Cheap guitar in Bali?

[skunksounds]

Anyone know of a good store to go to in order to purchase a cheap but decent quality acoustic guitar? Preferably somewhere in Kuta, Sanur or Denpasar if possible. Thanks for any info!

[skunksounds]

Never mind. Did some research on the forum and found out Tom's is the way to go. Plus it is relatively close to my house, so that works perfect.

[gilbert de jong]

good for you skunksounds...just hope when you play the guitar it doesn't sound, like a skunk smells :wink: .
I always wanted to learn how to play guitar, but never did :( . So when I play around with a guitar, I always blame the strings for not sounding good :) .
Take care, gilbert.

[mimpimanis]

I bought Made a guitar in Gramedia in the Galleria. Not the best quality.... as he is nto the best player :wink: but they have quite a good range.

[JohnnyCool]

...So when I play around with a guitar, I always blame the strings for not sounding good...

I know you meant that as a joke, gilbert, but there's also a lot of truth in it as well.

People who start to learn guitar and give up do so for several reasons:

1. Absolutely no talent in the first place, (often blamed on being "tone deaf")
2. Having a lousy/unplayable instrument that sounds stuffed no matter who plays it
3. Having a guitar with crappy strings
4. Not knowing how to change the strings
5. Not knowing how to tune it properly
6. Too lazy to practice properly, (if at all)
7. Low pain threshold in the fingers, (especially with bad guitars)
8. Not having someone to play with and learn from
9. Trying to play things that are just too hard for a beginner
10. Being left-handed and can't find a suitable guitar

The list could go on, but I think you get the point.

It's not hard to pick up a cheap guitar here. However, if it's too cheap, it's probably crap and unplayable, unless you're a Balinese on mushrooms or extremely gifted.

There are many "Yamaha" guitars in Indonesia. Most of them are made here. They're not as good as the ones from Japan, (or wherever they make them these days). You can be lucky and strike one that works and plays well for years. Or not. Bad ones can screw up within 6 months, or even less. Those ones are still good for starting a fire in case you want to cook some sate.

Basic Steps For Beginners

1. Find someone who can play reasonably well and get them to help you choose a decent instrument
2. Learn how to tune it, (very important or you'll always sound bad)
3. Learn 3 or 4 basic chords and be able to change between them without effort
4. Learn at least one musical scale and all of its positions up and down the neck
5. "Play" with any and everybody you can, whenever possible
6. Always be humble until you can kick ass, (stay humble if you make it)
7. Have fun
8. Never give up or choose another instrument
9. Never give up
10. Check out some guitar-playing sites on the internet

This "lesson" is free for all.

:D

[toucan]

If you don't find what u want, there is a shop in Poppies 1 selling doona (duvet) covers and acoustic guitars. Closer to Legian St end, just past where it narrows to motor bikes only and in the narrow section. Sorry don't know the name of the shop but easy to find. Don't know anything about guitars myself but others have said they are good value.

[skunksounds]

Thanks for the info guys.

Gilbert- I've been playing off and on since I was 12 years old. But off and on is the key phrase there. I should be ripping it, instead I kind of just keep playing the same songs I now over and over again. I will set it down and then pick it up 6 months later. But I did not bring a guitar with me to Bali, and since I have a lot of free time on my hands, I figure this is the time to really hone my skills. But I know as well as you, we can always find something else to blame!

Johnny Cool- As I've told Gilbert, I can play a bit. But thanks for the free lesson anyhow! Any chance you can give me a free lesson on 80's metal solos?? Then I can sit and weedle all day long and be a happy man.

[JohnnyCool]

skunksounds, have I got something for you!

There is a wonderful guitar player in America called Doug Seven. He's been putting together all kinds of instructional videos that teach you the stuff that he's picked up over the years. Some of them are totally free to download, some you have to pay for, (if you want them).

Even the free ones are brilliant! He has several websites, some dedicated to country music, some to blues, etc. He comes across as a very humble, no bull-shit, philanthropic kind of guy.

Here's a couple of links to get you started:

http://sizzlingguitarlicks.com
http://sizzlingguitarlicks.com/free-vid ... 8844775566

Get into some of his material and you'll be flying in no time. Believe me.
I am in no way associated with Doug Seven or his products but I wish I'd seen his stuff when I was learning.

Look for yourself, learn heaps and enjoy...

:D

[Jimbo]

I bought a guitar over a year ago as I always wanted to be the guy who could play around a camp fire. Yet to pick it up and hold it :(

[mimpimanis]

I bought a guitar years ago in London and a teach yourself book.... I could tune figure out how to tune it so I bought an electric tuner - thinking it would tune it automatically. I didnt realise it was a tuner for an electric guitar :oops: Figured then it was time to give up :lol: