That said, go to lots of stores and play as many guitars as you can. Then buy the one that feels most right. Ken Stanton Music on 78 in Stone Mountain has a decent stock, and don’t forget Firehouse right here in Decatur.

When I had a middle age crisis and decided to pick up the guitar after 35 years, I ended up with a Seagull. They give good value in an acoustic axe.

Great job Sydney!

A Les Paul custom–nice!

For what it’s worth, Sidney, I think a common mistake we gals make when choosing a guitar is that we can end up with instruments that are too big for us. So when you’re picking one out, sit down with it and see how at ease you feel. If you have to lift your shoulders up or wing your elbows out, it’s probably not right for you. It helps to have someone there to tell you how you look holding it, too.

Here’s a good article about guitar body sizes and shapes: http://www.playguitarmagazine.com/article/11/11,6647,FEATURE-1.asp

Like I said. All day.

Midtown Music–I second that! They are straight up. And then take it to the guys at Too Many Guitars in Tucker. $35 will get you a good set-up and a strap pin if it needs one.

I got my favorite guitar ever (love it more than my Martin OM28 vintage repro) at Miller Music & Pawn on Buford Highway. You can get lucky there–they deal in a bunch of Alvarez factory seconds. Mine is an Alvarez Yairi cutaway with a spruce top, mahogany back/sides, built-in electronics, and a nice small body that fits me better than a big ole dreadnaught. The bridge had popped off, and the dude at Miller had glued it back on. You can’t even tell. I got it for $400. You could still get that cell phone!

Ooo. I could talk guitars all day.