I love guitars - especially a vintage electric guitar.

I love the feel of them, the sound of them ....

And their story. Likely as not every vintage electric guitar has a story to tell - if only it could!

The places they have been, the songs thay have played, the people who have owned them...

And... have you ever noticed how good they smell? It's the wood, and time seems to mellow their bodies in a kindly way that hasn't happened to me.

Find them and collect them - and play them ! If you're a collector you will need deep pockets for a really good classic vintage electric guitar, but there are more and more guitars becoming 'vintage' all the time.

In the world of guitars, what's vintage and what isn't is subject to interpretation. The sample in question may be a true classic, such as the 1961 Gibson Les Paul SG, or something as recent as a 2002 PRS Golden Eagle. But what's more than just a matter of opinion is that many of these beauties still sound great after - in some cases - more than 50 years.

Take the Gibson, for example. At less than seven pounds, it's a lightweight dream, making for easy carrying and less fatigue to play. With minor maintenance, a model like that could be razor-thin close to as good as new. And new, these babies were sweet. With tone that is the envy of others, a Gibson Les Paul SG was a guitar that garnered honors from anyone who heard it.

But Gibson has plenty of competition in vintage guitars for the number one spot. A 1964 Fender Jazz Bass might be just the ticket for those who tickle the thicker strings. With sturdy frets, these outstanding guitars still have plenty of life in them. Even at 9 lbs it's not a big burden to carry. With an Alder body and Mable neck, accompanied by a Brazilian Rosewood fretboard, a guitar like this is going to produce an outstanding sound, if it's from Fender.

Going back a few years earlier, and back to Gibson, you might see an ad for a 1957 Les Paul Custom. If so, pick it up and play a few riffs. With Alnico pickups, this electric makes a dream sound. With an all Mahogany construction that was built to last forever, you'll appreciate the adjustable tress rod to keep it standing right. With its long lasting pots and gold hardware, you can expect the same clean sound it produced 50 years ago.

If you're looking for a collectible that is solely for display, and one you don't intend to play, looks will become more important. That means you want a finish that is close to the original. Fortunately the woods and quality construction on many vintage models makes that goal readily achievable.

If you want to be able to play it, even just for demonstrations to your friends, look for excessive wear on the fretboard, deep marks on the pick guard and wear on the bridge/saddle. Make sure the bridge is still tight and that there's no wobble in the neck. You'll want the pots to have no 'scratchy' sound when moved and a complete absence of any hum from the pickups at normal volumes.

Even if you're looking for something that might more readily be called used, rather than vintage - such as a 2002 PRS Golden Eagle - rarity is important. When you find a signature guitar or a model like this that had an extremely small production run, you might just have a work of art on your hands.

Snatch it.

Would it get your interest if you could learn to play that one guitar portion of your favorite tune by somehow reducing the tempo and working it out? Fortunately, you will find software tools available on the web which will allow you to do this type of job.

Riffmaster Pro is one of the very popular software programs that you could obtain that can do this. It initial allows a person to produce a mp3 audio file of tune from a CD. Riffmaster Pro then allows you to change the speed of the sound file once it's been created. You are able to slow down or speed it up as much or as little as you prefer.

In addition to that, but Riffmaster Pro also allows anyone to change the pitch of the mp3 file. Under normal circumstances, you would need to retune your guitar so that you can play along if you discovered the tune was in another tuning. With such a program, currently all you have to do is push several buttons and you can alter the pitch of the song to match the tuning of your guitar. How easy is that?

Another valuable element of a software like Riffmaster Pro is that it allows anyone to cycle a small section of a tune repeatedly. That is invaluable in case you are trying to puzzle out that tricky part of a lead solo as an example. Or this function can be used as a practice tool to run through a section repeatedly until a player is positive he understands how to perform that section very well.

Lastly, there is an EQ function on Riffmaster Pro that can help bring out that particular instrument you are attempting to learn. Turn down the bass, raise the mid range and that should help a little to draw out the guitar in the song you're learning.

In relation to learning songs, Riffmaster Pro is a very handy program to own.

Learn a lot more with this Riffmaster Pro review as well as the Guitar Tricks review.

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All my pupils must have an acoustic steel strung guitar because learning on this type of guitar is the best way for complete beginners. You can still have a beginners electric guitar or even a classical guitar but you must have an acoustic guitar to learn on.

What is the best acoustic guitar for beginners?

There are many criteria for beginners buying a guitar but the main criteria is that you purchase it from a specialist music retailer. Will only stock guitars of a good standard because as musicians themselves they know a good guitar from a bad one. Any self respecting guitar shop will only offer good instruments. For buying online you should again check that the seller is a specialist guitar retailer and they have a solid returns guarantee.

Should you buy a named brand acoustic guitar.

The big name in guitar would have you believe that they have the best guitars and they certainly do sell great gear. But the Yamaha guitars and fender guitars are generally too good quality for a student. If I had £150 to spend on a beginners guitar I would spend it on a top of the range copy guitar rather than the real thing.

Secret tips for selecting a guitar & get ready to buy your second guitar

If you really persevere with your guitar playing you must plan on buying your second guitar in a year. A year of lessons on the guitar and a year of practice will show you what you like in a guitar. Then you can invest in a guitar to last you a lifetime.

Yamaha FG700S Acoustic Guitar

The Yamaha FG700S is a great beginner guitar and can be found on-line at most locations for under $200 including shipping - that is a tremendous value for a quality guitar. For a start guitar player, the option of guitar is the single most significant decision in whether you are winning in knowledge to play or not. If you are just starting to learn how to play, you may be tempted to buy a guitar for under $100. You will be surprised at how much pleased you will be with the Yamaha FG700S versus a sub-$100 guitar.

Sub-$100 guitars are made with laminate tops and are mass produced with the cheapest materials. The laminate top will not have the rich tone and sound of a solid top guitar. There is a reason why expensive guitars have a sold top - it just sounds better!.

Sub-$100 guitars often do not have the correct setup - either the strings will be too high or too low. Too low strings will buzz when attempting to play notes and too high strings will require herculean finger strength to play. The Yamaha FAG700S is a quality beginner guitar and a tremendous value and will make a great first guitar. For the more experienced players who want a guitar to travel with, this guitar plays excellent and will not disappoint.

For more information including videos check out my web page on the Yamaha FG700S guitar Yamaha FG700S guitar.

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To begin with, you probably already have a computer which is among the key pieces of equipment. The next thing is going to be finding the best software program to fit your needs and use the computer that you have. You should consider several popular programs like the expert level Pro Tools, Cakewalk, Cubase and Reason just to name just a few. We suggest that you head to a shop where you can trial each of these and speak with somebody who is proficient in the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Another significant piece of equipment that you'll need is some form of mixer board. The mixer is essential as this is the tool that lets you get the songs from the instruments and Shure KSM9 mic into the actual software to then combine and generate the sounds.

Some other things to consider for your home recording studio would be foam for sound proofing the recording area, pre-amps for the instruments, monitors which will allow you to hear best what exactly is getting recorded and a few other general items.

If you are just starting out with establishing the studio, you may want to take into account hiring somebody at a sensible hourly rate that will help you begin. Rely on someone else who is very educated in this area and you may save yourself plenty of aggravation and headache at the start. You'll be playing and recording your hit single very quickly!

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In order to master the acoustic guitar, the best thing to do is to get an acoustic guitar lesson. These lessons guarantee that you have perfect knowledge of the basics. You should be able to find the right lesson for you by asking some questions like, “Am I improving here?” and “Have I finally found my own sense of style?” Try to find a teacher you will like and who will teach you everything you need to know. Another option is to buy a CD or DVD that teaches guitar.

Some of the things you’ll learn in an actual acoustic guitar lesson are how to read notes, how to hold the pick properly, and how to strum the guitar to produce the sought after sounds. Essential yet simple things like posture and choosing the right guitar instrument should also be taught to beginners.

You will need lots of patience and determination in order to master the acoustic guitar. You cannot expect to become a great guitarist if you don’t practice regularly. To start off your acoustic guitar lessons, warm up your fingers and hands by doing some suitable exercises. After a few minutes, you can start with your practice pieces. There should also be a cooling down period before totally ending the session. Doing this will help prevent muscle pains or cramps after sessions.

Beginners, generally experience some muscle pains, even with warm up exercises. Your body is still adjusting to this new activity, so bear with it. But you can actually improve your finger strength by doing some exercises like using a grip master or even just simple finger movements.

This is why loving the instrument is important. Mastering the guitar can be tough, and if you don't love it, you might come to hate it instead. It is important that before you buy your guitar, to first make sure that you really want to learn it. Do you love the guitar? Or do you just want to go along with what everybody else is doing? Although it isn’t bad to have the wrong reasons to learn, it’s still better to have the right ones. This should help make things easier for you.

Learning the guitar will not be that simple. But though there will be challenges and trials along the way, it will all be worth it when you eventually become an excellent guitarist. The lessons are part of the trip from being a student to a professional player, and possibly to a teaching career. Who knows? Someday you may even become the teacher to beginner student.

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The acoustic guitar produces really pure, unadulterated string sounds. The first strum or finger pluck on the strings of an acoustic guitar will immediately produce a sound, unlike an electric guitar.  There is no addition of effects or adjustment of the pitch, once you play, pitch and sound is fixed.

To master playing the acoustic guitar, you need to make a serious decision. Total commitment must be present in order for you to learn. Make sure you have it before you get started with your acoustic guitar lessons.

Getting good training from a professional guitarist is essential to get the right mindset. It is encouraging to train under somebody who has a lot of experience. A professional instructor can give you first-hand tips and insights you cannot get from books or DVD acoustic guitar lessons. All suggestions should be properly evaluated and adopted if found constructive.   Inspiration can also lift your spirit. Having the privilege of learning from an expert should motivate you to strive harder and inspire you give your very best.

The first phase of learning to play the acoustic guitar is hard. The fingers will need a good set of warm up exercises to prevent body aches and pains later on. Love for the instrument is a must for you to progress. Just bear with the pain, soon enough your fingers will grow callouses to numb it. In just a few days, you will be able to memorize the chords and learn to play simple melodies.

Be patient.  There is no shortcut to learning this. It takes time to learn how to read notes, pick properly and feel comfortable with finger movements. Don’t get bored of warm-ups. Every professional guitarist needed to master the basics and build a good foundation before they get to perform and be qualified to teach beginners like you. Concentrate on reaching your goals. As you progress in your training, you’ll enjoy every lesson and look forward to playing your favorite songs.

You have to create a true relationship with your acoustic guitar. Establish a connection.  Your heart should be allowed to feel every note to be a true master of this instrument. You must have a firm control of your self and a good measure of enthusiasm to enable you to stick with long hours of practice needed to become a master of this instrument.

To be an expert acoustic guitarist, you have to condition your mind and heart to truly learn this instrument. You may have the best teacher but if you lack interest and commitment to learn and improve your craft.

Take initiative to keep track of your progress. Try finding and joining some online guitar forums to know more about the acoustic guitar and some techniques of playing it.  Find online guitar lessons also for additional helpful info. How you progress with mastering the guitar will be totally up to you. With the right training, you would not need a music sheet to create or play a song.

Technorati Tags: acoustic guitar singapore, guitar lessons singapore, guitar teachers singapore, learn guitar singapore

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the Guild Madeira guitars, were Guild imports.
the early ones, were made in Japan, later, I don't know,
but I'd have to see it, play it first.
A guitar that old, could have problems.
I'm not concerned about minor scratches, but.....

Which model is it?, they made several classical guitars.
country of origin??
How straight is the neck?
is it twisted?
how are the frets?
do they need leveling and crowning?
is the neck joint still good?
seams of the body?
is the top still flat, or is it bowing?
how are the braces?
does it have cracks?
are they in the finish or the wood?
How is the bridge?
Is it pulling up?
How is the nut?
is it cut correctly?
Chipped?
the condition of the tuners?

You can get good new imports these days, for very little money, with a warranty.
Vintage "American made" steel string Guilds,
start around $800 and go up, depending on the model, age, year, condition, etc.
But the imports and classics, go for a LOT less.

Don't sell it to a pawn shop.
the only reason I would even take it to one, is to get an idea of the condition, but NOT to sell it, they will give you very little !

see if you can find a music store that takes consignments,
many will sell it for you, for a 20% commission.
Or, at least give you an idea of it's value

we can't tell you much more, without seeing it.

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Fender basically took the design principles that made their electric guitar models famous, and applied them to their acoustic flat top guitar models. Unfortunately, this made for bad sounding and horrible looking flat tops. Fender flat tops have no vintage collectibility. The Wildwood and Brazilian rosewood models are visually interesting and cool to look at (especially the funky colored Wildwoods), but have no real vintage value. Fender acoustics are a footnote in Fender's history. A lot of people ask about them because they are readily available for a cheap price. Hence I created this web page.

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