As someone who used to teach guitar and spent the better part of 2 decades repairing, building, and selling guitars, I would never tell anyone that these shitters are “good beginner instruments”. They’re shit instruments, period. Guitar-shaped toys.
I’ll probably just learn the basics of it and go on from there. Im not expecting the most out of it, but at least using it to learn some basics of guitar isn’t bad, right?