Need a little feedback

[FunkaGuitar]

Update jan 25th 08

 

Today I finally made my way to 2 reputable music stores, and I have narrowed down to 2 guitars. After trying out those taylors and martins i have realised despite the reputable brands, their low models are pretty much crap.

 

I tried a masterbuilt epi today , i think it was dr500, it was about 770$ not including 13% tax yet. and it was fantastic, but although it was acoustic-electric, it did not have an eq and also did not have a cutaway, and with a limited budget, i can only afford an average amp which will not be as great as having an amp and on board eq.

 

I also tried a Martin 00 series, not sure what it was but it was about 1000 before tax and it was made in mexico. It sounded really nice and had onboard EQ, however had a really ugly finish; it had to my opinion a "native american" look, not trying to be racist but it had triangles and circle patterns and the inlays were a different color wood, and like the guy told me, if your not sure about it now, your gonna hate it down the road. though i have to admit it even though it sounds nice, the cosmetic will ultimately get to me.

 

Upon the second store, i found a Guild GAD 40-ce, again cutaway but no on board EQ, however would come up to about 780$ after tax, and I actually thought this might be the one.

 

Finally, I hit the guitar.. that Im almost positive I'm going to buy, although I'm cheating because its about 250 more then budget. It was the Larrivee LV 035PE, on board EQ and cutaway, and all solid. after tax it would be a little less then 1300$ but I have to say it almost sounded like a gibson songwriter i tried there. the only flaw is that its not glossed.

 

Please more feedback is needed, this purchase its a really big thing for me

 

 

 

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Ok so I've somewhat upped my budget because I wanna get a guitar for the ages....still on budget of course. (800ish)

 

I'm in Canada, so any opinions on guitars outside of these would be great also, but keep in mind I'm only interested in cutaway guitars with electronics

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Taylor-100-Series-110CE-Dreadnought-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=514494

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Martin-DCX1E-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=514816

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Martin-000CX1E-Custom-Solid-Top-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=513317

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Taylor-114CE-Grand-Auditorium-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=514495

 

I'm really leaning towards the last taylor, but I need some good advice before I go ahead. I've looked in Epiphone masterbuilt and ive come to the conclusion that the cutaway one is not for me because it is cedar and I already have a cedar guitar, as well I dont think it has electronics

[simplygoodmusic]

Well, many here will disagree, but I really don't like the low end taylors and martins (again, just opinion), and I know I'm not alone in this.

 

For the same amount I'd rather go

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guild-Gad40C-Acoustic-Design-Series-Cutaway-Guitar-With-Case-?sku=512092

[timmay8612]

I'd much rather go with the all mahog martins for that price range. but i hate taylors, no bass.

[Samilyn]

Among those shown, I'd go for the Martin. I have a low-end Martin D12X1 that I dearly love. Taylors are well built gits, but are too bright-sounding for me.

 

I've also liked the few Guild GAD gits that I've had the opportunity to play, and think the one recommended by SimplyGoodMusic is well worth a try if there is one in a local store you can sample.

 

I've heard good things about the GAD in general as well as the Epi Masterbilt line.

[rjoxyz]

I'd much rather go with the all mahog martins for that price range. but i hate taylors, no bass.

 

 

You've never heard my GS!!

 

I agree that the 15 Series Martins are good values in that range (or a little over). I think you would be cheating yourself, if you don't look at Larrivee. In the $800 (think of stretching a hundred or so if necessary) range, I think they MUST be consdidered. Especially by a good Canadian!

 

The apparent need for a cutaway complicates it a bit and may force the price even higher. Also consider Guild GAD Series.

[Minstrel]

Of the selections you posted, I'd opt for the Martin DCX1E personally. Although I would also look around some before I bought it. Good luck with the agony and ecstasy of buying a new git.

[FunkaGuitar]

Yea I've been looking into Guilds too, problem is that their models which has CW and plugin start pretty high

 

i just checked the larrivee site, and the prices seem pretty high... i think i heard before that it is however, ceaper in an actualy canadian retail store because it was not taxed right? so the prices are somewhat jacked high on the website because its catered to out-of-canada?

[melandy]

i just checked the larrivee site, and the prices seem pretty high... i think i heard before that it is however, ceaper in an actualy canadian retail store because it was not taxed right? so the prices are somewhat jacked high on the website because its catered to out-of-canada?

 

 

You're probably looking at list prices, which are almost always higher than you would see in an actual store, at least here in the US. If you have a dealer around you, check them out and see what they go for.

 

The only places that I know of that sell them online are US based. Don't know if you'd get stuck with paying a import tax going back into Canada or not. Seems like you'd be able to get a better deal purchasing in the country they are built (the -03 lines anyway... I hear -05 and up are built in the US). I'm sure some Canadian forumites would be able to answer this part of the question better than I can.

 

-A

[kwakatak]

Have you considered Breedlove's Atlas series? I don't know anything about the electronics they use, but they should come in around your price range.

 

FWIW, even a used Larrivee LV-03R is gonna go for around $900-$1K:

http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=19465.0

http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=19674.0

 

(just found these for illustration purposes; I have no ties to the sellers)

[DarkHorseJ27]

There are a lot of good Alavarez's you can get in that priace range.

[FunkaGuitar]

Im not entirely sure if its true but i read on a guitar site that guitars made within north america are free of duty if sent anywhere withing north america because of NAFTA

[rjoxyz]

Yea I've been looking into Guilds too, problem is that their models which has CW and plugin start pretty high i just checked the larrivee site, and the prices seem pretty high... i think i heard before that it is however, ceaper in an actualy canadian retail store because it was not taxed right? so the prices are somewhat jacked high on the website because its catered to out-of-canada?

 

 

Now that I think about it, I believe I read somewhere that Larrivees are actually less expensive in the U.S. than Canada? That may no longer be true given our falling U.S. Dollar. Regardless, the retail prices listed on the Larrivee site bear little resemblance to actual "street price", at least in the U.S.

[outdoorgb]

Check Notable Guitars for prices. If something interest you, just call. Jason is really easy to talk with.

[FunkaGuitar]

Bring Up My Post BUMP

[Cripes]

Of the guitars suggested, Larrivee and Breedlove is where I'd keep my focus. I have experience with both makes, as well as with the others suggested here, and I think for the quality and sound those two makes are pound-for-pound the best. What you said about hating something down the road is an understatement. Buy something you are happy to buy, not just okay with.

[Markuster]

Get the Larry!







You just won't be happy with anything less!!

Markus

[kwakatak]

Yeah, between the Larrivee LV-03E and the Taylor 114CE I'd take the Larrivee. That and it'd be like comparing apples to oranges since the Larrivee is all-solid woof and the Taylor is not. Of course, I'm the biased owner of a Larrivee myself, but for some reason the low-end Taylors just don't do it for me. The lowest I'd go would be the former 314CE (now known as the GA3CE?)