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Instruments
Instruments
are not one-size-fits-all. Guitars, basses, banjos, mandolins, mountain dulcimers
and ukuleles can also have different body sizes, necks
lengths, nut widths, string
spacing, and string types. A poorly
sized instrument develops bad habits. Visit
Somers Guitar
in Atlantic
&
Carroll, IA or via webcam
before
purchasing an instrument for your
music lessons.
We will size the student's body, arm length,
hand size, finger length & width, finger-tip shape and
make appropriate recommendations. We suggest students ages 7 to 11 start on either a
NYLON string classical guitar, ukulele or an electric
guitar.
WHERE
should I buy?
Somers
Guitar recommends the following Southwest Iowa
area guitar stores for either in-store or online
purchases in Des Moines, IA
(Guitar Center,
Rieman Music &
Professional Music Center)
or in
Omaha, NE (Guitar Center
&
Russo's Guitar Center).
Other
leading instrument retailers online are
Amazon,
Guitar Center
&
Musician's Friend.
We recommend
you purchase from a reputable full-service music
instrument store. The stores listed above have the
following: (1) excellent new and used
instruments that are free of temperature and humidity
damage, (2) multiple nationally-recognized name
brands, (3) pro players that specialize in the
instrument you want and (4) a qualified,
in-house, repair person. We do not recommend
purchasing from department stores or pawn shops.
WHAT
brand and HOW much?
You definitely get what
you pay for when buying an instrument or finding a
guitar teacher. For
example, expect to spend over $75 to get a decent
beginner level ukulele without a case in 2012. A decent beginner's
3/4 size Yamaha classical guitar (child's size) in 2012
costs $120 without a case. Prices go up depending on the size, wood type & quality
no matter which instrument you play. Below are brands that have good beginner instruments or value packages (also
called starter kits or packs). These instruments should
play well, stay in tune and be reasonably priced.
-
Acoustic
(steel string) - Dean, Epiphone, Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha
-
Banjos -
Deering Good Time (open back), Gold Tone Cripple
Creek (open back or resonator), Saga
-
Bass -
Dean, Epiphone, ESP, Fender, Ibanez
-
Classical
(nylon string) - Dean, Yamaha has all sizes
-
Electric - Dean, Epiphone, ESP, Fender, Ibanez
-
Mandolin
- Aria, Eastman, Epiphone, FlatIron, Gibson, Ibanez,
Kentucky, Washburn.
-
Mountain
Dulcimer - Doug Berch, McSpadden, Walnut Creek From
T.K. O'Brien, Tom Yocky
-
Ukulele
- aNeuNeu, Cordoba, Kala, Lanikai, Luna,
Martin, Oscar Schmidt
WHY
should I consider a nylon string classical guitar or
ukulele?
Nylon string classical
guitars and Ukulele's:
-
Both
come in different sizes. Ukulele's come in soprano
(smallest), concert, tenor & baritone (biggest)
sizes. They are the perfect pre-guitar instrument.
Uke's work well for younger students who's hands are
still too small for guitar. They are like a guitar
without the sixth string (E) or 5th string (A).
Therefore, the chord shapes are the same as those on
guitar. The 1/2 size nylon string classical guitar
is the next size up from the biggest uke. Classicals
also come in 3/4, 7/8 & full size.
-
Cost
less than buying an electric guitar with an amp,
effects and cables.
-
Are mellow sounding and quieter. Parents, siblings
& neighbor's appreciate that!
-
Are the
easiest
to play with a
smaller body and softer, nylon strings.
Nylon classical guitar & uke strings only require 60
psi to make a note sound verses 165
psi to make an acoustic steel string
guitar sound. In other words, nylon classical guitar
& uke strings are
two and
a half times easier to hold down verses an acoustic
guitar's steel
string.
-
Have wider
strings which makes for a bigger target for the
fingertip to control.
-
Can have a
wider nut than electric and steel string guitars.
The nut is the thin, white or black rectangle by the guitar
head that the strings rest in. More space between the strings
(string spacing) promotes better finger
independence and helps a beginner with fine motor
skills. Putting wider nylon strings in a more
narrowly slotted acoustic steel string's nut causes
there to be even less string spacing than before.
The strings will also bind and cause tuning
problems. Putting steel strings (160 psi) on a
classical guitar or uke designed for nylon strings (60 psi)
will pull the bridge from the guitar top, crack the
neck joint, and/or warp the neck.
WHAT should I look for in a beginner's instrument?
A quality
beginner instrument prepares your student to succeed.
A poorly
made instrument is hard to play, doesn't stay in tune, needs frequent
repairs, discourages practice, increases student
frustration and drop-out rates which wastes your
investment.
Look for these things when
purchasing your first instrument.
-
Nylon &
electric strings - only require 60 psi to make a
note sound verses acoustic steel strings requiring
165 psi.
-
Children
need 1/2 or 3/4 size nylon string classical guitars
or a ukulele.
Teens and adults typically use full-size
instruments. Check the finger width, string & fret
stretch, hand size and arm length with the
instrument in the hands of your student to determine
the correct instrument size.
-
A
straight neck with no warp. Hold the instrument in
front of you and look at the side. Compare the
straight line of the string against the angle of the
neck. It should be straight with no curves. If it
has a truss rod your dealer can adjust the neck to
the proper angle.
-
Low
action. A proper neck angle allows the strings to be
close to the neck and easy to hold down.
-
Good
quality tuners. They should not be loose or have a
lot of play in them when you turn them.
-
No
cracks where the neck meets the body or where the
bridge attaches to the instrument's top.
-
Cloudy
looking finish at the neck joint or the edges of the
bridge may be signs of stress or poor quality.
-
Ask the
dealer to stretch the strings to get the slack out
or your new instrument will not stay in tune!
-
Don't
forget accessories - picks, strap, footstool, tuner,
music stand, extra strings, cord, amp & capo.
-
Shubb
brand capos are recommended because of their quality
and ease of use for kids & adults.
-
For more
information see our
Resources
page. Check the "Before You Buy," "Beginning
Guitar," "Dealers," and "Guitar Care" sections.
Types of Guitars
The
Guitar's History.
The
vihuela
was a Spanish made stringed instrument that was popular between
1500 and the late 1600's. Unlike the
violin,
viola, cello or double bass
which are tuned in fifths, the vihuela: (1) was tuned in
fourth's like a lute,
(2) had six strings, (3) a larger body like a guitar,
(4) curves in the waist, (5) metal frets, (6) and it was
held on the lap.
It eventually lost in popularity to the European lute which developed into the
5-string baroque guitar and later the modern 6-string acoustic guitar of the mid-1800's that we recognize
today.
Classical
guitar.
This guitar is used in many genres, but is often
associated with classical, flamenco & jazz music.
It looks just like an acoustic guitar without a pick
guard. It's distinguishing marks are a sound hole
in the center of the guitar body and six strings - three
of which are made of nylon. Nylon strings require
about 60 lbs. of pressure to hold the string down and
are much easier to play. They offer a softer, more
soothing sound especially when played with the fingers
instead of a pick. Classical guitars come in 1/2 and 3/4
size for the "little" guitarist and full-size
models for the "big" guitarist. A full
size classical guitar typically has a smaller body than
a steel string acoustic guitar. The
wider string spacing on a full-size is perfect for those
with large fingers.
Acoustic
guitar.
This guitar is used in many genres,
but is often associated with old-time country, folk,
gospel, blues, ragtime & Celtic music. It's
distinguishing marks are a sound hole in the center of
the guitar body with a pick guard below and six steel
strings that help to project sound. It's perfect
for intimate settings like the campfire or small group
and can be played with a pick or fingers. It does
not require an amp which is easier on the budget.
Steel strings need 165 lbs. of pressure for a note to
sound making it the hardest guitar to play. This can make it uncomfortable for some to hold a
string down until they develop calluses.
The smaller string spacing than a
classical guitar also makes it harder to control
fingers.
A full size, dreadnought
body style, steel string, acoustic guitar typically has a larger
body than a classical guitar.
Electric
guitar.
This
guitar is used in many genres, but is often associated
with rock, blues, jazz & modern country music.
It's distinguishing marks are a thin body and a
rectangular-shaped magnetic device called a "pickup" in
the center of the body. Electric guitars project a
louder string and body sound through the "pickup" and
into the "amplifier." Electric guitars are well
known for playing "lead" or solos using a pick.
They are usually equipped with lighter gage strings
making them easier to play than acoustics.
Bass
guitar.
Bass is used in many genres to provide
the rhythmic and melodic foundation that other
instruments in a band build upon. It is often
associated with bass emphasizing styles like hip-hop,
R&B, rock, blues and jazz. It's distinguishing
marks are a longer neck, pickups and four steel strings
that are larger and wider spaced than those on an
acoustic or an electric guitar. Therefore, the
bass is well suited for those with large hands and
fingers. Although, Ibanez and other brands make a
shorter neck (scale length). An amp is required to hear an electric
bass. Bass players can use either a pick or their
fingers to strike the strings with. Good bass players
are in demand for school, church, garage and pro bands.
Bass is easier to play than guitar when you consider
that you typically play one note at a time verses four,
five or six strings.
Repairs, Restringing & Reconditioning Fretboards
Restringing.
Somers Guitar can restring your instrument anytime. We also have instrument RESTRING WEEK three times a year
(November, March & June). Restringing includes D'Addario
strings, installation time, string stretching, body
polishing, truss rod adjustment and lubricating gears as
needed ($18 for electric, $20 acoustic, $28 classical,
$30 bass, and $40 for a 12-string). We bring 30 years of
experience to the job so we will do it once and do it
right. String manufacturers are correct to say
that strings lose their vitality after about 15 hours of
play. Who can afford to change strings that often
though? For those who play weekly, we recommend
changing the strings every month at best and every 6
months in the least. Once strings start turning dark
from dirt, oil and sweat buildup they oxidize and are
hard to tune. If you do not string your instrument
correctly, it will not stay in tune, sound as good or
sustain as long.
Fretboard Cleaning
and Reconditioning. Manufacturers recommend
this be done annually. For $10 we clean the wood
fretboard of all dirt and sweat residue buildup and
recondition it with oil. The benefits are many. (1) It keeps the fretboard dirt from transferring to your
new strings as they rub against a dirty fretboard
causing new strings to last longer. (2) Helps
prevent fretboard lightening, drying and cracking. (3) Makes for a slightly smoother feel to play against,
leaving the fretboard looking dark and brand new again.
Repairs.
We recommend
The Lutherie Shop in Des Moines (515)
277-2255 or
Russo's Guitar Center in Omaha (402)
493-2116.
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