Buying An Acoustic Guitar
Have you ever dreamed of being a rock star? Maybe you just want to play at local clubs with some friends or maybe you just want to learn to play the guitar. Whatever your plans are, there are things you must consider when purchasing your instrument. When you first decide that you have an interest in playing, you have an idea in mind as to what you are going to want to do with your talent.
Everyone that goes to a concert imagines on some level that they would like to be on stage in front of all those fans. Realistically, that dream only comes true for a few people and that is usually after years of hard work and dedication. However, every city and town has some clubs or bars that can provide the budding musician a venue to perform for people. Summer also brings the festival scene that is always looking for local talent and for musicians with a following and competent management, touring is a possibility. Or you just might want to entertain yourself and your friends at backyard barbecues. Any of these scenarios brings a level of personal satisfaction to the musician but each one has a different set of technical requirements.
If you just want to play at home or in your backyard, your choices are simple; you just need to decide what size guitar you want and what basic features you are interested in. There are three basic body styles; the auditorium, the dreadnought, and the jumbo. The auditorium has a smaller body size, and is easier to play for someone with smaller hands and shorter arms. The dreadnought, which has a little bit larger and thicker body size, produces a fuller sound. The jumbo has the largest body size and usually produces the most volume. The other features you would need to consider are color and cutaway which give you access to the higher frets for playing leads and higher up the neck.
If you plan to playing live on stage, you want to spend the extra money for a built in pickup. This allows you to amplify the sound by plugging in directly into the sound system. If you are performing by yourself in a local coffee house or small club, you probably won’t need a separate acoustic guitar amplifier. As a solo act, it is much easier to hear yourself. Playing in a band with multiple instruments will require an acoustic amplifier to help you hear yourself. It gets loud onstage and you want to be sure you are playing the same thing as everyone else in the band. Another nice feature available in many acoustic-electric models is a built in tuner. I can’t stress enough how important it is to be in tune.
Sierra Guitars makes a variety of models for every type of guitarist. Whether you want to just play at home or hit the stage, they have a guitar for every performer. From the value priced laminate tops (top of the guitar is made from multiple pieces of wood) to the more expensive models with a solid top (single piece top), they have sizes and colors to fit every taste. Sierra also offers a number of acoustic-electric options that are designed for performing on stage and they even have a travel guitar.
Whatever guitar you decide to get, remember the old adage, practice makes perfect. If you spend time learning and practicing, you will discover a hobby that will bring you a lifetime of enjoyment.
