Guitar dilemma, stick with an old mini or switch?

[Shadowex3]

I've got free time and for once a lack of particular noise constraints (during the daytime) so I'm seriously considering finally sitting down and really working on learning to play my guitar. The thing is... this is my guitar:



I promise you that is not a repainted ukulele. It's officially a "Harmony Children's Guitar" with a steel reinforced neck that's about a year older than I am (yes, the strings are new). Who thought steel strings would be good for children I don't know, but it's actually small enough as to elicit strange responses from people and even using Gstrings to tune it (chromatic tuner app) it never seems to quite sound like a guitar, even when supposedly in tune the 5th fret trick just doesn't work.

I'm seriously wondering if I should try to learn on this thing or try and buy (or trade this for) something more "standard". Really though the only things in my budget, failing getting really lucky trading it to some hipster for a normal guitar, would be the so-bad-you're-better-with-nothing level guitars off craigslist. Obviously I'm starting with acoustic not just because it's a better way to learn but also because it's, I'm assuming, a damn sight cheaper than starting electric (even though then I could headphone it at any hour of the day).

[Redlemon]

I just read an article about how ukeleles are making a huge comeback, partially because you can get a decent one for not much money.

[Shadowex3]

Well, despite the size hint the $1 bill (US, natch) gives you that's not a ukulele. Aaaaand I'm kinda going for a guitar.

[Martian]

Those aren't steel strings.

Harmony has made some beautiful instruments in it's time, but as a full grown adult I think you'll have a tough time learning on this thing. Get a guitar for grown-ups, dude.

[Shadowex3]

Trust me they're steel strings. I still have the original box and "manual", it came with steel strings (surprised the hell out of the guys at Guitar Center when they saw that) and when I replaced them recently I used steel strings. The surface most likely just oxidized a bit because of the ~80%+ humidity in this state and that's why they're not silver anymore. I keep the thing clean and stored with dessicant packets but there's only so much I can do short of hermetically sealing it.

I guess the consensus so far is get a "normal" guitar, looks like I need to see if I can barter and buy one in Orlando without spending more than I do for textbooks.

[Daniel_]

For a beginners guitar to learn on, you can get some amazing deals on ebay. A friend of mine collects electric guitars, and refurbishes them - he's helped me out with advice and links in the past for my daughter to get a pretty good guitar to learn on.

I find that most enthusiasts are happy to share their expertise with anyone who is genuinely interested - you could do a lot worse than ask at the music store if anyone can help you find a really cheap second hand rig on ebay, because they know that if you become hooked you'll be back over and again. Guitars are like tattoos - hardly anyone ever just gets one!

[Shadowex3]

Yeah, I imagine guitar center would probably know of any decent guitars in need of a new home, or at least be able to point me in the right direction on ebay/craigslist as opposed to just filtering out everything that's not top end, esp since it seems there's little tricks like fender's acoustics not being as good as their electrics (or just being a bought-name on some lines).

Thing with ebay is no matter what shipping seems about $30 so I think I'm better off instead of saying X much for a guitar and Y to account for shipping just spending Z total on a better guitar locally. [s]Especially when there's stuff ....[/s]

[edit]

Scratch that, found this fender fat strat with a DP159 humbucker in it as well as a possible buyer for my miniature.

[Daniel_]

It's a great price, if the guitar is in the description written up.

[Shadowex3]

Yeah I shared that link with other guitar people I know across a few hours (timezones, meh) and they almost all started off by saying "Buy that, I'll tell you why while you send the offer". I made an offer of $120, worst case scenario (other than someone else already bought it) is he says $150 firm in which case I'm still getting a $500 guitar with a $60-80 pickup for roughly a third of the price.

I wasplanning on starting out acoustic just on principle but even from a flipping standpoint this is too good an opportunity.

[Daniel_]

It's a brilliant deal. Shame I'm on the wrong side of the water!

In the UK, a new hard case could cost the equivalent of $100...

[Shadowex3]

Well that guy never got back to me and many reiterated their insistance that starting with acoustic was a lot better practice, which is fine anyway since I live in the hipster capitol of central florida and thus have a steady stream of guitars entering the second hand market as people realise "oh my god, this actually takes EFFORT".

I wound up getting a local pawn shop to take the price of an Ibanez Artwood AW-300 from 97 (it was in great condition) down from 250 to 175 after taxes:







And I may well finally have a job which means when/if I'm ready to go electric I can probably afford one without worrying about whether I'm getting either a repainted squier or raped to death by a craigslist psychopath.