[interactive_civilian]

Hey all...this is my first post to this forum, but it seemed like the right place for this (and it does actually tie into the Mac). Since I am about to start performing in public, I'm in the market for a new acoustic/electric guitar and I was wondering if I could get your opinions about the sounds and the electronics of a few guitars. Here's the deal:

My budget is about 60,000 yen (I live in Japan). Right now, a lot of guitar stores in Ochanomizu (in Tokyo) are having 20-30% off sales for summer, so it seems like I will be able to get a pretty decent guitar with that kind of budget. Here's what I am thinking about right now:
(prices are list prices, not discounted)
Takamine

• PT-106 (60,000 yen)
• PT-108 (80,000 yen)

The only difference I can see between these is that the 106 has a spruce top and the 108 has a sycamore top...big deal? Also, these are both cut-aways (or whatever you call it). The back, sides, and neck are mahogony and the fingerboard is rosewood.

• PT-507 (70,000 yen)

This one is not a cutaway, and the top is Cedar, but otherwise mostly the same as the above.

Yamaha

• APX-5A (48,000 yen)
• CPX-5 (49,000 yen)

The main difference between these two would seem to be the electronics. Otherwise, both are spruce top w/ Nato back and sides.

Ok, so that is what I am thinking about right now. I'm definitely leaning towards the Takamine guitars since they are made out of wood and not that "particle board" stuff (which is a good thing, right?). Anyone have any experience with any of these guitars? I would love to hear your opinions. Also, anyone know anything about the quality of the electronics? Here is my basic plan:

Until I get an amp, I will be playing mostly unplugged on the street, and if things work out, I will plug in if I play in any of the many live-houses around. Also (and here is how this relates to the Mac), I intend to use my iBook for recording at some point, probably with an M-Audio Quattro (is that a good choice? A friend of mine recommended it to me, and it has OS X drivers).

So, I guess it comes down to: if you were me, which one would you pick and why? Also, if anyone has any other recommendations for Acoustic/Electric guitars in the ~$400-$700 list price range that are better than those above, please let me know of your opinion.

No matter what I buy, it will be a huge improvement over the POS, plastic back and sides Aria that I have been using for practice for the past year. Anyway, I look forward to your responses, but of course, I will go and try them all out and see which one sounds the best to my ears, so don't be offended if I ignore your opinion.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I am pretty much a n00b when it comes to audio things, so my apologies if I misunderstand anything. ^^;

[tr]

i don't know if this was the best place to post if you're asking about guitar reviews (hell, half the topics are "why doesn't my DIVX movie play?" )...why don't you check out this site:

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/


lot's of reader reviews on almost every guitar brand out there. also, if you go to the main page (or the links at the top of that page), you can search for user reviews on recording stuff for the computer.

personally, i don't like plugging in electric/acoustics. never liked the tone of pickups in them. i usually just mic if i play acoustic.


i was just curious, you mention the m-audio box (with X drivers) for recording on your mac, but if you are using X, what program would you be using? i don't know if you are planning to do some multitrack stuff or what; i don't what multitrack app you would use on X...there aren't many out there right now. i guess bias deck...personally, i'm waiting for logic...come on, apple, where's my logic on X!!!


tr

[interactive_civilian]

Thanks for the response, and the link. I realize that this isn't the best place for it, but I thought perhaps a few people could help out here (which you did. thanks )

I took a look at that site, but unfortunately, they don't have any reviews of the Takamine guitars I listed (though they do have a few others that I was thinking about). But, I'll drop a line on their forum and see what happens. Thanks for the link.

Anyway, you said:

Originally posted by tr:

i was just curious, you mention the m-audio box (with X drivers) for recording on your mac, but if you are using X, what program would you be using? i don't know if you are planning to do some multitrack stuff or what; i don't what multitrack app you would use on X...there aren't many out there right now. i guess bias deck...personally, i'm waiting for logic...come on, apple, where's my logic on X!!!

Well...like I said, I am a complete audio n00b. I have many things that I need to learn, so right now, it is not worth my while to put a big investment in software...or even much of a small investment. So, I will probably start with using Audacity to learn the basics and then when I have a bit more knowledge about digital audio, I'll see what is out and purchase what I think is best for me. Any way, I won't get the Quattro until next month or the month after (by then I should have a good idea if it is worth the investment for me). But at that time, I'm sure I'll be posting here more often w/ recording questions. (esp. about using my mac to record a show in a live house...or would it be better to just invest in a portable DAT recorder or an MD recorder?...)

Anyway, thanks for the info.

[tr]

hey, i was just looking at your audacity link, since i never hear of it before. if you're planning to do some simple 2-track stuff in X, why don't you take a look at TCworks Spark ME. it may look a little more complicated, but it's a really powerful program, especially since it's free!

then, there's always ProTools Free (http://www.digidesign.com/ptfree/). great program, i use it all the time (that is, until i can get LOGIC ON X! come on, apple!!! ) but you'll have to boot into 9. again, it's amazing something like this is free.


and looking at your guitar selections again, the reason you're not seeing them reviewed on the harmony central site is because the models you are looking at are japanese market takamine's. they don't sell those guitars here. the only thing i can think of is if you can find a close US takamine equivalent of those guitars, and base your judgement on the reviews of those models. i kinda like the cutaway models, my friend/bandmate has an ovation, don't know which model, but it's pretty nice. also the mother of a friend of mine just got some takamine classical, again, don't know which one, but it was around $700-$800 used. that was a pretty nice guitar. it felt really good playing it. i've tried a couple yamaha's in the music stores, but i don't know, i'd sway toward the takamine's. i'd say if you're going to get one, get one with a 3-band eq. there's my $.02, spend it any way you want!


tr