Comments on: Guitar as a Gift http://www.classicalguitar.org/2009/12/how-to-give-a-guitar-as-a-gift/ Classical Guitar Lessons, Interview, News, Tips & More Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:11:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark McKay http://www.classicalguitar.org/2009/12/how-to-give-a-guitar-as-a-gift/#comment-97788 Mark McKay Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:45:00 +0000 http://www.classicalguitarblog.net/?p=2550#comment-97788 Great points; I started out on a nylon string classical acoustic and agree that the key to keeping kids going with guitar is giving them an early sense of progress. If their early guitar playing experiences are primarily painful then it becomes easier to practice less often and ultimately quit altogether. While the gift of a guitar is an excellent choice for a child I believe the gift of a guitar is a wonderful choice for an adult, particularly an intimate partner. My wife gave me a vintage Gibson SG for Christmas last year (it had a PAF in it that no one realized until I had some restoration work done)! I, in turn, am giving her a vintage Gibson J45 I purchased from a seller on Craigslist recently. Both gifts are symbolic of our love for music and for each other and while guitars can be pricey as gifts I can't think of a more meaningful expression of love and thoughtfulness. Although hand drums make nice gifts too, but that's another story! Great points; I started out on a nylon string classical acoustic and agree that the key to keeping kids going with guitar is giving them an early sense of progress. If their early guitar playing experiences are primarily painful then it becomes easier to practice less often and ultimately quit altogether.

While the gift of a guitar is an excellent choice for a child I believe the gift of a guitar is a wonderful choice for an adult, particularly an intimate partner. My wife gave me a vintage Gibson SG for Christmas last year (it had a PAF in it that no one realized until I had some restoration work done)! I, in turn, am giving her a vintage Gibson J45 I purchased from a seller on Craigslist recently. Both gifts are symbolic of our love for music and for each other and while guitars can be pricey as gifts I can’t think of a more meaningful expression of love and thoughtfulness.

Although hand drums make nice gifts too, but that’s another story!

]]> By: GuitarVlog http://www.classicalguitar.org/2009/12/how-to-give-a-guitar-as-a-gift/#comment-1991 GuitarVlog Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:00:34 +0000 http://www.classicalguitarblog.net/?p=2550#comment-1991 You can count me among those who think the C40 is a good choice. I bought my mother a Yamaha C40 when she wanted to take guitar lessons. I played it quite a bit after setting it up and was impressed with its tone given how little it cost. I wound-up buying one for myself to use for travel and camping; but I find myself playing it as much as my other guitars while at home. There's a certain amusement and enjoyment that comes from drawing a lovely tone from such an inexpensive guitar. I upgraded the tuners and the plastic saddle with one of bone. I and and a friend think the tone improved with the bone saddle. You can count me among those who think the C40 is a good choice.

I bought my mother a Yamaha C40 when she wanted to take guitar lessons. I played it quite a bit after setting it up and was impressed with its tone given how little it cost. I wound-up buying one for myself to use for travel and camping; but I find myself playing it as much as my other guitars while at home. There’s a certain amusement and enjoyment that comes from drawing a lovely tone from such an inexpensive guitar.

I upgraded the tuners and the plastic saddle with one of bone. I and and a friend think the tone improved with the bone saddle.

]]> By: Cary Terry http://www.classicalguitar.org/2009/12/how-to-give-a-guitar-as-a-gift/#comment-1979 Cary Terry Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:51:07 +0000 http://www.classicalguitarblog.net/?p=2550#comment-1979 I really didn't pay attention to the musicality of playing with my steel string acoustic. I really fell in love with the CG when I found the variety of tone color and musical phrasing which the nylon string can achieve. I remember thinking "Now this is playing the guitar!" Of course, I also thought that when I saw Phil Keaggy in concert. I really didn’t pay attention to the musicality of playing with my steel string acoustic. I really fell in love with the CG when I found the variety of tone color and musical phrasing which the nylon string can achieve. I remember thinking “Now this is playing the guitar!” Of course, I also thought that when I saw Phil Keaggy in concert.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.classicalguitar.org/2009/12/how-to-give-a-guitar-as-a-gift/#comment-1966 Ryan Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:40:43 +0000 http://www.classicalguitarblog.net/?p=2550#comment-1966 This is a great primer. I'm also glad you put lessons in there (obviously you're a guitar teacher). I've wanted to pick up the guitar years before I did, but I was always intimidated by guys that were really good. They all said that they teach themselves guitar, but I found it nearly impossible until I received guitar lessons for my birthday one year. Learning the fundamentals is crucial in sustaining interest. This is a great primer. I’m also glad you put lessons in there (obviously you’re a guitar teacher). I’ve wanted to pick up the guitar years before I did, but I was always intimidated by guys that were really good. They all said that they teach themselves guitar, but I found it nearly impossible until I received guitar lessons for my birthday one year. Learning the fundamentals is crucial in sustaining interest.

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