What makes a good guitar?

[@hannibal3blue]

I have a stressful job (don't we all) and use your videos as therapy to help me relax! Please keep posting - cheers. Rob.

[@joshreese7447]

This man has the voice of an angel

[@mertgunes9854]

I am a beginner and after about five months of researching all of this stuff, this is the single most inclusive and accurate video out there, I'll recommend this to anyone who asks me about these things in the future

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

Thanks MG, much appreciated.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

When I worked in a guitar store I learned that price and quality do no always go together. I spent the 70's fixing Strats and Ovations, found the Ibanez George Benson blown away by an old Guild and the much hyped Taylors no better than an average Yamaha. That said Fyldes were superb and I never had to fix a Gibson. Sometimes the price is hiked because there is a waiting list eg for a Ramirez or Fylde. Fancy finishes take more time therefore money. Usually pros use standard models.

[@rodblount7911]

Hey john, only just found, you are very Hornest and truthful even in this short time I have learned quite a bit, your very easy to listen to and watch, . I'll keep tuning in. Your one good man.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

Thanks rod.

[@guysmiley1242]

This guy’s content is the real stuff!

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

Thanks KK, much appreciated.

[@wishkah256]

Love your style! Thanks for the videos!

[@Proteus581]

John thank you for this. After many years of saying I'll never be able to play guitar I finally stopped making excuses and started playing. There is so much to the guitar world that makes it daunting and impenetrable to outsiders and this is exactly what I've been looking for to help get my feet wet.

[@davetitley6872]

Hi John , great video for the beginner, you have a calm way of explaining things . In future videos it may be informative to go over the different string gauges, electric and acoustic. I think you're doing a great job.

[@brittanygaydon3101]

Very helpful information, surprisingly hard to come by in other videos. Thanks for taking the time to post. 8)

[@monjunetworks3414]

Your guidance is the best! Love your videos!

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

Glad to be of help.

[@johnkerley4152]

I think that also the string height above the fret board affects how comfortable the guitar is to play as well.

[@xONEx-ue7sc]

Very helpful video

[@haroldrull4943]

Good advice, or something to think about before buying an expensive guitar. Tks

[@miguelbarahona6636]

1:18, "you don´t want a loud guitar" I definitely want a loud guitar, if you need lower volume, you can play it more gently. Great video John.

[@mywholesomechannel]

Very useful. Thanks.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BipolarHermit]

Haha, that makes me wonder what BAGDAD tuning would actually sound like! Thanks for the string tips. I use Martins on my Hohner parlour guitar, and I'm quite happy with light gauge on that. I quite like the banjo sound on the Rover, so I'm tempted to try a medium gauge to beef it up a little. I'll investigate the Ernie Ball Earthwounds: never tried them before. Thanks again. God bless. Simon.

[@missmygamergirl445]

Great video Thank you John

[@schuriken]

hey john thanx for the videos, the most comfortable guitar for sitting down is the rhoads guitars because it keeps your arms in perfect position with no leg pressure, the strat models are the worst for sitting down you have to play them with arms shut or twisting your back

[@mariovaillancourt]

Thank you Mr. Coupland for this wonderfull explaination

[@752brickie]

Great video John ,love your accent too ! You are 100% correct I would rather buy off a brick and mortar store as we say here. Thank you again great video !!

[@kymgroover987]

Hey John, many thanks for that comprehensive and very useful rundown. I will put the acoustic info to good use when I go shopping soon. Perhaps you could do a video just on body shape. Whilst I think your recommendation of the Sigma 000m-15 might be 'the one' they also have Gibson styles, cutaways, slope shoulders, parlour, traveller etc. Might have to borrow a few! Cheers mate.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

I could certainly cover most of the body shapes but I lack a Jumbo and I don't think the wife would approve me buying one just to do a video.

[@kymgroover987]

Well I would be happy to provide an Australian endorsement if that would help... along the lines of nurturing professional research and development (and of course to complete the collection) ... not to mention an ideal present this Christmas. Best of Scottish luck to you John.

[@phillips2568]

John I would listen to your reviews even if the subjects were eggbeaters or toasters! Love the style, accent and humour! But since I am a guitar newby it's a double pleasure, and really useful source oif info. Many thanks!

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

A Chinese mob actually made me a generous offer to review a USB stick. As I could not contemplate doing it with a straight face i declined.

[@J4R1O]

Still recording with my '80/'81 Landola (Finnish guitar brand) and it sounds great. I even use GHS Vintage Bronze strings with it. :)

[@nickgoogle4525]

Very useful tips - I like your video. One minor point :fine grain on a top is not associated with a good tone. Adirondeck (Red spruce) tops are pretty wide grained and sound fantastic (and have their price attached also)

[@BipolarHermit]

Hi John. Another great, informative video! I recently bought a Washburn Rover after seeing your review among others. Very happy with it so far. I'm playing mostly in DADGAD and other alternative tunings these days. What strings would you recommend? The strings that came with the guitar are very light, which is nice to play, but I'm looking for a bit more oomph! Thanks & God bless. Simon.

[@rileyburnette2874]

i watched this video for ten seconds and then subed

[@kierantaylor3525]

John ,Thomson music 1980 -81 ....Ricky Garrity,recognised your voice instantly,hope your well ....

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

kieran Taylor Hey a blast from the past. I still intend to include the gorilla suit incident in my memoirs! Easing towards retirement, still happily married and 6 grandchildren at the last count.

[@mikewebb2638]

Thanks so much! God Bless You!

[@hammondsphoto]

Good advice on choosing the right size. I played a dreadnaught for years but then decided 00s or folk size was far better for my style. When I was a kid in the early 90s, if you avoided the absolute cheapest of the cheap, inexpensive guitars were already pretty good and playable. Nowadays I'm utterly amazed at what you can get at various price points if you're not snobby about brand name or country of manufacture. Quite hard to buy a 'bad' guitar now.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

+hammondsphoto Very true, Argos had a lot to do with that. The first year they stocked guitars a lot of them were returned just after Christmas as being out of tune / unplayable. They pressured the makers to up their game and quality control began to matter. Although fewer than in the 70's bad guitars are still around. I played a very dodgy Govnor acoustic once which had the bridge in the wrong place and Epiphones seem to be hit or miss these days but the worst can be seen in my video review of a Cheetah Strat copy.

[@hammondsphoto]

Yes, I don't bother with Epiphones these days simply because they are expensive considering you can get equally good Chinese guitars for much less £££ from Vintage, Tanglewood, etc. which are often giveaway prices in the used market.

I am surprised that nut width is not mentioned. I would find it is a key characteristic. Also neck length as it translates into string tension. Depending on if you intend to play rather chords or fingerstyle with bending those two are key aspects you should consciously pay attention to.

[@scaredypicker]

I've played guitars older than 15 or 20 years old!

[@socorracamposanto]

Hi John. Thanks for your great reviews and information on guitars. I love watching them! I had a question about a traveler guitar. I've been playing for quite some time (Taylor GS Mini) but now I want a travel guitar that could fit in the overhead cabinets of an airplane. Any small body recommendations? Would a parlor guitar be a good fit? I play a variety of styles.

[@socorracamposanto]

But my favorite styles are folk, blues and country.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

***** Most American airlines state that 22 - 26 inches in length is ok for carry on luggage so you had better aim for 22". I think most parlors would be too bulky but I am not certain. My Simon & Patrick Trek is 37". A safe bet is a guitalele.

[@socorracamposanto]

John Coupland Thanks, John. I really appreciate it. Cheers!

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

If you use a capo on the 2nd fret then because necks are tapered, you get an extra 2mm plus the position markers are still mostly in the same place. If you want the pitch to remain the same then fit a heavier set of strings and tune them a tone down. This will keep the string tension the same. Or you can buy a 12 string and remove the 6 extra strings. Alternatively the nylon strung Lag guitar which I have just reviewed has a nut which is half way between a steel string and a classical.

[@steepsy2992]

Bless You Brother John 🌬🕊🤸‍♀️ Would the deterioration of the guitar after 15 to 20 years not depend on its amount of use in some way ? ThankYou so much for Your Help and Witness of Christ’s Peace 😊🤝😊

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

For a guitar to develop its best sound it needs to be well used. It is the vibration of the strings moving through the timber that does this, not just the years. We were once offered a 25 year old Martin which had never been played and it sounded dreadful! The boss asked me to hand him a £60 Korean instrument and it sounded twice as good as the Martin.

[@steepsy2992]

@@JohnCouplandguitar may the neglected instruments be Revived and put to Good Use as The Holy Spirit Renews Gods People 😊🕊🙏🏿🕊😊

[@Omerfayyaz2001]

u didn't touch on the subject of the woods used on the sides and back of the acoustic guitar. if the construction was the same then which wood would give brighter defined and more importantly resonant sounds. Also i've tried 2 tangle woods with the same price. 1 being mahogany sides and back and the other being walnut. the walnut one is lighter. But i''ll gravitate towards the one having the brighter sound. So i really want an answer to Pacific Walnut or Mahogany? in a mid tier acoustic. The guitars were the tanglewood ROADSTER TWR SFCE and DISCOVERY DBT SFCE PW.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

Theoretically, and I stress that, walnut should be brighter and mahogany warmer in tone. Variations can occur even within the wood from different parts of the same tree. I came across a batch of 4 mid priced classical guitars, all the same model, one was brilliant, two what you would expect and the fourth a piece of firewood.

[@jimioutback]

What model is that Tanglewood John's playing, anyone know? It does sound very nice.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

+jimioutback It is a Tanglewood Nashville TNF folk guitar. You can find a review of it among my videos.

[@jimioutback]

Thanks for the speedy reply, John. If you're indoors hooked in to KZbin, your weather's probably as bleak as mine here in N.Ireland ;) I have a hog GS Mini that I really like the tone, and sustain, and surprising volume from, but am window shopping for something full sized, because the short scale of the GS Mini is fouling my muscle memory when I pick up my 25.5" scale electric. I was settled on a cheap Sigma DR28, that has a more complex tone than the price would suggest, then I heard that Tanglewood and thought it sounded nice and rich. Enjoying your videos, which I just discovered this afternoon. Keep up the good work!

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

+jimioutback My son has a DR28 and it is a nice guitar. The TW is a more fragile build but better sounding, although don't tell him I said that. And yes the weather is dire.

[@jimioutback]

+John Coupland Thanks for the inside line, and experienced ear John. Now reconsidering...

[@jimioutback]

+jimioutback So which do you think has the best tone between the TNF and Sigma 000m-15? Just heard you rave about that and trying to help my decision along. I only play at home to volume far less important than tone. Cheers John, and Happy New Year!

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

Hi Simon, DADGAD sounds like someplace the Americans might invade. The usual suspects are D'addario, Martin and my favourites, Earthwound by Ernie Ball. The heavier the string the better the tone but the more pressure it takes to hold them down. Medium guage (13s) are as heavy as I would go. Flatwounds kill the treble, give a jazzy sound, last for ages and reduce finger squeak. You either love them or hate them. MJbwy John

[@juliabaldassarre6874]

hi john i bought a rogue guitar. its cheaper but it has nothing wrong with it, fret boards nice; no buzzing ' g and e chord play well, it has a nice sound . Is it a perfectly good guitar to learn on? money is an issue. i just don't have a lot of money to spend on a guitar

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

As long as it plays in tune and is comfortable to hold, you can have just as much fun on a cheapo as you can on a Martin. I have 6 grand children so if I had a guitar costing a couple of grand, I would do nothing but worry about it getting damaged.

[@martinhasson4942]

Billy Connolly is never far away! Lol. 🌈🎸💅🚜🏇🤓👍👍👍👍 Thanks John! Great stuff!

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

I was his opening act at one gig. I remember having a raging toothache but he was so funny that for an hour I totally forgot all about it.

[@Pmjs]

I got a Soprano Ukulele this summer over the internet it's too wee for me. I recently went to Red Dog and looked at all the guitars.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

Take the strings off and stick it in a tree, some wee sparrow will love it.

[@Pmjs]

I still practise on my Ukulele.

[@scienceyblues]

Hi, I need a little help, I am planning buy a classical guitar but first I want to know some issues, one is a question about the volume: Does exist a direct relation between a good guitar and level of volume?, that is if all good quality guitars have a high volume or is not necessarily so. ¿Is possible that some good/excellent guitars show a low volume with a exquisite sound. I was seeking information on the web but I don't find an answer. Thank for your attention.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

scienceyblues High volumes are produced by guitars with thin tops and light bracing but this comes at a price, they will not last as long as more heavily constructed instruments. After a few years the belly will rise which therefore causes the action to increase. There is no way of telling by just looking at a guitar and the thickness of the top is not usually given in the specs. The weight of an instrument is the best guide and as ever the best approach is to go into a store with a good selection.

[@scienceyblues]

John Coupland Many thanks John for your time. Maybe my english is not clear (I'm a spanish speaker). I try to know if exist the combination between Good Guitars with Low Volume, if is it possible or not?, or all Good Guitars have High Volume. I don't have access to try good guitars and only I can buy a good guitar by internet. Then I want to buy a good guitar with high volume I can not try, only I can consider the woods, the finish, the brand, the price. I don't want to buy an expensive guitar that have low volume (that don't have loudness), that is the reason that I need to know is exist that possibility: pay $2000 for a guitar and obtain a guitar with low volume but with great quality of sound; I want a guitar with great sound and high volume. Many thanks again.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

scienceyblues The best that I can suggest is that you contact the staff at Ivor Mairants Musicentre in London and ask their advice. It is the best guitar shop in Europe (so possibly the world) with makers reserving their best instruments for this store. It was also the first store I worked in and where I learned the trade. They deliver world wide.

[@scienceyblues]

John Coupland Thank you John for your attention. I will contact with them.

[@jennifernewstead2257]

Hi John, stumbled upon your channel a few days ago and am enjoying your reviews, some great tips for newbies like me (about 1 year into my life with guitar). I have the wee sigma 00015M you reviewed and am now looking at getting a nylon string as learning to play some bossa and samba, i have some issues with my hands (Dupyutren disease) so looking for a narrow neck as the standard classical neck i have been lent, sounds good, but i struggle with the width. I had already put the IBANEZ AEG 10N II and IBANEZGA5TC on my list and also have the Fender CN240 and the CORT CEC series in mind- do you have any experience of those guitars?? Guitar stores around here in rural France have limited stock of these "cross over" guitars so my chances of trying this are limited. Thanks in advance and keep doing your good job!

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

Hi Jennifer, Comparing the IBANEZ AEG 10N II and IBANEZGA5TC I would say that I prefered the AEG although I have now reverted to full size classicals as the shoulder problem I had has cleared up. I have not played the other two you mention for the same reason as yourself, no one here stocks them. If you do not require a built in pick up then another alternative is a decent 3/4 size like the SIgma CM6 34.

[@jennifernewstead2257]

thanks for your quick reply John!

[@Pmjs]

What do you think of Greg Bennett, SX and Eagletone guitars?

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

SX are OK, no more, no less. I have not come across any Eagletone instruments. GB's are well made, good value jobs.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

You asked about Harley Bentons. With big internet retailers you are buying a box. The last person to handle the contents lives in China. If you look to see whether there are a lot of B-stock models available that will give you an indication of how well made the guitar is. The more B-stock, the less well made. Most folk will be reluctant to return all but the worst instruments but if a model has been out for a while and there is no B-stock, that is a good sign.

[@johnpowers2921]

This guy is like a Scottish Mr. Rogers. (meant as a high compliment!)

[@Pmjs]

Is it easier to learn Bass? My wee dog didn't like Jeff Beck playing solo on his Strat on TV. Is the pitch too high for her ears? Doesn't like Bagpipes.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

Music teachers say that a bass pupil is unlikely to turn up for the second lesson as they probably have a gig. Basic bass as in country music or Scottish dance music is very simple, you just hit the root note of the chord and don't worry about whether it is major or minor. Bass can be much more complex, if you listen to the Beatles there is a lot happening in Paul's bassline.

[@elijahzerubbabel6210]

Full of the Holy spirit lol so they're not in any of our Presbyterian kirks here in Scotland John ;-)

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

The first electric was known as the Plank. Materials matter. Mahogany gives a warm sound, maple is bright. Les Pauls look traditional but Strats and Teles are easier for machines to make therefore cheaper. SGs put the upper frets in a more comfortable position and are lighter than LPs which matters in a 3 hour gig. Jazz and hollow bodies like the 335 are more mellow but more prone to feedback. Single coils p/ups give clarity but hum while humbuckers don't on both counts. Shame about the shoes!!

[@Mulberry2000]

I can write poems at the drop of hat but songs - never.

[@factorylad5071]

I play the guitar but I don't think the church would like to see me or my magic coins very much as i have taken to sorcery as much as I cast divination through the I Ching.

[@JohnCouplandguitar]

You and your guitar would be very welcome at church, the magic coins, not so much. As for divination, a thing I used to do in my pagan days, Christ regards all such attempts to peek into the future as displaying a poor lack of faith in him! You don't need to know the future, you just need to know Jesus!

[@factorylad5071]

@@JohnCouplandguitar interesting. Do you know Jeremy Spencer ?, I would like to be able to play like him.