First Act Red Guitar

Everything You Need to Know About the Iconic First Act Red Guitar

The First Act Red Guitar has become an iconic beginner’s instrument that many aspiring guitarists get started on. With its eye-catching bright red color, compact size and beginner-friendly features, this guitar is designed to appeal to new players, especially younger ones.

But is the First Act Red Guitar the right choice for you or the budding musician in your life? This comprehensive buying guide will give you all the key details on the features, pricing, reviews and more to help you make the right decision.

Main Features of the First Act Red Guitar

The most important features that set the First Act Red Guitar apart include:

• Vibrant red color – The bright cherry red finish is part of the appeal for younger beginners. It makes the guitar stand out and look cool.
• Smaller compact size – The First Act Red is 3/4 the size of a full-size guitar, making it ideal for kids and teens. The smaller neck is easier to play with smaller hands.
• Nylon strings – The soft nylon strings are gentle on new players’ fingers, so you can practice without pain. Steel strings can be rough on beginners.
• Lightweight – Weighing just a few pounds, the First Act Red is easy for younger players to handle and won’t weigh them down.
• Beginner-friendly sound and playability – From the lightweight strings to the smaller neck, it’s designed to be easy for first-time players to press down the strings and sound good quickly.
• Quality construction – While very affordable, First Act guitars are known for better quality than typical toy store guitars. The red guitar has a basswood body and maple neck.
• Accessories included – Usually the Red Guitar comes with a strap, picks, pitch pipe tuner, and an instructional DVD for beginners.

Where to Buy a First Act Red Guitar

The First Act Discovery Red Guitar is sold at major retailers like:

• Amazon – Amazon carries the full line of First Act guitars, often at the best prices. You can find new, used and open box options on Amazon.
• Walmart – Walmart stores stock the Red Guitar in their musical instrument section, both in stores and online.
• Target – Target has also carried the First Act line of youth guitars both in-store and online. Availability varies by location.
• Music specialty stores – Some independent music stores and chains like Guitar Center may carry the First Act Red Guitar, but selection is limited.
• First Act website – You can buy directly from First Act through their own online store, but prices are MSRP. Better to buy elsewhere.

For the best selection and prices, check Amazon and big box stores first. But also check with your local music shop.

Cost of the First Act Red Guitar

The First Act Discovery Red Guitar has an MSRP of $59, but the typical retail price ranges from $39 to $49 at most major retailers. Here are some price ranges:

• Amazon: $34 – $49
• Walmart: $39 – $45
• Target: $39 – $49
• Music stores: $59 MSRP (on sale for less – $49 average)

There are always deals and sales bringing the price as low as $25-30 if you shop around. Open box and used Red Guitars cost less than new ones.

For a beginner’s guitar, this is an excellent value under $50. While even cheaper guitars exist, the quality suffers. The Red Guitar is the best option at this ultra-affordable price point.

Is the Red Guitar Good for Beginners?

The First Act Discovery Red Guitar gets rave reviews for being an ideal beginner’s instrument. The size, lightweight design, materials, and accessories make it perfect for introductory lessons.

Here are some of the top reasons it’s great for beginners of all ages:

• Easy to press strings – Nylon strings and short scale neck allow easy pushing down without pain
• Lightweight – Won’t weigh down smaller bodies and cause fatigue like full-size guitars
• Ample frets – Frets are nicely spaced for learners’ fingers
• Looks cool – The red color appeals to kids and teens starting out playing
• Comes with instructional content – The included DVD helps kickstart the learning process
• Very affordable – Parents won’t break the bank on a first instrument
• Durable – It can withstand knocks and drops as novice players learn
• Easy to upgrade later – Start here, then step up to a larger pro guitar later

Overall, it’s designed for pure beginners to easily learn, practice and stay motivated as they start their guitar journey. Students who outgrow it can eventually upgrade, but it’s ideal for those just getting started.

What Do Reviews Say About the First Act Red Guitar?

Hundreds of reviews paint a very positive picture of the First Act Discovery Red Guitar. Here are some key points that come up over and over:

• Great starter instrument – A recurrent theme is that this is the perfect first guitar for kids
• Excellent value – Reviewers feel they get a great guitar under $50
• Good sound – Many notice the rich full sound that exceeds expectations for such an affordable guitar
• Nice finish – The eye-catching red color earns rave reviews
• Lightweight and small – Perfect size and weight for smaller hands and bodies, says many customers
• Tuned easily – The included pitch pipe makes tuning a breeze out of the box
• Fun for beginners – Kids and teens especially like the looks and motivate them to play
• Good action – String height makes pressing down easy for novice fingers
• Quality surprises – Some experienced guitarists tried it out and were impressed with the quality

Overall, it adds up to an amazing starter guitar that delights beginners and parents alike. Even experienced players compliment it for the price.

What Materials Are Used in the Red Guitar?

For such a low cost guitar, the First Act Red uses better materials than expected:

• The body is made from basswood – a common lightweight wood used on student guitars. Provides a full, balanced tone.
• The neck is crafted from maple – a dense, rigid wood that helps produce bright, clear notes.
• The fretboard has a rosewood fingerboard known for warmth and smooth feel that’s easy on fingers.
• The bridge is a quality maple material paired with a synthetic bone saddle and nut.
• Tuning machines are covered alloy geared tuners that hold the strings in tune.
• It has nylon strings which are softer for beginners rather than steel strings.

Overall, there are no cheap plywood or plastic parts. The wood selection and materials are meant to produce good sound and play for years, especially considering the tiny price tag.

What Accessories Are Included?

The First Act Red Guitar ships with a surprising variety of accessories to help new players get going:

• Guitar strap – A red nylon strap with black ends lets you stand up and play
• Set of picks – Standard celluloid pics for strumming
• Pitch pipe – Allows tuning the guitar without a tuner
• Instructional DVD – A 60-minute DVD teaches beginners how to start
• Spare strings – Extra nylon strings for when strings wear out
• Polishing cloth – For cleaning and polishing the finish

For under $50, it’s great to get the accessories you’d need anyway – like strap, picks and strings. Plus the DVD provides free lessons.

How to Tune the First Act Red Guitar

Tuning the nylon-stringed Red Guitar is simple, especially with the included pitch pipe.

1. Pluck each string and listen to identify which sounds off.
2. Find the matching note on the pitch pipe and blow into it.
3. Turn the corresponding tuning peg to raise or lower the string. Tune until in unison with pitch pipe.
4. Make micro-adjustments to get perfectly in tune. The pitch pipe gets it very close.
5. Try playing a chord to ensure your Red Guitar sounds right.
6. Repeat tuning process periodically.

Using a digital tuner makes it even easier but costs extra. The pitch pipe gets it tuned well enough for beginners. Mastering tuning is part of learning guitar, so take your time with the process.

What is the Size of the Red Guitar?

The First Act Discovery Red Guitar is 3/4 the size of a full-size guitar. Here are the specs:

• Length: 34.5 inches
• Width: 12 inches
• Depth: 3 inches
• Scale length: 22.5 inches

The smaller scale length – the length of the frets from nut to bridge – accommodates smaller hands to reach all the notes.

The compact 34.5 inch length puts less tension on the strings for easy pressing down without hurting fingers. It’s an ideal size for most kids 6-9 years old. But also works for some small-framed adults.

Caring for Your First Act Red Guitar

With basic care and maintenance, a First Act Red Guitar will stay in great shape for years. Here are some tips:

• Keep out of heat/cold – Avoid extremes of cold and hot to protect materials
• Clean with soft cloth – Wipe down after use to remove skin oils, dust, etc
• Check strings often – Replace when discolored, fraying or buzzing
• Check neck straightness – Turn truss rod very slightly if neck bows
• Store safely – Keep in case or stand when not playing to prevent damage
• Avoid hard knocks/drops – Dents and chips can affect play and tone
• Humidity control – Keep at 45-55% humidity to avoid wood drying out
• Polish lightly – Put thin coat of guitar polish on body/neck occasionally
• Change strings regularly – Replace nylon strings every 2-3 months with light playing

With basic care, a First Act Guitar will stay like new and sound great for many years of practice and playing.

Discounts and Deals on the Red Guitar

The First Act Red Guitar already sells for under $50 normally, but there are still some ways to get it even cheaper:

• Check Amazon for sales or open box deals – Amazon has frequent discounts, plus open box units at discount
• Look for coupons – Retailers like Walmart and Target will sometimes have coupon codes on guitars
• Ask for price matching – Get stores to match prices you find lower elsewhere
• Buy used locally – Check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or consignment shops for deals on lightly used units.
• Sign up for email lists – Guitar companies will send discount codes for holidays/specials
• Buy a bundle – Sometimes retailers offer the guitar bundled with a case, tuner or other accessories for one low price
• Shop end of season – Prices often drop around the holidays or end of guitar selling seasons

With the First Act Red Guitar already being so affordable, there’s less room for huge discounts. But you can often save $5-15 with some smart and patient shopping.

How Does First Act Compare to Other Brands?

For a budget beginner guitar costing less than $50, the First Act Red compares very favorably to other entry level acoustic guitars.

Here are some key points of comparison with leading competitors like Yamaha, Fender, Squier and Epiphone:

• Playability – First Act necks and strings are just as easy to press down and learn on
• Sound quality – Provides clear balanced tones that compete with pricier models
• Hardware – Tuning pegs, nuts and other parts are decent quality
• Price – First Act generally costs $10-30 less than comparable beginner guitars
• Appearance – Bright colors appeal more to kids than plain “wood” colors
• Weight – Lighter and smaller than many other beginner guitars
• Materials – All wood construction vs some with plastic or plywood

Overall, the First Act Red Guitar provides the best value for an ultra-affordable children’s size beginner guitar. Yamaha and Fender do not offer a comparable 3/4 size guitar at this low price point.

What is the Warranty on the Red Guitar?

The First Act Discovery Red Guitar comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Key notes on the warranty coverage:

• Covers defects – Faulty materials or workmanship only
• Not accidental damage – User damage not covered
• Limited lifetime – Applies to original owner only

To claim warranty service, you must provide proof of purchase and date. Then the company will assess and determine coverage. If a defect is confirmed, they will elect to either repair the guitar or replace it.

Unfortunately there are some complaints online about First Act not always honoring their warranty promises. But in most cases they do provide repairs/replacements for true manufacturing defects. Just be sure to keep your receipt.

Can I Buy Replacement Parts for the Red Guitar?

Since the First Act Discovery Red Guitar sells for less than $50, there are no replacement parts available from the manufacturer. However, here are some options to fix or upgrade components:

• Use parts from donor guitars – You can salvage usable parts from broken guitars bought cheaply.
• Buy universal guitar parts – Some generic tuners, bridges, etc. can be retrofitted.
• Upgrade entire components – It may be simpler to upgrade tuners, nut/saddle, etc. versus repairing.
• Buy a pre-owned guitar – Finding another used Red Guitar just to harvest parts may be easiest option.

Given the full cost is around $50 new, it’s hard to justify spending much money on replacement parts. So unless it’s a very simple fix, you’d be better off buying a new guitar or upgrading completely.

How to Restring a First Act Red Guitar

Changing the strings on a First Act Red Guitar is a simple process once you know the steps:

1. Loosen strings – Turn tuning pegs to create slack in each string
2. Remove bridge pins – Carefully lift the plastic bridge pins to free string end
3. Pull out old strings – Slide strings out through the bridge and over nut
4. Insert new strings – Feed one end through bridge hole and bridge pin
5. Stretch and tune strings – Pull strings taut, tune up to pitch, stretch and re-tune
6. Trim excess string – Cut off any excess string length at the tuning post

It takes less than 30 minutes once you get the hang of it. Replacing old strings improves tone and playability. Nylon strings should be changed every 2-3 months with regular practice on a beginner guitar like this.

Is the First Act Red Guitar Durable?

Considering the First Act Discovery Red Guitar costs well under $50, it’s built surprisingly well. Owners report it standing up quite nicely to beginner use and abuse:

• Solid woods – Basswood and maple are durable tonewoods, not cheap plywood
• Finished neck – Smooth neck finish avoids dings and scratches
• Geared tuners – Holds tune and withstands turning tension better than cheap tuners
• Nylon strings – Softer nylon less prone to breaking than steel strings
• Well inspected – Good QC checks from factory ensures proper setup
• Thicker finish – The polyurethane finish resists chips better than thin finishes

It’s not meant to be a lifetime heirloom instrument, but should easily last years of light beginner use if cared for properly. The materials, hardware and construction exceed the quality of most discount guitars in this price range.

Does the Red Guitar Come with a Case?

The First Act Discovery Red guitar usually does not come with a case or gig bag when purchased new. It’s sold just as the guitar alone.

You’ll need to purchase a separate soft case or hardshell case to properly store and protect it.

Here are some good case options that fit the Red Guitar’s smaller size:

• Mono M80 Dreadnought Case – Well-padded compact case for transport
• Musician’s Gear Deluxe Hardshell Case – Molded case for safe storage
• Fender Urban 3/4-Size Gig Bag – Lightweight nylon gig bag for basic protection
• ChromaCast CC-EHC – Hard case with plush lining and locks under $20

Plan on setting aside an extra $15-40 or so to buy a suitable beginner guitar case for your new instrument. Soft gig bags are the cheapest option that still protects from dings. Hard cases offer the most protection.

How to Learn Guitar with the Red Guitar

Learning to actually play guitar skills on the First Act Red is easy for beginners with the help of the included DVD and other resources:

• Use the instructional DVD – The DVD covers guitar basics, holding position, basic chords and strumming patterns.
• Look up online lessons – YouTube is a great free resource for beginner guitar lessons. JustinGuitar is a favorite channel.
• Get a beginner’s songbook – Printed books with diagrams help learn chords and songs step-by-step.
• Take a few lessons – Having just a few lessons with a guitar teacher helps with fundamentals.
• Practice finger exercises – Do finger strengthening and dexterity exercises to improve faster.
• Learn easy songs first – Start with simple 2- and 3-chord songs to apply skills.
• Use apps like Yousician – Interactive apps listen and give feedback for faster learning.

With the right beginner guitar resources, the First Act Red Guitar provides the perfect instrument to learn on and inspire practicing. Motivation and regular practice is key to progress.

Beginner Lessons for the Red Guitar

Here are some of the best beginner guitar lesson books, videos and apps perfectly matched for learning on the First Act Red Guitar:

• Hal Leonard Guitar Method Books – The classic method books for all ages in print, ebook and video form
• Justinguitar.com – Hundreds of free beginner to advanced online guitar lessons
• Marty Schwarz Youtube channel – Free lessons from renowned instructor Marty Schwarz
• Guitar Tricks – Large library of step-by-step instructional videos
• Yousician app – Fun interactive lessons by playing along as the app listens
• Fender Play – Structured video and song lessons from Fender

With quality beginner lessons like these that let you play songs right away, learning guitar on the First Act Red is fun and rewarding. Consistent daily practice is the key to fast progress.

Using the Red Guitar with an Amp

While the First Act Red Guitar produces decent volume acoustically for practice, you’ll want an amplifier to play with more volume and effects.

The Red Guitar has a standard 1/4″ output jack, so it can connect to any guitar amp. Small practice amps are affordable but also work well:

• Fender Frontman 10G – Basic 10-watt practice amp under $60
• VOX AP2BS – Mini 2-watt amp for home use under $40
• Pignose 7-10 – 7-watt legendary portable amp under $50
• Peavey Backstage Plus – Popular 20-watt practice amp under $100
• Roland Micro Cube – Versatile 3-watt battery powered mini cube amp

A small amp allows playing with overdrive and effects while keeping volume in check for home practice. It also lets you plug headphones in for silent practice.

Down the road, larger amps can be used when playing with drums or performing live music. But most beginners are happy jamming with friends using a portable practice amp.

Conclusion

The iconic First Act Discovery Red Guitar exceeds expectations for a budget-friendly beginner’s acoustic. From its eye-catching looks to quality construction and sound, this 3/4 size guitar is ideal for aspiring new players both young and old.

While not a professional instrument, it provides an excellent affordable starting point to learn on and foster a passion for guitar playing for years to come. Help kickstart your own or your child’s music hobby with the classic First Act Red Guitar.