Complete Beginner

[MikeO]

Finally decided I'm going to take guitar lessons instead of buying a convertible for my mid-life crisis. I've been a fan of guitar music since I started listening to music but never really had time to commit to learning how to play. Well, divorce fixed that for me.

I love the look and sound of the PRS so am seeking advice. If you were buying a PRS to learn to play, what model would you suggest? Obviously, I've looked at the SE Standard and the SE model lines. Is anything above that simply overkill for a beginner?

Thanks. Any comments are appreciated.

 

[Alan Manning]

Go to your nearest prs stockist & handle a few in your price bracket. see what feels comfortable for you, there all great guitars "honest" youll know my friend. happy Hunting.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Find a used SE SoapBar II, seriously set aside time to watch and study YouTube guitar lessons for free, and still buy the convertible.

 

[jay]

I would save money for when you will be able to fully enjoy the process of buying an "expensive" guitar. In the meantime, I think any PRS SE will be fine ... maybe try to avoid doing dumb things like buying a floyd rose-equipped guitar, unless you know what you are doing (I did this mistake many moons ago).

 

[AP515]

Your circumstance sounds a lot like mine a few years ago. One difference was I had used a tax return and purchased a core Cu24 two months before she left (no, she had agreed to the purchase, that wasn't the reason for the divorce). So my choice of guitar was already made. However, what I found was that the extra time I had to practice was used very efficiently. I couldn't wait to get home from work and practice. I started to improve my playing very quickly. I did have to add a much better amp though. I had been learning on a cheap Squier Strat and one of those 6 inch speaker SS amps. The move up to a core Cu24 was a huge step in quality (it was actually the green one in my avatar).

So, my advice is to buy the best guitar you can on your budget. Find the one that makes you want to practice. Next is to do the same with the amp. Find the best one for you in your budget range (that includes the used market). When faced with the choice of getting the budget piece of gear, and getting something better but having to stretch the budget, take the leap and stretch the budget. It's worth it. The SE line is fabulous. I've watched 5 buddies at work buy them (from my suggestion) to begin to play guitar or to take the next step, and they are all extremely happy. Still, I've never regretted my 1st new guitar purchase. To your original question about "is a more expensive guitar overkill for a beginner?" No, it is most certainly not. Get the best guitar you can afford. It will motivate you to practice and the guitar won't get in your way.

On a more personal note: hang in there. You can come out of this ok. There were some times I didn't think so, but on the backside now, looking at the whole thing, life's good again. And you'll have a new skill which is better than a convertible any day!

 

[CoreyT]

Welcome to the forum.
Sergio mentioned YouTube as a great place to learn some songs.
I have a thread here I update with tunes I have been learning over the past few years.
http://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/i-really-dig-youtube-for-guitar-lessons.4086/

Sometimes I get stumped on a song, so I turn to YouTube for help.

 

[JustRob]

Welcome. Definitely go out and get a few different models in your hands. See what feels comfortable to you. Double cut, single cut, different neck profiles... An uncomfortable guitar can really take the joy out of learning.

 

[11top]

I think the 24.5 scale is easier to tackle. SE 245 would be a good choice IMO.

 

[11top]

So, my advice is to buy the best guitar you can on your budget. Find the one that makes you want to practice.

If you're serious about this endeavor, that's good advice.

 

[veinbuster]

I agree with AP515: buy the best that you can afford that feels good in your hands.

 

[László]

I'd buy something moderately priced until you know whether or not playing guitar is going to be a thing for you. Plenty of folks get a little spendy and then for whatever reason become frustrated, don't follow through, or find themselves not able to play as well as they'd like and give it up.

Then they feel a little foolish for dropping 3 grand on a guitar.

 

[rugerpc]

Doc Ruger's beginner's tips...

Sit down with a selection of guitars at the upper limit of your price range. Buy that one that is the most comfortable in your hands, the one that feels easiest to play. Standing to play is a completely different animal... and the weight of the guitar, it's angle to the floor or your body, the strap, the cord tangling at your feet are all unnecessary distractions at this point.

Do the same with a selection of amps at the top of your budget. Buy the one that sounds best to your ears with the guitar you selected above. Look for simple controls that are intuitive. It's probably not the right time to dive into a complex digital modeling amp or a 200 watt stack.

For both, at least try items a little over your budget. There may be something you are willing to save a little for.

Take your instruction from every possible source: live one-on-one instruction, group lessons, YouTube, self teaching books and DVDs...

Buy a metronome and a tuner and use them both. Frequently.

Find others to play with. NOTHING teaches timing better than playing with other people, not metronomes, not playing along to backing tracks or published music like CDs.


***and what Les says above.

 

[DHW]

All good advice, just plan on spending about the same as the guitar on an amp. Buy from somewhere that will go over the setup before you buy it. A lot of the big box stores do not do this. Don't worry about pedals and such other than maybe a tuner pedal(you'll need a clip on tuner at the very least). Be ready for a long haul, but worth doing.

What part of the country do you live in?

 

[kes7u]

Sorry about the divorce, but congrats on finally picking up guitar!

Although my wife now sees me less than previously, she is very pleased that THIS is my mid-life crisis! I decided to learn to play guitar almost exactly 2 years ago. It has been a difficult process, but I am more determined than ever to keep improving. A PRS Core was my first guitar. I understand the suggestions about buying something less expensive, until you know you are going to stick with it. I know myself pretty well by this point, though, and I don't give up or give in.

I agree with the advice about sitting down with several guitars and picking what feels best. Wish I would have taken that advice. I do recommend a 24.5 scale length, if possible. While many things factor into string tension, I felt that the shorter scale length and lower string tension really helped me to 'perfect'(I use the term loosely) barre chords.

Good luck to you, and keep us updated!
Kevin

 

[Huggy Love]

buy the best that you can afford that feels good in your hands.

Golden advice, I tell any & all of the beginners I've taught that getting a guitar that feels "right" in your hands is gonna make all the difference in the world. If it doesn't feel good to hold in your hands, you're not going to take the time to get better at playing.

 

[pac90]

goto justinguitar.com & all his beginners' stuff is graciously free

 

[DHW]

goto justinguitar.com & all his beginners' stuff is graciously free

My daughter and I used a lot of his free lessons over the last few years. They really are excellent and at the very least will get you started in the right direction.

 

[Kazz]

I agree with most of what's been said above, and if a Core model will make you want to play more, I would do it. Just don't discount the SEs and S2s as good options just because they're cheaper. Most people could be happy with something from any of those lines, and many of us have a mix.

If you're wondering which model to try, you should find something that feels and sounds good to you, and has the features that you're interested in.

A few thing a to consider:

Trem vs hard-tail (including different versions of each)
Humbucker vs single coil (or combination, coil split, piezo, etc.)
Single cut vs double cut
Control options and layout
Scale length
Neck carve

There are other things you could take into consideration, but that should be plenty to start with.

 

[IKnowALittle]

Artist V ... best guitar PRS has made.

 

[Goldtop]

MikeO,

First of all, welcome to The Forum.

Man, I love hearing about someone new getting into guitars and wanting to give one a try, see if it's for them, all of that exciting stuff. VERY cool. I wish you the very best of luck, and if there's anything I can do myself to help please feel free to PM me if you'd like. Not to say that I'm an expert at all. I'm just crazy about guitars!

There's been so much advice offered here so far, and I think most of it is great. A few things I would add are the following:

First of all, take your time. With every step. If you feel rushed I promise you that you'll make a decision that you'll regret, and your wallet will be much lighter for it.

What matters most is what you think, what you feel, how comfortable you are with your choices. Advice and opinions are fine, but please remember not to be forced or pressured in any way by what someone else tells you. All too often a sales person in a store spots someone new and/or unsure about what they want and what they're doing, (or how much they can truly afford to spend), and they think they've found someone ripe for the picking. Not all sales people are that way, but enough are that you need to be prepared to deal with them when the situation presents itself.

Also, about shopping at a store, or anywhere else for that matter: Life is too short to put up with poor service. Period. New at this or not, your money is as green as the next person's. The sales person who acts like they're (A) doing you a favor by listening to your newbie questions, or (B) too busy to listen to your newbie questions and offer you sincere, honest answers is the sales person you should avoid. Every single one of us was new and starting out in the world of guitars at one time, and the sales buffoon who forgets that is the one who should never get your cash!

Which guitar or amp? Well, think about the music you like. Who do you listen to? Which bands or guitarists do you really enjoy? Do you want to try to sound like them? If so, then do some research and find out what equipment they use. And I mean what they really use, not just what they may endorse. Just because you see somebody in magazine ads doesn't necessarily mean that's what that player actually uses.

Budget. Ask yourself what you're comfortable spending. Pick an amount, say $1000.00 and stick to it! That's not a huge amount of money, (it's a small fortune to me but that's another story), but it's a decent price point for guitars of actual quality. There are plenty of PRS choices in that price range that would be great for someone starting out and even well beyond. 'Overkill'? Only you can decide that, but if that question has already entered your mind it should tell you what you need to know.

One last thing for whatever it may or may not be worth. I've played and owned guitars for well over forty years, and I can honestly say that I have never owned a bad PRS guitar. I can't say that about any other company. So I commend you on your brand choice already!

Good Luck. Please let us know how you're doing?

Goldtop/Lloyd