Zager Guitar

Gayla,

You can get a pretty decent guitar now days for not much money. Takamine, Fender, and Yamaha all make a real good beginner guitar for under $200. Getting a decent guitar with a good action is critical to learning to play.

Another key is to keep good strings. New strings not only sound much better, they are also easier on the fingers. I prefer DiAdario Phosphor Bronze, and you can get a set for around $10, but that's just a personal preference. Martin makes good strings also. Stick with light guage guage and change them out at least once a month.

 

You will meet all kinds of folks who swear that they can't tell the difference between their $300 guitar and a $3000 guitar. Do not listen to them, because they are most likely deaf. It is true you can buy a decent, very playable guitar for cheap. Just remember that the expensive guitars have tonewoods & bracing patterns that you can't get cheap.

All that being said, I think Denny Zager is a crackpot, and I wouldn't buy one of his guitars. There are puh-lenty of competent technicians who can adjust your guitar like his, you don't need a cheap knock-off just because his name is on it. He's the kind of guy who thinks everyone should play like him. And if you want to know what he sounds like, that's him on that song (In the year 2525, if man is still alive......)

But some of us like high action, with heavy strings, because it produces more sound. Light strings with low action tend to buzz, and that set up doesn't vibrate the top like they should.

 

I agree with brother curtis that you don't buy a guitar just because of a name on it. Most big name guitarist have their guitars beefed up(better pickups etc) or customized to their preferences. They also are usually made with better woods. You can get a descent guitar though for a little amount of money.
Its funny but the cheap guitars today play so much better than the ones 20 years ago. I played a cheap Yamaha at Sams one time and I was surprised. Also, a veteran could tell the difference in good woods but a new player probably couldn't tell the difference, at least when I started I couldn't tell.