Newbee to learning, need guidance on a guitar I was given.

[Chris Young]

Hey forum, 

I am as green as it gets, and have wanted to learn to play. I was gifted a guitar and want have the forums thoughts if this will be a reasonable guitar to learn on, or do you recommend something else?  The guitar is a Yamaha G-50A.

I bet this is is 50 year old guitar, It was kept in a case in the corner of my brothers bedroom for years.  Hearing that I wanted to learn to play guitar, he gave it to me.  Love your comments.

of course I will get this restrung, And looked at by a local guitar shop. Thank you in advance. Chris

[David Havens]

Hi Chris

My thought is that Yamaha guitars are good , my first “real” guitar was a 70’s model Yamaha FG - played great - first guitar was a S & H green stamp guitar from 1969 or 1970 - the kind you get from the old gas station promotions, after you get the set up done have fun and enjoy the music. You’ll have good memories of that first guitar!!

Even though I didn’t play for 40 years, I still remember the old gas station guitar and the first sheet music that came with it!! 
CCR - “Midnight Special”.  

 

[Fred Soukup]

I have a Yamaha CP 300 with the nylon strings as it is a classical guitar it sounds fantastic. Plays great I think you will enjoy your guitar.

 

[John Long]

Hi Chris.  Vintage guitars are very cool!  I have an old 70's Continental Classical guitar which I love to noodle around on - but it is a better wall hanger than a player.  The older classical guitars have a wide thick neck and the strings are often pretty high above the flat fingerboard and as a result are they pretty hard to play.  Mine is even worse because there is no truss rod in the neck to adjust the action and relief of the neck.  If you have trouble playing the Yamaha, it is not you.  Look for something with a thinner neck, closer string spacing and radius (curved top fingerboard).  If you are not committed to playing "Classical Guitar" or country like Willie Nelson, you may have better luck with a steel string acoustic or electric guitar with thinner neck and a truss rod.  The good news is there are a lot of affordable "Entry Level" guitars that play very well.