The continuing guitar tangent
Some random thoughts in no particular order:
1) Epiphone puts out a decent product, so that one you linked to should be an OK starter guitar. However, before deciding on a
particular guitar, you should (if you can) go to a variety of music shops and try out different guitars so you can find out what kind of sound and ergonomics you like. I just tried out an Ibanez maple-top that had a very bright and "chiming" tone- the notes sounded almost like a percussionist's bells. Right after that, I tried a Takamine rosewood that had a very warm and resonant tone- it was almost like my cello.
If you are able to shop around town, check out the little places as well as the big stores. Sometimes, you can get a better deal there than with the big chains. Typically I find that, while I may spend a little more with a small store, I'll get a better guitar for my money because they want me to come back. That is, instead of getting a $100 starter guitar, I can spend $150 on a pro-level guitar that someone returned (because they've moved on) or a mid-level guitar that has some manufacturer's incentives attached.
If you're lucky enough to know someone who is a long-time player, you could even shop in the pawn shops. There are some real deals to be found there, but you really have to know what you're doing to avoid getting ripped.
2) Buy as much guitar as you can afford. An inexpensive guitar like the Epi you linked to will be fine to learn on, but it won't last long. My first guitar, a similarly priced Alvarez, lasted 5 years. When I took it in for some minor repair work, the repairman said it would be cheaper for me to replace it than to repair it. That was when I decided to buy my next guitar, an Ovation Elite, which I have had for 13 years now. I got it on sale for $450 (down from nearly $900)- its a pro-quality instrument, well worth repair and likely to last a lifetime or more. OTOH, I know I can get a pretty good Seagull (from Godin) between $200-500 today.
Remember:
sales are your friends!
Check out
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/gnw/?nl399 and
http://www.guitarplayer.com/ for more shopping fun.
3) Some people claim that it is easier to learn the electric guitar first because it (generally) has a narrower neck and lower action than a typical accoustic, which makes it easier to finger the chords. The style of music you'd prefer to learn will also affect your choice of instruments. Talk to your teacher (if you have one) and find out his preferences. Heck...if you have a teacher in mind, ask him to help you pick out an instrument.
BTW- a teacher may
seem expensive, but good ones will pay for themselves in directed learning. You'll spend less time learning things badly and picking up bad habits when you work with a teacher. I had a guitar for several years before taking lessons, and I had a LOT to unlearn.
4) The bass guitar, while superficially just a big guitar, has a different mentality behind it.
Just for giggles, you could even try starting a thread in the "Off-topic" forum. I know I'm not the only musician around here...I'm sure that others could be as helpful, if not moreso, than me.
