Conference napalm::guitar

   Yeah, see note 2.490 in this conference.  :-)

   -- Sam

    
    Does your son have a guitar now? Is he aware of the different ways one
    can amplify an acoustic guitar?
    
    I've never seen a music store offer what I consider to be a great deal
    on a used guitar. That's understandable, given their overhead. If you
    want to go with used, you are better off looking through the local
    equivalent of the Want Advertiser. (But, hey, Sam Lambert's offer in
    .-1 is certainly a good price on a good guitar, and my experiences in
    buying through this notes file have been excellent...it's a good
    group.)
    
    And that brings up the different ways of amplifying an acoustic guitar.
    There are lots of notes in here on these subjects, but the basic
    options are:
    
    - Electric/acoustic guitar, with the built-in piezoelectric pickup,
      controls, and jack for the cord, or
    
    - Amplifying a "regular" acoustic guitar by adding:
    
      - an electromagnetic pickup that fits in the guitar's sound hole
        (cheapest, simplest option, but since it is detecting and amplifying
        the movement of steel strings through a magnetic field, it provides
        more of an electric guitar sound than an acoustic sound)
    
      - a piezoelectric pickup under the bridge (more expensive, and may
        require some modifications to the guitar for pickup and/or plug jack)
    
      - a real microphone placed/clamped in or near the sound hole (kind of a
        high-end solution, I think, but I don't know much about it and others
        may correct me)
    
    They used to sell little round piezo pickups that you just stuck on the
    guitar with a bit of goop, but I haven't seen one of these in ages.
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    JP

    Some pointers to other topics
    
    
   457    BUSY::JMINVILLE     8-JAN-1988    11  Thin Body Acoustic/Electrics?
   474  SNO78A::PASFIELD     24-JAN-1988     2  Acoustics with Preamps and Knobs
   757     ANT::JACQUES       5-AUG-1988   108  Takamine acoustic/electrics???
   947   COGMK::RUDNICK      25-OCT-1988    30  acoustic pickups
  1195  NATASH::RUSSO        10-MAR-1989    10  Miking acoustic guitars
  1614  CIMNET::GRIFFITH     29-DEC-1989    27  Recommended electric/acoustics...
  1618    MORK::MALKOSKI      3-JAN-1990     1  Acoustic/electric Pre-amps?
  2564  GAOV10::GLYNN         6-AUG-1992     8  acoustic pickups ?
  3044  GANTRY::ALLBERY      24-FEB-1995    14  Amplifiers for Acoustic Guitars
  3155  NETCAD::BUSENBARK     5-JAN-1996    17  Acoustic Guitar Preamps etc.

    

How old is he ?

How much you plan on investing in this (realize he could not follow
through with this..) ?

There's a lot to choose from in all price ranges.

Used is a pretty good way to keep the cost down, but
you'll need to be real specific in what you're looking
for cause everyone's got something to sell...

Browse some music stores, ask some questions, get an
idea of the model/style he likes, then you can
look the used market over..  (Epiphone, Hondo, Yamaha,
to name a few, offer reasonably priced, good
student guitars with pickups in them..  As an example
the Epiphone EO-1 is a fairly inexpensive guitar
and it has a decent pickup with an Equalizer on it,,
expect to pay around 250-300 with the case new..
Used, probably anywhere from 175 to 225...)

If you want, post you're findings, questions, experiences
here, I'm sure you'll get something back....  

as far as stores go, most are o.k. to deal with when
you know what you're looking for, and how much you
*SHOULD* be paying, and will  treat you o.k. cost wise if 
ou decide to buy new.

Some genearl rules if you're buying new..

acoustics that are in the 250/300 dollar price range
can be found with pickups in them,, the more the cost,
usually the better the electronics are.  You get what
you pay for sort of applies to guitars, but sure you can
still pay too much.  Above all the guitar has to be
PLAYABLE or he'll grow tired of fighting with it..

cost wise: Know what the List price is, then see what they've 
got em tagged for.  20% off list, or there abouts is normal
but you can do better..  (30% to 40% is about as good as you can
get)

   Thanks for the plug, John.

   I felt kind of funny entering that reply, but hey, you've got to try to 
   sell what's for sale.

   The Jasmine is a really good guitar for the money, and a good deal at
   what I've got it listed for.  If you (the base noter) are indeed looking
   for a guitar in that price range this is a good deal;  even in my
   somewhat biased opinion.

   -- Sam

    I gotta agree - I borrowed Sams Jasmine for a church gig and used it
    "plugged in", and it performed very nicely indeed!!
    
    

    >>  They used to sell little round piezo pickups that you just 
    >>  stuck on the guitar with a bit of goop, but I haven't seen 
    >>  one of these in ages.
    
    The F.R.A.P.  (flat response audio pickup).  Could also stick it on a
    clarinet, cello, whatever.
    

Re: .0

Hey, things could be worse! My son wants to play the drums!

John

    Everybody, thank you so much for all the feedback ... wow, my first 
    "guitar" pun ... alright, alright, it was awful ... but anyway,
    
    You all were very helpful (especially Sam ... thanks for the guitar!).
    
    In case you guys were curious .. here's the scoop on my son, Jay.
    He's been playing for a couple years.  He is sooooo serious about it
    that he cleaned our whole house (even dishes !!!) for a whole week 
    for Pink Floyd's, "The Wall" music book.  Personally, I think it is
    the coolest because he plays lots of the stuff I love.  He loves 
    Steve Ray, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, etc.  
    
    Okay, I'll let you all in on a little sad twist to Jay's playing, which
    really tested his dedication.  Jay's stratocaster was stolen a few 
    months ago when our home was broken into.  But, as luck would have it,
    my neighbors were home, got a license plate number and our stuff,
    including the guitar, was recovered ... but remained in police custody.
    Jason was devastated.  Now, he also has his first electrical guitar
    which we bought figuring this would be another thing like karate (two
    months and he quits), a Suzuki.  Well, he bought new strings and tuned
    the Suzuki (which by the way hums and buzzes) and continued to
    practice ... hardly ever complaining for three months.
    
    So, when he begged and pleaded for another guitar, I couldn't refuse.
    Now, if he'd only cut his hair!  (kidding) ...
    
    re: .8 .... I have a 9 year old with a drum set (in the garage ...
    which has been further sound proofed ...)  not to mention my 12 year
    old daughter who tries very hard to play the clarinet ... and the scariest
    of all is my 3 year old who looks at his older sibs with wide eyes AND loves
    to sing on the mic when big brothers and/or sister are playing ...
    
    But, finally, thanks for all the help.
    
    Michelle
    

    I made a HUGE typo, I meant Stevie Ray ... talk about no respect! 

    
    	Wow, could be the makings of the next Osmond Family Vocalists,
    	or if they get really good, the next Silver Platters.
    
    	8^)