expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Jan 22, 2025
Jan 22, 2025 7:59 PM
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Jan 22, 2025
Jan 22, 2025 7:59 PM
Tanglewood Blackbird 6-String Acoustic Electric Guitar w/ Mahogany Body (Black)
+ Free Shipping$80
$250
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If you actually want to learn to play acoustic guitar, you don't want this as a starter guitar. You'll just find it frustrating to learn on. As for sound quality, the specs are likely a straight up lie.. I'm sure the body is laminate, not actually mahogany. It may be mahogany laminate and that's fine, but it's still misleading as described.
Laminate back and sides is fine, but you really want a solid wood top, even for a beginner guitar. Those start around $300. Recording King is one good option that will have a few models in that price range, but make sure the product page explicitly states solid top or pass on it. Even if you pay $300 for a guitar, you are still likely going to spend another $100 to get it set up properly by a local shop; so add that to the cost. A half decent beginner acoustic guitar is going to run you around $500 all said and done, unless you luck out with something used.
But again, if you just want something to strum around on and aren't a serious student hoping to play anything with a few years of practice, then this is better than nothing. But I mostly consider this a decoration for your room and I don't mean that in a snobby way, I'm being realistic as someone who has played for thirty years.
It's sometimes possible to find a good cheap guitar for around $300 that's a very good buy for the price.. they do exist, but I'd have to play about fifty of those to find one that really stands out... blindly ordering online, you have a one in fifty chance on a good day.
And obviously, I can't speak to this specific guitar which I don't own and have never played.. but based on what I do know, I have very low expectations.
Addressing a few points that have been raised: First about humidity…in my opinion it is unlikely to affect this guitar, because this guitar is almost certainly plywood. Plywood is inherently more stable in changing humidity than solid wood. This applies to the fingerboard as well. As it is composite, it is unlikely to shrink and expose the ends of the frets. Regarding those exposed fret ends, if they are present, they need to be filed. Otherwise, they will cut at your flesh as your hand changes position on the frets and moves up and down the neck. It is not uncommon to have to do some fret-filing on a cheap (and sometimes not so cheap) guitar. Turning to having your guitar set-up, it's probably not worth it on an $80 guitar. What is worthwhile, however, is to research what a proper setup entails, and to perform the work yourself as best you can. If you get carried away, and screw up the bridge saddle or nut, those are fairly cheap and easy to replace. Don't get too adventurous on truss rod adjustments, as these can cause more problematic damage. None of this is to suggest professional setups are a bad idea. I have my local luthier setup every guitar I buy (I should mention that almost all of my guitars have been purchased used). It's just that on a guitar this cheap you will benefit more from gaining hands-on adjustment experience than the modest improvements even a great luthier can make on an inferior instrument. If you have a luthier nearby, get to know him or her. At some point you are likely to need their services. As far as plywood versus what is usually called "solid wood" construction, both materials can be used to create quality instruments. My folk Yamahas have plywood sides and backs (technically laminate, I suppose), and are very easy to play, with rich and pleasing sound. They do have solid wood tops. They remain unprotected from humidity changes in a house that can get pretty dry in the winter, and have no cracks or other issues so far (I've had them for decades). As far as my all-solid wood guitars go, they are kept in cases with humidity regulating devices enclosed. It's worth noting that My DeArmond X-155 (1999, Korea), has an all plywood body that nonetheless has a very pleasant sound (the X-155 is a hollow-body jazz style acoustic electric).
So, while I'm a bit at odds with some of the other commenters here, I wanted to provide perspective from someone who was dirt-poor when the desire to play the guitar arose. It's really not so much about the guitar, as even pretty bad ones are usually playable, but rather the determination to learn. Be aware, though, that learning on a cheap guitar will be physically painful (pressing down the strings with fingertips until calloused, and getting those fingers into positions you've never had them in before), moreso than a finer instrument. If the guitar is awful and you can't return it, you're out $80 and a lesson is learned. If its shortcomings don't keep you from learning and progressing, welcome to the world of guitar musicians. Good luck!
Edit: Regarding pricing, it shouldn't be too hard to find a decent used Yamaha folk guitar for a hundred bucks. While I haven't played their newer models, historically they usually make a good quality instrument at reasonable cost, cutting the corners that will lower production costs while preserving the tonal quality and playability of the instrument.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank comixfan
for beginners these kinds of cheapish guitars always need some kind of setup that may cost more than the guitar.....but there are YouTube videos for most everything if you are adventurous
And don't forget a 50% boveda pack around the strings in the sound bole... it's a must for a wood instrument
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If you actually want to learn to play acoustic guitar, you don't want this as a starter guitar. You'll just find it frustrating to learn on. As for sound quality, the specs are likely a straight up lie.. I'm sure the body is laminate, not actually mahogany. It may be mahogany laminate and that's fine, but it's still misleading as described.
Laminate back and sides is fine, but you really want a solid wood top, even for a beginner guitar. Those start around $300. Recording King is one good option that will have a few models in that price range, but make sure the product page explicitly states solid top or pass on it. Even if you pay $300 for a guitar, you are still likely going to spend another $100 to get it set up properly by a local shop; so add that to the cost. A half decent beginner acoustic guitar is going to run you around $500 all said and done, unless you luck out with something used.
But again, if you just want something to strum around on and aren't a serious student hoping to play anything with a few years of practice, then this is better than nothing. But I mostly consider this a decoration for your room and I don't mean that in a snobby way, I'm being realistic as someone who has played for thirty years.
It's sometimes possible to find a good cheap guitar for around $300 that's a very good buy for the price.. they do exist, but I'd have to play about fifty of those to find one that really stands out... blindly ordering online, you have a one in fifty chance on a good day.
And obviously, I can't speak to this specific guitar which I don't own and have never played.. but based on what I do know, I have very low expectations.
If you actually want to learn to play acoustic guitar, you don't want this as a starter guitar. You'll just find it frustrating to learn on. As for sound quality, the specs are likely a straight up lie.. I'm sure the body is laminate, not actually mahogany. It may be mahogany laminate and that's fine, but it's still misleading as described.
Laminate back and sides is fine, but you really want a solid wood top, even for a beginner guitar. Those start around $300. Recording King is one good option that will have a few models in that price range, but make sure the product page explicitly states solid top or pass on it. Even if you pay $300 for a guitar, you are still likely going to spend another $100 to get it set up properly by a local shop; so add that to the cost. A half decent beginner acoustic guitar is going to run you around $500 all said and done, unless you luck out with something used.
But again, if you just want something to strum around on and aren't a serious student hoping to play anything with a few years of practice, then this is better than nothing. But I mostly consider this a decoration for your room and I don't mean that in a snobby way, I'm being realistic as someone who has played for thirty years.
It's sometimes possible to find a good cheap guitar for around $300 that's a very good buy for the price.. they do exist, but I'd have to play about fifty of those to find one that really stands out... blindly ordering online, you have a one in fifty chance on a good day.
And obviously, I can't speak to this specific guitar which I don't own and have never played.. but based on what I do know, I have very low expectations.
But personally, in hindsight if I was able to rewind the tape and start over, I'd just start with a Martin D-18 or D-28 and start working my way up from there..... Hindsight is 20-20
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I have no idea how these guys are getting their set ups for more than 80 bucks though .. that's just bananas.
New strings , tuning, adjusting the truss rod, and action shouldn't cost more than 50
Here's some recommended homework educational reading for you: Nut slot height, fret leveling, string height at the 12th, neck straight, truss rod adjustment for relief, backbow, forward bow, saddle height.
Any of the above being out of spec can make a huge difference in playability and intonation which if it's real far out of wack can make even a beginner not want to spend any time with it.
Follow 78StayUpLate's advice above and get a decent guitar to begin with. And then have the setup checked or at least educate yourself so you can tell if it's way out of spec or not.
All of those things probably will not need adjusting, but it's a sure bet that on an el-cheapo chicom special that some things probably would.
It's very bad advice (fake news) to say "no such thing as "setup" just music shops trying to take yer $$$$ to pimp a cheap guitar to sound like a cheap guitar. Play the guitar as is, it will do its job as it was intended to". It doesn't sound to me like you've ever played a well made and well set up guitar, so I'd bet your experience level is probably zero except possibly from banging on a First Act in Walmart.
Might as well save your money and not even bother to buy it if you just want to play the el-cheapo as-is. You'll sound like crap and beat yourself x times as hard trying to
playmake noise with it.The purpose is to play, enjoy and make good sounding music. Not just unbearable noise.
Note to anyone interested: If you have what you believe is a decent guitar then seek a qualified repair person, don't just take it to the kid who happens to work behind the counter of the local music store (unless he has the true credentials of being a qualified repair person). There have been many stories of hacks who work behind the counter with no actual experience.
Who knows what the humidity level is in the chicom sweatshop where they force the little kids to put those things together....
Who knows what the humidity level is in the chicom sweatshop where they force the little kids to put those things together....
But personally, in hindsight if I was able to rewind the tape and start over, I'd just start with a Martin D-18 or D-28 and start working my way up from there..... Hindsight is 20-20
i think its a hard sell to tell someone "oh this is junk, pay egregiously more money for something better" especially beginners. my 70 dollar rogue acoustic sounded fine to do a few bits here and there when mic'd up. sounded better to me than my dads overpriced ovations that are gathering dust. i guess i'm just not guitar snobby enough.
Edit: i just saw your username... yep pretty sure we will never agree on guitars.
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I have no idea how these guys are getting their set ups for more than 80 bucks though .. that's just bananas.
New strings , tuning, adjusting the truss rod, and action shouldn't cost more than 50
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