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GUITARS: a good Acoustic ?


Widder, SASS #59054

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I'm thinking of buying a new 6 string Acoustic guitar.

 

It appears the Martin, Taylor 300/400/600 are good, Collings, Takemine, Gibson, Ovation, Yamaha, etc.... are great ones.

 

Depending up its quality, sound, looks, etc..... I'll probably stay under 2K.

 

Any kind words would be helpful.

 

More likely, I will by finger picking it mixed with some strumming.

 

Thanks

 

..........Widder

 

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For about $500 check out a Taylor Big Baby.  :)

 

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Taylor/Big-Baby-Taylor-Acoustic-Guitar.gc

 

 

 

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Slim,

I presently own and play an Ovation 12-string electric.

But sometimes, the 12 string guitars seem to have a 'twine' to them where a good 6 string doesn't.

 

You're correct..... and Ovation is a good guitar.

 

..........Widder

 

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I have a "Baby Martin" and an Epiphone from the early 80's. Both of them play good but I don't!! :lol:

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10 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

Any kind words would be helpful.

 

It's all about personal taste and preferences! Some like Jumbos, some like smaller bodies. Some like fancy ones, others like the simple ones. You instinctively go for the one that look appealing to you. Sometimes, you don't know what it is that caught your eye, it's just magical. You gently grab that smooth neck for the first time, carefully caress that back, feel how that body nestles to yours and soon as you hear that heavenly unique voice you instantly know this could be the beginning of beautiful relationship! That's how you find your guitar :)

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11 hours ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

For about $500 check out a Taylor Big Baby.  

 

Definitely one to look at, I love mine! It looks kind of shy and puristic (mine is an older one that doesn't even have a pick guard, just the inconspicuous laser engraving around the sound hole for emblazonment), but the sound is very clear and delightful due to the thin and light wood of the body. This very light 15/16 body (it's a "travel guitar") also causes a kind of weight balance you have to get used to. The action is a little high (which seems to be a common issue with this model), so I use a set of lighter strings on it.

 

Tanglewood is another brand I can recommend. It's from the UK and I don't know how popular it is in the states: www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk

They have a large choice of acoustic guitars in different price ranges. I have one from the "Sundance Performance Pro" line and I am very happy with it. It is easy to play with a great sound that benefits from its ALL solid mahagony (top, back and sides). But, the good value for money is probably partially based on the manufacturing location as at least mine was handcrafted in Korea. So, if american made is important to you...  But then, I don't know where Taylor and Martin have their guitars manufactured...

 

Equanimous

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I have an old Guild that is like new. I bought it, had a professional luthier do a set up and add an electric pick up. For some reason I just lost interest and it has hardly any play time. Comes with hard case. Will send pics if interested. 500.00 plus any shipping charges.

 

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I have a Martin D-28 Custom I've been looking to move.  Thirteen years or so ago Martin got some Adirondack spruce and Brazilian rosewood and made exact copies of the 1938 D-28.  They were sold as "Golden Era" guitars at something like $28K.  The same guitars were made using East Indian rosewood and sold as "Marquis" for around $5K.  (The above prices are MSRP.)

My guitar is a Custom Shop job made for Buffalo Brothers, in Carlsbad.  It is a Marquis with a modern style adjustable truss rod in place of the 1930's style T-bar.

Great shape.  Almost unplayed these past 10 years.  May be a hair more than $2K.  Contact me if interested.  Let's do some dickerin'.

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47 minutes ago, Equanimous Phil said:

 

 

So, that would be used ones? Always an option if in good condition :)

 

I think the Martin 000-18 runs 2400 new and used around 1600.  The Taylor is around 1400 new. A good place to look them over is at Reverb.com

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I tried to play and I have a takemine.  It hurts my fingers.  My uncle actually does play and is (or I guess was becuase he's got arthiritis now) great.  He has an epiphone.  He let me try it once and there was no pain.  So what little I know about guitars tells me epiphone is way better than takamine. 

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4 hours ago, Ramblin Gambler said:

I tried to play and I have a takemine.  It hurts my fingers.  My uncle actually does play and is (or I guess was becuase he's got arthiritis now) great.  He has an epiphone.  He let me try it once and there was no pain.  So what little I know about guitars tells me epiphone is way better than takamine. 

The older Epiphones were excellent, they were Gibsons lower line. I have one from the early 80’s that’s excellent !

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5 hours ago, Ramblin Gambler said:

I tried to play and I have a takemine.  It hurts my fingers.  My uncle actually does play and is (or I guess was becuase he's got arthiritis now) great.  He has an epiphone.  He let me try it once and there was no pain.  So what little I know about guitars tells me epiphone is way better than takamine. 

 

What Ray said.  Also the pain may have been due to lighter strings on the Epiphone and maybe the Takamine had med to even heavy gauge.  That makes a huge difference!

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4 minutes ago, Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 said:

 

What Ray said.  Also the pain may have been due to lighter strings on the Epiphone and maybe the Takamine had med to even heavy gauge.  That makes a huge difference!

a professional set up is the best way to get the most out of any guitar

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CNC equipment produces some surprisingly good instruments.

The trick:  get your hands on the neck before taking out your wallet.
In 1962 when my Epiphone Casino was stolen, and insurance replaced it with a Gibson ES-335, it was awful.
The Casino was a sweet, sweet player... the Gibson had a neck like a tree trunk.  Ghastly.

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I like the Baby Taylor I bought for my grandson! When he decided guitar was not his thing, he gave it back.  I had the action lowered and  a nice pickup installed professionally. 

 

I can’t play for crap, but I can hit a few bar chords with it tuned to open E and it sounds great!!

 

 I bought an Acoustic 20 watt amp a few months ago.  What a combination!!

 

My buddy, Mark, that plays guitar in our band, plays his Martin through an Acoustic 40 watt and it’s out of this world!!

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13 hours ago, bgavin said:

The trick:  get your hands on the neck before taking out your wallet.
In 1962 when my Epiphone Casino was stolen, and insurance replaced it with a Gibson ES-335, it was awful.
The Casino was a sweet, sweet player... the Gibson had a neck like a tree trunk.  Ghastly.

 

Everything is about personal preferences. Some like thin necks, some prefer the fatter necks. Gibson had quite a variation regarding their neck shapes and sizes over the years and there aren't two identical 335 in this world, so you have to chose your guitar carefully in a real music store according your preferences (and these often are just what you've started with and you are used to...)

I am glad I found mine, a nice 345 born in 1981, one of the last made in Kalamazoo.

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8 hours ago, Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 said:

That’s gonna be a tad past $2000

that was a comment on the post above mine and not a recommendation to the OP. He indicated Acoustic guitar.

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10 hours ago, Equanimous Phil said:

 

I am glad I found mine, a nice 345 born in 1981, one of the last made in Kalamazoo.

 

 

345 is a great guitar!!  One of my guitar players has one that I wish he would bring to the stage more often!!!

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My son spent a Bunch of hours playing different ones till he found 3 he really liked ,,,, then he spent 3 hours switching back and forth between the 3 till he found the one He liked best ,,, It was the one I had already picked …. 

My Family and I traveled playing and Singing for 16 years The Youngest was almost 6 when we started and the oldest 14 ,,, they all play at least 3 different instruments....

But we have found getting them all together Mom, Pops and 4 Kids has become harder to do … So about 3 years ago we stopped doing most venues , We did get together for our Local Gospel Music Jamboree's 20th. a couple of years ago ...

 

 Jabez Cowboy

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Although I don't play much anymore, I began when I was 6.  The normal comment I make after saying that is "you'd think I'd have figured out by now."  :)

 

That said, I've had lots and lots of different acoustic guitars (and a few electrics, too).  I was a bluegrasser, so I mostly stuck to dreadnought body styles (or the Gibson slope-shouldered models), and as such, my advice may not be much help as far as models of brands.  These are "loud and proud" types of acoustic guitars because you're mostly playing (and competing) against banjos, mandolins and fiddles.  They are not necessarily the best finger picking models.

 

However, after all the guitars I've had the privilege to own, I can say one thing....you have to play it to know whether it's "the one."  I had a discussion with a luthier who once worked at Martin.  He told me that Martin, when he worked there, would make 10 Martin D-28's in a group.  They sat on a rolling rack that got moved from one assembly station to the other.  Theoretically, all 10 were made "the same."  However, in his opinion, out of those 10 identical D-28's, two would be real sound duds....2 would be stellar....and 6 would be middle of the road.  The only way you know is to play it.

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  • 1 month later...

I have a very nice Epi Hummingbird acoustic.

I don't play it as much as I used to, but once in a while I pick it and it still does play and sound sweet.

Epi's used to be the "poor mans Gibson" but nowadays they are building quality instruments that look and play as well as the Gibsons.

I also have an Epi "Johnny A" electric.

Just my .02.

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Widder;

You must play it.   In the same manner that ou can go to a rack full of Wilson A-2000s, and try 9 on, but #10 will feel just right; thus it is with guitars. When you play it, the right one will just feel and sound...right.  And, at the price point you mention, you'll get a good one.  (That said, I have a couple of Martins for sale...)

 

You don't find the guitar; the guitar finds you

 

Cheers,

FJT

 

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2 hours ago, Frederick Jackson Turner said:

Widder;

You must play it.   In the same manner that ou can go to a rack full of Wilson A-2000s, and try 9 on, but #10 will feel just right; thus it is with guitars. When you play it, the right one will just feel and sound...right.  And, at the price point you mention, you'll get a good one.  (That said, I have a couple of Martins for sale...)

 

You don't find the guitar; the guitar finds you

 

Cheers,

FJT

 

Like a Harry Potter’s wand. ;)

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