Do You Play Acoustic Guitar?

nocontrols · #1 07-03-2011, 12:49 AM

If so, what make and model?

What would you say is the best acoustic guitar for less than $500?

I'm posting this in "off-topic" because it obviously doesn't belong in Bass but a lot of bass players are multi-instrumentalists.

Mike M. · #2 07-03-2011, 01:06 AM

I have a Martin DX1-R that I bought about four years ago for around $400.00. Spruce top (that's a must) and believe it or not the back and sides are a laminate material of some kind. When you look inside the guitar the material looks like the back of formica! But it sounds really good. Fact is, I've got a buddy who has some top of the line Martins and even he's amazed how good mine sounds.

Prior to buying it I spent a lot of time looking and at the time I could not find a better sounding acoustic guitar for the money.

But I'll tell ya, Taylor has some really nice acoustics in the $400 to $500 dollar range now that are REALLY nice. (Wish I could remember the model number of the one I tried out about two months ago). It had a preamp, played great and had a beautiful sound to it. If I was in the market for an acoustic I would have grabbed it in a second.

algernon · #3 07-03-2011, 01:20 AM

I have a Epiphone EJ-200. It's a "jumbo style" and I payed around 400$ for it new. Spruce top, maple body, maple neck. Sounds very good IMO, you should try one of these.

jp58 · #4 07-03-2011, 01:22 AM

I've got a Fender CD-something another. I think they've discontinued it since I got it about 5 years ago. I like it, even though I'm probably selling it to a friend. It is very dark sounding and plays pretty good. I'm just not a guitarist.

**jmattbassplaya** · #5 07-03-2011, 01:29 AM

I've got a Washburn and some sort of Yamaha. Dunno the models of either of them and really don't care to. They sound good and were cheap, and that's all that really matters.

**Ívar Þórólfsson** · #6 07-03-2011, 01:52 AM

Belongs in misc. moved.

And yes, I play an acoustic guitar. It's an Art&Lutherie (Canadian). Don't remember the exact model for now...

N.F.A. · #7 07-03-2011, 01:55 AM

I play an Alvarez Yairi. Blueridge guitars are excellent for the money. Breedloves are also nice.Play as many as you can get your hands on. You just never know what you will find. A cheap one might sound great and an expensive one might not.

jollygiantchris · #8 07-03-2011, 02:52 AM

Washburn D-10s are pretty nice and can usually get one used

Jimbob Jones · #9 07-03-2011, 03:03 AM

I play; I have an old Crafter DE-7. It's luverly.

nocontrols · #10 07-03-2011, 03:52 AM

Thanks for some great suggestions, everyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ívar Þórólfsson

Belongs in misc. moved.

And yes, I play an acoustic guitar. It's an Art&Lutherie (Canadian). Don't remember the exact model for now...

Sorry about that.

I have to say... the Godin family impresses me a lot but I've never owned any of their products. I am embarrassed to admit this but it's partially because I don't know the correct, French way to pronounce their brand names.

Maybe I'll just get a Seagull.

anyonefortennis · #11 07-03-2011, 09:45 AM

I play a Martin DM. Taylor & Takamine have the best bang for the buck out there right now IMO.

jeepin_jer1 · #12 07-03-2011, 09:51 AM

Fender 6 string & a Dean 12 string that I had to re-seat & file the frets (Plays awesome now).

pasta4lnch · #13 07-03-2011, 10:02 AM

I have a Martin HD-28 I use for recording. I hate it! I also have a yahama compass I use for writing/screwing around great guitar for the $$. Also have an old guild nylon string that ricks and an Alverez 12 string that chews my fingers like a meat grinder

fwiw I haven'y yet found "the one" w/ acoustics (I've had many)

Acoustics are like wine these days, good cheap ones to be had - but you gotta go taste test

I know it's sacrilege, but the next acoustic I get is going to be a carbon fiber Rainsong. I had one on loan a few weeks ago and it was amazing. played great, sounded great - even recorded great. my only gripe was the matte finish, was loud while strumming . . . they have others w/ a gloss finish

Spectrum · #14 07-03-2011, 10:03 AM

Yamaha SJ-180, made in the 80s and long ago discontinued. Bought it in the early 90s from a roommate who was moving out and wanted to unload a bunch of his stuff. I think I paid like $75 for it, but it does the trick. I'm no guitarist, but you can learn a few chords in about 10 minutes and actually play a simple song in about 20. Every household should have one laying around.

TheWoodShed · #15 07-03-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocontrols

If so, what make and model?

What would you say is the best acoustic guitar for less than $500?

I'm posting this in "off-topic" because it obviously doesn't belong in Bass but a lot of bass players are multi-instrumentalists.

Yes, I do. I have had Gibsons and several Martins, including a D-18, a D-28 and two HD-28 (the ultimate, IMO).

But if you want a good acoustic, go to the Acoustic Guitar Forum (think Talkbass, but for AG's).

Anyways, when buying an AG for my 13 year old daughter I wanted one that was high enough quality to suit my needs as well. I didn't want an HPL, but a solid wood guitar. The turned me on to Silver Creek.

These are Chinese made MF guitars. When you get them, they don't seem like much. But these are like SX basses- decent quality, bank for you buck guitars. With a little work, these become very nice playing and nice sounding instruments.

I got a solid rosewood back and side dreadnaught (also comes in the smaller auditorium size and also made of mahogany) for $200.00 there used. All the work had already been put into it- a good replacement nut, pins, set up and string. Nothing under the $400.00-$500.00 price point can touch it in sound, quality and playabilty.

Thornton Davis · #16 07-03-2011, 10:16 AM

This is my 1970 Eko Ranger XII that I use quite alot.

TD

scottfeldstein · #17 07-03-2011, 08:06 PM

I used to play a Martin DXM, but I sold it a few years ago. I recently picked up an Ibanez AES10EAM. I specifically wanted something quiet and small-bodied. In the store it was a while before I could decide between it and a similar Yamaha. I played them both by themselves and through a Fishman amp and in the end I couldn't determine which I liked better, so I bought the Ibanez because it looked sexier. YMMV.

JTE · #18 07-03-2011, 09:16 PM

Yep. If I only had one instrument, it'd have to an acoustic guitar. Mine are a Guild A-50 from 1995 (just before FMIC bought them) and a Guild F-47. The A-50 is a small rosewood body, like a Martin OM, all solid wood with ebony fingerboard and bridge. A great fingerpicking guitar.

The F-47CE is a mahogany jumbo (but not dreadnought) cutaway with solid spruce top and scalloped braces that's a great all-around guitar.

I've never in over 30 years played am interesting Taylor. To me they're the MacDonalds of guitars- consistent and predictable but ultimately faceless and pointless. Martins are great but like all high-end acoustics, they vary a lot.

For the $500 range, check out Waldens. But don't buy an acoustic without playing the specific guitar you're buying. There simply ain't another one just like it.

John

JTE · #19 07-03-2011, 09:21 PM

Yep. If I only had one instrument, it'd have to an acoustic guitar. Mine are a Guild A-50 from 1995 (just before FMIC bought them) and a Guild F-47. The A-50 is a small rosewood body, like a Martin OM, all solid wood with ebony fingerboard and bridge. A great fingerpicking guitar.

The F-47CE is a mahogany jumbo (but not dreadnought) cutaway with solid spruce top and scalloped braces that's a great all-around guitar.

I've never in over 30 years played am interesting Taylor. To me they're the MacDonalds of guitars- consistent and predictable but ultimately faceless and pointless. Martins are great but like all high-end acoustics, they vary a lot.

For the $500 range, check out Waldens. But don't buy an acoustic without playing the specific guitar you're buying. There simply ain't another one just like it.

John

T-Bird · #20 07-04-2011, 11:34 PM

Hi.

My main player is a Taylor 210-e, since my K-Yairi is waiting to be repaired.

"Best" can be anything though, depending of whether You're talkong about tone, volume, string balance, ease of playing, quality of construction, resistance to the elements etc.

I wouldn't dream of taking any of my solid top acoustics on a campfire gig for example, but the plywood top ones I'd take to any gig.

Unfortunately the ABG sub-forum hasn't materialized despite numerous requests over the years, we've had pretty lenghty discussions about the need for a solid top outside studio/concert hall environment, and all those threads vanish into the archieves.

Since this is Your first one, I'd choose a quality ply construction.

Regards
Sam