Acoustics?

[Nick]

So I’ve been thinking lately about getting a nicer acoustic....I currently have this thing called a Windsong which is a Korean-made jumbo with a solid cedar top/mahogany sides and a cheap pickup system. The sound is nice but it's way too "big"....both in size and sound...it's impossible to have any subtlety really, anything you play on it sounds big and loud and lacks the kind of definition I want.

I figure I definitely want a Dreadnought sized guitar, since it seems to usually be "just right" in terms of attack and sustain, and I'd ideally like to spend less than $1000. I'd also prefer something made in the USA, or at least made in a factory that only produces its own brand.

My problem is that I have a love/hate relationship with acoustics. What sounds and feels good to me one day might change the next. I end up going to a guitar store and being drawn to something that I think is awesome, and then I start comparing it to other guitars…and when I compare like that in the store, guitars like Breedlove and Taylor stand out because they’re brighter and the notes sound more defined but I wouldn’t buy one because those guitars are for douchebags. What I want is a nice playing go-to guitar that has good enough tone to record with without regret of not doing it with something nicer.

So far I’m considering the Martin D16GT, but it’s a bit on the higher end of what I’d like to spend. It’s just that it was the first one I was drawn to since I started looking at again so I’m not sure if that’s clouding my judgement.

The Elliott Smith fanboy in me wants to get one of those red label Yamaha FG-180s….they were used in plenty of recordings I love and are affordable to say the least but they seem to be hit or miss action wise at this point and are so scarce it would be a shot in the dark buying one on ebay.

I also used to want one of those Guild D25’s that they reissued in the 90s…..my local GC had one in a transparent white finish that I liked but after playing it every day for a few weeks when I worked there it started to feel a bit clunky and mellow (probably because of the paint on it)

The other obvious choice is a Taylor 110. But then there’s that whole douchebag factor.

Thoughts/suggestions? I know there's a few acoustic players here.

[mickie08]

Go breedlove. You can get one of the studi models for 850-1000 with case (persoanlly I like the black magic dreadnought). I have had 4 different breedloves (Chico has ont e of my old ones now) and for the price they are pretty damned good. The 1 series taylors is just alot of money just for the name. Same with the DX series Martins. I love a good martin or taylor, but refuse to spend 1500-200 to get a decent acoustic/electric cutaway and then take it out to bars all the time.

I currently have a cedar top satin finish Takemine (not G series, EF series) and It has a really warm tone, but probably not quite as good as a lead instrument as the breedloves I had. No big deal to me as I do not play lead.

[robroe]

have you tried a Guild D-55 ? im not sure how much they cost now ? holy shit never mind. 2500

[chisa]

yamaha make very good acoustics in my experience

[Nick]

Go breedlove. You can get one of the studi models for 850-1000 with case (persoanlly I like the black magic dreadnought). I have had 4 different breedloves (Chico has ont e of my old ones now) and for the price they are pretty damned good. The 1 series taylors is just alot of money just for the name. Same with the DX series Martins. I love a good martin or taylor, but refuse to spend 1500-200 to get a decent acoustic/electric cutaway and then take it out to bars all the time.

I currently have a cedar top satin finish Takemine (not G series, EF series) and It has a really warm tone, but probably not quite as good as a lead instrument as the breedloves I had. No big deal to me as I do not play lead.

I don't really mind the breedloves with the squared off martinesque headstock.....this one I would play...have you ever owned/played one?: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=516994V Looks to be a pretty good deal too


I'm not sure if anywhere around here has them in stock to try out though, I'll have to call around.

I would never consider a DX series martin. After working at GC I've seen so many of them crack because the necks are compressed and laminated and the bodies aren't....changes in humidity are not kind to them, the lack of finish doesn't help.

I played a 110 today for $560 new with bag.....to be honest it was a really nice guitar, but too pretty and then there's the whole douchebag factor.

I don't think I made it clear in the first post, but I'm not after anything with cutaways or internal pickups

[Nick]

EDIT

[Billy3000]

I can think of plenty of douchebags that play just about any brand of acoustic guitar. For instance:



Not just taylor, so I wouldn't base your bias against Taylor on that.

I have one and I love it, it's a 4 series, so it's above the price range you're going for, but the 1 and 2 series are both really nice for under $1000. My friend had a DX series martin and loved it, I don't think he's ever had a problem with it, but he might have gotten one of the few good ones. I like his more than any other one I've ever played too so that definitely might be the case.

I haven't ever seen a breedlove in person so I can't speak for them, but I have heard that they're comparable in sound to Taylor. I do like a lot of the higher end Yamaha, Alvarez and Takamines too.

[Nick]

From Wikipedia:

Artists who play and played Taylor guitars
Singer-songwriter Val Emmich playing a Taylor guitar.

Unlike many guitar manufacturers, Taylor does not pay artists to promote their instruments. Musicians who play Taylor guitars include John Frusciante[3], Brendon Urie, Kyle Williams, Lindsey Buckingham[4], Travis Meeks of Days of the New, Taylor Swift[5], Miyavi, Augustana, Bryan Adams, Eric Clapton[6], John Denver, Robin Williamson, Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), Tom DeLonge, Marc Broussard, Ryan Cabrera, Michelle Branch, Jackson Browne, Aleksandr Rozenbaum, Hall & Oates, Robb Johannes, Mike Keneally, Dave Matthews[7], Jason Mraz[8], Jewel, Paramore, Rise Against, Martin Sexton, Billy Simons, Sons of Maxwell, Larry Stewart, Doug Stone, Val Emmich, Paul Westerberg, Neil Young, Tyler Hilton and Papa Roach. Bassists Bryan Beller, actor/musician Jeff Bridges, Stanley Clarke, Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Sheehan, Claudio Sanchez, Sting, Matthew Bellamy, Meg Frampton, Taylor Hill and Victor Wooten also use Taylor's AB-series acoustic bass guitars that were built from 1996 to 2004. A Taylor guitar features in the song "United Breaks Guitars".[9]

Basically it's like saying "Don't say PRS is for douchebags, there's a few douchebags that play fenders and rickenbackers too"

[JJLipton]

my taylor 314ce has all the note definition you could want for crystal clear arpeggios. It's not for big strummers though

[hotrodperlmutter]

whenever i get the balls to save up enough, i'll be buying a honduran mahogany martin D-15

[mickie08]

Go breedlove. You can get one of the studi models for 850-1000 with case (persoanlly I like the black magic dreadnought). I have had 4 different breedloves (Chico has ont e of my old ones now) and for the price they are pretty damned good. The 1 series taylors is just alot of money just for the name. Same with the DX series Martins. I love a good martin or taylor, but refuse to spend 1500-200 to get a decent acoustic/electric cutaway and then take it out to bars all the time.

I currently have a cedar top satin finish Takemine (not G series, EF series) and It has a really warm tone, but probably not quite as good as a lead instrument as the breedloves I had. No big deal to me as I do not play lead.

I don't really mind the breedloves with the squared off martinesque headstock.....this one I would play...have you ever owned/played one?: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=516994V Looks to be a pretty good deal too


I'm not sure if anywhere around here has them in stock to try out though, I'll have to call around.

I would never consider a DX series martin. After working at GC I've seen so many of them crack because the necks are compressed and laminated and the bodies aren't....changes in humidity are not kind to them, the lack of finish doesn't help.

I played a 110 today for $560 new with bag.....to be honest it was a really nice guitar, but too pretty and then there's the whole douchebag factor.

I don't think I made it clear in the first post, but I'm not after anything with cutaways or internal pickups

Well, under 1K with no electronics or cutaway opens up alot of options. Larivee's are GREAT guitars and you could probably find one for under 1k with no pickup.

I have played a retro breedlove and it played and sounded pretty nice. But I did not mess with it that much as an acoustic with no electronics is mostly useless for me right now. (although I would love to have a great old acoustic for recording down the road...)

The Martin DX ones are just very poorly made. They can sound good and if taken care of can last awhile, but it just does not take much for them to go to shit.

[clarkbar]

dude it may not be American made but its right next door!



Seagull Guitars by Godin
you WON"T be disappointed man. they are freaking awsome pieces of Canadian made work! plus you can get a very nice one for half the price of a Martin.

[Yarko]

Seagull Guitars by Godin
you WON"T be disappointed man. they are freaking awsome pieces of Canadian made work! plus you can get a very nice one for half the price of a Martin.

Godin also make Art & Lutherie guitars, which are awesome as well.

[mellowlogic]

I've got a guild GAD30, which I absolutely love. Given what you've said in this thread, they may be a tad boomy for you, but you should still give one a play if you have the opportunity. The workmanship on mine is fantastic, and the price is right in your range.

[Viljami]

"-now what did you say about my taylor?"

[Nick]

I've got a guild GAD30, which I absolutely love. Given what you've said in this thread, they may be a tad boomy for you, but you should still give one a play if you have the opportunity. The workmanship on mine is fantastic, and the price is right in your range.

I don't know what you mean by boomy....I like darker sounding guitars, just not something with as big of sound as the cedar top jumbo I'm playing now. I actually really like the look of that guitar, I'll have to add it to the list of ones to try out.

I think the problem is when I try stuff out in the store I feel pressured to play things that are a bit more technical as not to look/sound like a noob, but that probably isn't what I'd be playing on it most of the time once I actually take it home.

[Will]

If you can get-on with the profoundly wide neck on the Seagulls, that would be my choice. They sound more or less exactly like a Gibson J-45.

[Dogma Hollow]

Like Mickie said, Larivee. That'll be my next acoustic if I ever need one.