I’ve played guitar for more decades than I’d like to count. I would suggest that if you buy the wrong starter guitar, you’ll set yourself up for failure. Musical instruments are as varied as the individuals who play them. I’m assuming that you’ll be looking for an acoustic guitar because you won’t be able to get set up with an electric in the price range you’re talking about.
There are some reasonably playable starter guitars out there in the lower price ranges but you need to find the one that’s right for you. That means you have to hold it and hear it. You can go to your local music center and look them over. You can even get someone in the store to play them for you. Get the sales person to let you hold them. Sit on a stool of proper playing height and put it on your lap as though you can play. Pluck it a little bit and press the strings up and down the neck. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the body the right size for you?
- How do the strings feel?
- Which one feels most comfortable when you push the strings down?
- How wide is the neck?
- How large is your hand? If you have a large hand, you’ll probably prefer a wider neck.
- Look at the neck, is it straight? You want the distance between the string and the frets (brass lines on neck) to vary as little as possible. They will get progressively further away from the frets as they go higher on the neck but they should NOT be close then far then close again. That would mean the neck is bowed.
- When you pluck the strings, do you hear a buzz? If so, the strings are probably too close to the neck for you.
- If you can find one in this price range with a truss rod, that’s a real plus. A truss rod is a metal adjustment device that goes through the center of the neck.
Some brands that I know that offer models in this price range are:
- Epiphone – a sister company of Gibson
- Takamine – a sister company of Ovation
- Ibanez – I once chose this brand for a friend of mine who was looking for a starter guitar.
There are other starter guitars out there with names I’ve never heard of that make decent instruments. These are just a few that I know and have some brand trust for.
Finally, take your time making this decision. Go to the store and find the makes and models you think fit you. Go back home and check the prices on a site like Musicians Friend or American Musical Supply. I’ve done business with both and find them reliable. If the price at your local store is in the same ball park as these web vendors, I recommend buying from the local music store even if it costs a little more. They’ll be there when you need help finding the right replacement strings. They’ll be able to advise you about how to restring a guitar etc. And they’re the ones that let you play with their stock.
When you find the right one, be prepared to have sore fingertips for at least a month. If you’re not willing to suffer a little until you build up calluses, then you should save your cash.
I hope this helps
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