Acoustic Guitars Thread

[ALiP BoB]

Tell me all about Acoustic guitars.

Many of you use Acoustic Guitars for writing songs or even take it up as a 2nd instrument.

I hate to say this, but I like prefer acoustic songs with 3 acoustic guitars instead of 2 acoustic guitars + bass

I want to know all about acoustic guitars.
What does the wood and shape contribute to the tone, what preamps are good etc.

What is baritone again?

All I know now is that Yamaha makes awesome mid-priced acoustic guitars. Is their high-end stuff awesome too?
There are just so many big name acoustic manufacturers, Yamaha, Martin, Breedlove, Ovation, Taylor, Gibson, Takamine
but all of them seems the same to me


Enlighted all of Talkbass with your knowledge of Acoustic Guitars TBers!

[spudmaster34]

yesterday, my dad got a Niel Young concert DVD, there were a few songs with 7 accoustic guitars and a bass (a lakland btw) I laughed

[905]

I have me a 60's-70's "Bjarton" guitar, made in Sweden I guess, it's excellent.
Got some new strings for it last fall ($40... ), they sound perfect even in BEDGbe!

I don't really know much about it other than it's old, and it sounds incredibly good.

[AxtoOx]

I like Martin best and Taylor second, I feel bad becuase I used to live right by Taylor.
One thing about acoustic guitars is you need to play several of even the same exact brand and model. They tend to have individual personalities.
When I bought my Martin after narrowing it down. I played half a dozen of the same model and picked the one I liked best, which happend to be different than the one the salesman liked best. Then after you break them in and the wood breaths, they sound different again.
Just because I like Martin doesn't mean you will, I thought I was going to walk out with a Taylor. Fenders are good Gibson, Guild,but I haven't played one since Fender bought them. Ovation if you are used to electric guitar is an easy transition because of he neck.
I'm old fashioned, I don't go for the electric acoustic, I can mic it or buy a pickup.

[anonymous38457747]

Wood makes the acoustic. Like previously said, you could play the 10 of the same model guitar from the same maker and all will have their own voice, similar, but distinct.

Spruce tops sing a bit better than maple or mahogony so that is why they sound a bit brighter. Rosewood bodys will give you a good deep, articulate tone.
Yamaha makes a bunch with this config and all sound pretty good.

For pres try to stick with either fishman or Taylor has a bitchin one on thiers. If not those than I also would mic it of buy a sound hole pickup.

Martin does good but the thinline under bridge pickup is very brittle IMHO.

Ovation is a horse of a different color. They are very tinny in sound because the body is fiberglass, and subsequently rely heavily on their electronics for big tone.

I strung my deep body Balladeer with Martin silk and steels and love the earthy tone, but hated it with bronze wounds.

I love my 72 D28 Martin, but it is a 72 in brazillian rosewood and is very well aged.

Out of the box you can't go wrong with taylor, martin, breedlove, most yamaha's even the carvin Cobalt series are pretty good.

I wish I had sound clips for you of mine but sadly I wasted all my money on axes and not computers or software.

Most important, play everything and decide what you want to hear. Don't just grab one based on name alone. I have a guild 12 I still can't keep in tune.

Good luck

[tplyons]

Get your hands on a few, you'll understand. Out of the big names, for a lot of people it comes down to Martin or Taylor. I prefer Martins but am having my custom based on a Taylor 814CE. Just a very comfortable body. I live by the Martin factory and have always loved them. Likewise, for me Guild Jumbos are phenominal, and Gibson dreadnaughts are great. But they vary from model to model.

There's much more of a variety from guitar to guitar even of the same model and vintage due to the wood. Two pieces of wood, even from the same tree have different sounds.

With acoustics, I don't care what name is on the headstock, I'll play it and if it sings, I like it. I've played $2000 guitars that sounded deader than a doornail and my #1 acoustic is a $350 Ibanez Artwood that sounds like a million bucks.

A baritone is tuned BEADF#b and isn't very common among acoustic instruments. There are only three commercially available baritone acoustics out there, an Alvarez Yairi at about $2000, a Tacoma Thunderchief at about $1900 and a hideous Avante at about $350, that IMO looks, and plays really awfully.

Wood plays a huge role, as does size of the body, depth, shape, bridge position, cutatways, waist width, bracing, age, finish, etc. meaning there's a lot more variety from instrument to instrument. My #1 Ibanez has rosewood sides and a spruce top. My custom baritone is coming with primavera back and sides with a Lutz spruce top. About a month and counting.

[markjazzbassist]

i've got a Ibanez Acoustic. It's a pretty decent guitar. I use it to play fingerstyle guitar and noodle around.

[jive1]

Seagulls rule!

[ALiP BoB]

Originally Posted by spudmaster34

yesterday, my dad got a Niel Young concert DVD, there were a few songs with 7 accoustic guitars and a bass (a lakland btw) I laughed

No kidding? HAHAHAHA!

[ALiP BoB]

So how does an Acoustic Electric compare to a mic-ed up or aftermarket pickup-ed Acoustic?

If that makes sense.

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

So how does an Acoustic Electric compare to a mic-ed up or aftermarket pickup-ed Acoustic?

If that makes sense.

Depends on the electronics. I prefer my acoustics fully acoustic and will mic them accordingly or add a clip on pickup depending on my needs.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Depends on the electronics. I prefer my acoustics fully acoustic and will mic them accordingly or add a clip on pickup depending on my needs.

+1

I have to find an acoustic pickup that faithfully recreates an acoustic tone. Plus, I feel that the electronics alter the acoustic qualities of the instrument.

[AxtoOx]

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

So how does an Acoustic Electric compare to a mic-ed up or aftermarket pickup-ed Acoustic?

If that makes sense.

I would imagine now they are just fine. Like passive vs active type thing. Maybe better, I just never picked up on it.

[tplyons]

I would, however, admit that I love the Ovation electronics, but hate the bowl shaped back. So I can't find an AE that I like still.

[jive1]

Here's a tip.

When shopping for an acoustic guitar, bring a friend with you whose ears you trust. What you hear from the guitar while you play it could sound different to someone in front of it.

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by jive1

Here's a tip.

When shopping for an acoustic guitar, bring a friend with you whose ears you trust. What you hear from the guitar while you play it could sound different to someone in front of it.

Or better yet, clone yourself so you can listen

[Akami]

The only acoustic guitars I have are a couple Adamas and highly suggest at least giving them a try.

Many players not pleased with the "Ovation" sound are much happier with the graphite topped Adamas series from Ovation.

[Jezz8me]

LOL well i don't play guitar but i have mucked around on my friends and cam to one conclusion STEEL STRINGS they are so much easier to play i just picked it up without playing and guitar type instrument prior and i sounded good but then i picked up my friends nylon string and it sounded like i was skinning a cat.

I saw a $30 acoustic at the reject shop is their any use in buying just to muck around with or should i just ignore it completely, and thats $30 aus so about $15 us

[ALiP BoB]

You guys do have a point on the whole Acoustic Electric thing.

So any particular models do you guys like?

[AxtoOx]

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

You guys do have a point on the whole Acoustic Electric thing.

So any particular models do you guys like?

Well if your not willing to drop a grand or more, don't even play the Martins or Taylors, Mid range, Fender, Yamaha, Takamine. Ovation, 3 or 4 hundred bucks. Most of these have cheaper models also. Acoustic Guitars can get VERY expensive.
Some mentioned Seagull, I think they are in the 5 to 6 hundred range.