In my previous letter, I talked about how I missed out on a guitar called “Seagull” on Facebook Marketplace. That got me thinking—what kind of guitar do I really want?
Back in high school, it was simple: I just wanted a “cool-looking guitar!” It was all about appearance. But now, more than 40 years later, I’d like to think I’ve grown a bit. These days, I find myself asking: What kind of music do I want to play?
Especially now, with countless songs being created by AI, I’m starting to discover tracks that truly resonate with me—some even make me want to sing them myself. By analyzing the kind of music I’m drawn to, my preferred style naturally becomes clearer. And once I understand that, the kind of guitar that suits me will reveal itself too.
I enjoy strumming chords and singing over them, but I’ve also been wishing I could play arpeggios—letting the notes of a chord ring out one by one—on the guitar myself.
Trying to recreate that kind of playing style with Suno AI required some creativity in how I wrote the prompts. To be honest, I didn’t know much about music genres, so I decided to start by asking ChatGPT for some advice. After trying a few variations, I found that using keywords like “fingerstyle” or “singer-songwriter” in the prompt often produced surprisingly decent results. They weren’t always exactly what I had in mind, but they were good enough to make me think, “Hey, this actually isn’t bad at all!”
So, I started looking into what kind of guitars are well-suited for fingerstyle playing. The first thing I focused on was the tone. I’m not particularly good at listening to high-pitched sounds for extended periods, so I wanted something with a richer, deeper tone—maybe not quite like a cello, but something that leans more toward the lower end of the spectrum.
(Side note: I actually own a theremin (photo below in About page), the electronic instrument. After buying it, I modified it so it could produce lower frequencies. With the right playing technique, it can sound almost like a cello. But that’s a story for another time!)
The original photography by Takafumi Ide, Moog Theremin in my front yard / extra wide background by Photoshop AI
I know that, generally speaking, a larger body helps a guitar produce a fuller, deeper sound. But since I’m not that big myself, holding a large guitar feels more like I’m hauling it around than actually enjoying playing it. When I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, it doesn’t exactly look inspiring—it’s more like I’m wrestling with it!
I may not be chasing that “cool factor” like I did back in high school, but enjoying how I look while playing is still part of the fun. So lately, I’ve been thinking: maybe a slightly smaller guitar would actually suit me just fine.
Still, I keep asking myself—do I really need to buy a new guitar? Part of me feels it’s a luxury I shouldn’t rush into. I haven’t done enough research yet to convince that more responsible version of myself. For starters, why does my Yamaha Silent Guitar, which I’ve owned for years, feel so difficult to play? As I mentioned before, I’ve been wondering if the “action height” has something to do with it.
That led me to do a bit of research into what makes a guitar “easy to play,” especially through the lens of luthiers—the craftsmen who build and repair guitars.
At first, I thought luthiers were just people who repaired guitars, and I honestly wondered how they made a living from that alone. But as I looked deeper, I realized they’re actually skilled artisans who can build stringed instruments—especially guitars—from scratch. Of course, they need to know the basics—how to cut, carve, and polish wood—but more importantly, they must have a deep understanding of the wood itself.
I learned that the type of wood used for a guitar’s body greatly affects its tone. For example, mahogany produces a warm, rich sound, while spruce creates a brighter, more vibrant tone. So, depending on the kind of sound you’re aiming for, the choice of wood can make a big difference.
The long, narrow part called the neck is often made from maple, which is strong and sturdy. The fingerboard—where you press the strings—is commonly made from ebony or rosewood. These materials also influence how the guitar feels to play, and even its sound.
Another essential skill is the art of bending wood. The sides of a guitar are made from a single piece of wood, which is softened with hot steam and then carefully curved. It takes a great deal of technique to control the steam and apply just the right amount of pressure.
I’ve actually used this bending method myself in one of my past artworks. I created a mold and gradually bent thin pieces of wood into shape. But what amazes me is that luthiers use this same technique to build the resonating body of a guitar—something that directly affects the sound. That’s truly impressive.
Inside the neck of a guitar, there’s often a slender metal rod called a truss rod. It helps counter the tension of the strings, preventing the wood from warping and keeping the neck straight—which makes the guitar easier to play.
And then there are the shimmering decorations on the surface of the guitar, known as inlays—often made from materials like shell, wood, or metal. These are carefully embedded by skilled luthiers using precise techniques. While they add visual beauty, they’re also crafted in a way that doesn’t interfere with the instrument’s resonance, making them an important detail that gives each guitar its unique personality and presence.
Now, let's talk about the action height, which has been on my mind. The length of a guitar's neck can vary depending on the type. Along the neck, you'll find several thin metal strips called frets. The point where the neck reaches the middle, counting from the tip, is called the "12th fret."
The height of the strings above the fretboard at the 12th fret is called the "action height." This measurement is important because adjusting it properly can make the guitar easier—or harder—to play. A skilled luthier can fine-tune this action to match the player's unique style and preferences. As I'm still a beginner, though, I’m planning to first learn the general standards for action height to help me get a better understanding.
My Yamaha Silent Guitar is designed like a classical guitar, with soft nylon strings that produce a gentle sound when plucked with the fingertips. Classical guitars typically have a slightly higher action height, as having the strings a bit further from the fretboard reduces the chances of unwanted buzzing sounds, allowing for cleaner resonance.
However, for beginners like me, higher action can make it difficult to press the strings down, making the guitar harder to play. When I measured the action height, I found that at the 12th fret, the thinnest string (the 1st string) had a height of 3mm, and the thickest string (the 6th string) had a height of 4mm. The typical action height for classical guitars is around 2.5mm to 3.0mm for the 1st string and 3.0mm to 4.0mm for the 6th string at the 12th fret, so it turns out that my guitar has a slightly higher action than usual.
On the other hand, folk guitars use steel strings (metal strings), which are better suited for strumming with a pick to produce a powerful sound. These guitars typically have lower action height compared to classical guitars. With the strings closer to the fretboard, you can play with less pressure, making it easier to play fast or hold chords. Generally, the action height at the 12th fret is between 1.5mm to 2.0mm for the 1st string and 2.0mm to 2.5mm for the 6th string, which is considered comfortable for playing.
Folk guitars also have narrower necks and the space between strings is closer together, which might make them more comfortable for people with smaller hands. However, because of this, it may take some time to adjust to fingerstyle playing, which I enjoy.
To adjust the action height, you can either shave down or add material to the "saddle" (the part that supports the strings) at the edge of the guitar. I saw this method being demonstrated in a YouTube video as well. However, if you lower the action too much, the thick bass strings might hit the neighboring frets while vibrating, causing a buzzing sound. So, it's important to be cautious.
For example, with classical guitars, it's generally recommended that the 6th string have a minimum action height of around 3.0mm, and the ideal range for comfortable play is between 3.5mm to 3.8mm. Since the action height on my silent guitar is 4mm, lowering it a bit might make it easier to play.
As I looked into it more, I became interested in the work of a luthier. I realized that even a small difference of 0.5mm in action height can completely change the playability, so I started thinking that it might be okay to take care of my silent guitar myself. However, I decided to focus on getting better at playing the guitar first, and I’ve somehow managed to convince myself that buying a steel-string guitar might be the right step for now. So, the question is, which guitar should I actually look for?
As expected, the key factor is the budget. As I mentioned in the previous letter, I can’t spend a large amount of money. I’d like to avoid transactions over $100 through personal sales on Facebook Marketplace. However, there didn't seem to be any affordable options in the used market during the gift season. So, I increased my budget to $150. With that amount, I can actually buy a beginner-level new guitar. Still, I wanted something a little more unique. After researching various reviews for used guitars in the $150-$200 range, the Yamaha FS800 came up as a candidate.
The deciding factors were its high cost-performance rating, the fact that new ones are priced at $229.99 and are popular (which means there’s a chance I could find a used one within my budget), and most importantly, the "Scalloped Bracing" technique used in this guitar. To put it simply, this technique involves shaping the internal wood supporting the guitar’s top in a special way, which enhances the richness and depth of the sound. Though I’m just imagining as a beginner, I was drawn to the fact that it utilizes a technique usually found in higher-end models.
However, such a good deal doesn’t just appear in the used market within my budget. The inventory on Reverb.com, which I usually use as a guideline for used items, is mostly priced at retail value, and even if the guitar itself is cheap, the shipping and handling fees are incredibly high. After days of surfing the web, one day I decided to do a quick Google search without thinking of any specific shops, and to my surprise, I found it for $140! And it turns out there was a guitar shop just 30 minutes away that I had no idea about—Music Zoo. Uncharacteristically, I called immediately to check the stock.
Link => Music Zoo 123 Smith St. Farmingdale, NY 11735
Whew, what a journey. The purchase date was January 16, 2025. It’s been a long road—somehow, I’ve made it to writing this far 🥵😅
From there, my days turned into guitar-focused ones. It’s been about 3 months now, and since that day, I’ve been practicing every day. My current struggle is that my left pinky tends to lie flat when it opens up too much. I’m not entirely sure how exactly my fingers should be bent, but I’ll just keep practicing. Thank you for reading!
Yamaha FS800 in a box at Music Zoo (20250116) $140+tax
P.S. Thank you to everyone for reading each issue. I’d be happy if you could give me a signal that you’ve read it by pressing the Like button. And if there’s a Share button available, feel free to use that too.
