The shootout starts around 6:45 if you want to jump straight there, but I wanted to tell the story of my first guitar before the comparison!

I was a manager at Sam Ash for over eight years. Every night while we close the store I would go to the acoustic room and pick up every single guitar that I couldn’t afford. The one Guitar that kept speaking to me was a Taylor 410 CE. I must’ve played that guitar every night for years, but I couldn’t afford it. So one night I was stuck at the store doing inventory and one of my managers hands me a guitar and says can you find the SKU for this item it didn’t have a tag. I was like are you kidding me? When I open the case it had a birthday card signed by some of my coworkers and all of my family and friends surprising me with a 410 CE for my birthday. I’ll never forget that day. And I’ve been playing The same guitar for the last 15 years. Because of that guitar I was able to write songs and get gigs that eventually paid for the house that I’m in now. Lol crazy man!

The Taylor is worth 10 times more purely due to the history it has with you.

when his first guitar is far costlier than your dream guitar

This guy's guitars: $500 and $5000 My guitar: $50

The first guitar I ever bought was due to some really sad circumstances. My dad was diagnosed with Cancer, and had played guitar for years. He told me to sell his guitars when he passed away. Suffice to say I wasn't happy with that, went out and bought a guitar and learned how to play. He has passed away some 6 years ago now but I practice and play every day. I still have my first guitar, and even his first guitar. Wouldn't change it for the world.

When I eventually went to buy my 'good acoustic', I went to a little store in Sint Truiden called Mick's Muziekgamma. The shop owner, Mick, is a wonderful no-nonsense guy. I once asked him what to look for when buying a drum set. He said: "Hit it. If it makes noise, you're good." As a beginner I often went to him because I thought my guitar needed fixing. On several occasions he tested the guitar and just sent me home again. "Guitar's fine, practice more. No charge." This time, I asked him if he had a decent acoustic, preferably used, that would 'be good enough to gig'. He said: "Weeeelllll, you could buy my old guitar. 's Been my workhorse for 20 odd years when I wouldn't risk my Martin." So I opened the case, expecting some roadworn axe... and it was just immaculate. It almost literally sang to me like in the movies when they open the treasure chest: "Aaaaaaaaaa!". There wasn't the tiniest scratch on it that I could find, not even worn frets. It's a 1990 Martin Shenandoa HD 2832 and Mick made his own bone bridge for it. Not top of the line by any means, but man, to this very day it is the best acoustic I've ever played. Then one day, years later, I was working at a music festival when a friend called me to say my apartment was on fire. I rushed over on my bike during the hottest day of the year and saw that one side of the building was almost completely destroyed. The side of the building where I kept all my guitars next to the wall under the sloping roof. When the firemen let me go inside to get my stuff out, the entire place was black with soot, drenched in water and a good part of the roof was just gone. I had kept my Shenandoah in a cloth-covered styrofoam case, which had holes melted through to the inner lining and glass shards sticking out. When I pulled the guitar out, it was still in tune. All I ever found in damage was a tiny crack in the lacquer. It's still the best acoustic I've ever played.

I was 14 years old. I had gone through 3 guitars that were unusable. There was a CD/movie store in the mall. I’ll never forget playing the only and last guitar they had there. It sounded like heaven. Only defect it has was it was cracked from the button. Damage wasn’t so big that I knew I could fix it. My dad ended up paying for it. I think it was $80. I loved the hell out that guitar. Everyday after school and play for 4 to 5 hours, I would be in the computer listening to music and finding the melodys in the frets . I was clueless there was guitar tabs or KZfaq tutorials. This was 2006. I would watch movies without bringing my guitar with me. I had traveled all over Mexico and I had written the states of where I had traveled. I got married in 2011. My marriage was so toxic that I remember my ex wife exploded on me to shut the hello up. That she was tired of my playing. I remember getting so emotional that I broke that guitar. That my own wife didn’t support my love of music. I regretted breaking it. All my years of hard work , memories & traveled went away. I had boughten a Breedlove. It was nice but it didn’t have that bright tone that cheap $80 guitar had. My marriage had come to an end. All I had was my clothes & guitar. I had quit playing guitar for 3/4 years after my divorce. I had my Breedlove in storage. I wanted to get rid of it. But I remembered the good memories I had with it. I used to play & sing songs to my daughter when she was in the womb. It had meaning. I’ve had it in storage to give to my daughter when she’s older. She’s 8 years old now. I had upgraded to my dream guitar. A Taylor 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium. Been loving it ever since.

My first guitar was a Stella my Dad won in a poker game. I was in the 3rd grade and took it to school in a garbage sack. (the cool kids had cases) Fast forward 50 years...I'm a full-time working musician and somehow came across (what I thought was) my first guitar on facebook marketplace. I immediately went and checked it out. And yes, from the moment I held it, I knew it was mine, bent tuning peg and all! The story on how the guy aquired it checked out. Stella is home now...

my great grandpa is 98 and he has the 23rd Gibson ever made. it’s crazy!

There's definitely a difference but it's important to recognize that "first acoustic" is a "dream acoustic" for MANY people. Most players are rocking $200 epiphones. That Taylor is a lifetime guitar.

Rhett you touched a nerve with this one. My first guitar was a Martin D-35 purchased off the wall from Zaverellas music in Northern Virginia in 1970. I was playing drums in a garage band with friends and wanted something to entertain myself with and my guitar playing friends all told me this was a good one. Years went by and I travelled all around the country eventually hitting 48 states and I gave up the drums as I found I didn’t make the grade when I got to the Bay Area in California and turned into a reasonably competent guitar player but through it all it was me and my old Martin. I wrote with it, gigged with it and just plain old lived with it for 40 years till one day I didn’t have the next months mortgage payment and I sold it. I felt pretty good about it as I had payed $600 with a HSC and I sold it for $3000 but within a few months I began to regret what I now view as a moment of weakness and I know now that I sold one of my best friends to pay the rent. Jeez am I a dumb fuck or what. Anyhow if you’ll take a bit of advice from an old picker and I might add an admirer......Don’t ever sell that Taylor. That’s a job for your grandkids when you’re dead and gone. Thanks for letting me rant and keep on pickin’, Rick

Mine is a $30 acoustic made by a local brand. Been playing it for the past 12 years. It's now scratched, has minor damages, one tuning peg handle is broken(I use a pincer to tune it). Still sounds so beautiful.

Not my first, but my favorite still is one that my wife owned when we met. I had been playing for about 8 years and when we started dating I saw in the closet at her house this old Washburn dreadnought acoustic. Not a lick of visible wood, the whole thing is solid black. It had 3 strings, and they were rusty. I asked her if I could take it and clean it up, and she said "oh I got that for a guitar class in high school. It was like $115 Christmas special at Guitar Center. It's not really worth cleaning up". 21 years together later, that guitar has been used on 7 different albums, helped me write a ridiculous amount of songs, and it's been to 4 countries and roughly 22 states with me. I've spent well into a $800 having it setup again and again every few years, entertaining luthiers with "what can we do with it now". But I know, there is no other guitar on the planet, that connects with me the way that one does. I'm up to 17 guitars in my collection, between electrics and acousitcs, but that guitar always sits near my work station ready to write another song.

Your first guitar was $500?😅 I'm getting my second guitar for $200.

I arrived in Hawaii in 1978. I was 21 years old. I had one cheap guitar or another since I was 12. When I got to Hawaii as a young airmen living in the barracks, I needed to find a guitar. I picked up the local newspaper and found a 3-4 year old Yamaha (Nippon Gakki) FG 300. 42 years later, that guitar still sits by my bed and I pick it up every day even if only to play it for a few minutes before going to sleep or when I wake up. It has not been in a case for at least 40 years and it still looks wonderful and plays great. Over the years I've accumulated at least 14 or more additional guitars, both acoustic and electric, from Ovation to Fender to Gibson to Epiphone and more, both 6 and 12 strings. I love them all and never plan on selling any of them as anyone reading this would understand. But my unquestionable favorite remains the Yamaha. One of the tuning keys stripped a couple years ago so I had some gold Grovers put on it that beautifully match the dark patina of the almost 50 year old wood. It still sounds as good or better than any other acoustic I've owned or played and seems to sound better every year. I keep reminding my 15 year old daughter and my wife how important that guitar is so when the day comes and I am gone and my guitar collection goes up on Craigslist, my daughter will keep the Yamaha for the rest of her life to think of me. 🤞

So just a few weeks ago my older brother offered to sell me his 2004 Taylor 514ce for an amazing price. I had owned a number of laminate guitars through the years, but never had a really great"forever guitar." I had always dreamed of having a Martin, but could never afford one. When I saw the intense beauty of the 514's red cedar top and solid mahogany I was already in love with the instrument. But when we put on new strings and began playing it, I had the kind of Christmas morning feeling all through me. I had played a number of Taylors, Martins, and Gibsons in recent years, but none of them to me sounded as good as the 514 now aged 16 years. I don't know if that's a fact, but when you have something amazing that's now your own, nothing else compares.

The Bourgeois: ''I hate it when you talk about your ex''

Having listened to my brother play the guitar for more than forty years, I decided to try to learn to play the guitar. So, no problem off to my local guitar store. I spent several hours looking at guitars and driving the salespeople crazy with a million questions. I made my selection, Fender F230 about forty years old, but I felt like the condition was great. A little background, I am a mechanical engineer and worked in the aerospace industry, I really did not have time or interest in the guitar, now that I am retired why not. Things were moving along playing scales so much my wife asks if I could practice in my shop and not in the house, sure. Well at 72 years old some things take longer to learn and do, fingers don't move as well and for sure not a quick. Two months into my new adventure I suffered a tragic accident. Clearing some brush and fallen trees using a chain saw, a slip and I fell onto the saw cutting my ring finger of my left hand. Surgery was required to repair the damage. Today the finger is working albeit a bit slower and it is hard to bend into some of the chord positions, but I am still trying to play. I have been watching your channel along with Rick Beato and others. I am watching the fingerstyle and the timing, Thank you for the videos. I may not earn a Grammy, but if I can play some easy tunes and have fun learning then it is worth every second and dollar. The comments are long, but you said you like to hear from us. Keep up the great video work.

Im on my first guitar still, and I’ve only been playing for about a month. I had a bulging disc in my back which prohibited me from doing all that I usually do like running and basketball. So I needed something to do, and I had always wanted to learn guitar. I found my dad’s old guitar which was his first and only, and he hadn’t played it in nearly a decade. I played everyday for hours for 2 weeks, and buying a guitar for myself hadn’t even crossed my mind due to needing to save up for the semester. One day I’m practicing in my room, and my parents walk in with a fender box. I was beyond thankful, and I hope one day that my kid will learn on my CD-60

I got a 2005 dean performer....my wife picked it out from hearing 3 different deans....she said the purple one sounded superb! had it ever since and it has been all over the country and means the world to me! My grand babies have put stickers in the case to which means the world to me! I absolutely love it

Been playing since 13 and now 70. Went through some nice guitars around 20 years ago: Martin D-18; Takamine; Taylor WC-12 (list $7,500); etc. but the only one I kept is a circa 1965 Japanese made Washburn slope shoulder valued around $1,000 which I bought from a friend for $150. It doesn't have huge volume but has silky complexity that suits flatpicking or fingerstyle. There was a time when I coveted a Collings dreadnought but now I'd find it too loud so I'm glad I resisted the urge. The day may come when backpain sends me into the arms of a parlor guitar at which point I'll revisit Collings. Thanks for doing the taste test, it shows that Taylor can make a fabulous production guitar but it is a hit or miss proposition. When I bought my WC-12 none of the other 30 Taylors in the Guitar Room were even worth the trouble to play.

I bought my first guitar just a few months ago. It is a Taylor GS Mini. Like your Taylor, I believe that it punches well above its weight class too. I have wanted to learn how to play the guitar for many years. Life has just gotten in my way. Now I am at a place where I can, and playing and practicing are far and away my happiest hobbies. Music is the best therapy. I appreciate people like you and Matthew Scott. It inspires me to continue to work to get better and better a little bit everyday. Thank you for sharing your story.

Nice to hear this story Rhett, my first acoustic was exactly the same guitar, Taylor 110e. I bought it from the local guitar store almost 20 years ago, have been playing it ever since and I love it.

Been playing guitar for 17 years. Not only did I not hear a difference, I didnt even notice you were switching guitars

Bourgeois sounds more like I would imagine in a final mix! Sounds like the 110 if it was EQ’d and compressed to me!

My first guitar was a Lotus someone left behind in a storage unit my grandfather owned. The strings were so high off the fretboard I still don't understand how I didnt just give up. I wrote and performed so many songs on that thing and it is covered in emo stickers... still sitting in my office as a token of nostalgia to that beautiful crazy season of my life.

Thanks for sharing Rhett - your channel is an inspiration for me and many others. First serious axe is a topic all musicians / guitarists can relate too - always a bit of magic in every first - especially for the greats. And every professional was once an amateur..

Love that your Dad chipped in the extra to get the Taylor. It’s always rewarding working for something when you’re a teenager but its also fantastic when our parents help get us across the line for something that really matters.

Wonderful story. I've learned that the only way to keep from "forgetting" a guitar you still own, is to make sure it stays out of the case. If I see it, I play it. If it's in the case, I never even think of it. And I'm looking at my first guitar right now (which I use as my Google/KZfaq photo) - my 1968 hard tailed Strat, now beat to heck, but, bought new for $210 (as I recall), with money earned from picking cucumbers. (Before that I played some crappy piece of junk with the action way up, which I borrowed occasionally from a friend's brother, learning chords from a Mel Bay book). I eventually made a full-time living with that Strat for a long time, playing rock and roll dance music for drunk people in bars. What a great life! And Rhett - once again, thanks for another super video.

Since discovering your channel a couple of weeks ago, I've been binging on some of your older videos, and this one is probably my favorite. It was just nice to hear you talk about your first 'real' guitar, and about your start in playing. My first was an Alvarez acoustic (not an expensive one, but it was the best guitar in the pawn shop when I bought it)...it had a sunburst top, and sort of a country and western themed pickguard. I also played the crap out of it until the bridge eventually split and I gave it to a friend who was interested in repairing it. I love these stories, and everyone has them.

The editing is so confusing watching you play both of them lol. First watch thorough I'm like....when is he gonna switch guitars? Oh, he was switching the whole time haha

I grew up playing my dad's 68' Guild D-40E that my mom bought for him, she sold her horse to pay for it (yes we are rural folk). I was on again off again on the guitar for years during my 20's but got back into playing after my wife & I had children. My dad and I always joked that the Guild was my "Inheritance" although it really isn't worth a lot of money it has a lot of value to us. On my 40th birthday my dad gave that guitar to me and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Since then I have the neck re-set and some cracks stabilized and it will always be in my family. Guitars are tools, a way to rid yourself of stress, express yourself and one of the best roles they play is a part of the story of our lives. Love your channel Rhett, keep up the good work.

there is a point of diminishing returns you pay more for small increases

Rhett, I appreciate this post a great deal. I just picked up a 110e based on this post. The lady had it tuned and actioned for her, I have to say, it is as sweet as the day is long. I think that it having no bracing actually aids in it’s resonance and sound projection, I can feel it pretty strongly against me. It has wonderful resonance. It’s a titan from Tecate! Gracias amigos y amigas!

Thanks to share so good your personal memory of your first guitar, i loved, and that taylor sound amazing, never never let it go!

is no one gonna talk about how clean he played wish you were here by pink floyd

That’s the guitar center where I got my first acoustic as well. Small world.

My first guitar was a Taylor 114e. Very similar to yours, just the Grand Auditorium body shape. I really liked the guitar, but the one that really spoke to me was a Taylor 224ce Koa. I kept going to the store to play it and my wife really encouraged me to buy it. I sold the 114 and still have the 224ce Koa. Everyone who plays it falls in love with it and I'm very glad I got it. My dad even decided to get the same guitar because he was always a little jealous when he came over 🤣.

Wow - that was one of the best A/B comparisons I've seen between acoustics. The difference between the two was huge. Well done!

I still own "my" first guitar. I'll explain the quotation marks shortly. My first and still favorite guitar is a mid 70s Epiphone FY-140 dreadnaught. Its hanging on the wall right over there. I was born in 1977 and my parents dated several years before they were married in 1975 while my dad was in the Navy. Through letter writing my dad bragged that he could play but didn't have a guitar. So for his birthday a few months before they were married, my mom bought him this guitar. She paid quite a bit of money for it as she tells it. Something like $200 in '75. Well....my dad couldn't and can't play a note. So that guitar sat in the corner of their bedroom until I was 11 or 12 when I started getting interested in music. I learned all the early basics on it and have written dozens of songs with it. It's been around the world with me while I was in the Army. Years later, when I was in my late 20s my dad came to visit me. We were hanging out in my studio and I had several of my instruments on display, including the old Epiphone. At that moment he decided to take it back and take some lessons. I was stunned. He took it and got a few lessons. And soon (my mom filled me in) quit the lessons. I went and visited him one day and it was in a stand in the corner of the living room. I picked it up while he was watching TV and started playing it. It caught his attention and he started watching me. Apparently impressed, he finally said, "You can go on and take that back with you, bud!" Love my dad. Love that guitar.

I’m still on my first guitar; a “candy apple red” fender squier HSS Stratocaster.

Still on my first a Yamaha FG800, also has the scalloped bracing. My first Yamaha without wheels. I researched a lot before getting it and decided it had the best bang for the buck in my budget. The guys at the shop were helpful and also mentioned the Yamaha line handled the exceptionally dry climate here in the desert better than other entry models and a good choice for the environment and they'd had none come back with cracking or other drying issues they'd seen on some others.

Thanks for sharing your story. My first guitar was my grandpa's guitar. I learned how to restoring it because it was missing 4 strings. Which actually helped me learn because I worked on links on the low e string and high e string. After going around and learning some things I got some new strings for it and learned several songs on it. I got this guitar when my grandpa passed away. When my family saw I was getting better and was out growing that guitar which was very basic my sister bought me a new sawtooth for Christmas. It is a lot easier to play and has better action. I still have my grandpa's guitar and I am trying to teach my little girl how to play who is 8 years old. I could never afford to own or play a guitar before this but always wanted to. So I am always going to appreciate that guitar I was a blessing in disguise.

9:51 for the actual sound comparison

Long read but stick with me here, I think this is a pretty great first guitar story: In 1999 I was about to be discharged from the Navy. A buddy of mine was also getting out and heading back to California. He'd bought a cool running and driving but a little rusty and worn '68 Firebird and owed the guy $600 on it, couldn't afford to get it back to California, and told me if I paid the guy the $600 I could have the car and title. I moved back to WV with car and began showing up in that Firebird on the very common Saturday night picking sessions. In those days word traveled pretty far about these picking sessions and we always had new folks showing up to join in. A really talented young man walked in one night with a '74 D45. Not a real common sight at all in our neck of the woods. We got to talking about my car and he offered to trade me even - D45 for Firebird. I knew what the guitar was, and about what it was worth, and I wouldn't let him do it; I figured it was the 'shine talking. I turned him down for three more weekends. I finally figured out he was very serious about the trade and was still young and dumb and didn't know what to do with his paycheck so I handed him the Firebird keys and title and took the D45. These musicians were all hard working, blue collar (mostly coal miners), salt of the earth type folks. Most of them deserved the guitar way more than me but couldn't (or wouldn't) buy it. Now, I basically couldn't play a lick and still can't. Carrying that D45 into those rooms and being terrible at playing made me feel like an idiot. The gentleman that most often hosted the get-togethers could play just about anything incredibly well and loved it when he got the chance to play my guitar. I ended up just trading for his old Washburn a few months later. The best trades I've ever made.

Thanks for the great video. In 1984, I got a Guild D-15 for my birthday. 36 years later, it's still with me by my side and I still strum it when I can. But, yes, the feel, the look, the sound, and the smell of this guitar has been a big part of my life. I'm just an amateur but I know my life is all the better having had a beautiful and sturdy guitar with me through thick and thin.

This was a great video. I like how you turned a basic thing (guitar A vs. guitar B) and turned it into a story/minimovie. Well done!

I don't have my own guitar. My daughter is allowing me to use her Washburn 3/4 acoustic guitar. I am grateful to be able to use it. Thanks to people like you on KZfaq, I am learning just as she did when she was a teen, thru online learning. I got a long way to go, but I'm having fun laughing with myself as I go.

It looks like we share a "first" guitar! I remember getting mine after playing on my stepmother's old crappy hummingbird mockery. The first time I took it out to play it I was amazed with how bright and natural it sounded compared to the other. Truly a fantastic and beautiful instrument. I put so many miles on this bad boy and played it every day after football practice even though I was too exhausted to move. Just wanted to say since then I've not played it too much due to similar circumstances as yours, but you've inspired me to pull it out, get it restrung, cleaned up, and put it back out where it belongs with the rest of my instruments. Thank you so much man, it's deeply appreciated

I’m still on my first guitar, it’s a sixty dollar rogue acoustic my family got me for Christmas. It’s been good to learn on because if I can make that one sound ok, I’ll be golden when I upgrade

yes sir, I just bought a new beginner guitar, a few days ago and I really enjoy the start of my guitar learning journey. I'm 39, and all I can say I'm sorry I didn't start earlier.

Call me crazy, but I actually kinda prefer the clarity and brightness of the Taylor. My first guitar was a no-name, 3/4 nylon string POS that I got for my 9th birthday. I still have it in the closet in my music room, but it hasn't seen the light of day since I used to let my son beat on it when he was a toddler.

Parents bought me my first guitar when I was around 12 or 13, played it for about a month and then never toughed it again for about 10 years. Then one day I got a really big urge to want to learn how to play my favorite songs on guitar so I found it and taught myself using apps and I haven't put it down. It's been a little over 3 years since then and to this day I'm so glad I decided to pick it up again. Kinda angry at 12 year old me for not keeping to it but I'm glad I got back to it.

My dad always play guitar since I before I was born and grew up loving watching and listening to him play, I loved music in general. I finally started showing more interest in learning about a year ago always wanting to pick up my dad's blueridge and asking questions to the point one day he said hold on one second... I was like okay.. he went into his room.. into the closet.. and grabbed a brand new taylor 114ce and handed to me and said "if your going to keep learning a playing your going to need something to learn on, so you and borrow this." I was stunned.. i played everyday for hours sometimes and loved the way the narrow neck and ebony fret board felt.. loved the way it sounded bright and snappy but resonated very well.. and learned everything on that guitar and one day when my dad noticed I was going to keep playing and it wasn't just a phase he basically said that I had inherited that guitar and I started playing in our local church we been attending about 3 years now.. in the last 6 months or so I bought a breedlove and I love the way it looks, sounds and plays but it will never take the place of my first guitar. I honestly like the playability of the Taylor much better, it's more comfortable and easier to play but I do like the sound the breedlove produces. Would love yo get my hands on a taylor with the koa wood.

My first guitar is, still have it, a Mitchell 12 string. I was just messing around in the acoustic room at GCtr, picked it up and loved the sound. Within several minutes, I was on my way to checkout, debit card at the ready. That was January 2019. I still play it and don't think I'll ever replace it. I've bought a couple other acoustics, one being a Zager 20 series. I play that regularly as well. I am still very much a beginner, but getting a bit more serious with my practicing. Thanks for posting your video.

As a musician, guitars are not just guitars. For me, they help you to tell stories and express them through songs. That’s why I really love my fender acoustic guitar because whenever i am happy or sad, it can really help me to express my feelings. And also use it to praise Jesus❤️

Cool to see another Bourgeois player! My first “real” guitar was also a Taylor laminate! They sound pretty good honestly. Once I started learning about boutique guitars I knew bourgeois was the one I wanted. Started looking around and found some incredible deals! I now have two (soon to be three).

My 110 is my first guitar and I still play it even though I have new guitars. Love it so much and really resonated with your story. Thanks so much!!

I have an Eastman AC222CE.. Absolutely love it. Plays like a dream and sounds great with a lot of warmth and solid low/mid. All Solid wood, SitKa spruce solid top and solid Ovankol back and sides with Ebony fretboard and han scalloped bracings inside for a fraction of the cost.

When you go to that open strings, the expensive one speaks more to me. It has clearer, brighter, and more articulated tones, and I agreed you for "more balance on mids and lows". Price wise, I go to the cheapest one, the Taylor.

Started on a 20 dollar nylon string guitar from Mexico. In the 70's Loved her! First guitar for a musician/guitarist is like the women/girl you first made love to. Very special. You never forget❤

I still have my first "real" guitar, which is actually my 3rd. It is a Gianinni classical made in Brazil of some nice sounding, but unknown tone woods. She is a beauty, but only worth about $15 in pawn shops. I bought it using my 2nd guitar (a Kay) in 1977 for a total of $110 including the $40 I got for the the Kay in trade. It has been everywhere, done everything I put it to, but in 2006, when the original chip board case finally, literally fell apart, I bought a real hard shell case for her and retired her, and switched to my Martin DCM as my go-to acoustic, and the growing handful on electrics I was acquiring then. Great little guitar, and now that I teach elementary school, I occasionally pull her out to show my music students. It has almost 0 trade in value, but she has miles upon miles of sentimental value that can never be replaced!!

My 1st guitar was a 1960s EKO texan, passed down from 1 of my sisters. I played it for years before 'upgrading' to a Tanglewood TMO-7S round back electro for £200 in 1992. It was a budget copy of the classic Ovation. I still have it and love it.

My favorite guitar in the whole world is my dad’s Yamaha F-310 that he gave to me when I was younger. I think it might be worth $150 retail, but it’s worth way more than that to me. I love it

My first guitar was a Sears Silvertone flattop (I’m kinda giving away my age here), and playing in was an exercise in exquisite torture. The strings sat a full quarter inch above the fretboard, and it took an Ironman grip to even chord the thing. But, despite being the musical equivalent of an iron maiden, I was finally able to actually learn some tunes on the beast, even though it was probably better suited as kindling. I wonder how many aspiring musicians got disgusted attempting to play the beast and just tossed it into the back of the closet.

Just bought my first guitar a week ago, got an ibanez acoustic. Was at the local store and it really resonated with me. I'm excited for the journey ahead with it, and hopefully ten years later it still stands up to whatever new acoustic I may have

My first ever guitar, was an acoustic first act, I learned basic chords on that one. I got my first Jay Turser when I was 12 I'm 22 now I've had it for 10 years, I played my first talent show with it. My first church gig, my first festival everything, I always took it with me. It's always been my go to guitar I always tell people I have an emotional attachment with it because of the history we have. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

My first "real" guitar is my main current: Epiphone Les Paul, and he runs like a charm. I got him for Christmas last year and played every day since. Before that (two and some years ago), I played an acoustic Fender DG-8S Nat. It's over a decade old, and it wasn't bought for me. My parents had bought it for my older sister, and I didn't even see her play it ever, even though I was a toddler and probably wouldn't have remembered anyways. The Fender works alright though, it's kinda just sitting in the corner of my room; I play it while lying down in bed or learning a new fingerstyle, but I definitely play my LP more.

I just turned 17 on the 4th of this month. I've only been playing guitar for about 2 years when my uncle gave me his old squire strat and matching amp, which currently pooped out on me so im looking at fixing it. Anyways I didn't touch it much at the time I was busy, but once I had more time on my hands, I had more strings in my hands. I have always been good with music and instruments, and I knew I could be good at this too with some practice. It took a lot less time than I thought to play the things I wanted to. I bought by first acoustic for 50 bucks, a 70s era Hondo II from a flea market. It's bad, but i loved it because I wasn't as much into guitars as I am today. Fingerpicking came a little too naturally to me because I was pretty good like right off the bat. First song I leaned on acoustic was Don't Think Twice it's Alright by Bob Dylan. Now I own an Epiphone 12 string, the same 2 guitars I've had since the beginning, a fender strat, a les Paul that I built from scratch from a kit and I put prs humbuckers in it, and a Taylor 414ce, my baby that I take everywhere. Everyone makes me feel good when I play because of all the reactions I get like "wow you're so good holy crap" it makes me feel special. Music has always been my passion. Always will. I hope to make music that lives lives after im gone. I also hope everyone else here enjoys holding as guitar as much as I do. ✌️

I really enjoy videos like these when there is a story behind it.

I'm from Maine and played a friends Bourgeois sloped Dreadnaught, it was definitely WOW. I have had Taylors all my life 410, 310ce, 815ce, they were all great. I have a Gibson SJ200 now and the Taylor 310ce. But something else that has thoroughly impressed me for what you get for the dollar is a Yamaha FG820 for $320 and that thing is competing with the Taylor no problem in playability and sound. I would definitely recommend that FG800 series instruments for beginners and active musicians alike for a low cost option.

My first “real” acoustic is a Taylor 114ce, bought from a Guitar Center as well, and I just haven’t been able to justify getting a “better” more expensive acoustic since then. There’s something about the lack of bracing in the 100 series that really helps it “punch above its weight class,” like you said, and I just love the sound of it. It also plays remarkably well for the price!

My first was an Alvarez, so was my second. .. and my third.

I just bought a 114e from the Guitar Center in Houston on Westheimer. It was between the 110, 112 and 114. They ALL sound great !!! Thank for the Video.

I'm 57. When I went to college in 1981, I took my dad's now-vintage Yamaha FG160 dreadnought. It was my only acoustic for years, until I turned 40 and my parents and siblings surprised me with a Martin OOO (Jimmy Buffet Shellback.) I now own about a dozen various stringed instruments, but the Yammie was a sentimental favorite. I hadn't played it in for many years, and recently set it up and restrung it for my son, who now has it in his bedroom. I played it again just recently, and while I forgot ho high the action gets by the 10th fret, and how "clubby" the neck now feels compared to my newer guitars (I have small hands), it still had that amazingly deep and rich dreadnought sound I remembered. It sounds every bit as rich and balanced as solid-top Martin dreads I've played. I feel happy that it's being passed on to a third generation. (Oh, my mom and I replaced dad's guitar with a newer and nicer Yamaha FG model after I graduated college.)

Hey Rhett, do you think you could do a guitar and amp walk through where you go through your guitars and amps and there stories please, would help during lockdown, stay safe!

When I saw someone playing the guitar for the first time in life, I had seen an spanish acoustic guitar, but didn't knew that guitars also had divisions at that time & I ended up unfortunately by buying a Hawaiian guitar. When I again gained knowledge about the types of guitars & everything else in details, then I had no options but I adjusted to some extent by filing down the original wooden nut (not the steel nut though) and started to practice. It was really a very horrible experience by pressing down such, high action. But after few years I've finally bought a proper acoustic guitar, (Hertz, HZA-4000). Now, that old guitar is packed up & I don't play it at all. I'll never sell it because it's the guitar because of which I had to force myself to find more & even more knowledge. I was blessed by that guitar though.

thanks for the words. as my dream guitar taylor 110ce with me now is 1year already. might stick with her for a while till next purchase maybe 2yrs or 10 😁

I got my first "good" steelstring on easter of 1977, bought from a small music store in Carmel/California : a Michael GURIAN SR3 (Sitka/Rosewood small jumbo type) , I still have it and even though the extra narrow neck makes playing the cowboy chords a bit difficult I love it dearly to this very day. It's been my companion and confidante through so many years ... my "good" (and only other) steelstring today is a Santa Cruz 00012-fret all mahogany (000-1929) that has really opened up now after 5 or 6 years that I have it and it's clearly the better instrument of the two - it's a keeper for sure but we'll see how emotionally attached I will become.... Rhett, this is a great show, I enjoy it very much and hope to see + hear and learn much more !

I'd rather have a guitar that "Feels" better playing and not sound "Perfect". There's nothing worse than strumming a cheaply made acoustic that almost hurts to play or hold a Dmaj open chord on. I'm all about Feel over Sound Like Melody over Lyrics

Rhett, he live with a friend of mine and his son, Clay Cook. Clay and John went to school together then moved back to Atlanta writing and playing together. John went to to his fame and Clay is now in the Zack Brown Band.

First of all thanks for posting this video, I always enjoy your posts. As with you my first acoustic guitar was in fact a Taylor 110. I’ve had it for about 20 years and it’s one of my main go to guitars. I was lucky enough get my hands on a beautiful Martin 00016 which I play a lot but I still love to play my 110. Like you I remember the day I got it and I too have lots of memories playing that guitar. I do agree you get an amazing guitar for the money. I know I will enjoy it for many years to come.

First of all I love your videos! You inspired me to start playing again.. I'm on my first guitar I bought around 5 years ago. It is a fender basic guitar that came with a kit for $199.. It's huge but has huge sound and I do like it.. I bought it because I started writing songs and thought it would be cool to learn and take it with me places.. I know how to play piano/ keyboard. I almost quit playing it many times.. It was frustrating... But I kept trying.. I only played chords.. But only played a few... Then got divorced and never played again. Now I'm engaged to a drummer and he helps inspire me to play and sing.. So now I'm starting from scratch.. But want to learn the notes now.. I keep it out so I practice every day . And I'm picking it up pretty quick and I'm excited.. Thank you.

There’s a super slight difference that I hear between the two(I’m listening through my iPhone’s speakers) and it’s almost like the more expensive guitar has just a slightly brighter sound to it. When I listen to it, it almost feels like I’m listening to the theme of an enchanted forest.

My first acoustic guitar was delivered 4 days ago. Also my first electric. And some finger slides. I have an app on the computer and phone and practiced the first 30 minutes on 3 frets and 3 strings the first day. The second day, I listened to music all day. Today I'm watching KZfaq videos about music theory and mistakes. Anyway, I'm going to try to just make it a habit to play 30 minutes for my dinner. Wish me luck.

My first guitar is a K. Yairi YW700N acoustic that is handed down to me. My Dad lived in Tokyo as a construction worker in the early 90s, and initially, he didn't make as much as he wanted. He bought this guitar at a secondhand guitar store, and he would busk in Shinjuku every night playing The Beatles and Queen songs. Fast forward years later, I remember watching my Dad played a set of songs to me, and as a child, I watched him perform as if I was at a concert. This is one of the events that sparked my interest in picking up the instrument. I was probably 4 or 5 at the time, and I remember being so small I could fit into the hard case. I still have the guitar, and it still has the original handwritten receipt written in Japanese that came with it on the day it was bought. I still play the guitar to this day.

Taylor is one of those guitar brands that I JUST CANNOT make sound good. I love the way you make that guitar sound. It was bright, snappy, and lovely.... when I play Taylors they sound harsh and horrid. I'm a Martin & Gibson guy... which is perfectly fine because there are plenty of beautiful Martins and Gibsons to choose from.

I have a similar "first guitar" story, although it was not actually my first guitar, just my first acoustic guitar. I'd been playing electric for many, many years, and (surprisingly) had never owned an acoustic guitar. When I finally decided to get one, I did a lot of research and played a lot of guitars in a lot of stores. I was prepared to shell out some bucks for this, too. I just wanted to make sure I got something that played well and sounded great. One store I visited, Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island, is a fine store with a huge selection of guitars in all price ranges. I played guitars ranging from about $600 up to $10,000+ (although I wasn't prepared to spend quite that much!). Another store that I really wanted to visit is called Dream Guitars. It's outside of Asheville NC, and they carry hand-crafted guitars from the finest luthiers. I finally took a vacation with my girlfriend and we went to Asheville, and I spent a whole day there playing some of the finest guitars in the world. And yet, I couldn't really find one that called to me. I felt that the tones were either too dark and boomy or too high and brittle, or the feel was just not right. While we were in Ashville, we visited every guitar store we could find. And then, I finally found it. And I couldn't believe it. We were in a small store that repaired guitars, a place called The Guitar Mama, and there was a used guitar for sale that had been repaired. It was just a simple Big Baby Taylor. And it was unbelievable. The tone was exactly what I was looking for, a great balance between the low end and high end. And it was a delight to play. I bought it for $250. And, I swear, I've received so many compliments on the tone of that guitar. I still love that guitar. The only concern that I ever had about it was that it didn't push out enough volume and it had no pickup for amplification. (I tried using sound hole pickups but didn't like them.) I eventually replaced that with a new Taylor guitar (I love Taylors; they are the best!), however I still use my Big Baby. I put Nashville strings on it and use it for recording. It just goes to show that a good guitar is a good guitar. You can't judge by price.

I have a taylor 114E SINCE 2014 and still plays like a champ.

I've got the 110CE and boy does this thing deliver. Such clarity of notes and tone.

Have a J45 Gibson bought as a kid from a pawn shop! still have it! Love it! thank you - keep rocking - thank you for the great instrument and equipment notes!

My first "real guitar" was a Takamine G series that I got from that same Guitar Center when I was 15. It was perfect. Solid Spruce top, koa back and sides. I too upgraded from one of those Yamaha starter packs. Many years later I sold it to a guitar store closer to my house when I wanted to upgrade to a nicer Gibson. But the Gibson never quite felt right so I went to buy the Takamine back and the store owner had it listed outrageously high so I let it go. My wife then surprised me on my birthday later that year by buying back from the store owner. Still my number 1 acoustic to this day.

I literally went to that guitar center all the time when I was a kid!

I still have a Yamaha fg332 which my parents bought me way back in 1987. It spent quite a few years languishing in the attic of my childhood home, but I pulled it out a few years ago and after a new set of tuners, nut and saddle it's like new and serves most of my open tuning needs.

I love how "wish you were here" was stuck in my head from the first strum and he plays it in the comparison towards the end.

It was my first “real” acoustic too, in 2006. I already owned a 1997 MIM Nashville Deluxe Tele

When I was in college, I was looking for an acoustic guitar to play and ended up falling in love with a mahogany top Taylor 320. I saved up every penny I had to buy it and even haggled with the store owner to keep the case in order to bring the cost down! I had a case anyway, and he gave me the deal. Little did I know that a few months later, my future wife would come up to me asking if she could play it because it looked and sounded so nice. I use that guitar now to play lullabies for our baby son.

I have enjoyed your videos, entertaining and informative. I am 65 years old, retired almost 2 years ago. I regret never having learned to play a musical instrument so about 2 weeks ago I bought an Epiphone Hummingbird and had my first lesdon last week. My and the Hummingbird are becoming good friends, learning a few chords, hope to soon put a few together in some semblance to a real song.

Great Storytelling Thank you!