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What I Wish I Knew Before I Bought an Acoustic Guitar

Rhett Shull 701 views

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What was your first acoustic guitar?
Comment from : @RhettShull

Lots of great info in this video, thanks! love the Driftwood guys My first acoustic guitar was a $90 beater that would make Robocop's hands bleed The action was fourty-two feet off the twelfth fret
Comment from : @BingsBuddery

I still have the first guitar i bought in 1976 A Guild D35 Still pretty much my favorite of 4 guitars to play that I have Tone is great It went through 4 sons learning to play & lived in a crawl space in its case for 10 years or so Has had minimal tweaks and as you can imagine a ding or so but keeps playing Tb
Comment from : @maryellenbilenki6038

my d35 is 51 years old and consistently been kept at 50 since i was 10 and it is immaculate with the tone of a 1937 d28 😊
Comment from : @DavidWilliams-wr4wb

For me its about sustain
Comment from : @mattsouthon2489

YES !! I need the reset video I am doing it all wrong ! I have a big bodied KAY and a SUZUKI parlor type stamped as no9 both antique I would love to here what they have hidden Thanks
Comment from : @speedineed5327

I have the Takamini I bought in 1975 and the problem is the bridge has cracked I would love to see you fix that Takamine
Comment from : @timstaton587

GRATITUDE 🕉🎼🎵🎶 💎
Comment from : @musicneverending906

This guy is a clown The shape and size has a MUCH larger impact than if the top is a hard wood or not
Comment from : @OrganicGreens

Amazing new information that I never though of before (I play guitar for 13 years now) It is eye-opening and now I know how to better maintain my guitarsbrbrHowever, this is not a video for newbies or a beginners buying their first guitar It’s just too much for them I think Therefore the title of this video is a little bit misleading imho I myself didn’t click on this video for maintenance tips I want to buy a new guitar and the title lead me to think that it’s tips for buying a new guitar and some recommendationsbrbrAs I said before, great content tho
Comment from : @veljkonikolic7788

Excellent video Very insightful for someone who is considering buying an acoustic
Comment from : @gangatalishis

Ole deep river blues in the intro pulled me in
Comment from : @justincummins3371

A good friend told me, when you go into a music shop for a guitar, don't look, close your eyes and strum your finger across each guitar Buy the one who's sound grabs you, not it's looks
Comment from : @imsouthwood

my parents bought me a taylor big baby in 2009 when i was a kid, it was my 2nd guitar But my 1st REAL guitar, (leveling up from a £60 nylon string guitar) i play it everyday, it's my pride and joy! it's covered in dents and scratches but still sounds and plays like the day I brought home from the shop
Comment from : @somfs1459

Great in depth video dude man Subbed
Comment from : @shawnmccormick6381

Oh, and forgot to mention Rhett - can you do another one of these, but on Electro-Acoustics please? I have been looking and playing Electro's for over a year and never held / played one that felt right Perhaps its just me, but a few hints & tips would be much appreciated
Comment from : @martinhowe1422

Thank you Chris (and Rhett for hosting this) I learnt loads from this vid It really resonated (sic) with me I have had a dirt cheap Hohner HC-06 for 30 years and I must play it virtually everyday Yes, I have 4 electrics, but the Hohner sits on a stand right behind my PC set up, and I can be playing in 15 seconds So your comment Brett about playing desire is spot on As was Chris's comment about parallel wood grain I guess I was lucky first time Good job guys 👍
Comment from : @martinhowe1422

Opinions can always be subject variation, but you sound spot on brwith this I have been a fan of a maple for a higher for picking styles tone ,mahogany , dreadnought brGreat drive projection , I am a little Leary with the softer wood sound great but basswood ,,etc brIt just has a lot of repair issues down the road! Cheers!
Comment from : @patrickkem689

Breedlove was not mentioned I have a few & along with an Oregon Concert myrtlewood Great quality & sound The voicing is awesome & build quality is high
Comment from : @liveonstudios

I've heard absolutely no evidence or proof that spruce top is better than a maple top It depends on how good a guitarist you are to begin with
Comment from : @irubberyouglueonethousand5384

So what do you do if your guitar has to live in a room that gets very high humidity ? Frequently 70 or more?
Comment from : @steviek6484

I recently bought an Ibanez that has a really low bridge and needs a neck reset, but I only paid like $100 and it's action is really good and I'd rather save up the money for something new one day and just enjoy my money's worth of a guitar that's just fun to play
Comment from : @neophobicnyctophile8264

I was thinking of buying a low end Orangewood for my son to learn on On sale for 295 and has several good youtube reviews I don't want to spend a ton until I see if he's going to stick with it The orangewood seems to be a well made product What do you think?
Comment from : @sloanIrrigation

My first acoustic (which I still have as my main acoustic because it's AMAZING) is a Larrivee OM-02 from 1999 I had a neck reset done on it in 2021 and it really brought it back to life It cost me the entire value of the guitar to have the work done, but I'm so glad I did since the guitar is a mix of being very sentimental, and it sounding as good or better than guitars that are 10x more costly
Comment from : @jessekerley8625

This is my personal opinion I will always pick up what looks good firstplay it and if it sounds good, its mine I understand the logic in picking the good sounding guitar first but for me, playing guitar is a meditative and mindful practice and the look and feel is as important as the sound Whether its acoustic or electric a pretty guitar is more likely to get me to start playing and feel wonderful when I hold it Now if the sound really is compromised by the look quite a bit I wont buy it BUT I have a Taylor Koa GS mini plus, she is beautiful and she plays like a dream and I love that I can have both So yea I would pick a pretty Koa over a Sitka or Cedar topeven if the Sitka or cedar sounds nicer
Comment from : @THE______TRUTH

I bought my D-18 in 1973 new for $340 I traded in my little Epiphone/Gibson made in Kalamazoo, MI for $50 (big regret, but, I wanted the Martin) Here we are 52 years later I still play the D-18 daily Nothing that I've tried has the tone In 52 years, I've had one neck reset, the bridge re-glued, and new frets A friend for life It will outlive me The repairs (not the re-fret) were done at the Martin factory in Nazareth, PA under the lifetime warranty
Comment from : @tomf429

Nice one
Comment from : @BillyBigBollox-v6b

I had quite a good amount of money to buy my first acoustic But one day I found a '74 Ibanez Artist in a pawn shop for less than a hundred € So bought it andnever spent the large money, because couldn't find one that sounded better
Comment from : @ivanmartinez2513

Taylor wins for me
Comment from : @markstaggs7342

very informative Thanks
Comment from : @frankcln

Great infomation! Thanks
Comment from : @Majorkooldad

What acoustic electric guitars have an electric guitar neck/fingerboard?
Comment from : @terencekehoe3885

i was in the market for a washburn , i played it and i fell in love with it but i just grabbed one more guitar that happened to be half the price , it was a fender cutout and the nut was dialed in perfectly right out of the box , so i put the washburn back on the rack and i got the fender , it actually played just as well and was easy to run the neck all the up to the 12th pretty easy
Comment from : @DavidWilliams-wr4wb

considering i was 13 in the 70s lol my first acoustic was a D3 martin and i had it customized for me , it has tremendous sentimental value i’ve cherished it since i was 12 , i literally just gifted it to my youngest daughter and she was thrilled, made me just as happy as the first day i got it 🙂
Comment from : @DavidWilliams-wr4wb

Nylon string classical Yamaha guitar Grateful to my parents for buying my first guitar for me But, all the other kids in my guitar class had steel string guitars and I didn't like how it sounded with the strummy tunes we were learning Didn't have the heart to demand my parents take it back and get me a steel string Plodded through it
Comment from : @ianshongtrs

Bro agin your gear os as good as you arei think of you stopped playing song the way you heard someone do it and do them your way itll help you
Comment from : @BigolCockenhammer-pp9sj

Why are you talking about neck resets? Scare tactics? Thats not a real issue and rarely does anyone need to deal with it? MINOR Tension rod adjustments will fix 999 of issues
Comment from : @captainpatspopculturesteam2300

I don't have an expensive Martin or Gibson or Taylor so I probably don't really grasp exactly what the difference is between something that prestigious compared to my 200$ Washburn but I know it has a distinct bassy hum that I love and can only imagine what some of the classic popular high end guitfiddles sound like up close and personal
Comment from : @timevans154

I agree however my Jumbo can make my Hummingbird sound like a banjo so I play my Hummingbird first, As far as techs go I am very lucky and as I'm an old fart of 71 I'll allow myself to drop names Leo at the Guitar Jungle is a brilliant tech so Joe Walsh uses him too and I discovered why after he did my first setup
Comment from : @TonyBurke100

As the old saying goes, "we listen with our eyes" There are some really good looking guitars out there that sound like crap In the end, you gotta play it and listen I would never buy a guitar that I can't play first or try out and send back if I'm buying online My first real good guitar is a Larrivee OM and it's not something that will be in a museum but man that thing sounds sooo good Jean Larrivee knows how to pick out great tone woods
Comment from : @realmac5150

Playing acoustic guitars since 1998 and still learning about these beautiful instruments ❤ thank you! My 12 year old Taylor needs repair ❤️‍🩹 bought it in NY and played her in Bangladesh The weather and lack of care knowledge took its toll
Comment from : @Ali_ReBORN

Oh man! My first guitar was for the great koa looks and great reviews Mistake Now that I have three acoustics and after years of test driving, I’m far more about sound than looks Nice comments Chris Great vid Rhett
Comment from : @derekhanson9915

In my youth i played all the time I thought i was loud, but the guys ended up getting me an ovation so they could hear me better Loved that guitar! I've since tried out other ovations but none so far fit me like my old one did Now I'm into looking at other guitars & love the Sweetwater site brWonderfully helpful video! Thanks!brOh nice! Driftwood guitars videos my next sub & views Cool! Thanks!
Comment from : @umarae27

I had a Taylor 110 and I didn't like it The fretboard hurt my fingers and it shouldn't have since I play all the time I sold it
Comment from : @kristenvillani9618

one learns more from personal experience
Comment from : @gnutsegnuhkar7792

Hmmm the luthier’s last statement sounded like perhaps he was referring to Gibson’s quality, or lack there of when he said they just put out a substandard product and know ppl will buy it just because of the label
Comment from : @setnsun21

I have a Fender Fa-100 a starter guitar I can’t play for very long it kills my fingers I’m at a loss as to which guitar to get for around $1,000 I’m looking a Zager Zad50 easy play What’s your opinion on a Zager Or what guitar would you recommend? I just don’t know what would be the best bang for the buck, and easier on my fingers
Comment from : @jillburkett6876

It was a Martin 000-RSG
Comment from : @joelinpa185

Very Nice! Thank you!
Comment from : @TheBonefixr

Iam thinking of buying the Yamaha F280brIs it a good decision?
Comment from : @sangesona136

So if you’re me who considers himself still a beginning novice after 20 years of enjoying to play for fun, is pulling the trigger on the new Billy Strings Martin & Co guitar for $3900 insane idea, or should I buy a $899 Martin & Co? I’ve been playing a Breedlove AC25/ SR Plus acoustic electric forever I strum a lot but focusing more on flat picking and studying bluegrass
Comment from : @brochacho6355

Great video thank you! Would love to see a video about fixing the neck I have the exact same Takamine
Comment from : @virtualtourmlshawaii1848

This is SO fascinating - what I am so happy about is I always worry my own observations, knowledge I have picked up over 30 years in the industry etc may be echoing my own beliefs rather than being open to new concepts - you know time maybe stops you listening maybe? But listening to your friend from Driftwood - who I recommend people to watch their videos all the time - he echos pretty much everything I have learned over the years but what is even more incredible is the fact that up to about 25 years ago I thought TAYLOR was the guitar of guitars - for exactly the same reason as highlghted - You knew what you were buying every time - superior quality and consistency - but the brand that changed my views on TONE was FURCH 25 years on and I am still loving Furch guitars and they have become in my eyes the new generation because they have mastered the technology side but to compliment what they started with from the beginning - which is an utterly incredle sounding acoustic guitar They continue to this day to tune all the tops / bracings / but they keep that side a little mysterious even if you visit their workshops It was just nice to hear so many of my views and feelings echoed by a builder who I very much respect and admire for honesty - and bringing the home truths to guitarists who often dont know what wonderful guitars are out there if they were to just look a little harder than the one you find in every single high street guitar store My mantra is good things tend to be hard to find and the best things are rarely the easiest! :) Great video - thank you
Comment from : @richardsguitars

Regarding size I play an HD28 and the sensitive top makes it great for fingerpicking, although I can’t deny it shines best as a strummer/flatpicker But it really does do it all pretty well Good choice if you want to use a dread but also fingerpick
Comment from : @adam_michael540

23 years ago I walked into the guitar store with a $2500 inheritance from my dad Saw a Gibson acoustic and it was practically glowing it was so beautiful, the guitar of my dreams I knew I must have it I purchased it 23 years of loving abuse later it doesn't look quite so pretty any more, but I love that guitar I play it almost exclusively When you hit the low A or E the whole guitar vibrates a resonant frequency and shakes your guts with it It's literally a visceral experience to play it Thankfully, 23 years later I look worse than the guitar, so in comparisonit's still gorgeous
Comment from : @davidcooke8005

Thanks man you just talked me out of buying an Acoustic again after many years
Comment from : @VitoVisintini

06:08 you have to save that guitar man, that one deserves it!
Comment from : @jcrgtattoo333

I have a early 70's Suzuki lawsuit D-35 and it sounds incredible for someone, like me, that like Martin over Taylor
Comment from : @purtis99

I’ve had my Seagull S6 for over half my life and I’ve never felt that any other acoustic compared
Comment from : @BameronCerry

A major question regarding the choice of guitar SHOULD be the ergonomic needs of the person who will be playing it, AND whether the player will be singing on a pro level while playing guitar If you will be singing, your posture while playing will make or break your ability to sing long concerts, remain confident and competent, and avoid vocal fatigue and vocal injury The dreadnought guitar shape is the leading type for teenage boys and for a feel-good reason: the enormous back and sides of the instrument radiate a great deal of the vibration to the body of the player For smaller female human bodies, the choice of Joan Baez was the 0-45, and the Martin guitar Co "women in music" initiative encouraged smaller women to try the 00 shape or smaller, to give them the very best posture for singing Bending the right shoulder across a dred body undermines posture, ergo the lung output and comfort of a smaller player The external sound of a smaller instrument in concert settings can obviously be miked or amplified from an internal pickup That said, many very tall players, John Mayer, Jorma Kaukonnen and others still prefer the 00, 000, or 0000 shapes because of balance of resonances in and out of the instrument and the right hand playing style of the artist
Comment from : @corcaccia

@RhettShull it was a Buck Owens American acoustic painted red, white, and blue My mom bought it for $50 from a coworker in her office It was heavy as a tank and taught me very well such that when I purchased my first Takamine in 1978 I was happy to have something lighter
Comment from : @gewickG

This is all a bunch of bull because the guitar any guitar sounds good if it works expensive or cheap especially if you don't have one handy and you ready need a fix (lol) but that's my own opinion
Comment from : @rudysalcedo9395

Solid Exotic wood tops have unique sounds I would never buy a quilted top acoustic I have a solid top Catalpa Ventura Dean copy Nice guitar Mid range, 450 ish Sounds excellent
Comment from : @energycantbedestroyeditcan7671

I left my dreadnaught outside in the shade on a humid day in MA for about 2 hours thinking it was the cheap and easy way to give it some TLC, but when I brought it back inside, it sounded absolutely lifeless It took 2 o 3 days before the sound recovered Generally, I don't like any more humidification than absolutely needed to prevent damage because it affects the tone and volume negatively, especially the high frequencies
Comment from : @nicholash8021

I have an amazing looking custom koa McPherson, but the top is Adirondack spruce and the grain is just like he described, very tight and straight
Comment from : @midi510

I have a Korean made Alvarez from the early 80s that sounds unlike any acoustic I've ever played It hits every detail you've mentioned I sent some pictures to Alvarez to see if they could help with the serial number ID, and they not only misidentified it, but they told me that their current serial number system doesn't include vintage numbers It is completely solid front, back, and sides Light as a feather!
Comment from : @kjv-public-domain

can you share some of your favorite guitar recs for singer songwriter / finger picking style (as opposed to acoustics that are louder for strumming)
Comment from : @chanafriedenberg6233

I take my guitars into the shower room with me occasionally, so the wood can take in some moisture NO not all the time guys (laughs), only when the humidity level has dipped during the winter months Just a precaution because I keep them out on stands That and I keep sound hole humidifiers in them at all times during the winter
Comment from : @Gr8FriknApe

I tried a Gibson jumbo guitar center and was amazed at the lack of volume and low end It is worth going to the store and putting your hands on the instrument
Comment from : @Abeuss

As a trumpet player, I am glad that I am not a guitar player!
Comment from : @Arthur_Yurchenko

6:50brLove to hear more thoughts on repairing sentimental pieces that are worth a lot less than the repairbrItselfbrAnd upgrading those types of guitars too
Comment from : @T25de

Great information…really enjoyed …Ty
Comment from : @henrymorgan6087

It's all depends on what a person hears in their head and the type of music that they play I've heard very few acoustic guitars that sound better than my $2K Taylor Custom 224ce-K DLX I've played a $20K Benedetto archtop that has a better acoustic sound than most acoustic guitars, including my Taylor
Comment from : @sillumquan

so dissapointing that the only names he gave at the end were taylor and martin , doesn’t everyone know they make quality , wantd a few more brands to look at
Comment from : @George-of5kl

THANK YOU - Useful info 🎼🎵🎶 💎
Comment from : @Brendan-the-Navigator

I just noticed that the black plastic edge trim has come loose along about 3 inches of the top rear edge on my D18
Comment from : @BKLemons

I have a Martin D-18 bought new in 2018 I have always kept the strings tuned even for weeks without playing it I keep it in its case with a little sponge humidifier that I check for moisture once a week or so Should I loosen the strings during periods when I'm not playing it? So far I don't see any damage, and as far as I can tell the action hasn't changed But I know how that can creep so slowly that it's hard to tell if there has been any change
Comment from : @BKLemons

Some people including me are fans of hardwoods
Comment from : @DepressedMusicEnjoyer

super helpful, thank for doing this
Comment from : @musiclovesmoore

My first guitars was one of the first Ovations built Solid top Was the best sounding guitar on my limited budget I have owned/own over 60-70 guitars and still have the original Ovation
Comment from : @littlewing2357

Taylor 110 The best guitar for 800 bucks, EVER
Comment from : @cmmnsenserules4339

Great vid
Comment from : @georgeblack4215

I've been discovering Alvarez acoustic guitars They sound amazing for the price
Comment from : @todd92371

Thank you- very informative
Comment from : @aribolel8216

Waaay back in 2004 when dinosaurs roamed the earth and guitars only had 1 string Good advice and after playing jumbos about 10 years ago I suddenly realized smaller guitars were far more comfortable, usually more playable and very often sounded much better
Comment from : @bab008