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I've got a dilemma and would like some opinions.

The singer in the band wants to do some acoustic sets, usually I wouldn't be interested but I am this time for some reason.

I've played little acoustic in over twenty five years of playing, they have never appealed to me and don't feel right.
However, I do own a Fender acoustic and its fucking awful to play. The action seems too high despite the neck relief being almost flat and the plastic saddle is almost level with the wood it sits in.
I just can't see how I can possibly get the action lower, even after watching set up videos.

If I persevere with this thing, would using extra light .10 gauge strings help?

Or is this how acoustics are and I just need to man up?

Alternatively, are there any easy playing options on a budget? I'm talking Harley Benton prices here

I always hated acoustics and everyone I picked up, generally shitty ones at people's houses, seemed to have the action about an inch high.

I ended up getting a cheapy Fender parlour (CP100) when I bought my JM Jag (it was pretty much a freebie) and really like it. It's much easier to play than I've found acoustics in the past, not that I've played loads.

I've got no useful advice on setting them up though. Mine came nice and easy to play and I've never messed with it.

Still much prefer playing electrics mind.

You'd probably be better off with some advice from someone who has a clue about them

parlour guitars are great or u can put lighter strings on but light strings on a acoustic are gonna break more if u play assertively

I have always played electric and very much consider myself an electric player. Acoustic feels like a different thing entirely.

A few years ago I got a Sigma 000M-15 for £130 and I absolutely adore it. Off the back of that, I would recommend anything Sigma that is similar. I think my one is the cheapest in their line, so the others are probably nicer.

The other guitar that always gets mentioned is the Vintage one. I'm sure I've read great things about the V300.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Same as me then, I also consider myself an electric player.

My Fender is a DG-19CE, it was actually given to me as a problem guitar/see what you can do with this. Which probably suggests a lot.
Although I think the missing electronics were the main issue.

I've just ordered some .10 gauge extra light strings and I'll give this thing a good clean up. If it doesn't improve it I'll look at some budget options.

just get an acoustic with an electric neck on it like I did

brainfur wrote:parlour guitars are great or u can put lighter strings on but light strings on a acoustic are gonna break more if u play assertively

Any particular brand of Parlour you can recommend?

Just checked low end Sigma and the V300, quite a few bargains about second hand.

I considered them Rob, seem to remember having this conversation years ago and folk recommended those Telecaster acoustics.

Get some old Japanese guitar with an adjustable saddle or just try to find one with action low enough for you out of the box. If you know you're lazy with maintenance a laminated guitar isn't really as bad as their reputation, and can be somewhat less prone to warping. 10s are actually fine on acoustic, have them on my dad's old Taylor Big Baby (a 3/4 scale guitar), yeah it's a little bright but not that bad. Work your way up to 11s or 12s. The higher the action and heavier the gauge, the richer the tone as a general rule.

Fran wrote:

brainfur wrote:parlour guitars are great or u can put lighter strings on but light strings on a acoustic are gonna break more if u play assertively

Any particular brand of Parlour you can recommend?

Just checked low end Sigma and the V300, quite a few bargains about second hand.

I considered them Rob, seem to remember having this conversation years ago and folk recommended those Telecaster acoustics.

i really like the baby its not technically a parlour guitar i guess but i think its the same size and playability tayler baby

Coincidentally I've been trying to talk myself out of buying a parlor acoustic from a local shop for a week now. I wanted to buy a Fender CP100 in 2013 and 2014, both times I talked myself out and still regret it. Tried it and like it, but never bought it and now it discontinued and replaced by CP60 and CP140 which don't do it for me

All budget guitars, almost all acoustics and most electrics, are made by Samick or Cort anyway, so quality wise they are almost identical. I used to value Corts higher, but recent Cort acoustics gave me bad impression. I'm sure that mahogany acoustic Harley Bentons, Sigmas and Vintages are made at the same factory and my guess is that they are made by Cort

sunshiner wrote:All budget guitars, almost all acoustics and most electrics, are made by Samick or Cort anyway, so quality wise they are almost identical. I used to value Corts higher, but recent Cort acoustics gave me bad impression. I'm sure that mahogany acoustic Harley Bentons, Sigmas and Vintages are made at the same factory and my guess is that they are made by Cort

Probably right.

The trick is picking one of the good ones isn't it, which is impossible when buying online.

I have the gretsch jim dandy. It was super easy to setup with 10's and low action and with the silk and steel ernie balls it's probably the best sounding acoustic i've ever heard as i can't stand the full body bassy sound. The looks are a bonus. I'd say this is probably the best cheap acoustic for the buck.

Those parlour guitars have me intrigued, once I get the vision of Ed Sheeran out of my head I'm liking the idea. Need to get to a store to try one...

Yamaha FS 730s got mine from Kenny's music for £140 bloody fantastic guitar, I too am not a fan of the acoustic guitar but this one is a beauty rosewood back and sides. Yamaha FS 730s

Okay, I cleaned up the Fender and tried some extra light .10 strings.
Big improvement that I think I can get used to.

I'm still going to look out for something else though, there is no electronics in this guitar, so that could be a problem down the line...

I don't like heavy strings either. Someone on Shortscale Recommended Daddario Silk and Strings for acoustics which are really excellent for a lighter feeling string - could be worth a try.

Worth paying for a setup? If not, for cheap acoustics, I have a Vintage V300 which is great for the price. Sounds good and is unfussy (none of that mother of toilet seat crap). No onboard pickup/EQ though.

George wrote:I don't like heavy strings either. Someone on Shortscale Recommended Daddario Silk and Strings for acoustics which are really excellent for a lighter feeling string - could be worth a try.

Worth paying for a setup? If not, for cheap acoustics, I have a Vintage V300 which is great for the price. Sounds good and is unfussy (none of that mother of toilet seat crap). No onboard pickup/EQ though.

I'll keep them strings in mind George.

I've set it up quite well with the truss adjustments, the nut is decent anyway and the saddle will go no lower. Think it's as good as it will ever be.

I'd definitely want on-board electronics if I purchase something else. Suppose I could put some in this Fender, all the holes and cut outs are already there.

Just like old times, making do with a beater that someone else didn't want

You should be able to get a reasonable electro-acoustic for not much money if you go and play a few.

More than electrics I would never buy online without playing as they're really variable and you have so much less ability to change the setup once you have one.

Takamines and Yamahas are pretty ubiquitous amongst that "this is the part in the set where we cover wonderwall terribly" crew.

I just went to a few shops and played all their electro acoustics and found one that sounded and played lovely in my price range before trying it plugged in and checking that out - rarely will one sound good plugged in if shite otherwise.

Mine is a Freshman if that makes any odds. Not cheap but a lovely sounding thing.

http://www.freshmanguitars.net/product/fa400dcef/

I didn't pay £1000 for it, that's fucking BREXIT for you. I think it was more like £500.

My point is I didn't know anything about this brand until I played it in the shops and found it sounded better than guitars above the 2 grand mark...
I was playing it recently at this Big Beach Busk festival up here in Edinburgh and 3 separate people came to talk to me about my guitar because they said it was the best sounding instrument they'd walked past all day

Mid-to-low end acoustic guitars always like THE worst setups, it's a huge put-off for electric-centric players. I got my cheapo Harley Benton parlour guitar playing nice after sanding like 1-2mm off the bottom of the bridge saddle, cutting the nut properly and straightening the neck. It helps that the neck profile and radius isn't too far from an electric; it doesn't always have to be a struggle.

Fuck an dreadnought.