Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MaestroCantus]

Hey everyone,

I'm getting quite bored here in Korea . . . yay, 4 months of living in Korea, and working at a school where I'm the only person who doesn't speak Korean. (OK, enough lamenting).

I'm contemplating getting an acoutstic guitar if I can find one that's in tune and not expensive (I don't really want to spend much more than 100,000 . . . and prefer to spend less as I have a tendency to buy stuff and not stick to my original intentions of practicing).

My dad's the guitar-buyer in my family, and I doubt he'd be aware of the brands and models available in Korea (but he did teach me that you can get a cheap guitar --- with frets spaced correctly --- and put on better strings to get a good sound>> That's what he did with a cheap Costco YAMAHA that he bought me when I was in Canada<< . .. hmm, have I ever strung a guitar myself???).

OK, details about my (lack of) ability in music/guitar:

- I took a course on guitars back in highschool
- did my Bachelors and Masters in Music History -- so, any instrument I buy MUST be in tune!!!!! (my major instrument was the Trumpet)
- didn't play much but finger-picking songs . . . guess I should really learn to strum (came close to playing Radiohead's Street Spirit back in undergrad)

So, yeah. To summarize, I'm wondering:

1) What an in-tune guitar might cost me
2) What brands and models would you recommend for a beginner (whose read that a smaller distance between the strings and the fret board might make playing the guitar easier on her hands)
3) Where should I go to buy one (and accessories . . . a Capo might be nice . . . I left all of my guitar accessories in Canada)

OH, I live in Bundang . . . but could make it out to Nagwon Music Arcade in central Seoul on a Saturday, or perhaps late on a weekday (but I hate buying anything in a rush).

When is Nagwon Music Arcade open?
Do you know of any good Guitar shops closer to Bundang?

[The_Source]

[MaestroCantus]

I know how to tune the strings on a guitar . . . that's easy.

However, sometimes cheap guitars can have the frets spaced incorrectly --- my mother bought a guitar like that when she was young (and I remember playing with it when I was a kid). No matter how you tune the strings, if the frets are misspaced, you won't be able to play it in tune.

* That's what I meant by an in-tune guitar *

[Underwaterbob]

There's a few simple rules for checking out a guitar when you're buying. It doesn't take an expert to test some things.

To check tuning play the twelfth fret harmonic (lightly touch the string with your finger directly above the twelfth fret [don't press it down to the fret!] and pluck it) then press the string down normally at the same fret and pluck it again. If the two notes are in tune then your frets are likely spaced correctly. (it's a rare case when the twelfth fret is placed correctly and the other frets are off)

Fret buzz is easy enough, just play each string on each fret and listen for buzzing. Personally a little bit of buzz is acceptable here and there, but some people demand perfection.

How much you spend depends on how much you are willing to spend. You can find guitars in tune with no buzz for 100'000won that are laminate and don't have the best tone. Anything made with solid wood will have better tone. Solid top is the most common, then solid top and solid back, then solid top, back and sides, each getting progressively more expensive.

There are some cheap (in Korea) Korean brands that make some really decent sounding guitars. I bought a Cort NTL20F (solid top and back) and love it.

[DrOctagon]

I bought a laminated Fender here and it has a pretty nice tone for a laminated guitar (200,000). In fact, I would say that it has a better tone than the all solid wood Fender I have back home. But, that's probably 'cuz the one back home has been subject to many dry winters, so the sound has been compromised.

If you buy a solid wood guitar, make sure you buy a humidifier you put in your guitar case, or a good room humidifier for the winter. The humidity should hover around 45-55%. Low humidity may cause stress fractures, bent necks, shrinking necks, etc.

One more thing. Make sure the guitar has a nice sound and it is comfortable to play. Sometimes the poor quality of the guitar will hinder many beginners from wanting to play. Therefore, invest in a good quality guitar if you are set on learning how to play.

[Trevor]

Take a look at the buy sell forum. There is a nice Cort guitar for 200K that I wouldn't mind owning.

Also, Check out Nakwon arcade, two stops from Seoul Station. You can get a great beginner guitar there for around 80K!

When in doubt, PM Harpeau for all guitar related questions.

Remember, even if you decide ot buy an expensive guitar someday, you will still want a cheap one to take on weekend trips, to the beach, etc. so get a cheap one to learn on and keep it as your junker when you get a better one.

[Lunar Groove Gardener]

You might consider a "classical" style guitar with nylon strings.
They tend to have a mellower tone and are less harsh on the fingers.
Many folks pick up a steel string only to be turned off by the process of breaking in your fingers.
Nylon strings substantially subverts this and fit well with
plucking and arpeggio style finger picking.
Also, the action on a cheap electric is far easier than a cheap steel acoustic.
Rock on.

[JustJohn]

If you're the type who gets easily sidetracked I definitely recommend getting something that is easy to play. Strings close to the fretboard, and buy light gauge strings.

You should be able to grab something pretty solid at nakwon for 200,000. I wouldn't count on getting one with perfect intonation (what you called "in tune") for 100,000 but if you search around you may find something pretty passable.

[zipperhead2]

Martin's are nice.

[eamo]

I think these days just about all guitar factories are using computer-controlled machines to shape the necks and fret the guitars. I would be very surprised to find a modern guitar with uneven fret spacing.

As long as the neck looks straight enough with just a little concave dip, you'll be fine. Again, unless the guitar has been subjected to extreme temperature differences, it will unlikely be warped if it's from a well-known brand.

Walk around Nakwon arcade, preferably with a friend who knows a bit about guitars, and play as many guitars as you can. Different people like the feel of different guitars. Hopefully, you'll pick up a certain guitar and within a couple of minutes know that that's the one for you!! It's like buying shoes!!

[Harpeau]

Bring a friend with you who has lots of expertise. Take them for lunch and tell them what you are looking for~ tonewoods, size, etc.

Check out Craigslist and other sites for used guitars. You can usually find good bang for your buck.

If you need to, get it set up by a pro: low action and acurate intonation.
Steve Kim at MD Custom Shop in Hongdae is the bomb!

Find a Korean person who plays guitar well. Make an agreement that you'll teach them English and they'll teach you guitar.

Have fun!!