Which Acoustic plays closest to an Electric?

[gearo999]

I know, dig in and play harder but I am a shred guy. Any recommendations?

[whit townsend]

Its not the brand of guitar, its the set up.

[denvertrakker]

For a start, you might look at the Ibanez Talman series.

[bsman]

Ovations play a lot like electrics, and unplugged, they sound a lot like electrics! :poke:

[phil_harmonic]

Well, I will plig Taylor here as they usually ship with a low action and the neck is nice too but mine ain't nothing like a strat/lp.

[radioelectric]

Some Gibson/Epiphone acoustics with bound necks play a bit like electrics. The cheapest one I've noticed this with was an Epiphone Hummingbird that had a neck a lot like my Epiphone Sheraton.

 

Edit: Have you considered the (ugly as hell) stratacoustic?

[guitarist21]

Edit: Have you considered the (ugly as hell) stratacoustic?

I would stay away from this guitar partly because its ugly (good call, Radioelectric ) and partly because it sounds awful. Really, really bad. It's more Ovation than Ovation is.

Ellen

[rjoxyz]

Many Alvarez and Blueridge guitars have shallow "fast" necks. As mentioned, a proper set up for your style of play, string gauge, etc. is the real key to playability.

[Queequeg]

No disrespect, but the acoustics which most closely resemble electrics are not (IMHO) really the best acoustics.

Or to turn the tables on this subject 180

[yisrael42]

How about something like the Taylor T-5



Or the Crafter version... which is supposedly a really great guitar!



They feel and play like electric guitars and they also get a really nice acoustic tone when plugged in.

Just a thought

[souldonor]

Taylor T-5 for sure, I have one, I have played it through my bassman 59' reissue live. It can sound like either, an acoustic or an electric. You also use electric strings, so the neck is very electric feeling.

[EvilTwin]

Ovation and Taylor are renowned for comfy "electric-like" necks. Tacoma's Chief, too.

 

But as noted earlier, the set-up is the biggest factor. So long as the neck is straight and the frets are dressed evenly, you can go pretty low.

 

On a side note...some people do always insist Taylors play so much easier than other brands like Martin. And some do...because I've played Taylors set up with .11's with low action, tuned down a half-step in the music store. Of course a Martin in standard with .12's and higher action will feel stiffer.

[moctzal]

Which Acoustic plays closest to an Electric?

 

 

In all honestly, they're totally different beasts and no acoustic is going to give the best of acoustic tone and play and feel the same as an electric.

It's just not possible.

 

That said, the one that plays closest to an electric would be one with a fast neck set up with light guage strings. Taylor or Ibanez like necks with a setup for low action, very little relief and light guage strings.

[relictele]

I know, dig in and play harder but I am a shred guy. Any recommendations?

 

 

If you're talking mostly action then definitely the Taylor T-5.

 

However I just got my Rainsong WS-1000 (thread elsewhere in this section) and its action is quite low for a full-sized acoustic - mostly because it doesn't react to temp/humidity changes. The neck depth is more electric-like as well.

[nylon rock]

Most may disagree with me, but a nylon string guitar plays closest to an electric. You play with very little exposed pick, pick down just past the soundhole toward the bridge, and it is similar to an electric.

You'll get the plastic sound of the nylon strings, but the resonance and "fatness" of the notes is very similar to an electric. Plus less finger squeak, and the easy gliding motion over the strings duplicates an electric a lot.