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I'm horrible...

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- Rated: 10 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 4:27 p.m. hummingbird_rose:

My fiance decided he wants to learn guitar. I convinced him that learning on any of mine is a bad idea mostly because he doesn't dare touch my babies, except maybe my first acoustic, but I fibbed and said it'd be hard for him to learn on. So I bought him a cheap Takamine with really high action for two reasons: 1) to give him strength in his fingers, because there's no better way to build it than by playing something with a mile between the strings and the frets, and 2) so he won't scar a worthwhile, beautiful instrument while learning.

Am I too mean?
- Rated: 51 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 4:31 p.m. The Norm:

Only if it has truly vile action. Not saying it should play like a guitar with 008's for a first string.

Still, he's gottawanna and he'll find out it'll be a while before his playing gets interesting no matter what you give him to start on.

Starting on a cheap guitar is ok but starting on junk can be too discouraging.

Of course, if he never learns how to play he'll not be teaching yours any bad tricks now will he...?
- Rated: 30 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 4:32 p.m. JazzBoxJunky:

If he REALLY is to become a guitar player, this is the path most of us took. Yes, you are too mean,
- Rated: 83 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 4:35 p.m. Deed Eddy:

HRose said: ...because he doesn't dare touch my babies.

Yikes! I've heard of new Moms who are overprotective, but this is a little bit much.
- Rated: 7 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 4:56 p.m. fbama73:

I'm fortunate this way- my wife thinks guitar is impossible for her because of her small hands. All of my guitars are definitely too big for her hands. We might be able to find one that might fit her, but it wouldn't be one I'd want to play.

And my daughter (her lessons are right after mine) is left-handed. I'd say I have it knocked.
- Rated: 10 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 5:07 p.m. hummingbird_rose:

I didn't buy him a total piece of junk! It was at least NEW! Gee, you'd think I'm a monster from the way you guys talk!

And I'd never torture him, but honestly, the action is pretty high compared to a "real" guitar. Even I have a bit of trouble on the neck, but actually I sort of like the idea of playing it. It'll re-strengthen my own hands. I got lazy and spoiled by my Rose.

And if you need an electric with smaller everything, you can look into a discontinued model Les Paul Goddess (I'm too lazy to find the model number at the moment). It's honestly the smallest guitar I've ever played, and moreso than anything else I own, if I want to completely rip through everything double- and triple-time, that's the guitar I grab. Sometimes it's just fun to play 'Flight of the Bumblebee' on guitar, and I can only do it on my Goddess.
- Rated: 37 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 5:08 p.m. MR TROUBLE:

What happened to the whole what's yours is his and what's his is yours thing...sheesh.

If my wife wanted to learn guitar on my precious White Falcon I'd give it to her. It's called loooOOOOOOOOOOOoooovvvvve.

If you give him a guitar with too high of action it may prove hard to learn on and end up discouraging him. It might be better to give him a guitar with normal action and when he's able to to play a few chord progressions then have him try higher action.
- Rated: 22 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 5:13 p.m. jazzbo:

Your intentions are good, but you'd better hope he doesn't kill himself for months struggling on that high actioned Takamine, then sneak a play sometime on one of your soft action babies. He'll be ticked that you've been pulling the wool over his eyes.
- Rated: 10 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 5:15 p.m. hummingbird_rose:

Oh, and I'm also a firm believer in statistic trending. Now, as a slightly clumsy man to begin with, he puts extra special effort into not doing clumsy things with our daughter. Statistic trending then shows that eventually he'll do something clumsy elsewhere, and I'd rather it not be with my guitars!

But at least he gets to play my trumpet whenever he wants. And he's pretty good, too.
- Rated: 49 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 5:18 p.m. Ric12string:

I think that he should take that Takamine, which is quite likely to be a fine guitar, to a luthier and get the action lowered. No reason to discourage him unnecessarily. Learning to play the guitar well can be discouraging enough!
- Rated: 30 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 6:00 p.m. Beatles6120:

I think you should get him the "Hello Kitty" Strat. It will humble him.
- Rated: 47 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 6:20 p.m. dignan:

My first instructor recommended starting on an acoustic vs. electric for this very reason. Not necessarily one with a mile-high action, maybe, but the principle is the same. Just let him know the benefits of building hand strength (and callouses), you don't have to explicitly say "I don't want your clumsy ass anywhere near my good guitars."
- Rated: 26 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 6:41 p.m. marctrain57:

I like the idea of getting the guitar tweaked so he won't get discouraged and then lust after your more finely tuned and expensive "babies." After all, high action will a) make him give up or b) sneak a play on your Gretsch.

By the way I never learned to do jack on my wife's harp except put it in the SUV when she gigs, back breaking work since it is a full size concert grand.
- Rated: 25 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 7:34 p.m. Parabar:

Mr. Trouble said: What happened to the whole what's yours is his and what's his is yours thing...

Where did that come from? Near as I've been able to figure out, in real life only the "what's his is hers" part is ever enforced. Attempts to assert for the reverse usually result in righteous indignation (at best) or legal action (at worst). Or as the well-known Zen koan puts it, "If a man says something in the forest, and there's no woman there to hear him, is he still wrong?"
- Rated: 41 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 7:34 p.m. bwallace1:

I agree with getting the Takamine tweaked so it won't be too hard for him to get used to. he might end up loving the Takamine. and from there, he may go to Martin's.brent
- Rated: 29 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 8:29 p.m. mark t:

Takamines are nice guitars. But he's eventually going to figure out that the Gretsches are cooler.
- Rated: 5 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 9:26 p.m. AshCow:

heh......

Im a kid that started about two or so years ago.

To this day I hate but still play my Aria Pro 2 "Cat" that has everything wrong with it.(high action, terrible buzz,all screws/hardware pull out easy, ect) [from my parents, dont feel bad]

currently about to buy a gretsch.
- Rated: 37 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 9:48 p.m. MR TROUBLE:

Parabar said: Where did that come from? Near as I've been able to figure out, in real life only the "what's his is hers" part is ever enforced.

LOL. That may be true in many marriages, but not in mine! If I want to take my wife's BMW 528 out for a spin she can't stop me!
- Rated: 35 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 9:58 p.m. crowbone:

I agree, make him suffer for his art.

A high action in the hands of beginners gleans the wheat from the chaff, the men from the boys(present ladies from girls as well), as well as builds the calluses and kills those pesky nerves that indicate when we should stop playing.

After he can play without complaint, take the Takamine to get set up.

These are really nice guitars usually. I played a couple different ones at three weddings, and they were all very nice sounding guitars. Better than what I started out with. I wish my Dad bought me a hunk of junk Takamine!
- Rated: 15 ↑
Sep 27, 2008 12:27 a.m. AndyJ:

I'm a firm believer in the starting-on-acoustic method for the very reasons you mentioned, hummingbird_rose. You're not mean at all. In fact, +1 for that.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Sep 27, 2008 12:52 a.m. TAG4:

Is your fiance allowed to eat at the adult table on the good china? Maybe you could let him hold your good guitars if he would wash his hands?

TAG4
- Rated: 115 ↑
Sep 27, 2008 1:08 a.m. wenzel:

You're not mean, but I'd recommend taking the Takamine in to get a set up so it plays like butta! Then he'll enjoy playing it instead of cursing at it. He'll build up strength in his fingers naturally. A crummy playing guitar is no fun to play even when you have strong fingers. I bet that Takamine needs a neck adjustment and maybe the nut and bridge too. Hook him up!!! Congrats on getting your loved one into guitar!
- Rated: 34 ↑
Sep 27, 2008 5:53 a.m. Bernw:

Be honest - you did that because you are worried to death that he will end up a better guitarist than you!!!
- Rated: 59 ↑
Sep 27, 2008 7:21 a.m. Bear:

wenzel: said: You're not mean, but I'd recommend taking the Takamine in to get a set up so it plays like butta! Then he'll enjoy playing it instead of cursing at it. He'll build up strength in his fingers naturally. A crummy playing guitar is no fun to play even when you have strong fingers. I bet that Takamine needs a neck adjustment and maybe the nut and bridge too. Hook him up!!! Congrats on getting your loved one into guitar.

Chris is right Granddaughter... If he likes playing it, he will practice more and become a better guitarist sooner and then you can start working on duets to entertain Josie. C'mon now... do the right thing.

Papi
- Rated: 32 ↑
Sep 27, 2008 7:32 a.m. cyclopssam:

i in general don't let anyone play my babies in less their well trusted(Like a good friend who can out play me,ha) and know the do's & don'ts of gitar handling,so....... every body else would you let someone learn how to ride a motorcycle on your harly?>..i think NOT!....

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