Members Fred Fartboski Posted December 24, 2007 Members Posted December 24, 2007 And, man, was I impressed. I wasn't looking to buy anything. Just killling some time and trying a bunch of guitars to get a sense of what's out there. I'm an old school, Gibson/Guild/Martin guy. Don't recall all the exact models, but one was a $200 Ibanez dread, a $500 black Mexican Martin, a $500 Parkwood small body, and a $600 Epi Masterbuilt small body. They all sounded and played great, and held their own against the $2000 Gibsons and Martins, but at $200 the Ibanez stood out amongst them all. That guitar was alive! For anyone just getting into music or buying thier first guitar these are amazing times for acoustics with amazing bagains. If anyone's curious about that Ibanez, I can go back and find out what model it was.
Members Jon Hiller Posted December 24, 2007 Members Posted December 24, 2007 I would agree. I just sold a Walden D560 that was a very impressive guitar for the money at $250.00. Sounded like a $1,000.00 or higher instrument. Solid spruce top, nitro lacquer, that used to be unheard of in the sub $500 price range, but it's getting common now. This one was a rep sample, (it's the same rep as our Jay Turser rep) but I think I'm gonna pick up the line, I'm impressed.
Members Oshow Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 There are a lot of great guitars in this range...if you watch ebay those Walden D560CE's come up every now and then for a steal (around $300 or less). I have one and it is a great guitar. I currently own a larrivee LV-03, a Tak EAN40C, and a Walden 560CE and they all play a role and sound/play great!
Members Samilyn Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 Sometimes there is an inexpensive guitar that just has it all - tonal quality and playability. Those are real gems, IMO. Though I'm a great Martin fan and always will be, I judge gits by what I hear and feel, not by the name on the headstock.
Members d03nut Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 I "concur"....great time to be looking to buy "on the cheap"....
Members Samilyn Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 I "concur"....great time to be looking to buy "on the cheap".... Yup. So much fun to head to the git store and try everything in the acoustic room. Sometimes you score a cheapie that sounds great, that's perfect for going any place you go, and won't bust the wallet.
Members twangboy1 Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 I have the Ibanez SGT130 waiting on me tomorrow. The big black jumbo. Paid 169.99 shipped to my door and a great economy hard case for 50. Great package for under 225. I'll eventually put an under saddle in it for use at church. It will join my old JB Player dread.
Members Scott Fonseca Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 It's amazing how the gap has closed between the cheap guitars and the expensive ones. I am not complaining at all
Members MattSkibaIsGOD Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 I agree. But I only play cheap guitars, so I might be a bit biased.
Members Hudman Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 It's amazing how the gap has closed between the cheap guitars and the expensive ones. I am not complaining at all I think it's funny that some people think they have to spend $2000 + to find a decent guitar. The "guitar brand elite" get upset when someone brags about how great their Epi Masterbilt or Guild GAD is.
Members Scott Fonseca Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 I think it's funny that some people think they have to spend $2000 + to find a decent guitar. The "guitar brand elite" get upset when someone brags about how great their Epi Masterbilt or Guild GAD is. +1 Well said, I say there's tons of great guitars out there, let's not be snobs...unless they have an Esteban that is.
Members BrandonBrinley Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 +1 Well said, I say there's tons of great guitars out there, let's not be snobs...unless they have an Esteban that is. haha one of my friends has an esteban and i swear its gotta be particle board ...
Members FacingUsAll Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 Everytime I go to my local Guitar Centers, the best acoustic is always the Parkwood PW340FM. Every damn time. I really should buy one
Members Fred Fartboski Posted December 25, 2007 Author Members Posted December 25, 2007 Everytime I go to my local Guitar Centers, the best acoustic is always the Parkwood PW340FM. Every damn time. I really should buy one Parkwood doesn't make the 340FM anymore. If you see one you should buy it.
Members GrooveMonkey Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 I have a cheap Alvarez RD20S with a solid top ($220) and it smoked almost every other guitar in the shop IMO.I tried it one week, put it back. Played it a few weeks later, still loved it, put it back. A month later I couldn't stand it anymore so I brought it home! It's my favorite of the herd at this moment.
Members MattSkibaIsGOD Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 I have a cheap Alvarez RD20S with a solid top ($220) and it smoked almost every other guitar in the shop IMO. I tried it one week, put it back. Played it a few weeks later, still loved it, put it back. A month later I couldn't stand it anymore so I brought it home! It's my favorite of the herd at this moment. Yup. Alvarez makes great inexpensive guitars. I have an AD60S-12 12 string that I can't put down.
Members ChiyoDad Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 Fred, I'd be interested in the model number of the Ibanez. No rush (I'll subscribe to the thread and be notified). I'm just toying with the idea of getting a good but inexpensive steel-string acoustic at or under $200, .... sometime in 2008. I think I need a brighter fingerstyle guitar for some folk tunes, Celtic, and Hawaiian slack-key.
Members Fred Fartboski Posted December 25, 2007 Author Members Posted December 25, 2007 Fred, I'd be interested in the model number of the Ibanez. No rush (I'll subscribe to the thread and be notified). I'm just toying with the idea of getting a good but inexpensive steel-string acoustic at or under $200, .... sometime in 2008. I think I need a brighter fingerstyle guitar for some folk tunes, Celtic, and Hawaiian slack-key. I'll try to get over there in the next couple of days. No sweat. Only two miles from my home. This particular Ibanez did have a "bright" sound.
Members denvertrakker Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 Fred, I'd be interested in the model number of the Ibanez. No rush (I'll subscribe to the thread and be notified). I'm just toying with the idea of getting a good but inexpensive steel-string acoustic at or under $200, .... sometime in 2008. I think I need a brighter fingerstyle guitar for some folk tunes, Celtic, and Hawaiian slack-key. I'd be willing to bet it turns out to be one of the new Sage series. SGT110, 120, etc. Surprisingly nice for the money.
Members kwakatak Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 Ya know, one of these days I'm gonna have to go "slumming" at the new GC out by the airport. I wanna try an Epi MB EF-500M and Guild GAD-30 and the local mom and pops only seem to carry the dread models.
Members Jake7 Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 I come against brand snobbery alot, once a month or so I hit this "acoustic club" open mic held at my favourite local venue. Last year all the members seemed to get Gibsons....I was playing my J-185. Then I got my Yamaha, which is a high end,handcrafted top specced one,with twice the build quality of anything I've ever owned..... and all I got was "Why would you go down to a Yamaha from a Gibson??" Ironically, most of the gibson snobs at said open mic/club are mediocre players at best.
Members MattSkibaIsGOD Posted December 25, 2007 Members Posted December 25, 2007 I come against brand snobbery alot, once a month or so I hit this "acoustic club" open mic held at my favourite local venue. Last year all the members seemed to get Gibsons....I was playing my J-185. Then I got my Yamaha, which is a high end,handcrafted top specced one,with twice the build quality of anything I've ever owned..... and all I got was "Why would you go down to a Yamaha from a Gibson??" Ironically, most of the gibson snobs at said open mic/club are mediocre players at best. It's not what guitar you play, it's what you do with it
Members Fred Fartboski Posted December 25, 2007 Author Members Posted December 25, 2007 Oh, I played a "Playboy" guitar, too. Around $500. Ebony finish with the Playboy Bunny inlays in the headstock and fretboard. Don't recall the manufacturer but it was a real dud. Put it right back on the stand after strumming just a few chords.
Members Oshow Posted December 26, 2007 Members Posted December 26, 2007 Update on my earleir post...there are few nice Walden's on Ebay right now (I wish I could afford the Walden D560CE on there right now), this time of year you can usually get some good deals on ebay. I am a fan of affordable stuff but I also think you can get quality without getting the biggest name brands. I play a G&L Legacy electric that is pricey but way cheaper than a comparable fender.
Members Samilyn Posted December 26, 2007 Members Posted December 26, 2007 Update on my earleir post...there are few nice Walden's on Ebay right now (I wish I could afford the Walden D560CE on there right now), this time of year you can usually get some good deals on ebay. I am a fan of affordable stuff but I also think you can get quality without getting the biggest name brands. I play a G&L Legacy electric that is pricey but way cheaper than a comparable fender. There are some real finds on Ebay if you monitor it steadily and happen to have the right amount of bucks at the right time. Just the other night I watched a gorgeous hog Martin go for a little over $400. I was freaking out that I didn't have the bucks to bid on it. Some Ebayer got him/herself a very nice Christmas present. And I found my Christmas git on Ebay for about $150 less than the online stores advertise it for.
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