Whether playing for self-enjoyment or in preparation for a career as a knowledgeable guitarist, It’s forever best to start out with an …
An acoustic guitar produces sound through the vibration of sound waves into the air by the strings on the guitar’s body. The sound waves are further strengthened by a soundboard and the sound box that form the body of the guitar. An electric guitar, on the other hand, is amplified electronically.
Sound is produced by plucking or strumming the strings on the guitar’s soundboard.
When it comes to selecting the best acoustic guitars, determining a good one depends on a number of issues. Before deciding to buy an acoustic guitar, ask yourself a couple of questions:
Why do you need a guitar?
Are you an experienced guitar playing or a novice looking for something to develop your skills on?
What genre of music do you intend to play with the guitar?
What is your budget?
In other words, the best acoustic guitar will vary depending on how you answer these questions. Generally though, here are 5 tips that will guide you to make an informed decision of the best acoustic guitar.
1. Price matters
The price of the guitar – and that of practically anything else – makes a statement about the quality of that product. Unless, of course, you meet a con artist. Yet, again the price will be determined by the kind of guitar you’re looking for. What is the purpose of getting a guitar?
If it is a guitar you intend to practice on, go for something that does not go below $300. Anything cheaper will produce lousy sound quality and be difficult to play. The strings might be too tight and not vibrate flawlessly when you pluck. For $700 you must be able to acquire an acoustic guitar that is of higher quality and comes with a solid spruce stop. Anything above $1,200 for an acoustic guitar implies pro-quality guitar. The string vibrates easily and the quality of the sound produced is top notch.
2. Know what is best for you
There is no standard formula for determining a good guitar for you. Once more, you need to identify what you are good at and what feels comfortable with you. The main way of finding out, even if you are novice starting out, is by picking a wide range of acoustic guitar and trying them out to establish what feels best for you.
3. Guitar design
If you are going to strum your guitar like crazy, choose something that is comfortable. If the strings of your acoustic guitar are far from the fretboard, you may hurt your fingers as you play. You may also have to suffer a few stiff necks as a result. Choose one with a low action with the strings even and slightly raised towards the 12th fret.
4. Quality of wood
The body of an acoustic guitar is generally made of wood. The type of wood used to construct the guitar ultimately determines the sound quality of the guitar. Solid wood is the best for acoustic guitars since they produce a better quality sound and improves resonance. Avoid acoustic guitars with a heavy finish since such a finish hampers the quality of sound.
5. Sound quality
It is advisable to take a friend with you and let them play as you listen to fully decide which the best acoustic guitar is for you. Listening to it as someone else plays enables you to concentrate on sound quality, and make a decision based on what your ears tell you. Once more, the decision of what constitutes a good sound lies squarely on your shoulders.