Guitars

[Mikey B]

Well im kinda getting into guitars now but I have not a clue about anything about them. First off, whats a good brand of acustic guitars? What should I look for when I go? I don't want to spend a bunch of money but I also don't want a pos one either. Anyway, any general info would be usefull.

Thanks

[personman]

I love accoustics, they sound great. I have an Ibenez Artwood 100 (AW100). It sounds SO great. I dont have anything to compare it to but the sound is so full and rich. My aunt got me some Earthwood strings and they sound AMAZING! My artwood ran about 310 if im not misaken.. I got it from guitar center. I highly reccommend it, it looks pretty nice too.

[spazzed]

Do a search, there are 2 or 3 threads loaded w/ info that you'll find helpful

[cphilip]

I play CF Martins. The best acoustic there is in my opinion. Old Gibsons are good also. But both pretty expensive though.

Martin does have a model you can pick up for like 550 or so. Still has a solid spruce top and good tone. Excellent Guitar for that money. A hardshell case comes with all good guitars. That one too. The better the model the more expensice the case as well. But for 550 for a good solid top and great easy playing neck and a case THAT IS THE ONE to buy.

But if you want one of Martins top of the line realy good ones your talking about 2 Grand plus for one. And up from there depending on the wood for the back. All Solid spruce tops though. Thats what you want. No laminate. I play a D18 Vintage Model and FatMan has a D28 Herringbone Vintage. We both prefer Martins. Many seriuous guitar players do. Easy neck and the quality and tone is NOTICIABLY superb. You can tell a Martin right away when you hear it even over other guitars

There are some great Gibsons. Also expensive.

Then there are the smaller companies and luthiers that make fine Guitars. Taylor and Santa Cruise.... and even some from Canada like Seagull's upper lines are good. If you got to a really big Acoustic festival all those guys will be there and they are NOT cheap.

[who_311]

cphillip said it right, I love the martins that are around 550. Well if your looking for good value for good stuff, I would check out those martins. Another brand cphillip mentioned, Seagull's, are really nice. I love all Godin's stuff, and these Seagulls are no exception. Even the cheaper ones. Canadians can make some good stuff.

I personally like Taylors the best out of the acoustic world, then Martin, Ovation, then they just kinda fall after that. Actually, you can get a REALLY nice Ovation if you buy used.

(Im going with my guess of you not knowing much bout guitars, no offense, so if i say something totally obvious to you, im not trying to be mean)
Things you should look for when shoppin acoustics.
~Action, action, and check the action again. The action is how high the stings are off the neck, if you didnt know.
~Ability to play
~Sound, like if the sound is too tinny, which can happen if an acoustic is made improperly.
~No major chips, or cracks through the wood. One hole in the wood can ruin the sound.
~Fret wear. The frets are the metal wires on the neck. If they have deep dents in them, that isnt good.
~Good quailty tuners. Tuners are the keys on the headstock. They can usually be fine, but some time they can be really bad. If theyre loose, that can cause tuning problems, and stuff like that.
~Quality wood. Different woods can make different sound, and prices. I may be too anal bout my guitars, but I like certain woods.

Well, my rant is done. I hope some of that stuff is useful to you. You should go down to the local music shop, or a guitar center, and juust play guitars. See which is better for you.

Alex Lea

[gimp]

I've also been shopping around for an acoustic for a little while now. I can't decide on an acoustic, or a 7 string. I've been trying out a lot of acoustic guitars. I'm almost set on getting a Taylor. Probably because that's what my local shop mostly carries, but oh well. I've tried the martins, and they're nice but so darn expensive. I've been meaning to try out some takamine guitars. I hear they're nice, and not to expensive. Who_311 knows his stuff about guitars, so I'd listen to him. Generally, what I've found when shopping around, is that the more sturdy a guitar feels, the better quality it is. Or at least, the more expensive it is.

[ramenjames]

im not really an acoustic guy ...so i dind spend a ton on an acoustic
but im useing a Dean prefromer E and it has a great tone

try looking in to a clasical guitar
they are acoustics but have nylon strings so its easyer to fret (less pain if your a beginer)
and have a wider nut ...so presicion is easyer as a beginer

[jwren00]

https://www.wrenguitars.com

My uncle's website. Not that you would realistically buy one from there though, he sells his guitars for waayyyy too much money. He's a really good artist, so he makes awesome inlays with mother of pearl and abilone and everything else. The website looks like it's kind of under construction right now though.

[Mikey B]

Thanks for all the help guys, I have been writing this all down for when I go in a bit. One more Q though, is it better to get an electric acustic or straight up acustic? My sister has an electric and it sounds nice, but befor I started to get into them she took it to college so I can't really play with it.

Thanks

[Lopy]

you'd only realy need an electric accustic if you were planing on playing in a band, or any live stuff,(but if it's just solo or something like that you wouldn't realy need it cuz they can just mic your guitar.)

So I'd say you should probibly not spend the extra money on the electric accustic, if you ever decide you need it in the future, you can just buy a pickup for it and it'l be the same thing.

Oh, And I'd definatly recomend Seagles(sp?) their so nice, and you get more value for your buck cuz it's canadian made.(exchange rate is good for you guys)

[RRfireblade]

Ovation, good bang for the buck in an Electric/Acoustic.
Takamine also.

Martins are nice and reasonalble used.

Not a Gibson,Fender,US mass produced etc..... fan.

Taylors are OK but very 'sterile' and overpriced IMO.

In the lower price ranges >$500 you really need to play first hand as the quality will often vary quite a bit from guitar to guitar even of the same brands and models.

Anything truly handmade will be way up there in cost,my Ramirez 4E would go for around $3000 and the Bernabe,over $5000 if you had to buy one today.An Alhambra is one of the highest quality guitars made IMO and have models starting ~$500.

What you plan to play on it and where will help you narrow it down as well.General playing,classical,flemenco etc will all have different needs ans specifics.

The most important factor to ANY guitar is that it feels and sounds right to you.If your just a beginner,have someone in the store play it for,most salesman can and will play,many customers as well.I think I've played 1-2 million guitars for other people to hear. Seems like it anyway.

If your still not sure,buy something fairly inexpensive and a known brand name,once you play awile you'll have a better idea what direction to go in and you'll have something of minimal investment and easy resale.

So......What's your prefered style and budget?

[who_311]

Originally posted by gimp
Who_311 knows his stuff about guitars, so I'd listen to him. Generally, what I've found when shopping around, is that the more sturdy a guitar feels, the better quality it is. Or at least, the more expensive it is.

Why thank you, I try my best. Listen to RRfireblade, he knows his guitars. But anyways, gimp makes a good point, I've always like something feels more sturdy, or solid.

Another point to look for, rattling. If anything rattles on the guitar, check the tuners. They can have something loose, and rattling/buzzing is the most annoying sound to me. Another is rattling in the neck, on cheap guitars, the truss rod can break, it seems hard, but i have a cheap yamaha to prove it.

You also should choose your favorite style, like which woods look better, and everything like that. Also, which body type you like best, like standard drednaught(sp?), jumbo, cutaway, and others.

Oh and another brand to look out for, are CArvins. I love these guitars, their Cobalt series are VERY nice for a really good price.

Alex Lea

[Dryden]

Agree with the posts above. I started playing electric (Have two Ibanez RG series) and recently wanted to develop my playing style more and have picked up a Martin acoustic. Others in my family play, and the only other guitar that really caught my eye (and ear) is my elder sister's 12-string Ovation Elec-Acoustic.

The problem with typical 'entry' level guitars is the construction of the neck and bridge. Fender is a legendary name, but for whatever reason they seem to really skimp on the quality of the tuning system in their entry level accoustics. Yamaha is good, but I can't say the same for many others, including the 'big name' manufacturers.

The CF Martins are really in a league of their own, and come in any price range you want to spend, $500 - $4000 brand new. They get considerably more expensive (e.g. priceless) when you get into the real brazilian rosewood models predating the 1960's. When you buy a Martin, you're buying a family heirloom.

What I would like to point out to you though is the prices. Prices for guitars are like prices for cars ... nobody every really pays the full retail price. If a guitar is 'listed' from the manufacturer at $1000.00, then you can probably find it for $600-$700 anywhere. Don't get suckered by the 'steep' discounts from either online or real brick-and-morter stores, because they all discount about the same amount. It will really pay off for you to take some time to price compare. It could save you $100s of dollars.

[Mikey B]

Well I just got back from Guitar Center. After playing with the acustics for a while I begand to not like the feel of them. From there I went to the electrics and Bass. I really liked the Bass more then the electric but both were nice, they were also both Ibanez. Anywho, I think im gunna go with the Bass but for those that know is Ibanez a good brand? That was all there was and it was reletivly cheap, only 240. Any input on Basses or electrics or anything really would be great. I still finding what I like so list the pros and cons of what ever.


Thanks

[FutureMagOwner]

Originally posted by cphilip
Martin does have a model you can pick up for like 550 or so. Still has a solid spruce top and good tone. Excellent Guitar for that money. A hardshell case comes with all good guitars. That one too. The better the model the more expensice the case as well. But for 550 for a good solid top and great easy playing neck and a case THAT IS THE ONE to buy.

seems like you like the container for the stuff you buy more than what you buy so why do you own mags?