Which acoustic guitar?

[Nick]

Martin does not make a single quality guitar under $1800, and even at that there are substantially better guitars for far less money.

I'm calling bullshit on that, the Martin DSR at $1100 new (and $1000 when Guitar Center was trying to clear them out after production stopped) was the best sounding and feeling guitar I could find in their acoustic section, compared to every other Martin I played under $3000

No they don't make it anymore....I think they still make the mahogany version but it doesn't sound as good. Ok, so technically your statement holds true I guess, but just saying, on the recent used market he could still get one for cheap, however an expensive acoustic isn't the kind of thing I'd buy on eBay without playing first.


Also I'd like to add that I think most preamp systems sound tin-like, too trebley, and basically shit through a PA. I have a preamp in my guild (installed by previous owner, it's some shite Fender from the 90s), but if I was going to play out with it in a loud setting I would get one of those Lawrence chrome soundhole pickups like Elliott Smith used....it was good enough for one of my favorite acoustic players, it should be good enough for me. Similarly I would prefer a Lace soundhole pickup, Dimarzio, or even a decent dean markley woodblock.

[porterhaus]

Some great suggestions above. I didn't see Larrivee mentioned though. You might be able to find a used one in that price range. They are excellent guitars and the 03 series are a real bargain. I have installed an LR Baggs under-saddle pickup. It had a soundhole volume and tone control. It was not too difficult. But probably not a job everyone should try to tackle.

Good luck, and let us know what you end up with.

[Simon]

I have a Takamine(I think it's from the G Series) and it's the best acoustic I've played in it's price range, which was around the £400 mark. I bought it when I was 18 and I've never really wanted another one since...which is saying something, for me.

I think they're really really good all-round guitars. Well built with a fantastic tone and not that expensive.


I've not heard a bad sounding Takamine acoustic guitar.

[DanHeron]

Guild make some nice acoustics. The GAD-M20 is a smaller bodied guitar, all mahogany like the martins 0015/00015. There is an electro acoustic version for £519.

If you look around you could get something better though.. I recently got a K.Yairi G1F. Beautiful small bodied acoustic. If you look on google shopping they dont come under £800, some are over £1000. But I looked around and found one for £599! Spend some time researching/looking at pricing.

[Ankhanu]

I've not heard a bad sounding Takamine acoustic guitar.

this is where subjectivity really takes off I'm not particularly fond of most of the Taks I've heard; I tend to find them somewhat midrange honky, especially through amplification.
That said, there are clearly some quite nice Taks out there, and there's a reason why they're so popular. They just don't tend to be my cup of tea.

[Will]

I played a $4000 custom Martin today. Then I played a $4000 Bourgeois that was the exact same scale, size, shape, and materials.

There was literally no comparison, and I'm not talking taste. The Bourgeois was louder, richer, livelier, more balanced sounding, and sounded smoother when played hard. The only difference was that the Martin had about $500 worth of abalone on it. So if you dig that, have at it.

The Martin was also used and going to its second owner despite being less than 9 months old.

[mickie08]

I played a $4000 custom Martin today. Then I played a $4000 Bourgeois that was the exact same scale, size, shape, and materials.

There was literally no comparison, and I'm not talking taste. The Bourgeois was louder, richer, livelier, more balanced sounding, and sounded smoother when played hard. The only difference was that the Martin had about $500 worth of abalone on it. So if you dig that, have at it.

The Martin was also used and going to its second owner despite being less than 9 months old.

I think with both Martin and Taylor (high end models) there are tons of other companies putting out better gear for that price. It reminds me of gibson electrics in that way. And with the lower end taylor and Martins, you are just buying the name.

[Ankhanu]

In part. The best acoustic bass guitar I've ever played was a Martin (BC-15e, ~$1200Cdn). I admit, acoustic basses are a very different beast than guitars, but still, great sounding instrument, good feeling with great projection.

[mickie08]

I ust do not get acoustic bass. Either play an electric or an upright. They do not project enough to go unamplified and their amplified tone is too similiar to an electric to really make it worth it. The only exception I have seen is seeing someone play an acousitc fretless bass with really heavy strings and pretty high action and it had more of an upright sound.

[Ankhanu]

Electric is fine... when you have an amp and an outlet.
Upright is fine... if you have the space to keep it, the means to transport it, and the time/inclination to learn a new skill set to play it.

Acoustic bass guitars are nice as they're played the same way as an electric, are relatively small and easy to transport... Would you want to lug a standup out camping? They do have serious shortcomings in terms of projection and tonal character, but with a bit of research and testing, there are models that hold up pretty well, both in terms of tonal depth and projection.

In terms of in-band, live playing situations, yeah, they're really quite sub-par. I have played one during an acoustic show, and it was kinda fun to play, but it didn't hold up as well as an electric would have (but kinda defeats the purpose of an acoustic show...).

[Stuart]

I got to play the Martin x and the Taylor 114. I'm not buying until I get my hands on what ever the littler Guild is called GAD 30, (I think?) and if I come across any of the others (Blacks, seagulls, et cetera) I'll have a go too. Does anybody know if the new-ish GuitarGuitar in Birmingham has loads of acoustics. They seem to portray them selves as a bit of a guitar supermarket, is that accurate?

I liked both the guitars I tried today different things, as always tends to be the way with guitar choosing. I didn't think the martin was a piece of shit, I'll just lay that out now. The Taylor has a fuller sound (like a mini-jumbo maybe if that does any descriptive work for anybody), which is nice but in a way the more top endy Martin better suits my style... I also played a Martin 000-15 (or maybe it was a 00) which I loved but it was nearly twice the price, being fully mahogany. Now if the 000-15 had electronics I might be tempted to spend the extra but not sure if I can stomach the extra for the guitar plus having the install electro gubbins.


Next time I'm at a guitar place I'll try and take some photos, iphone was battery-less at the time.

[mickie08]

I got to play the Martin x and the Taylor 114. I'm not buying until I get my hands on what ever the littler Guild is called GAD 30, (I think?) and if I come across any of the others (Blacks, seagulls, et cetera) I'll have a go too. Does anybody know if the new-ish GuitarGuitar in Birmingham has loads of acoustics. They seem to portray them selves as a bit of a guitar supermarket, is that accurate?

I liked both the guitars I tried today different things, as always tends to be the way with guitar choosing. I didn't think the martin was a piece of shit, I'll just lay that out now. The Taylor has a fuller sound (like a mini-jumbo maybe if that does any descriptive work for anybody), which is nice but in a way the more top endy Martin better suits my style... I also played a Martin 000-15 (or maybe it was a 00) which I loved but it was nearly twice the price, being fully mahogany. Now if the 000-15 had electronics I might be tempted to spend the extra but not sure if I can stomach the extra for the guitar plus having the install electro gubbins.


Next time I'm at a guitar place I'll try and take some photos, iphone was battery-less at the time.

That Martins are not shit, just not worth the price. The entry ones have a bad habit of coming apart in bad weather/abuse/humidity. They say they have fixed that issue but I know people who bought them in the last year that it happened to so who knows. I do not like the laminated neck on them, but that is a personal taste.

I LOVE mahogany 000-15's. They are cool guitars. Again, a bit pricey but nice guitars.

I ended up buying a Breedlove passport C250/CM yesterday (small body, cutaway, electronics, cedar top) and it was about 450 USD The neck is great on it and the satin finished cedar top sounds great. AN hour after buying it I was over at ALBQ AL's recording with it. Cool little guitar. Solid top, laminate sides, fairly small and unobtrusive preamp/tuner built in, comes wiht a nice gig bag, etc... It will get it's first real workout live tommorrow night as I am playing a show with it.

[Stuart]

Availability to try is the pain. The shop I went to actually has a big acoustic room, unlike the other two or three in my town. But it is filled to the brim with Dreads! They also tend to have lots of top ends stuff Gibsons, expensive takamine and such, then a fair selection of entry level stuff. But lacking a bit in the middle for diddle territory I'm in.

For example they have a breedlove dreadnought that looked nice but that was the only breedlove..There is a takamine "New Yorker" that I really like the look off but the only taka folk body they had was a nearly two grand.

[mickie08]

Availability to try is the pain. The shop I went to actually has a big acoustic room, unlike the other two or three in my town. But it is filled to the brim with Dreads! They also tend to have lots of top ends stuff Gibsons, expensive takamine and such, then a fair selection of entry level stuff. But lacking a bit in the middle for diddle territory I'm in.

For example they have a breedlove dreadnought that looked nice but that was the only breedlove..There is a takamine "New Yorker" that I really like the look off but the only taka folk body they had was a nearly two grand.

unfortunately that is way too common with acoustic guitars. You have the $100 (USD) starter guitars, the $300-500 (USD) next step up (usually with some basic electronics) and then you have the high end stuff that is a grand or more. You do not see many acoustics on the wall for 500-1000. I think that is partially because for most people the 3-500 ones work fine and the more discerning players want the $1000 + guitars. But, if you are looking for a particular style and sound, it can mean limited options.

[Stuart]

It's a 000x1. It's the one I tried in a shop and liked, and it is now staying boxed until Christmas day (because that's how a roll).. Need to say a thanks to Mickie and the rest of this thread, for putting the importance of the plugged in sound to the front of my mind, despite the fact that this is to be a stage guitar, that would have been an after thought to me.. So thanks, because the way this sounded plugged in was a big part of why I got it..



More pictures et cetera when I take it out of the box for reals.

[paul_]

I hate Taylors. It may just be that I hate Elixirs and that's what they're set up with from the factory, but either way whenever I play them they're a million times too bright and vivid for my taste compared to just about any other guitar in the shop.

I like them at times but I totally know what you mean there.

With acoustics it's always better to go try a few and see what you like. The variables at play make for surprises all over the price ranges.

[Gabriel]

Congrats on the purchase.

I too bought an acoustic and won't be having it until christmas - my parents choice though, even though I paid for most of it.

Anyway I hope you enjoy your guitar