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nredman · Dec 11, 2005, 08:37 AM

looking into an acoustic guitar - i had a thread a few months ago, but hell if i can find it on here anymore. what do you guys think about this top five on about.com

http://guitar.about.com/cs/acoustic/...5acoustics.htm

thanks for any comments guys.

Volks · Dec 11, 2005, 09:11 AM

Those guitars all suck.

The only acoustic guitar to get is a Martin D-8.

nredman · Dec 11, 2005, 09:32 AM

how much for one of those?

ShotgunEd · Dec 11, 2005, 09:35 AM

What level of ability are you?

Is this a beginner acoustic?

Or have you been playing for a few years and are looking for a guitar with a nice sound to upgrade to?

Kevin · Dec 11, 2005, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by Volks

Those guitars all suck.

The only acoustic guitar to get is a Martin D-8.

Pffft...

Takamine and Yamaha make decent non-expensive acoustic guitars.

If I was a professional player that did it for a living, I might get a Martin.

But otherwise.. no.

nredman · Dec 11, 2005, 10:15 AM

beginner - never played before. - i'd take any advice you can give Kev, i know you are a big guitar guy

Doofy · Dec 11, 2005, 10:21 AM

Kev is right about the Yamaha and Takamine stuff - it's quality gear for a low price, ideal for a beginner. Can't go wrong with a Yam if you ask me.

ShotgunEd · Dec 11, 2005, 10:34 AM

I've played a few yamahas that had terrible actions (strings were miles away from the fretboard) and any takamine I've ever played has been easy to play, but sounded kind of generic.

I'd suggest for a beginner acoustic, set yourself a price limit, then go into a guitar shop and try playing everything you can afford. It helps if you know a few chords and can strum a little, Then you can judge which feels right for you and which has an ok sound.

You might find that the guitars towards the top end of your budget don't play as well as some of the cheaper ones.

At this early stage its more important to get a guitar you can play. I started on a guitar with a terrible action and stopped playing after a few weeks. A year later I bought a guitar with a nice and low action for quite cheap and i still use it for recording today.

Kevin · Dec 11, 2005, 10:58 AM

And btw, most of the guitar "sound" is in ones hands. Better guitars will slightly sweeten that sound, but wont make a HUGE difference.

Doofy · Dec 11, 2005, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by ShotgunEd

I've played a few yamahas that had terrible actions (strings were miles away from the fretboard)

That's why guitar shops have nut files.

Originally Posted by ShotgunEd

and any takamine I've ever played has been easy to play, but sounded kind of generic.

It's an acoustic guitar. They're all somewhat generic sounding.

Apple Pro Underwear · Dec 11, 2005, 11:23 AM

nredman, i can offer some great advice!

here is my experience:
i wanted to play guitar, so i bought a starter fender (a black dreadnaught) for about $150. i went about learning to play really bad and this past year, i have been going the right track and finally getting much much bettter.

my first thought was after I started playing for real was — i wish I went to the music store and tried out the guitars like crazy. focusing on the "feel" of the guitar in my hands and against my body. i would also not have not bought anything for atleast until my 2nd visit of thoroughly trying everything (even the ugly ass ones). ask the sales people questions but let them know you are staying in the store for a few hours.

having said that, my guitar is cheap. it is doing it's job and in a few years when I get to be an even better player... I can go out and get a really really really great guitar, that i understand what i am buying and can do it justice. i do not feel any obligation to "keep" this guitar. it i had an awesome guitar RIGHT NOW... i would not really understand what i really have.

also, i am just beginning to understand what it is I really want to play. this cheapo fender i have is versatile so i can figure out if i want to concentrate on blues, rhythm stuff, or country classics. when i get that next guitar it can be a special blues guitar or whatever.

i bought my guitar at guitartrader.com because they had cheap prices. the 2 accessories you must get right now is a electric tuner (get one with a metronome built in and that's 2 birds with 1 stone), and a case for it.

how you actually want to learn is up to you, whether you have a buddy, lessons, or dvd or internet. for me to learn, it took my buddy and a dvd.

Teronzhul · Dec 11, 2005, 11:58 AM

I'm still pretty new to this myself, but I'll echo what the others have said. Go to a guitar store and try them out.

A lot of the $100-$200 guitars will have very similar playability, but will have minor variations. Even if you don't know a single chord, you can place your fingers on the strings and find one that has a neck that feels good in your hand, some wil be slightly thicker than others.

As shotgunEd said also you'll want one with low action, as strings that are too high off the fretboard can make a guitar very difficult to play.

You'll also want to look for differences in the sustain of the guitars. Pluck a string and see how long it rings out before going completely silent and compare.

Whatever you do don't buy anything from wal-mart or any of the chain stores. Support your local music store. They'll probably be of more help than we can be.

Kevin · Dec 11, 2005, 12:18 PM

Also if it has heavy strings, slap some lighter ones on.

Doofy · Dec 11, 2005, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

Also if it has heavy strings, slap some lighter ones on.

But don't go under a 10 or you'll end up messing the neck up.

Kevin · Dec 11, 2005, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

But don't go under a 10 or you'll end up messing the neck up.

On an acoustic yes.

I wouldn't go below 11s on an acoustic.

Doofy · Dec 11, 2005, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

On an acoustic yes.

Yep. I should have made that qualification, sorry.

Originally Posted by Kevin

I wouldn't go below 11s on an acoustic.

I've got 10's on my Ovation - it holds up OK, but it's sort of on the edge, wouldn't go lower.

nredman · Dec 11, 2005, 02:02 PM

wow - it looks like i need to do alot more reading about guitars before i even set foot in a store and look at them.

RAILhead · 07:27 PM

I've been playing for over 15 years, pro and on my own, FWIW.

Screw all those and get a Big Baby Taylor and don't look back until you want to get a higher-end guitar.

Face Ache · Dec 11, 2005, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

I've been appalling for over 15 years...

Fixed.

ShotgunEd · Dec 11, 2005, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

That's why guitar shops have nut files.

I don't think they let you do that in the shop.

Originally Posted by Doofy

It's an acoustic guitar. They're all somewhat generic sounding.

Yeah, I mean generic like Michelle Branch.

Johnny Cash played acoustic, Bright Eyes do too, but its not the same.

A Takemine will give a different sound from a Martin, or a Gibson.

Apple Pro Underwear · Dec 11, 2005, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by nredman

wow - it looks like i need to do alot more reading about guitars before i even set foot in a store and look at them.

i would say:

go to music store — read up on them — go back to music store

ShortcutToMoncton · Dec 11, 2005, 08:14 PM

I'd say everyone's making too much noise about someone picking up their first guitar.

Seriously. Go into the store, grab a couple, see what they feel like on your fingers, and buy one. If you're only spending a couple hundred, by the time you realize exactly what you want (or get good enough to find out), it won't have mattered.

In other, disgusting news, I knocked over my absolutely gorgeous 23-year-old Ibanez V310 (black, pearl inlay) while moving furniture and split the head a couple years ago. After asking around about my options, I ended up gluing the split myself, although I'm always afraid if I bump it the wrong way it'll crack.

What a gorgeous-looking guitar, although the action was a little high...I'm an idiot!

greg

RAILhead · Dec 11, 2005, 08:23 PM

http://www.zzounds.com/a--635751/item--TAY307

This thread can be closed now. That's the beginner guitar you should buy.

Blue Flame · Dec 11, 2005, 08:42 PM

Seagull makes wicked guitars, especially in the low-mid range end. Their wood is fantastic and their pickups are pretty good as well. My advice - find a guitar that has the sound you like. Don't worry about a pickup because you can add a better and usually cheaper one later.

FWIW - I don't own a Seagull.

FWIW - I own a Takamine EF-440C, Larrivée LV-09QM and PRS Custom 24

bookofjames · Dec 11, 2005, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

I've been playing for over 15 years, pro and on my own, FWIW.

Screw all those and get a Big Baby Taylor and don't look back until you want to get a higher-end guitar.

CanadaRAM · Dec 11, 2005, 11:34 PM

Seagull, Art & Lutherie, Godin, Norman all come from the same family of companies in Quebec and they are making probably the best quality guitars for the money in North America. There are a variety of choices of woods, I like the cedar body ones, very bright and present sound. I have a 25 year old Takamine, just had the frets dressed on it, it's been a trouper. Takamines are good, but my next acoustic will be a Art & Lutherie or Norman acoustic with pickup system.

Volks · Dec 11, 2005, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

Pffft...

Takamine and Yamaha make decent non-expensive acoustic guitars.

If I was a professional player that did it for a living, I might get a Martin.

But otherwise.. no.

New Martins aren't that expensive, and the quality is well worth it. Japanese guitars sound awful. That's why no serious musician plays them. They all play Martin. You don't have to be a serious musician either because if you are going to play the guitar and stick with it, you have to enjoy the sound.

Kevin · Dec 12, 2005, 05:44 AM

Originally Posted by Volks

New Martins aren't that expensive, and the quality is well worth it. Japanese guitars sound awful. That's why no serious musician plays them. They all play Martin. You don't have to be a serious musician either because if you are going to play the guitar and stick with it, you have to enjoy the sound.

Japanese guitars can sound just fine. Like I said, MOST of the sound comes from technique.

And many different players play other than Martin.

RAILhead · Dec 12, 2005, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by Volks

New Martins aren't that expensive, and the quality is well worth it. Japanese guitars sound awful. That's why no serious musician plays them. They all play Martin. You don't have to be a serious musician either because if you are going to play the guitar and stick with it, you have to enjoy the sound.

Dude, you need to look around a bit before saying something like that. "Serious" musicians DON'T "all play Martin."

turtle777 · Dec 12, 2005, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by CanadaRAM

Seagull, Art & Lutherie, Godin, Norman all come from the same family of companies in Quebec and they are making probably the best quality guitars for the money in North America. There are a variety of choices of woods, I like the cedar body ones, very bright and present sound. I have a 25 year old Takamine, just had the frets dressed on it, it's been a trouper. Takamines are good, but my next acoustic will be a Art & Lutherie or Norman acoustic with pickup system.

I was just about to suggest a Norman or Seagull.

I have owned a Norman for more than 10 years, and it's an awesome guitar. Sounds much better than a Takamine or Yamaha in the same price range.

Check out Norman, they are the entry brand, but yet hand made:
http://www.normanguitars.com/intro.htm
http://www.electriccitymusic.com/Qstore/c000034.htm

-t

nredman · Dec 20, 2005, 02:35 PM

i like this one - Fender DG11

but seriously - my dad has my sisters old acoustic - needs to be fixed (something is broken on the bridge or tuning heads i think) i will probably get that one fixed and start with that.