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Recommend acoustic guitar <$300?
- Thread starter chuck norriss
- Start date
Another vote for the Ovations. They have decent preamps in their mid-range models and the string through bridges are nice. I hate dealing with acoustic string changes especially a rushed broken string change when you have to change it quickly. Yes they have the rounded plastic bodies. I think Ovation calls it Lychrachord to make it sound better then "Plastic" but they sound good and are low maintenance.
My brother recently picked up one of these. He says it plays good, sounds good, and was cheap enough he wouldn't worry about taking it camping. He has always been very picky about acoustic guitars so if he likes it it must be a decent piece if he's happy with it. It sounded good unplugged when he played it the last time I was over at his place.
Bought a heavily used Yamaha (couldn't tell you the model) for $100. Fantastic little acoustic with some great twangy tone if that's your thing.
My main acoustic-electric is an 80s Ovation bowl back. I got it with hard case for $150 off CL. I don't think, for the price, it can be beat. A bit heavy on the treble/mids, depending on what you like, but sounds great to me and projects very well, especially for its size.
Yamahas for sure! Always on Craigslist. Bernunzio.com still has some Potomac PVOs listed new for $199. I played a bunch of them and found one that sounds and looks great for the price. From what I hear they vary pretty widely. Ask the sales rep to pick out a good one for you. I trust that shop.
Hopkins
Commercial User
Get you a McPherson or Batson 
Seriously though. Ive had an old Ibanez PF series acoustic for years that is beat all to hell that sounds way better than its price tag when I bought it new.
Seriously though. Ive had an old Ibanez PF series acoustic for years that is beat all to hell that sounds way better than its price tag when I bought it new.
Lots to choose from. If it's your main or only acoustic, or if you're planning to record I'd recommend at least getting something with a solid top.
With a little shopping and a little luck, if you're not careful these days you can end up with a great acoustic that will serve you for years and years for not much money.
My main acoustic is a Washburn D10S. I bought it new about 10 years ago from my local guitar shop, the owner told me it was a particularly good specimen of the breed and I would have to spend over a thousand dollars to get an acoustic any better.
It's got a neck that feels like I'm playing an electric, a frikin' great tone that just sings, and it's a cannon when I bring it out to local acoustic jams.
I know Washburn has since been sold, the D10S discontinued, and production of their Asian guitars has moved to another factory, so I can't speak to the newer models.
But if you run up on one of the older D10S models used, one with the "V" headstock, I strongly recommend giving it a whirl.
With a little shopping and a little luck, if you're not careful these days you can end up with a great acoustic that will serve you for years and years for not much money.
My main acoustic is a Washburn D10S. I bought it new about 10 years ago from my local guitar shop, the owner told me it was a particularly good specimen of the breed and I would have to spend over a thousand dollars to get an acoustic any better.
It's got a neck that feels like I'm playing an electric, a frikin' great tone that just sings, and it's a cannon when I bring it out to local acoustic jams.
I know Washburn has since been sold, the D10S discontinued, and production of their Asian guitars has moved to another factory, so I can't speak to the newer models.
But if you run up on one of the older D10S models used, one with the "V" headstock, I strongly recommend giving it a whirl.
With some setup work and replacement tuners, the epiphone acoustic guitars are actually pretty decent for the price. My first acoustic was one of those $100 cheapies and it sounded and played fantastic.
Ovations are weird IMO. The bowl back just isn't comfortable at all and the sound isn't thick enough for my tastes. My acoustic nowadays is a Norman B20. Used would probably be very cheap on them (around $500-600 new), and they're absolutely fantastic dreadnought acoustics. But, Norman is a Godin product, and the other Godin brands are equally as awesome. The other guitarist at church likes my Norman as much as his Taylor.
Ovations are weird IMO. The bowl back just isn't comfortable at all and the sound isn't thick enough for my tastes. My acoustic nowadays is a Norman B20. Used would probably be very cheap on them (around $500-600 new), and they're absolutely fantastic dreadnought acoustics. But, Norman is a Godin product, and the other Godin brands are equally as awesome. The other guitarist at church likes my Norman as much as his Taylor.
Alvarez Bumping this thread to see if anyone has opinions on Alvarez acoustics? MF has several on sale right now. Look like laminated top spruce, mahogany sides. Does the solid top on a more expensive acoustic make a huge difference?
I've played one before Alvarez yari (?) it was strong. Solid tops project more supposedly. Maybe they do so because of thickness and rigidity is more conducive to pushing sound out of the hole. Wood thickness is important in violins maybe same applies for guitar.
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I saw a guy plying a resonator at the park it sounded good looked interesting.
A friend of mine ended up donating a Martin & Co custom to the chuck norriss relief conspiracy. single cut & slightly on the smaller side but sounds great. It shines with finger playing but sounds nice with a pick too just takes some acclimationizationism. Sounds incredible plugged in, into a bass combo. I put some heavy gauge bronze strings and this really woke up the guitar.
It was dropped once & glued back but not perfectly still I'll take it. I took it.
It was dropped once & glued back but not perfectly still I'll take it. I took it.
