ATTN: Acoustic Guitarrists!

[OshKoshJoash]

So it looks like I may start leading worship for my college ministry in the near future, so I have to start looking at guitars. I have a relatively cheap Yamaha, but it doesn't have a pickup and it's not in the best shape due to being a beater that I take around camping and stuff.

I know many of you bassists also play the acoustic guitar, so I'd like to ask for your opinion. I'm trying to spend around $1,000 or less. What acoustic would you recommend in that price range? Please keep in mind that it needs a pickup because I'll be going through a P.A. with a full band.

Thanks,
Joash

[labgnat]

i'm no acoustic guitar expert, but epiphone makes great guitars for a great price IME

[BbbyBld]

I love Ovation guitars. I have three of them.

I just bought one of them this past weekend--model CC24 (Celebrity).

It has nice action, a built in chromatic tuner, sounds great plugged in, and doesn't feed back as easily as other acoustics.

I paid $300. I think they list for around $500.

The Celebrity is on the low end, they make higher end stuff too.

[unclejam]

this is Misc. classified stuff you being moved bruhda

[SoComSurfing]

Wow, that's a really broad request. You can look at guitars from Alvarez, Taylor, Breedlove, Martin, etc. What do you have available locally to check out? I'd strongly suggest against ordering one from the internet or a catalog.

[middy]

Go to the pawn shop, music store, whatever, and play some until you find one that sounds good and feels right. Bring a tuner. Plug them in. You don't need to spend no $1000. The acoustic I've had for 12 years is an old Washburn D-12N that I bought for $100. Works great.

[OshKoshJoash]

hey, if it needs to be moved thats totally cool. sorry about my mistake.

and i know i don't need to spend $1,000, its just that I'd like to invest in a guitar that will continue to age and sound better. its not just about functionality, i want it to be something i keep for a while and have sentimental worth. i am willing to pay for better tone.

i have played probably over a hundred taylors and just as many martins, but i guess i'm asking if theres anything else out there that people would recommend. almost all of my friends own either one of those, and i can't help but to think there are other good guitar makers than taylor or martin, for instance like breedlove.

i'm also considering alvarez, and blueridge. anyone play either one of those?

[middy]

Martin.

[OshKoshJoash]

heres another criteria:

I'd like solid top, as well as solid back and sides.

[thebassist1234]

Takimine?

[jive1]

Seagull

Hands down the best value out there.

Hand made with premium solid woods, great electronics, premium hardware, and quality construction.

And most models can be had for under $1000, and many under $500.


www.seagullguitars.com

[DeaconK]

Epiphone AJ500 Masterbilt. You can get the one with an LR Baggs pickup. Excellent tone, great finish. Right in the middle of your price range. You won't be sorry.

[bryanjnkns]

i would look for a nice used Taylor, Alverez Yari, or Martin. I personally prefer the first two. But your tastes might differ. Like with anything else try and play them first. find out which one you like best.

[T-Bird]

Hi, Joash.

Talk about a tough question .

IME the worst part in buying any quality wooden instrument is that the tone hasn't opened yet so there's really no telling what the end result will be. But sticking with the quality ones, one can quite safely assume that the result will be something from good to heavenly.

I've have had good experiences with Taylor, Martin, K.Yairi etc. in the 1000€/$ range, the cheaper ones tend to be somewhat less exiting, but with some searching, one can score an exellent example from even 200€/$ price range.


All of this matters IMO really if the playing is acoustic (or close miked) mainly, if the guitar needs to be amplified frequently, the pick-up/pre-amp combination plays a major role. IME some of the worst sounding acoustics can sound quite good when amplified.

The best bet is to just try out as many different guitars as You can, and make a decision based on that. With a (loud) PA, You have to also consider the feed-back characteristics of the said guitar, so the "performer" (or what ever the line is called by different manufacturers) lines which are designed to be amplified in a stage environment, are the safest choises. IME nothing is more annoying than not hearing your own playing or having to EQ drastically just to avoid feed-back.

Just my 0.02€
Sam

[Brian Jr.]

Personally, if I were going to spend less than $1000, I wouldn't go for a Taylor. I LOVE their very expensive stuff, but the lower end of them just don't have as full of a sound. They feel soul-less to me.

My $500 Martin DXK (complete with a fake koa!) has been fantastic for the last 6 years. Also, I have definitly heard good things from and about Seagull and Takamine too. Go to a shop and try out all the things people have suggested. You'll find one you love.

[Christopher]

If you don't mind the look, these Babicz Identity guitars are good and stupid-cheap at MF:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tar?sku=511832

I've seen them in stores for $400 more. Indonesian made, but well built and very loud.

[Blackbird]

Originally Posted by OshKoshJoash

So it looks like I may start leading worship for my college ministry in the near future, so I have to start looking at guitars.

Why? Can't you lead worship playing bass?

On topic, I'll second Seagull.

[burk48237]

I agree with the comments about Seagull, they are very good values. I would suggest you look used. 1000$ acoustic guitars don't have great resale and you ought to be able to save a bunch of money and find a nice guitar for 6-700. Martin and Breedlove do some nice low end stuff, I agree that their economy models seem to be better built then Taylor. 1000$ is kind of a weird price point, because the really good stuff, starts at around 2500$ new and goes used for about 1500$ used. Thats when you get into the better Martins, Taylors, and Laviree's. In your price range I WOULD be willing to buy used on line from a reputable dealer with a return guarantee. In the under 1000 price point most of the good makers are fairly consistent and your not likely to find a really good or really bad one. All three of these stores have well educated, knowledgeable staffs and will be more then willing to help you with your selection if you call them.

A few good online dealers include:

http://www.elderly.com/

http://www.mandoweb.com/

http://www.gruhn.com/

[soulgeezer]

Ovation Balladeer. I've had one for years and it's simply the best, most comfortable electric/acoustic guitar I've ever played. It's at the high end of your price range (around $800), but it's a very high-quality, American-made instrument that will last you forever. And, it sounds great amplified.

Personally, I prefer a deep bowl, so that the guitar retains its projection and resonance when played acoustically. But, some people like the convenience of the mid- or shallow bowl, which increases comfort when standing and playing live.

Any under-$1,000 guitar is going to lose half its value the minute you pay for it. Ovations, at least, have pretty good resale and, most importantly, they're built to be workhorses that get the job done.

I don't think you could go wrong with an Ovation for the application you describe.

But, if you intend to play unamplified most of the time, then look at the low-end Martins and Taylors. The sound nice and they have pretty good resale. Takamine is a good name and a friend of mine has had one for years that he absolutely loves, but resale really depends on the model. Seagull, on the other hand, has almost no resale value at all. You'll lose the most if you decide to sell a Seagull down the line.

[Sarbecue Boss]

Mickeal kelly or seagull