Posts
17965
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Central, TX
US
Edited Date/Time
1/24/2012 11:06pm
I know there are lots of knowledgeable musicians on here, TBteam, KDXman, et. al.
Can you smart-fellars give me some advice on Acoustic guitars? I am looking to get one and want a nice one, but dont want to spend a fortune. What brand you finally decided on, and why?
Takamine? Ovation? Martin? Yamaha? Gibson?
Thanks!
Can you smart-fellars give me some advice on Acoustic guitars? I am looking to get one and want a nice one, but dont want to spend a fortune. What brand you finally decided on, and why?
Takamine? Ovation? Martin? Yamaha? Gibson?
Thanks!
$200.00 to $500.00 are really all in the same league .
HTH
Keepers start around $600.
Less than that, it starts to get iffy.
Like fcr said, go play some.
http://www.seagullguitars.com/intro.htm
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
MTV unplugged...Not a single Seagull goin on there.
What is it with people these days flying off the handle and trash talking at the drop of an internet post?
Do you own seagull? Did I hurt your feelings?
I am DEAD WRONG?
O.k.
Dont waste your money Get a Seagull they are the best for the money,
Everyone knows this, if you don't your ignorant and stupid.
Please direct all Guitar questions to "The source"
Hurricane
Thanks,
The Source.
But you can still get a good sound from some of the lower end stuff. A full size dreadnaught body will give you the most volume of sound so that can help on the lower end. And use top quality strings and change them regularly.
Go out and try a bunch of guitars and make notes. Just bear in mind a good guitar with old strings may not sound like it should. And find a really good sales person. Ask him to describe each brand in 5 words. You'll be surprised that a lot of brands - Taylor, Ovation, Martin, Gibson - carry a distinctive tone quality.
As far as feel, that can be deceptive also as a guitar may have the action set high and not feel good to you ... but that is a very simple fix for any guitar tech to fix ( lower the action by filing down the bridge insert and making sure the truss rod is adjusted correctly. )
But be carefull!!! Guitars are like dirt bikes, Ya buy one, You'll be filling Your Garage/House with them.....
So for less than $500 are there any guitars that stand out as far as build quality and sound goes - or is it just a matter of how it feels and plays to the individual?
I'd try to figure out what body style guitar you are going to want first. There are different sonic charicteristics from not only each brand, but also how big the body is, what type of wood, solid back and sides, etc.
Do you want this thing as just a throw around, or something that you will have for years and get lots of enjoyment from?
I honestly would stay away from anything with a pickup in it. Nothing worse than taking what could be a good sounding guitar and cutting a giant hole right through the side of it.
If you are looking at a lower price point, stay away from Martins and Taylors. Their higher priced models are amazing, but the lower priced stuff is nothing but plywood bullshit. You would be paying for the name and that is it.
Breedlove makes a nice guitar right here and it isnt too high priced. $499
The Epiphone Masterbuilt series also has all solid wood construction - they are really well built and all sound fantastic for the price. You'd be amazed.
The seagull's are decent guitars, but the lower priced models in the 500 range all have a shitty pickup system in them. You are paying for their junk electronics and not a good tone wood - also, there is a giant hole cut into the side and a bunch of garbage inside it.
They do make nice high end instruments, but they dont start to get nice until you reach a higher price range, and at that point there are many other guitars that blow them out of the water.
I'm not trying to offend anybody, but these are what I would stay AWAY from:
Low range Martin
Low range Taylor
Any Fender acoustics are largely junk.
Ibanez
Low range Takamine
Low range Washburn
give us some more info describing the music you want to play, and we can all narrow it down quite a bit for you.
As for what genre, mainly country and an occasional Tesla tune.
Thanks again Jeremy.
Check out the Epiphone Masterbuilt and the Breedlove range at a guitar center or that sort of place. Look for the dreadnought body style and have the salesman play them for you.
There are a ton of others out there, those are just what I am most familiar with. Remember, Solid top is a MUST. Solid back and sides are REALLY nice to have.
The action was smooth as butter, and the sound was nice and bright. It played really - REALLY well. I was pleasantly suprised to see he picked out a nice guitar considering he has an electric he hasn't changed the strings on in God knows how long...
He's constantly asking me about 'tone', and how to tweak stuff, and I always say "put new strings on first", haha
I also have played Takimines quite a bit too - and really like their playability & sound.
Ovations I liked the first time I played them (way back when), but as time has rolled on, I've found them less and less optimal for what I want out of an acoustic. The more I learned about playing/tone/etc the less I really wanted an Ovation as a serious acoustic. Although, the higher end ones I still think are pretty nice.. but with that comes price obviously.
Me? I've got some old $100 special (that a friend gave to me!) with an action so high you need to be able to reach up skyscrapers with your fingers to push the strings down. But it's fun for the occasional slide tuning and just slammin out some stuff. And with kids around, it'll take a thrashing with no concern.
Let us know what you decide to go with... a lot of good information from KDX man (as always).
I'm sure as long as you pick something that feels good, and sounds like what you want... you'll be happy. That's the biggest thing.
Hell - I still play the first guitar I ever owned (Peavey Falcon). I have it strung super super heavy, and have done all sorts of crap to it (I even refretted it myself... and yes, it plays!)
I still love to just jam on it. I've got much nicer guitars, but... something about it being my first I think, keeps me playin on her daily.
Pit Row
My bike is at my parents about 3.5 hours from here. I don't have anywhere to store it around here.
Where you at?
Yngwie Malmsteen - Acoustic Guitar Solo - Watch today’s top amazing videos here
I'll sell you this slightly earthquake damaged one really cheap.
That's my daughter's guitar after yesterday's seismic event.
She's devastated.
Found a guy who says he can fix it for a couple hundred bucks.
We'll see...
My daughter is so attached to it though, I'm getting it repaired for her.
The luthier I took it to says it will play and sound good as new, but it's scarred for life.
I'll probably get her a new one for Christmas...
Master of the electric .... definitely , but that was some horrible accoustic playing. Or is that semi-accoustic. No ringing sustain, no clear tone, too many dead notes = no class.
That one was strictly for the tourists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J37cJ-Zthfg
I play electric (never even owned an acoustic) but my drummer's wife asked me to help her pick out an acoustic guitar for her husband's birthday. I went & tried every guitar within her price range and ended up picking a Guild. It sounded good, looked good, and played easily. Bottom line...try a bunch of guitars and go with whichever one works best for you.
As does Yairi.
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