I am planning a trip to NYC in a couple of weeks and while there I shall be looking to purchase a guitar. Can someone who knows more about NYC reccommend a good small guitar shop?

Not looking for anything expensive. Just would like to avoid Guitar Center if I can help it.

Thank you in advance for any help anyone can offer.

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A fly can't bird but a bird can fly.

[www.evmnyc.com]


also, the original (i think it's the original) Sam Ashe is on West 48th (i think it's 48th). That street (west 48th?) has tons of cool music stores on it. anyways, it's cool to walk up and down that street.

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The first thing that distinguishes a writer is that he is most alive when alone. - Martin Amis

you gettin vintage or new, mtn. girl?

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Wild Creature
[www.evmnyc.com]


also, the original (i think it's the original) Sam Ashe is on West 48th (i think it's 48th). That street (west 48th?) has tons of cool music stores on it. anyways, it's cool to walk up and down that street.

Awwwsome! This sounds perfect! I will be adding West 48th to my touristy agenda! And that music shop! Thank you so much WC!

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Mike10k
you gettin vintage or new, mtn. girl?

If by vintage you mean 'used', well, yeah that would probably be more like it. Unless there's something new worth getting in my price range.

Basically, my daughter has decided to forego the over-priced children's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese or where ever and wants to see NYC. Over the last year and a half that she's been taking guitar she's gone from playing her 3/4 size Ibanez to pretty much only playing my full size Silvertone (the cheap kind, not the really cool vintage expensive kind). This will be a pretty cheap trip for us since we will be staying with family so we figured for her birthday, while in NYC, we would get her a full size guitar. Something she loves and thinks is comfortable. She's kinda picky about how thick the body is. Seems like all arrows point to a Fender Strat but I'd like to hunt around a bit and see what we can find. It'll be fun!

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A fly can't bird but a bird can fly.

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Mtn. Girl

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Wild Creature
[www.evmnyc.com]


also, the original (i think it's the original) Sam Ashe is on West 48th (i think it's 48th). That street (west 48th?) has tons of cool music stores on it. anyways, it's cool to walk up and down that street.

Awwwsome! This sounds perfect! I will be adding West 48th to my touristy agenda! And that music shop! Thank you so much WC!

Quote
Mike10k
you gettin vintage or new, mtn. girl?

If by vintage you mean 'used', well, yeah that would probably be more like it. Unless there's something new worth getting in my price range.

Basically, my daughter has decided to forego the over-priced children's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese or where ever and wants to see NYC. Over the last year and a half that she's been taking guitar she's gone from playing her 3/4 size Ibanez to pretty much only playing my full size Silvertone (the cheap kind, not the really cool vintage expensive kind). This will be a pretty cheap trip for us since we will be staying with family so we figured for her birthday, while in NYC, we would get her a full size guitar. Something she loves and thinks is comfortable. She's kinda picky about how thick the body is. Seems like all arrows point to a Fender Strat but I'd like to hunt around a bit and see what we can find. It'll be fun!

Fender Strats are good because both the neck and bodies are a little thinner than say Gibsons. Also, if you want smaller guitars, you might look at the Jag-Stang, which has the extra bonus of being designed by Kurt Cobain for his own tiny hands, and I don't think are uber-expensive. Though I doubt you would find one anywhere other than ebay at this point.

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The first thing that distinguishes a writer is that he is most alive when alone. - Martin Amis

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Mtn. Girl
she's gone from playing her 3/4 size Ibanez to pretty much only playing my full size Silvertone (the cheap kind, not the really cool vintage expensive kind).

it's not a silvertone unless it's the cheap kind.

people get the really cool vintage expensive kind and then they're afraid to drop them on the sidewalk.

silvertones don't even sound good until you drop them on the sidewalk.

sounds like fun.

my advice is that she should play as many kinds as she can and get the one that hurts her fingers the least.

sound advice.

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let's get dressed up in costumes and dance by the bar.

Sound advice indeed!

Thanks Mike!

Her fingertips have toughened up pretty well and her stretch is crazy! You should see this girls power chords!

But they still tire quickly.

We'll play lots! That will not be awful! Hahaha

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A fly can't bird but a bird can fly.

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Wild Creature
Fender Strats are good because both the neck and bodies are a little thinner than say Gibsons. Also, if you want smaller guitars, you might look at the Jag-Stang, which has the extra bonus of being designed by Kurt Cobain for his own tiny hands, and I don't think are uber-expensive. Though I doubt you would find one anywhere other than ebay at this point.

Took me a few days but I finally googled this guitar. Seems like it was designed for lefties. But the one pictured in the wiki looks like one my daughter would like. It's sparkly. hahaha




First priority will be comfort, though. Second appearance. Obviously if we happen across a hot pink one that's comfortable, that'll be the one! hahaha

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A fly can't bird but a bird can fly.

Gonna have to stop in here while we're there just cuz...
[www.accordion-o-rama.com]

There's something about knowing that this place exists that makes me so happy.

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A fly can't bird but a bird can fly.

i got a mexican telecaster recently, with a MAPLE neck, and it's very playable, the strings aren't as close together as a strat or les paul (for cleaner chording)...plus,

joe strummer.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2012 11:04AM by mike10k.

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mike10k
i got a mexican telecaster recently, with a MAPLE neck, and it's very playable, the strings aren't as close together as a strat or les paul (for cleaner chording)...plus,

joe strummer.

Um. I love everything about what you just said.

The strings not being as close together would make the chording easier. I could definitely see how that could help. We'll keep eyes out for a mexican telecaster to give it a spin. Thanks!

Plus. Joe. Strummer.

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A fly can't bird but a bird can fly.

I'd actually vote against Sam Ash - their prices aren't great and their salespeople will jump on you for a commission. I've become pretty fond of Main Drag over the past couple of years. Their website is kind of a pain to navigate, but the store is a joy to wander through. [www.maindragmusic.com]

UPDATE: (if anyone was curious)

So we ended up nixing the idea of buying the guitar in New York. It was for the best. She was going to be so distracted by being there and hanging out with her cousins that I didn't think she'd end up giving it the attention she needed to so that she was sure she got one she would love playing.

We ended up driving to Charlotte, NC and spending three hours trying everything under the sun. It came down between an Epiphone Les Paul and an Epiphone SG. Everything else was just too big and hard for her to manage.

She decided on this SG:


It came the same day as her school performance where she played and sang 'I Love Rock and Roll' but it came completely de-tuned so she still had to play my Silvertone.

Thank you to everyone who gave me good advice though! I really appreciate everyone's input!!

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A fly can't bird but a bird can fly.

really hard thinking of a cooler guitar than the sg. it's my main player these days. when i play.

here's what can be done on an epiphone sg....might have to FF a little: [www.youtube.com]

"gibson" sg's you don't wanna get sweat or blood on.

Huh, that Guitar Wolf video was great. I know you like them a lot but I didn't really remember getting into them all that much. But I may have to rethink that!

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A fly can't bird but a bird can fly.

guitar wolf are the japanese ramones.

the ramones are fun punk.

guitar wolf is fun japanese punk.