Acoustic-Electric guitar help wanted

[GrantMeThePower]

Hi guys.

Inspired by this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=2003127&enterthread=y i realized that I could ask good ol ATOT about something i'm looking into.

I have an acoustic guitar. But its a piece of sh!t. It was given to me by an exgirlfriend and it was given to her from someone who didn't want it. It sounds terrible and plays awful. I don't like it at all...but its the only acoustic I have. And it wasn't that big of a deal because I really play more electric anyway and I have a nice electric.

But recently I've been wanting to play more acoustic AND i went to a good friends house and he had a Taylor Acoustic-Electric. It was absolutly the sweetest sounding guitar with AMAZING playabitliy. I loved it.

But then i looked at prices and they like start at 2 grand or so. Too much money.

Does anyone know of other really good acoustic electrics that play more like electrics but sound more like acoustics that aren't so much money?

 

[jacob0401]

taylors can start in mid-low $1000, 300 series. Otherwise my church has a Takamine that was $600-700 that plays very well too.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: jacob0401
taylors can start in mid-low $1000, 300 series. Otherwise my church has a Takamine that was $600-700 that plays very well too.

Taylors are very good instruments. Get a custom Taylor, they are very good and the pickup system is not bad at all.

If it were me, I would go custom. Go with Breedlove, and get a custom guitar. Fishman two way pickups FTW. I have played a Breedlove Custom Focus and I loved it. Too bad the range is $2000-6000. Most customs are that expensive.

Takamine's are pretty good instruments too.

I myself have a banger dreadnaught Yamaha (not a bad instrument but not as refined. I also have a Martin 00 series guitar. Pretty nice, but it is on the budget side of the Martins. ($800-1000, but I got it for 500) <I play it so much I am starting to get fret buzz and I may need to take it in to the luthier, but otherwise, a good instrument>

It really depends on how much you are willing to spend on an instrument and how much you are going to play it and what style you will be playing. that is why I would opt for a custom, but since you are new, go with Takamine or Taylor stock. Not bad and good for the price.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

I'd really like a Taylor, but even at a $1000, it is too expensive.

The Takamine sounds like a good thing for me to look into next. Is there a specific line that I should (or for that matter a line that i SHOULDN'T) look into?

Thanks again.

EDIT:

For instance i just found this: http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/produc...Classical-Guitar?full_sku=512198%2e010

But is that one TOO cheap?

 

[xchangx]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower
I'd really like a Taylor, but even at a $1000, it is too expensive.

The Takamine sounds like a good thing for me to look into next. Is there a specific line that I should (or for that matter a line that i SHOULDN'T) look into?

Thanks again.

EDIT:

For instance i just found this: http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/produc...Classical-Guitar?full_sku=512198%2e010

But is that one TOO cheap?

That's actually a classical guitar.

 

[bcterps]

Personally I think that Taylor's are overpriced, especially on the mid to high end of their product line. Once you start looking at spending 3k plus, you can get a custom guitar made that will knock the socks off a comparably priced Taylor.

What exactly is your price range? I'd suggest looking at Washburn, Takamine, and Seagull in the sub 1k range. I've found that Washburn guitars are well built and a great value. I'm not a fan of the lower end Takamine guitars, but I like the way the high end ones sound. Some people like Ovation, but personally I think they aren't that great.

 

[Phokus]

I'm looking for an electric acoustic myself... in the $500 range... any suggestions?

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower
Hi guys.

Inspired by this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=2003127&enterthread=y i realized that I could ask good ol ATOT about something i'm looking into.

I have an acoustic guitar. But its a piece of sh!t. It was given to me by an exgirlfriend and it was given to her from someone who didn't want it. It sounds terrible and plays awful. I don't like it at all...but its the only acoustic I have. And it wasn't that big of a deal because I really play more electric anyway and I have a nice electric.

But recently I've been wanting to play more acoustic AND i went to a good friends house and he had a Taylor Acoustic-Electric. It was absolutly the sweetest sounding guitar with AMAZING playabitliy. I loved it.

But then i looked at prices and they like start at 2 grand or so. Too much money.

Does anyone know of other really good acoustic electrics that play more like electrics but sound more like acoustics that aren't so much money?

Ovation makes nice ones. I bought their sub brand called applause and it was 200 bucks.

 

[GeneValgene]

chet atkins studio FTW

 

[Rogeee]

You too can be a master with Esteban !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: Rogeee
You too can be a master with Esteban !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I heard that guitar is absolute garbage (falls apart)

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower
I'd really like a Taylor, but even at a $1000, it is too expensive.

The Takamine sounds like a good thing for me to look into next. Is there a specific line that I should (or for that matter a line that i SHOULDN'T) look into?

Thanks again.

EDIT:

For instance i just found this: http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/produc...Classical-Guitar?full_sku=512198%2e010

But is that one TOO cheap?

Classical is not acoustic

They use Nylon string, but for a classical that is not a bad guitar. For acoustic, better look again.

 

[Phokus]

is there really that big a difference in sound quality between $500 guitars and $3000 guitars?

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Phokus
is there really that big a difference in sound quality between $500 guitars and $3000 guitars?

Yes! there is, also the ease of playing is much different (it has to do with the attention to detail and overall geometry). Also different types of wood have cleaner and more tonal sounds.

**EDIT**
Have you ever seen one of those early 40-50s Martin Herringbone guitars? If you ever find one in a garage sale, and you strum it, the sound is amazing. Plus if it is in a garage sale, chances are the people don't know how much old vintage Martin's are worth. Even if the finish is gone and there are scratches all over the body, you could still go to a luthier shop and sell the guitar as is for approx. 15k.

they won't even let you go near those guitars in most of those Luthier shops in Nashville.

**EDIT 2**
BTW, new Martin guitar are not the same as the old vintage ones. The way they make it is different, and a lot of that tech is lost now. the new ones are good guitars but overpriced for what you get.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

In the <$1000 category this would be my choice

Martin DCX1KE $700


Over $1000, this is my fav. Unbelievable guitar. This one makes top of the line Taylors wish they sounded like this

Martin SPJC-16RE $2000

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Phokus
is there really that big a difference in sound quality between $500 guitars and $3000 guitars?

Yes! there is, also the ease of playing is much different (it has to do with the attention to detail and overall geometry). Also different types of wood have cleaner and more tonal sounds.

By ease of playing, do you mean along the fretboard?

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Phokus
is there really that big a difference in sound quality between $500 guitars and $3000 guitars?

Yes! there is, also the ease of playing is much different (it has to do with the attention to detail and overall geometry). Also different types of wood have cleaner and more tonal sounds.

By ease of playing, do you mean along the fretboard?

Yes usually custom guitars have the fret individually tweaked and the action lowered to the minute variations of the fret to make playing the instrument very easy and the sound not hum at all. If I had a lot of money I would get a custom breedlove with Koa and Rosewood with Bloodwood binding... the whole shabang.

 

[Fritzo]

Check out an Ovation Celebrity or Tangent series. They should run in the $400-$800, and their electronics are decent.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Check out an Ovation Celebrity or Tangent series. They should run in the $400-$800, and their electronics are decent.

Links?

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Phokus
is there really that big a difference in sound quality between $500 guitars and $3000 guitars?

Yes! there is, also the ease of playing is much different (it has to do with the attention to detail and overall geometry). Also different types of wood have cleaner and more tonal sounds.

**EDIT**
Have you ever seen one of those early 40-50s Martin Herringbone guitars? If you ever find one in a garage sale, and you strum it, the sound is amazing. Plus if it is in a garage sale, chances are the people don't know how much old vintage Martin's are worth. Even if the finish is gone and there are scratches all over the body, you could still go to a luthier shop and sell the guitar as is for approx. 15k.

they won't even let you go near those guitars in most of those Luthier shops in Nashville.

**EDIT 2**
BTW, new Martin guitar are not the same as the old vintage ones. The way they make it is different, and a lot of that tech is lost now. the new ones are good guitars but overpriced for what you get.

That's not true. The guitar construction is basically the same, the finish is different. They don't use shelacs on guitars anymore due to durability ( and the fact some were toxic).

 

[Kirby]

This + Mic

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
That's not true. The guitar construction is basically the same, the finish is different. They don't use shelacs on guitars anymore due to durability ( and the fact some were toxic).

Really? I didn't know the support on the inside was toxic? What did they use?

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Hey guys...thanks for all the help...i didn't realize that the "acoustic electric" i linked to was a classical acoustic electric. Doh! hehe...

Anyway, it sounds like people are mixed a bit by the ovations (and i detest the round back), so I'm looking at the other options.

The 700 dollar Martin looks beautiful...but i was hoping to top out around 400.

I checked ebay and it seems that "deals" are few and far between there.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
This + Mic

WOW :Q But how does that thing sound?

 

[DaShen]

The best thing to do is start to call small guitar shops and haggle prices. Some shops can't compete with the big named guitar shops so when they close down, you can score some good deals. Just look around and wait.