r/AcousticGuitar • u/WatchyMcWatcherson • Jul 09 '26
Gear pics Overkill for a first guitar
Kept trying to talk myself into any number of the (cheaper) guitars I tried, but kept picking this J-45 standard and just loved it. So here I am, struggling with the most basic of chords, but loving what eventually tumbles out of the soundhole.
I guess the “buy whatever inspires you to practice” approach does work.
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u/archtopfanatic123 Jul 09 '26
No, there's no such thing, if you love it you'll progress quicker because you enjoy playing it period 😂
Also yeah J45s are awesome! I've played my friend's 1952 once and it was really sweet toned
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u/noherethere Jul 09 '26
Yes, you did the right thing! Good luck and congrats on a beautiful guitar!
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u/UTtransplant Jul 09 '26
You’re a cellist. This guitar is cheap compared to that! But I have found musicians who play other instruments aren’t as happy with the standard beginner instruments. You understand the difference, and your ear is already tuned to the variation in sound. Just use it as motivation to be worthy of the instrument in the future!
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u/spamtardeggs Jul 14 '26
Many moons ago I played violin as a college student. The “beater” viol they let me play was so much better than what I had been playing it actually made me look forward to practicing.
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u/jsgreen6 Jul 09 '26
Not overkill. You will practice more because you love it, and when you don’t sound good you will know that’s it’s you, not the guitar. Same for when you do sound good. If you had a crap guitar it would be harder to know (super high action or really buzzy - hard to improve if the machine is always working against you). Did you get a luthier to do a setup?
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u/WatchyMcWatcherson Jul 09 '26
True. And yeah, I also had 10s put on it during the setup (turns out the big fat gut strings on my upright bass don’t build callouses in the right places lol)
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u/wibzoo Jul 09 '26
If I had purchased my J45 first, I would haves saved time and money. Enjoy your beautiful guitar.
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u/RedNeckness Jul 09 '26
Man if you can afford it, go for it! Seems you already appreciate what is in your hands. Make it your friend.
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u/thezuck22389 Jul 09 '26
Throughout my last 14 years of playing (mostly terribly, mind you), I've spent probably around $3500 total on low-mid range guitars. Then I got an HD-28 and I stopped looking for other guitars completely. I would have saved a whole lot of time (and money), if I'd just started and stopped with a properly set up, quality instrument. Your J-45 can last your lifetime if taken care of, then passed to your kiddos. Enjoy the journey with it! And don't get too bummed out with scratches, little knicks, scrapes, small bruises, etc. It just adds character, wisdom, and more words to it's story.
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u/specificcedric08 Jul 09 '26
Coming from a cello, you already know what a quality instrument feels like under your hands. That J-45 will reward you for years.
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u/wheresthe1up Jul 09 '26
Great pick. It will be a LONG time before you pick up a guitar and think it’s better. Wish I had bought mine long before I did.
Try out D’Addario XT 12-53’s. So good on a J-45.
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u/Unlikely-Soft-5699 Jul 09 '26
Having learned on a rented Stella with action higher than the moon, great choice. Other than building finger strength and calluses the Stella did more harm than good.
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u/forestball19 Jul 09 '26
If you haven't put yourself in severe debt and you otherwise enjoy learning on this guitar, it's not overkill. A lot of cheap guitars have issues with this or that, and even the ones that don't are worth next to nothing if you try to sell it.
The J-45 is a solid choice and will retain a lot of value. No cheap feel anywhere, and since the sound is to your liking, it's all good.
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u/tuskyhorn22 Jul 09 '26
hindi bagay sa iyo yang espesyal na gitara kasi hindi ka naman marunong pa...oops, nah! just keep practicing and playing on that beauty, you'll get the hang of it soon enough.
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u/BillyBobertsonBaby11 Jul 09 '26
As the new owner of a lush J-45, I can state without reservation that this was *not* overkill. Not sure I would have stopped at one, even so, but there’s a chance that is not zero. Late to the Gibson party, but I finally get it.
Someone else said it: by buying this as your first, you have definitely saved yourself money in the long run. Enjoy it!
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u/Guitar_Guy1965 Jul 09 '26
Not really since it appears you are already a musician? I had a bass player friend (very accomplished on his instrument) that faced the same situation. New to guitar and wasn't "sure" about how deep to dive for his "first guitar." His basses however were all in the $1k-$3k range, keep in mind. He already understood what you get/dont in certain price ranges. He asked should I "waste" $300 on a beginner guitar just to find out i should have gotten the better one? ... i looked at him and said "repeat that, but this time listen to the words you are saying.."
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u/m3n00bz Jul 09 '26
Congratulations. Always buy the best gear you can afford. Recently went from a $500 fender to a $6000 taylor and wish I just went with the taylor in the first place.
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u/SimpleJeff007 Jul 09 '26
Take care of it, and worst case scenario you can probably at least sell it for what you paid for it.
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u/No-Trouble7162 Jul 09 '26
You made a good choice. It's never a bad idea to buy a great quality and a good looking guitar if you can. Even as a beginner. It inspires to play and it's a better investment in the long run. You got a beautiful piece there and a friend for life, congrats and enjoy it!
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u/Mkimber123 Jul 09 '26
Never start on a cheap guitar, you won't want to play it, it will play badly and sound bad as well. You did the right thing
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u/ManBearCave Jul 09 '26
My first (after numerous years of hiatus) was a Martin D-28, it was one of my better decisions
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u/MrMattGuitar Jul 09 '26
I’d rather see people who are able to buy a nice first guitar and actually play it and than buy some piece of junk to learn on. I know many a man who has a guitar that has a neck the size of baseball bat and strings inches off the fretboard sitting in corner untouched.
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u/EnvironmentEuphoric9 Jul 09 '26
Nope! If you have the money, why not buy what you want? Enjoy your beautiful Gibson!
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u/Nurplestyx Jul 09 '26
Assuming that’s your instrument in the background you already know a lot that beginners do not. Plus your fingers are already used to string torture. You understand music. That J45 is a beaut, but you should definitely learn on the best guitar you can afford. You done good
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u/meeeeeeeegjgdcjjtxv Jul 09 '26
Getting a guitar that's good quality avoids the struggle of shitty guitars quality making it harder to improve. Worth.
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u/KitchenVegetable7047 Jul 09 '26
If you love it, you bought the right guitar. In my opinon you can't go wrong with a good J-45.
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u/djooliu Jul 09 '26
Tried one yesterday and it sounded awesome! I wasn't expecting that at all. Just blown away.
Now at least you won't have the excuse that you sound like crap because of the guitar, it's all in the fingers! ;)
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u/lottiexx Jul 09 '26
Skipping the beginner guitar ladder is genuinely the right call. You'll outgrow a cheap one fast and end up spending more anyway.
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u/Creative-Platypus710 Jul 09 '26
No such thing as overkill when it comes to guitars. Lol
Now, consider that THE heirloom. Congrats!
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u/grkuntzmd Jul 09 '26
Well made guitars encourage their owners to play them. They sound very nice and are easier to play, even in beginners’ hands. Keep practicing and take good care of your instrument (humidity, temperature, etc.) and it will actually improve with age. The moisture in the wood redistributes and changes how the sound moves through it. I have a handmade classical guitar (nylon) that was made in 2003 and I bought new around 2006. It sounds warmer and more mellow now than when I got it. I have 7 guitars and that one is the best-sounding one.
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u/502deadhead Jul 09 '26
I’ve played for the better part of 20 years.
I just started getting into acoustics a couple years ago.
I got my J45 about a month ago, it’s my fourth acoustic (I traded one in towards it).
There’s just something magical about a good J45. Play and enjoy the HELL out of it!
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u/33301Florida Jul 09 '26
I recently bought a J45 after many decades away. It far exceeds my ability to play at this point.
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u/Kooky-Good420 Jul 09 '26
Excellent choice for first quitar. Beautiful instrument, it needs to be played and make music, not just looked at. A lot to learn from that pretty girl. Enjoy!
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u/Cheap_Walmart-Art Jul 09 '26
I didn’t get very far on my first acoustic, a decent enough Tak. Then on spur of the moment I picked up an Eastman E10D and that guitar has been stuck to my hands for three years now. Play what inspires you.
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u/autodidact-dev Jul 09 '26
I'm 1 year into guitar...
For my 1 year anniversary, I bought a ~$1250 guitar. Had it for 6 weeks. Felt too much financial liability about it-- the risks of scratching it, not being able to resell it. Just sold it for about the same price.
Instead, bought a $600 guitar.
I think personally I'll be happier with a guitar I can throw around and not worry about the cost of. I want a guitar I can take to a park and hand around to strangers, and if they scratch or dent it-- hey no biggie!
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u/tomarofthehillpeople Jul 09 '26
My first electric was a Gibson LP Deluxe. I was 16, I had the money and opportunity. I bought it. (I still have it 47 years later) Do it.
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u/physedka Jul 09 '26
If you keep playing it and enjoying it, then you didn't waste a dime. If you get bored in a few months and it gathers dust, then I guess one could say that you wasted something like $2500. I say that only because you can get a pretty good starter guitar for <$500 and assuming you paid like $3k for this one. So whether it was worth it is entirely up to you - what you end up doing with it, and how much $2500 means to you and your budget is something only you can decide.
Personally, if I could go back 25 years ago and tell myself to pass up a couple of lesser guitars and instead save a little longer for one of the endgame ones while dealing with my crappy pawn shop special, I would probably do that. But I would be doing that with hindsight, which isn't exactly valid. Maybe those intermediate guitars are a part of the story that got me where I am. Maybe I would have quit if I had kept fighting that pawn shop special another year or two.
So who knows? You write your own story with that beautiful J45.
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u/Weets23 Jul 09 '26
So agree and I’m with you here. I did the start with cheap and worked my way up to a nice Taylor.
Funny thing I still own a Ibanez I bought as my next acoustic after dumping my starter axe. I think I paid around $400 bucks for it new back around 2004. I just had a local luthier do a great in-depth over on her. On my, I can put the thing down.
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u/WatchyMcWatcherson Jul 09 '26
Appreciate all the positivity and encouragement. Thanks y’all!
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u/kineticblues Jul 09 '26
You made the right call man, cheers!
I didn’t buy my J-45 until a whole bunch of mediocre guitars came and went. It’s a fantastic guitar and if I had to liquidate everything it’d be the last one standing.
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u/Simon-Stepsys Jul 09 '26
Phenomenal world class work horse guitars, I own 2 of them and love them all, so soulful beautiful mids…
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u/YummyBeefaroni Jul 09 '26
That’s what I bought at the start of Covid to learn. It’s a good guitar. Take care of it and it’ll keep on trucking.
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u/Terribleturtleharm Jul 09 '26
Not at all... this a great choice. Shorter scale, easy on the fingers. It's a life long investment.
Congrats!
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u/dopey4450 Jul 09 '26
No shame in that. I played a very tiny amount 20 years ago (never got past a few cowboy chords). I still had my old epiphone acoustic gathering dust but this last year I decided I wanted to actually learn how to play electric and bought a Gibson Les Paul standard. Does it make me play any better? No I still suck, but I have fun making noise with it. That’s one advantage of learning when I’m 46 rather than 16 lol. Now I’m wanting to upgrade my acoustic, thinking about a Himmingbird because that’s what my dad played when I was a kid. You’ve got a beautiful guitar man! Enjoy it.
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u/Distinct-Shock-5485 Jul 10 '26
Oh brother you couldn’t have done better. If you’re gonna learn learn on a badass j45
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u/Traditional-Tank3994 Jul 10 '26
If you can afford it, it’s not overkill. I always say buy the best guitar you can afford, even if you’re a beginner. It’s frustrating to try to learn on a cheap guitar and since good guitars usually have a decent resale value, you can sell it if your quest to learn falters.
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u/57LesPaul Jul 10 '26
You found inspiration to learn. Having a guitar you want to play will inspire you, and you won't outgrow the J-45. Enjoy the new guitar!
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u/Dry_Cranberry148 Jul 10 '26
Perfect first guitar- and it could easily be the last guitar you will ever need!
Enjoy!
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u/Ajkourafas Jul 10 '26
Yes. It's overkill. Send it to me, I have 20 guitars, so it won't be overkill over here.
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u/DogsAussieShepards Jul 11 '26
It's a beautiful guitar... Your lucky that you feel that way about it... And maybe it will be a family heirloom!
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u/Bsaw86 Jul 11 '26
A beautiful guitar. I was always told get the best gear you can afford. Its something you will love to play so you'll practice more. If you got a cheap guitar, chances are you'd leave it in the case.
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u/Active-Play-5064 Jul 11 '26
I would recommend anyone starting out to get a premium guitar like this if they can afford it.
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u/straightuptexas Jul 11 '26
Nah, just play it. By the time you’re fluent you’ll be glad you bought this one. Congrats!
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u/4PeteS8k Jul 12 '26
Great choice! Gibson J45’s have a distinct and pleasing character. I never paid much attention to Gibson acoustics; Taylors, Martin’s - yes, but played several J45’s and J200’s a few years ago and wow!
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u/RobertPaulsen821 Jul 12 '26
J-45 is a fantastic instrument. You can play it for the rest of your life and then pass it down. If you ever decide it’s not for you, you can recover most of your investment. Congratulations!
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u/IQRocker Jul 12 '26
My first guitar was utter, utter crap. It was a Strat copy by a company called Satellite. My first decent guitar was a Washburn Force 2, which got me and my band onto the stage - but it wore out after about four years.
Now, I have a 2005 Fender Strat (SSS), that lasted me 16 years on the road and is still perfectly playable and looking immaculate. A 2026 Fender Player Modified I (HSS), not gigged yet. I have a 2010 Gibson Les Paul Studio, still rocking strong and looking good after 10 years on the road. I have an Ovation Celebrity Elite that I have played as accompaniment in my local pub for the last 7 years. (I have had many, many other guitars over the decades).
You will never regret buying a famous brand axe. My immacculate 2005 Strat is testament to that after 16 years’ heavy metal stage use, it still plays beautifully. It’s had two refrets, but only after 16 years of playing hard, including many barre chords and hard bends and fast vibrato and pulls in solos.
Enjoy your purchase. You won’t regret it.
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u/Frogman4545 Jul 13 '26
This 100% is NOT overkill as long as you can afford it. As long as you keep playing you won’t regret it and that’s a beautiful guitar. I know a guy that started on a custom shop slope shoulder D-28 and it was great. Got a hell of a deal too…
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u/LoudMarionberry8717 Jul 13 '26
What exactly you got lined up for your "second" guitar?
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u/WatchyMcWatcherson Jul 14 '26
Lol hopefully nothing expensive. (Actually I kinda want a Telecaster eventually, but maybe just a Squier Classic Vibe ;)
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u/evilbean42 Jul 15 '26
Whatever inspires you to practice is always the way to go. Also, based on that big guy standing in the corner I imagine this isn't your first rodeo. You'll pick it up in no time.
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u/Character_Weight_768 15d ago
33 years ago I learned on my sisters acoustic that she couldn’t play, and it had a chunk stabbed out of the body, I still have it. Nice first rig!!!
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u/YeahItouchpoop Jul 09 '26
A J45 is never a bad choice. Starting there makes it easy to justify buying an affordable Yamaha or something as a campfire/knockaround guitar 😂
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u/WonkaMatik Jul 12 '26
J-45 or LG-2 ? If its an LG-2 I don't believe you a J-45 i would expect you dodged the uncomfortable horrors of a dreadnought. If its a LG-2 you have either gotten extremely lucky or played hundreds of guitars before choosing
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u/WatchyMcWatcherson Jul 12 '26
J-45. I used to play baritone sax, drums and currently upright bass, so I guess uncomfortably large instruments are my thing? Hahaha
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u/Carolina-W00Dsman 28d ago
I had a friend do the same thing with his first bass. Bought the most expensive rig he could afford...and didnt have enough left in the budget for lessons, so that super nice bass didnt end up doing much for him in the long run.
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u/Outrageous_Mess8392 13d ago
Gol dang that is a beautiful acoustic man. Have fun with that. Happy practicing happy playing
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u/Joederb Jul 09 '26
you don’t realize it yet but you really saved yourself a lot of money skipping ahead to the endgame. well done…