GUITAR TRACKS
MARK MAGDICH
Exploring the Other Side
It’s a familiar story, and one that I’ve personally gone through: you’ve been playing for
a while, maybe many years, then something
happens. Maybe you hear a song that moves
you in a way you’ve never been moved
before. Maybe you’re an acoustic player and
it was Jimi Hendrix’s use of a wide-open
Marshall stack, or Eddie Van Halen’s unreal
“brown sound.” Maybe you’re an electric
player and it was the subtle sound of a beautiful acoustic guitar someone was playing in
church. Whatever it was, suddenly you have
an overwhelming urge to pick up a different
type of guitar.
Moving from primarily playing an electric
guitar over to acoustic, or vice versa, can
be confusing—starting with one of the most
important questions: “What guitar do I
get?” Of course, perusing through all of the
pictures and listings available online of the
most beautiful instruments in the world, both
expensive and inexpensive, can be bewildering. The trick is to find the one that will get
you rolling in the right direction.
Going Acoustic
Obviously, acoustic guitars are different in
terms of playing, tone and feel. If you decide
to go after an acoustic, you need to ask yourself how committed you are to sticking with the
instrument. If you want to try it out for a few
months and experiment, then maybe a $10,000
custom-built model isn’t such a good idea.
For experimenters, there are many reasonably priced acoustics on the market in the
$300 to $600 range. Most of them are well
built, set up nicely out of the box, and if you
decide to keep playing, will last for years with
proper care. But be careful not to “cheap
out” too much or the guitar may ultimately
hold you back. A well-made acoustic will
make the “crossover” process easier and
much more enjoyable.
For those of us, such as myself, who got the
itch to play acoustic and just couldn’t imagine
44 PREMIER GUITAR DECEMBER 2009
life without one, there are other paths to
take. There are many acoustics on the market
that should be considered works of art. They
feature premium woods, hand-selected tops,
custom finishes and custom inlay work. Prices
on these models can be of a much broader
range, generally starting around $1500 and
running up to many thousands of dollars. If
you’re convinced you’re a “lifer” in the acoustic guitar world then the investment will surely be worth it to learn on a great instrument.
Whether you’re going
from electric to acoustic,
or acoustic to electric,
the changes you’ll
experience as a player
are well worth it…
Going Electric
If you’re wrestling with the dilemma of
whether playing an electric be just as gratifying as strumming an acoustic, the only way to
find out is to try one. In that case, the same
general rules of quality would apply. If you
want to see what it feels like to peel the paint
off the walls, you can get into a pretty decent
electric for about $400 to $600. Realize, however, that more than acoustics, electrics can
have very different tonal characteristics. For
example, a Strat is generally a bright sounding guitar, while a Les Paul is a bit heavier. A
decent starting point in your search is figuring out which one better suits your taste.
Of course, an electric guitar is going to
need an amp, and they come in all kinds of
configurations and with different features.
Some have built-in effects, some don’t. Some
come with one speaker and others with as
many as four. Some are huge and some are
even small enough to fit in your hand—and
with a set of earphones, you can silently practice and play in rock and roll heaven.
For those who want to dive right in and buy a
high-end electric, there are hundreds of manufacturers making incredible guitars. Many of
them feature hand-picked tonewoods, custom electronics and gorgeous finishes. Some
are one-of-a-kind models, or special editions
with limited quantities. You can pay as little
as $1500, or as much as many thousands of
dollars. If you’re serious, you won’t regret
investing in a high-quality guitar. The one
truly will last you a lifetime.
Crossing Over
Whether you’re going from electric to acoustic, or acoustic to electric, the changes you’ll
experience as a player are well worth it. Any
instructor or experienced professional will
tell you the same thing: start slow, give your
hands time to adjust to the new feel and
techniques, and be patient—don’t expect
miracles. Changing from one to the other will
teach you to look at guitar in different ways,
not only stylistically, but physically, too. The
rewards are well worth the time. Best of luck
on your journey!
Mark Magdich
Mark Magdich is a Senior Sales Engineer for Sweetwater
Sound in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as well as a live musician,
session vocalist, and studio engineer. He can be contacted at
800-222-4700 ext 1265 or mark_magdich@sweetwater.com.
www.premierguitar.com
