[GreyWolf]

I just hit my 60th BD and decided it was time to fufill that life long dream of playing a guitar. I have a friend who loaned me her guitar (Oscar Schmidt) and have struggled along, but enjoying it.

Im looking for a good a Acoustic guitar. I wont ever be in a band, just looking to be able to play along with freinds and family. Just for fun and my enjoyment.

In doing research on guitars, I found Zager and I bought one. I liked the idea of thier easy play system. I really liked the promise of no painfull fingers, and that the strings are "slightly" wider apart. On the OS, I am struggling to get the fingers into the "A" chord. My fingers are just too big I think. And like most beginners, Im getting a fair share of Buzzing strings.

I was dissapointed in the Zager, a beautiful guitar. It doesnt play really any better, and when I measured the strings, they are exactly the same as the OS. Again, looking online and doing a bit of research, there is of course it seems what is the best nut width. Both of these guitars are 1.750 (3/4). It seems Seagull has a wider nut, but then it also seems that many like the 1.7/8 nut width too. In fact, I switched back to the OS and it seems to be better for me.

I am going to return the Zager, and search for another guitar. I would like to stay under $600. Any advice? And advice on nut width? It also seems that switching to the easier (?) or softer metal strings would be a good move as well.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Tom

[karcey]

G'day Tom,
Welcome to the forum.
I'm the same age as you, and my fingers are just as thick. When I started out I thought I'd never learn anything because my hands just weren't designed for fretting a guitar. Then i saw a bloke playing fingerstyle, and his hands were like hams. That's when I realised my problems weren't caused by size, just by inexperience.
If you hang in there you'll get better, slowly at first and then at a more rewarding pace. Don't get depressed about how long it takes ... make sure you enjoy the instrument whenever you pick it up.
As far as finding a suitable guitar is concerned, I'm no authority at all. All my bright ideas have resulted in me now having nine guitars, not counting the ones I've given away. Each time I bought one I believed it was the answer to playing ease, and of course none of them knew any tunes, in my hands anyway. I have several steel string acoustics, plus a twelve string, some classicals and electric. Even a bass ... now there's good string spacing!
Quality of instrument hasn't really affected my learning speed. What I found was that learning on a nylon string classical allowed me to be initially slightly less precise with the fingers than the steel string acoustics demanded. So I managed to learn some chords, some scales and then a few tunes. What was most important was the getting confidence at finding strings and chords. Now I can pick up the acoustics and believe it or not, manage my tunes almost as well as on the nylon.
The most used nylon I have is a Chinese junk. It cost me less than $60 Australian, which is even cheaper in your dollars. I also have an Admira (Spanish) solid top which is a beautiful guitar, but doesn't help me to learn any faster than the made in China, genuine craftwood, imitation classical replica with plastic everything and a sticker for a rosette.
I believe that in fat hands the nylon guitar is the easiest learning tool ... something like a bike with trainer wheels or a flight simulator. Lets you blunder away for a while without being too difficult. (On this forum I'm probably in the minority, but the people here are polite and don't take me to task for my stubborn beliefs.)
So my advice is to find something basic, nylon and cheap. Get the feel of guitar and learn some pieces. Then, when you're good enough, throw it away and transfer your skills to one of the beautiful instruments you're lusting after now.
Good luck, and keep in touch.

[eddiez152]

I agree with Karcey. Nylon string guitars with slotted head most always have a 1 7/8 nut width. Other steel string guitars with slotted head usually do but are more money. So start out on a classical, and when you think your ready go for the grand puba.

[GreyWolf]

Thanks guys, good advice. Really the investment would be minimal and would seem to be a good stepping stone to something better down the road.

Thanks,

[Rockerbob]

Oh Geez! I wandered into Geezer Gulch!

Just kidding, of course. I'm not too far behind.

I like the 1 3/4 nut on my Collings best, but I have 1 11/16 nuts on most of my other guitars and I and comfortable with them as well. Many classical guitars (nylon strings) have very wide fingerboards. Mine is 2". For my style steel strings work better, so I don't play the classical very much, but it not much of a problem getting used to the wider spacing. It might take a few minutes.

[GreyWolf]

Thanks, and we will look forward to adding you to the Geezer club, one day soon. So any recomendations on which guitar to start with?
Thanks,

[Rockerbob]

being a longtime player and a guitar snob, I don't really know the market in your price range. I do know there are many decent choices but you will need the opinion of the non-spoiled, non-snob members. OK, I'm not really a guitar snob, just spoiled. I like any guitar that works right. I just like mine to be mo' betta right.

[Chewe]

I agree. A classical guitar would be a sensible solution to begin with.
I was garage sale hunting one day when I came across this old beat up looking classical guitar. Three of the strings were selotaped on and no tuners/machines on one side. The price was $10 so I offered $5.
I got it and took it home. I had some old machines which I put on and thought I'd clean it up. The dust inside the guitar was thick so couldn't see the name at first. After a good clean out I had in my hands a hand made Yari classical. It's the sons S Yari model valued at around $800. Not a bad score I think. I just love this guitar and play it often. So if you're looking for a classical guitar try the garage sale method. You never know your luck. I have a friend who bought an original Hofner beatle bass for $20. Lucky bugger. Had it valued at $2000.