A look at what is currently available on eBay
Is a martin smith acoustic guitar a good choice for beginners?
I'm going to buy a guitar and I just want to know if this is a good one for beginners
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Martin-Smith-Full-Size-Acoustic-Guitar-Pack-BLUE-/170592659475?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27b81d6813#ht_5798wt_1012
Hi justme,
I'd avoid choosing a guitar like that. At such a low price, you're likely going to run into a variety of issues that is ultimately not going to make playing the guitar a very satisfying experience for you. If you can, I'd highly recommend increasing your budget enough to get you to the level of guitars that are made with solid tops, as opposed to laminate tops. It makes an enormous difference. Guitars with laminate tops do not have the full, rich sound that a solid top guitar will have. Also, when you step up to that level, you'll avoid some of the other very common issues that you can encounter with those very low-price guitars, such as the guitar not staying in tune, or being set up poorly, frequently causing the guitar to be much more difficult to play.
Though it's a bit more money, you will find that it is much more rewarding and satisfying to play a good entry level guitar rather than the cheapest one you can find. I'm in the US but I checked a UK guitar store for some possible options:
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/acoustic_guitars_detail.asp?stock=10050310074531 (Epiphone does a good job of making fairly good guitars for an affordable price. This is a good solid top option)
There are a few right in that price range that are worth checking out - Fender, Takamine, Yamaha, etc. Of those 3 brands, I'd place Takamine at the top.
But definitely make it a priority to get a solid top. You'll be glad you did.
Items recently purchased from this site
MARTIN D-28 1949 CELEBRITY OWNED INVEST GRADE VINTAGE BRAZILIAN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, Paul Reed Smith COLLECTION Martin Simpson/Tony McManus Angelus Acoustic Guitar, 1940 Martin D-18 D18 acoustic guitar vintage flattop, 1936 Martin 000-28 acoustic vintage guitar, 1990 Martin D-40 BLE Brazilian Rosewood Limited Edition Acoustic, Martin OOO-42 Eric Clapton 1995 Acoustic Guitar, PRS Martin Simpson Private Stock Acoustic #3301 - Brand NEW!, vintage gretsch catseye acoustic guitar w/ gibson martin fender strings, Martin 0-18 Sunburst 1950 Vintage Acoustic Guitar, Vintage 1967 Martin D-35 Brazillian Roswood Acoustic Guitar SUPER NICE EX+ Cond., 1932 Martin 00-40H Converted Hawaiian Acoustic Guitar w/Rosewood Back 190900, Martin HD-28 Orange County Chopper Nub Hand Painted Collector's Acoustic Guitar, 1966-1967 Martin D 28 Acoustic Guitar D28 Vintage 191304, Martin 75th Anniversary D-28 Dreadnought Limited Edition Acoustic Guitar, 1987 Martin D-45 Acoustic Guitar w/OHC, Martin 00 Stauffer 175th Anniversary Limited Edition Acoustic Guitar, NEW!, Martin D-45 Acoustic Guitar (pre-owned) , Martin D-28M Elvis Presley Limited Edition Guitar Acoustic Guitar, NEW!, Martin 00-18 12 Fret 1928 Vintage Parlor Acoustic Guitar, Vintage 1963 Martin D-28 Acoustic Guitar - Brazilian Rosewood, Martin Madagascar / Alpine Custom OM Acoustic Guitar, Martin D45 Dreadnought Acoustic Guiar, 2008 Martin D-28 Elvis Presley Commemorative Acoustic Guitar w/ Hard Case, Vintage RARE Martin OO-18E Acoustic Electric Guitar DeArmond Pickup Klusons Case, 1975 Martin Dreadnought 35 (D-35) Acoustic Guitar 9/10 EX+ Rosewood 1-Owner USA, Martin D-28 1955 CFM IV Limited Edition Acoustic Guitar with Case, NEW!, Rare 1924 0-28 Martin Acoustic Guitar, MARTIN SPECIAL D-28 ELVIS PRESLEY CRV ACOUSTIC GUITAR!! Only 175 made!! RARE! , Martin D45 Acoustic Guitar, VINTAGE MARTIN & C0 ACOUSTIC GUITAR, RARE BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD -CIRCA 1947 , ****** RARE 1949 MARTIN 000-18 ACOUSTIC GUITAR ******, Vintage 1953 Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar Dreadnaught Bluegrass Cannon Old D-, Martin D-28 D-28M Ltd Ed Elvis Presley Acoustic Guitar, 2001 Martin D-18CW D18CW acoustic guitar Clarence White, Vintage 1957 Martin 000-18 Acoustic Guitar Plays and Sounds Amazing Very Gd Deal, Vintage 1956 Martin 00-17 Acoustic Guitar , Vintage Original 1965 Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar! Very Clean Sounds AMAZING!!! , Martin 000-28C Nylon String 1963 00028C Vintage Acoustic Classical Guitar, Martin Johnny Cash Signature D-35 2006 D35 Acoustic Guitar, 1942 Martin R-18 Archtop Acoustic Guitar Vintage Beauty, 1955 Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar D18 Vintage 55 + Case, Martin D-18 1968 D18 Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Martin D-28 Marquis Sunburst Acoustic Guitar, Martin D41 Acoustic Guitar (Old Stock), Martin D42 Acoustic Guitar, Martin America's Guitar 175th Acoustic Guitar - D18 D28 D35 HD28 - AMAZING!!!, 2007 Martin D-41 D41 SPECIAL Acoustic Guitar MINT, Martin D41 D-41 Dreadnought ACOUSTIC Guitar W/CASE, Martin POW MIA Acoustic Guitar Black, Martin Authentic 000-18A Acoustic Guitar 2007 OOO-18, Martin 2011 OM28 Marquis Acoustic Guitar Used 1/2Hr Yet Perfect w/Case &Warranty, Martin HD-16R LSH Prototype Acoustic Guitar w/ Case, VINTAGE 1969 MARTIN D-35 D35 D 35 DREADNOUGHT ACOUSTIC GUITAR, MARTIN D-35 JOHNNY CASH SPECIAL EDITION ACOUSTIC GUITAR & CASE! MINT CONDITION!!, MARTIN USED D12-20 12 STRING ACOUSTIC GUITAR 1969 W FREE SHIPPING MARTIN GUITAR, Unbelievable 1955 Gibson Southern Jumbo Acoustic w/OHSC-Refin Martin Sunburst!, Martin D18GE Golden Era - 1934 Golden Era Acoustic Guitar with Case, NEW!, Martin D-18GE Golden Era 1934 Acoustic Guitar, Martin 2011 HD28MP-E HD-28 Madagascar Acoustic*ELECTRIC* Guitar Used 1hr Perfect, Martin D-28CW Clarence White Commemorative Edition Acoustic Guitar w/ Case D-28, Martin 0-28VS Vintage Series Acoustic Guitar, Martin 000-28 acoustic/electric guitar. A serious piece for serious players., NM used Martin D-35 Johnny Cash acoustic guitar w/ OHSC, 2011 MARTIN D-41 D41 USA MADE ACOUSTIC DREADNOUGHT GUITAR WITH CASE D28 D35 D42, Martin D-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar with Martin Case RRP $3899, USA Martin D16K acoustic guitar Rare Koa , 2005 C.F. Martin 00-18S Custom Acoustic Guitar, Martin D18 Acoustic Guitar 1967 D-18 Very Good + Condition 44 Yr Old Dreadnought, 2011 00028VS Martin OOO28VS Acoustic Guitar Used 1/2Hr Perfect w/Case &Warranty, Vintage 1974 D41 CF Martin Acoustic Guitar w/ Hard Case, Martin D-28P Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar with Martin Case RRP $3899, 2005 Martin Marquis D28 Acoustic Guitar w/ OHSC, Martin HD-28V Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar New, Martin 2011 HD28MP HD-28 Madagascar Acoustic Guitar Used 1hr w/Case &Warranty, Martin GPCPA1 Acoustic Electric Guitar (Old Stock), Martin USA OMCPA1 Performing Artist Acoustic Electric Guitar w/OHSC, NEW '10 Martin Grand J-35E Jumbo Acoustic/Elec. Guitar, MINT UNPLAYED Martin 000-28EC Eric Clapton Signature Model Acoustic Guitar, Martin D-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural , 1974 Martin D-35 Vintage Acoustic Guitar w/OHC, 1968 Martin 000-18 00018 acoustic guitar vintage flattop spruce mahogany, Martin Performing Artist Series DCPA1 Acoustic-Electric Guitar , Martin 000-28EC Eric Clapton Signature Sunburst Acoustic Guitar, Martin 00028EC-E Eric Clapton Signature Model Acoustic *ELECTRIC* Guitar Used1hr, Martin D-35 Acoustic Dreadnaught Guitar Made in USA 1970 SN 277416, Vintage 1955 Martin 00-17 Mahogany Acoustic Guitar original clean! w/Hard case , 2011 HD28VS 12 Fret Martin HD-28VS Acoustic Guitar D28V-S Huge Sounds Used 1 hr, 2011 Martin OM28V OM-28V Acoustic Guitar Used 1hr Still Perfect w/Case &Warranty, MARTIN & CO. DC AURA ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR W/CASE, MARTIN JOHN MAYER OMJM SIGNATURE ACOUSTIC GUITAR MINT!!, Martin Grand J-28 LSE Jumbo Baritone Acoustic Guitar, MINT UNPLAYED Martin HD-28V Acoustic Guitar, Vintage Series D-28, Herringbone, Martin OMJM John Mayer Signature Acoustic Electric Guitar, Martin Vintage O-16 Original 1969 Acoustic Guitar, **BRAND NEW MARTIN DC AURA - SPECIAL EDITION ROSEWOOD - ELCTRO ACOUSTIC GUITAR**, Martin D-35/1977/Acoustic Guitar/Indian Rosewood/3 Piece Back/C. F. Martin, Martin DC-28E Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Cutaway Spruce Top Rosewood Back, Martin HD35 HD-35 Dreadnought ACOUSTIC Guitar W/CASE, 2007 Martin DC Aura Acoustic/Electric Guitar w/OHC,
