Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good beginner's guitar?
We usually recommend a steel-stringed acoustic guitar with a concert size body and a solid spruce top for someone who is just starting to play. The slightly smaller size will give you comfortable playability. A solid spruce top will sound better than a laminated top to begin with, and its rich, warm, rounded tone will improve with age. This combination will give you a good guitar that you won't outgrow for a long time.
What should I look for?
Carefully check the quality of the guitar's materials and construction. The interior and exterior workmanship should be clean and precise. The guitar's nut, saddle and neck should be properly set up to produce a low action that plays clearly. Bullfrog Music carries new acoustic guitars with this level of quality that cost less than $200.
What about an acoustic-electric guitar?
An under-saddle pickup and on-board preamplifier will increase the versatility of your guitar. The electronics give you a convenient way to amplify the guitar in a performance situation, as well as a quick and easy way to record your playing using conventional recording equipment or a computer. You can also add effects such as reverb and chorus to give a fuller, studio quality sound. Many acoustic-electric guitars now come with a built-in tuner. Bullfrog Music carries acoustic-electric guitars starting at $350.
Will I need a special amplifier for an acoustic-electric guitar?
While you can use any type of amplifier, including a home stereo system, you will have a more realistic acoustic tone and better control over your sound with an amplifier that's designed for acoustic-electric guitars. A good quality practice amp for home use will cost about $150 to $200. A performance quality amp, costing $250 and up, may include a microphone input, and will typically allow you to monitor your sound while simultaneously routing a signal to a P/A system so it can be heard by the audience.
What about buying an acoustic guitar now, and adding electronics later?
A sound hole magnetic pickup will cost about $75 to $200. It is easy to install, and is more resistant to feedback than other types of acoustic guitar pickups in high volume situations. The down-side is that it will produce a slightly less authentic acoustic sound, as the magnetic properties of the pickup are more similar to that of an electric guitar. If you want your tone to retain more of the guitar's acoustic qualities, an under-saddle pickup is a better choice. Prices typically run from $125 to $250, and installation costs vary, depending upon the type. If you know you will want to amplify your acoustic or do recordings, we generally recommend purchasing an acoustic-electric guitar as a more cost-effective way to go.
What do I look for when I'm ready to move up in quality?
When you know what you want in terms of a guitar's physical attributes, you will be ready to do your comparison playing to find the tone you want. But first, there are the comfort and playability ergonomic factors to consider. You will need to decide on a body size and shape, whether you need a cutaway, and what nut width and neck profile best fits your style of playing.
What kinds of things influence an acoustic guitar's tone?
The search for tone begins with a solid wood top. Then there will be differences in tone depending upon the kind of wood that's used for the top, as well as its grain, thickness and finish. The next contribution to tone comes from the back and sides of the guitar. Whether solid or laminated, the type of wood that's used has an influence on tone. If it is an acoustic, the soundholes play a part, and if an acoustic-electric, the quality of the electronics is a consideration.
How much is a better guitar going to cost?
Bullfrog Music offers mid-level acoustics in the $400-$500 price range, and comparable acoustic-electrics in the $500-$700 range. Professional quality guitars go up in price from there, and can cost many thousands when you start adding in fancy grain patterns, inlay work, and other cosmetic details. What is truly remarkable is that these days you can buy a brand new guitar of professional caliber for well under a thousand dollars when it is manufactured outside the U.S. You can also spend about the same amount for high quality sound by purchasing a used American-made guitar. Bullfrog Music carries a good selection in both categories.
What about an electric guitar?
Solid-body electric guitars are most often associated with rock music, but have their place in pop, country, blues, and even jazz. They are especially good for playing in high volume situations such as in a band, where feedback can become a serious problem for hollow bodied acoustic-electrics. Because electric guitars have thinner bodies, narrower necks, and lower action that acoustics, some people find them easier and more comfortable to play. It is also possible to practice very quietly when unamplified, or by using headphones.
What should I look for in a beginner's electric guitar?
An electric guitar that has dual coil-tapped humbuckers is an excellent place to begin, because its pickups can cancel out 60-cycle hum and other types of electronic interference that can create noise problems, particularly in high-gain situations. With built-in coil-tapping, you have the versatility of producing cleaner single-coil types of tones, as well as gnarly humbucking tones. With coil-tapping and a three-way switch, you can select among ten different tonal combinations.
Should I consider a less well-known make of guitar?
You will have to a pay a lot more for a brand-name guitar of comparable quality. The long-established American guitar companies, in order to compete with the high quality guitars produced by the newer companies, are importing makes and models manufactured in Mexico, Korea, China, etc. under their brand names, and are flooding the market through chain stores and on-line merchants. As a result, the resale value of American brand-name guitars has been declining. At the same time, the demand for high quality instruments at a lower price point is being met by innovative companies such as Breedlove, Recording King, Johnson, Michael Kelly and Reverend, to name just a few.
Why buy at Bullfrog Music?
Being comfortable with the way a guitar sounds to your ears and feels in your hands is a very personal matter. You need to take your time, ask questions, and evaluate the store as well as the instrument. At Bullfrog Music, quality comes first. We carry the best quality instruments at every price point, and provide the highest quality of service, both before and after the sale. We encourage you to thoroughly evaluate an instrument's sound and feel, will intelligently answer your questions, and will make sure that the instrument you purchase is properly adjusted and set up to your specifications. More than any other music store you're likely to encounter, we care about our customers and want them to experience lasting pleasure with their new instruments. That is why we provide free ongoing service that includes adjustments, set-ups and stringing. We also offer lessons for all ability levels. At Bullfrog Music, we are truly passionate about the guitars we sell, and hope to inspire their owners to play them well.
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