Next Page . Buying a new instrument is a critical step for the novice guitarist. A basic knowledge of the guitar and an assessment of your musical goals will help you make a wise purchase, a purchase you can enjoy for years, perhaps even a lifetime. All guitars produce sound through the mechanical vibration of strings.
Acoustic guitars transmit the vibration of the string to the soundboard via the saddle and bridge .
The design and quality of the strings, saddle, bridge and soundboard have a major impact on the sound. In contrast, the vibrating strings of an electric guitar are read directly by a pickup and transmitted to a sound system for amplification. There are two basic types of acoustic guitars, the classic or nylon string guitar and the steel-string guitar . Both types are excellent general purpose instruments, suitable for many styles, but each has its own distinct feel and sound. The choice of one or the other is purely personal.