Hello all the sifus here, i would like to know several tips and must know thing when come to purchase a guitar either acoustic and electric guitar. I am pleased to let the sifus list a some important matter when buying guitar

If you're not sure how to choose one, bring along an experienced player to test the guitar for you. Maybe try searching the forum, I think this topic had been discussed before.

I see. That is the problem. I don't have any friends that play guitar. Erm..but i do some research on the net for guitar for newbies. Electric ones should be Ibanez GAX70 but i am still not sure about acoustic guitar. Planning to buy second hand though because i want to learn. Any sifu can recommend me acoutic for starter?

i'd say the gsz120 is a tad better then gax series. i dunno, maybe just me.

anyway, either follow quarantined's advice, or gamble on your own. the good part of having an experienced friend with you is he can tell a good guitar from a bad one. the bad, he maybe bias to certain brand .

in general, just pick the one with the sound that you like....with the best looks...and most importantly, the best feel to you. it's stupid to buy a flying V just because some artist use it although you are uncomfortable with the design.

I see. Actually i want to play eletric guitar but then i think i need to build my finger basic skill and strength with the acoustic as the the picking on the acoustic quite hard. What do you all think? That mean i have to fork out another money if i want buy electric.

This post has been edited by nightzstar: Jul 5 2007, 02:27 PM

get an acoustic first the wide bridge will help you familiarise with each note easier.

Hi dude,

Like a few of the previous posters said, its vital to have an experienced friend to go along with you when getting a new guitar. He can tell a lot of things that you will not realise about the guitar.

The fact is, every guitar (even the same model) and especially the lower end ones cam be very different in playability due to the lower QC on those guitars. I've tried Squiers that was bad and some that plays really well for its price.

2ndly, what's ur budget. Its very important.

3rd, if ur a total newbie, it is not necessary to start with an acoustic but it depends on what u wanna play. If u wanna play the electric, by all means go get one. Cuz its a diff feel altogether. But it is true that by starting on an acoustic will give u more strength etc.

'Normal' beginners acoustic:
1. Kapok
2. Yamaha F210

'Normal' beginners electric:
1. Sx Strats
2. Squier Strats
2. Ibanez GIO series (i would recommend a non-floating bridge or u'll have a headache trying to tune it, and then an additional headache trying to keep it in tune)

For acoustics, try to get a guitar that has relatively 'low' action (meaning the height of the string from the frets). If not i dread that u might give up playing the guitar because its too 'hard' to press.

all in all, best advice here? get an experienced friend, or u just might get conned.

the ONLY thing you need to know.
never buy from mahogany, oh and ironwood too.

I'll include Bentley... Their prices are all crazy...but damn, they are the only retailers here for Fenders and Ibanez and Taylors and WTF else...

Anyway, TS, the neck will be very vital, be it acoustic or electric. Try to slide your finger through the edge/side of it and if you can feel the frets hitting your finger, than that's a bad guitar. I once had a guitar like that and it really hurts to slide..

The neck must not be twisted or warped too.

Bentley not THAT bad, considering some of the items are almost the same price as their US counterparts.......

it really boils down to what type of music you're into and what you wanna play...no point getting an acoustic when what you really wanna play is some good rock'n'roll

all i did was just pick up the guitar in the shop and play it. if it feels good, sounds good, price's good...then it's good to me of course get tips from experienced friend will help a lot..

well maybe you're comparing with guitar centre.

One more thing I hate about Bentley, they judge their customers puchasing potential by looking at what you wear, what watch at your wrist etc. Once, I went there with slippers and shorts and I asked to test their top end acoustics... That Chinese faggot gave me that kinda stare..F*CK HIM

TS, keep out from Mahogany or Bentley

For me, the only shop in Malaysia worth considering is Sinamex although I haven't buy anything from them

bentley have got the WORST ever sales people.
if you're good, you can sell any product without knowing much about them.
but no, the bentley staff all cant talk, cant serve, cant do jack shit.

If you go down to Mahogany SS2 it will be the direct opposite compared to Bentley.

I bet those people there can sell A Refrigerator to Eskimos.



So, Beware!

Hmmmmmmm...... Maybe it's because I bought an RR3, EMGZW Pickups, Wylde Wah and a Digitech Whammy from Bentley which is why they treat me so nice........

That and because I always pay with my Plat Master......


RR3......Rm2400
EMG ZW Pickups..... RM650
Wylde Wah...... Rm650
Digitech Whammy.... RM900

EXCELLENT customer service?

Priceless.

There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's Mastercard.....

i don't have much problem with bentley's staff. maybe i'm just too blunt to notice their behavior?

TS: i guess the safest way is to bring your friend along or do research...but do remember every guitarist have different style, so their taste in guitars are different.

went to bentley a few times....service there is ok la....nothing special....worse wan is woh fatt...service like a$$ only....1k+ guitar oso dun let ppl to try....summore say not buying kennot try....mahogany's service is very good...consultant there is very friendly n helpful...but price is sky high.....

as for choosing acoustic guitar....go for a yamaha....zero neck adjustment....fret everything is clean....n it's quite cheap

i think the acoustic is unnecessary if you want to buy it just to strengthen your fingers. an electric guitar can do just that too.

as for staff... mahogany people really know how to chop you, know how to talk all kinds of shit. bently.. the fella follow you close close if you wear cheap cheap clothes and anything you want to touch they will try to stop you and go "yess can i helps you?"

but many shops also like that so..

Don't bother to start from an acoustic if you only interested in an electric. The cheap but good package for a starter that I can recommend you is a SX Tele or Strat (available in Woh Fatt for RM480, but should be less) + a Roland MicroCube guitar amplifier(can get from Bentley at RM380). Ask them to throw you a bag, guitar cable, picks, strap, strings, picks and whatever you can think of. Buying second hand is actually a good option as you'll be able to buy a better build guitar which can serves and satisfy you longer than a cheaper axe at a lower price, but beware of dishonest sellers lo..

Personally I think Rhapsody in Midvalley has good customer service, but their price is expensive.