Tell me about your guitar(s)

[SLScott86]

Sorry if this is already a thread. I got me first real, decent acoustic a couple weeks ago, and am incredibly happy with it. It's a Guild GAD-40CE. I got it for $500 used at Guitar Center, who I hate, but had it for $500. Spruce top, mahogany sides and back, glossy finish (poly, I imagine). Fishman acoustic matrix built-in. I wasn't real impressed with the plugged in sound, but I also haven't had time to dial in even the right levels between guitar and recording interface. That leads me to the one thing I don't like, the active pickup system. There's a gain knob mounted in the soundhole that's nice in theory, but I'd prefer to not have that variable to worry about. I know that's kind of like complaining about a volume knob, which is silly.

The sound though, is perfect to my ears. It just sings. I made the mistake of buying it without playing, but fortunately it worked out. When my band's guitarist was shopping in the $1000 range, the best sounding guitar to all of our ears by far was the rosewood version of this. To be honest, I thought I was buying the same guitar, used, for less. When I found out they were different I was a little nervous. But side-by-side, I preferred the mahogany.

All I wanted was for my cowboy chords to sound better under my singing, but this has re-kindled my love for playing guitar, and my interest in the instruments in general. So, tell me about your instruments.

[pogo97]

I have two guitars. A second-hand Epiphone Dot for electric ($350 plus setup). And a Dobro (a Dobro-brand Dobro) that I bought for about $350 new in 1973. Both are excellent guitars. I've owned quite a few guitars over the years (including a Guild that I remember fondly) but these are the two I have now.

[Shart]

I have a GAD-G212 with the same pickup installed and I don't recommend recording it directly plugged into the interface. The pickup sounds good through my pa but fairly {censored}ey when going direct in.

[Telecruiser]

My main ax is a Martin 00016 with a K&K p/u. My main electric is a Fender CS Tele w/B bender through a Dr. Z MAZ 38.

[Notes_Norton]

I'm a sax player who after doubling on guitar for many years (using the guitarist's 'other' guitar when there wasn't a sax part). Then a few years ago, I decided to apply myself on the guitar, and picked it up fast (it is my 7th instrument so I had a lot of baggage already). I went through a few until I found what works best for me.

Bought and still own a Gibson ES-330 (1970 Kalamazoo) and love it, but as a classic I don't want to gig with it. I switch instruments on stage (sax, wind synth, guitar, flute, percussion etc.) so I didn't want to scratch the classic up.

Tried a Kramer strat copy, but hated the short radius neck.

Bought an Epiphone Casino and loved it but too many outdoor gigs near salt water for a hollow body guitar.

Modded an ESP/LTD Les Paul copy with Mean 90 pickups and loved it but it was way too heavy for instrument switching.

I then got a Parker DF (it was between the Dragonfly and the name change to MaxxFly so I guess it's a No Fly).

It's lightweight, well balanced, comfortably contoured, has a long scale and radius neck, locking tuners, graph-tech nut, ebony fretboard, hardened stainless steel frets, stays in tune (even with the whammy bar), has an SSH pickup configuration with coil tapping to make it SSS and it has a Fishman Piezo under the bridge.

Since I got the Parker, my others collect dust.

As soon as the price for collectables go up, I'll sell the Gibson and by another DF and put P-Rails in it. Then I'll have every tone I could ever want!

Notes

[J.Paul]

For solo/duo acoustic stuff I'm using a Taylor 414e.
It sounds incredibly mediocre but is usable.
It plays well and travels well too....
I wish the electronics were better (it's not the Expression system)
and have to put it through the Fishman Aura Spectrum for it to sound good
and if the strings have more than 3 days of play on it nothing can help it.

I'm thankful to have the Taylor though,
one of our friends from Wyoming gave it to me after the fire
http://jpaulmusic-jpaul.blogspot.com...ar-burned.html

[Potts]

I have an 2000 Taylor 410 CE with a Fishman. I originally hated the guitar until about a months worth of gigs on it and now I talk to it when I take it out of the case...lol loser.

I HATE the expression system more than anything that's ever been invented for an acoustic guitar so im happy with the Fishman. As far as the poster that said don't record with it direct, that's good advice considering there aren't many situations regardless of the guitar, where you'll get optimal results.

[americansinner]

Originally Posted by SLScott86

Sorry if this is already a thread. I got me first real, decent acoustic a couple weeks ago, and am incredibly happy with it. It's a Guild GAD-40CE. I got it for $500 used at Guitar Center, who I hate, but had it for $500. Spruce top, mahogany sides and back, glossy finish (poly, I imagine). Fishman acoustic matrix built-in. I wasn't real impressed with the plugged in sound, but I also haven't had time to dial in even the right levels between guitar and recording interface. That leads me to the one thing I don't like, the active pickup system. There's a gain knob mounted in the soundhole that's nice in theory, but I'd prefer to not have that variable to worry about. I know that's kind of like complaining about a volume knob, which is silly.

The sound though, is perfect to my ears. It just sings. I made the mistake of buying it without playing, but fortunately it worked out. When my band's guitarist was shopping in the $1000 range, the best sounding guitar to all of our ears by far was the rosewood version of this. To be honest, I thought I was buying the same guitar, used, for less. When I found out they were different I was a little nervous. But side-by-side, I preferred the mahogany.

All I wanted was for my cowboy chords to sound better under my singing, but this has re-kindled my love for playing guitar, and my interest in the instruments in general. So, tell me about your instruments.

I prefer a mahogany guitar. I have an Ibanez Artcore that sounds great. Solid mahogany top, sides, back. Surprising, since I'm not a big fan of Ibanez, but I was looking for something that recorded easier than my Dreadnought boom monster.

Originally Posted by pogo97

I have two guitars. A second-hand Epiphone Dot for electric ($350 plus setup). And a Dobro (a Dobro-brand Dobro) that I bought for about $350 new in 1973. Both are excellent guitars. I've owned quite a few guitars over the years (including a Guild that I remember fondly) but these are the two I have now.

I have a Dot which I replaced the pickups in and got Plek'd. It is quite a beast. Also have an ancient Spanish Classical, little mom n pop company brand.

My main electrics are a Reverend, an Italia, and a '64 Gretsch Country Gentleman.

[Bob Dey]

Tele gets played the most at gigs. Play the others mostly at home, but got the Gibson out to play a Jazz cocktail set a few weeks ago. I've been thinking I'd like a 335 style guitar. Guild starfire 4 looks interesting as well as a couple of models from Heritage.

'77 Fender American Strat
'92 Fender American Tele
'71 Gibson ES-175
'95 Alvarez Acoustic

others not worth mentioning.

[chemikool]

Guitars:

--- electric ---

1994 CB Bolt-on PRS --- Main gigging guitar *ALL-Time favorite*
2007 Mexican Telecaster --- Main gigging guitar *current favorite*
2005 OLP Music Man copy --- Main gigging guitar
1998 American Telecaster
1988 BC Rich
1991 American Telecaster
1993 American Stratocaster
2001 Gibson SG
2004 Schecter Diamond

Most of my electrics go unplayed, because my new tele and my old PRS are so versatile and fun to play! My PRS always gets attention because they stopped making the CB Bolt-on in the nineties only a few years after I bought it. Guitar dudes still come up to talk about it, then precede to tell me it's not a "real" PRS because they've never seen it. The telemex plays like a dream and sounds better than my other teles (still don't know why, but I'm not going to fix something that isn't broken) so it gets the bulk of my gigging these days. The OLP was a cheap POS that I bought for $100 bucks. It became a project guitar, and now it plays great and sounds wonderful.

--- acoustic ---

1959 Gibson J45 *favorite*
1985 Martin D28 *gig guitar*
2011 Martin D35 *favorite*
2005 Celebrity Ovation (used to be the gigging guitar, but it got crushed)
2010 Ovation *gig guitar*
Some cheap POS that I have no idea what it is, but it lives in the closet.
2009 Taylor 410

I used a cheapo Ovation on gigs for years, until some drunk ass crushed it one night and forced me to get another one. Even though the older celebrity was cheap! cheap! cheap! it still played and sounded great once plugged up. Since that guitar is now playing the great gig in the sky, I switch between my D28, Taylor 410 and another Ovation. If the gig is a smoky bar, the nicer guitars stay home.

[steve mac]

Burns Marquee and Ovation Custom Elite

[Chaff67]

Ovation 1868 Elite
Takamine 12 string
'79 Fender Strat (American)
5 string bass (Stingray clone)
Fender Banjo (cheap one...wife bought me earlier this year to learn on)

[Shaster]

I use one of my three Ibanez Artcore guitars (various models AF, AG...) for my solo gigs. They sound fine, play fine and if a drunk fell on one I would just go get another one.

I've got a couple of 80's Fender Strats that I used to play. I've got a couple of 60's Guild electrics including the original Starfire. I've got a nylon string AC/El Takamine that's fun to play when I do.

For my band gigs I mainly play a heavily modded 1983 Ibanez Roadstar II. I also used to play my Guild AAA Bluesbird (Westerly factory) but I haven't played it in a while.

I don't own a decent steel string, I just have some generic Korean guitar, I think it cost about $300.00. One of these days I'll buy something decent but I just don't play much steel string acoustic.

[James Clausen]

Line 6 JTV69;
Carvin DC400 (Koa) splitable humbuckers with piezio in the bridge;
Epiphone Nite Hawk with P-rails;
Wechter;
All three of the electrics have different sound options in guitar. I switch sounds a bunch from song to song.

[JAD.]

I gig with a Cole Clark Fat Lady 2, a guitar made in Melbourne. The model I purchased retails for slightly over $2k here, but I got a much sweeter deal. Noticeably 'fatter' bottom end when plugged in than any acoustic I've played before. With a name like Fat Lady, well, you'd be kind of disappointed if she didn't have a hefty bottom end. Now I just need to play Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls and this picture is complete.

Luke

[OldGuitarPlayer]

My only acoustic/electric is a 1998 Epiphone AJ-18SCE. I use it for playing live or for just jamming with friends. I like it's sound un-amplified. Plugged in it does the job but eventually I want to overhaul the electronics and put in something better. Possibly K & K or some other soundboard transducer type.

My only electric is a fairly recent Squier CV50 BSB Telecaster. I am now looking for a new amp since mine just crapped out and died on me.

[fingerpicker]

Yamaha CPX-8 that I just picked up is my main gig guitar. I LOVE it plugged in!

I have two Corts that are inexpensive but sound beautiful plugged in.

[Pine Apple Slim]

A d28 I bought new in 1985, and a Recording King R07 are my
Only two acoustic guitars.

[John Ellis]

Cedar top Takamine and a Fernandes tele

[Howie22]

I've had a '01 Larrivee D-03 that I've had for about 5 years now. With a K&K pickup installed, it has been my main gigging guitar for the past few years.

This year I picked up a used Larrivee D-03R. I've emailed the company several times, but they haven't emailed me back with the production date info yet. I have the Baggs Anthem in that one. I absolutely love the mic, but the Element UST is AWFUL.

My "beater" is an old Simon and Patrick mahogany dread. I bought it for next to nothing, and it's beat up, but I have dumped more money than I'd like to admit into it. I'll probably always keep that one - both because I love it and I'll never get anywhere close to my money out of it.

I also have a Seagull parlor guitar that I'm trying to get rid of. I'm not a finger picker, and I never play it. Not quite sure what I'll get to replace it.

[Shaster]

I used a cheapo Ovation on gigs for years, until some drunk ass crushed it one night :facepalm: :facepalm: and forced me to get another one. Even though the older celebrity was cheap! cheap! cheap! it still played and sounded great once plugged up. Since that guitar is now playing the great gig in the sky, I switch between my D28, Taylor 410 and another Ovation. If the gig is a smoky bar, the nicer guitars stay home.

 

That must be the guitar I was talking about when I mentioned my Korean 6 string. It's an Ovation knock off, maybe sanctioned, I don't know. I haven't seen mine in a while, I wonder where I hid it...

[Bobby1Note]

Sorry if this is already a thread. I got me first real, decent acoustic a couple weeks ago, and am incredibly happy with it. It's a Guild GAD-40CE. I got it for $500 used at Guitar Center, who I hate, but had it for $500. Spruce top, mahogany sides and back, glossy finish (poly, I imagine). Fishman acoustic matrix built-in. I wasn't real impressed with the plugged in sound, but I also haven't had time to dial in even the right levels between guitar and recording interface. That leads me to the one thing I don't like, the active pickup system. There's a gain knob mounted in the soundhole that's nice in theory, but I'd prefer to not have that variable to worry about. I know that's kind of like complaining about a volume knob, which is silly. The sound though, is perfect to my ears. It just sings. I made the mistake of buying it without playing, but fortunately it worked out. When my band's guitarist was shopping in the $1000 range, the best sounding guitar to all of our ears by far was the rosewood version of this. To be honest, I thought I was buying the same guitar, used, for less. When I found out they were different I was a little nervous. But side-by-side, I preferred the mahogany. All I wanted was for my cowboy chords to sound better under my singing, but this has re-kindled my love for playing guitar, and my interest in the instruments in general. So, tell me about your instruments.

 

You did VERY well grass-hopper.

 

Seriously, I own roughly 20-22 guitars, mostly higher-end models (Taylors, Martin, Gibsons, Guilds, PRS, etc, and I happen to think those GAD series Guilds are one of the biggest guitar-bargains on the planet. They play good, and they sound GREAT. Beautiful fit and finish too.

 

Well done. Enjoy your GAD Guild for a LONGGGGGG time.

[leftyjay]

i currently have 32 guitars. believe it or not, i play them all through a year of gigs. they are different colors and tones and allow me to play a variety of styles. each one brings out a different way to play. guess thats why i still have them all.

 

sure, i have a couple favorites, my 1987 mij 62 ri tele that i metalflaked in blue and added a middle pickup to give me more tone options.

 

and my 1980 takamine lawsuit 360 acoustic that still looks brand new. i put a dtar matrix pickup in it and it sounds awesome.

[Terry Allan Hall]

 

Guild JF-4

 

 

Taylor 355

 

Both sound great, plugged-in or not, both have comfortable necks, both are my favorites of all my guitars.

[fingerpicker]

Cedar top Takamine and a Fernandes tele

I had a cedar top Tak. $700 new. It was about 4 weeks old and I ran it over after too many drinks! Oh the rock star days....