Smaller bodied guitars suggestions?

[mike89914]

Well I've been playing electric mostly and I want to start playing acoustics.

I've played quite a few guitars are GC and GT and I came to a conclusion

that I needed a smaller bodied guitar because I could never get comfortable with dreadnoughts.

So I've narrowed down the choices to a couple Ovations ballandeers and

Yamaha APX700 and APX900.

I really liked playing both but the body shape behind the Ovations kind of threw me off.

so what do you guys think?

How do you think ovations and Yamahas play?

any other suggestions on guitars I should play and look into?

also do you think the 200 dollars jump from APX700 to 900 is justifiable?

and which Yamaha would you get if you did, black or blue?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/buy_yamaha_apx900_acoustic_electric_cutaway_guitar_with_new_pickup_system_3way?full_sku=512944%2e840

[knockwood]

Do you plan to play your acoustic plugged in most of the time? If not, two elements I would probably ditch are the factory installed electronics and the maple body.

 

Take this with a grain of salt as I am not a performer and I have basically no experience with electronics. If I were inclined to put electronics in one of my acoustics, I would do it after purchasing a guitar without electronics. This is so that (A) you can make sure the money you're paying for a guitar is buying as much guitar as possible, rather than compensating the manufacturer for electronics you didn't choose yourself and their installation; and (B) so that you'll have a choice of any pickup system you want when/if you decide to go that way. My observation about maple is that it tends to be rather bright (there is an eternal debate about whether and to what degree back/side wood impacts tone, so this is only my opinion) - verging into "harsh" tonal territory; it seems to work well plugged in due to its relative absence of overtone.

 

I would also ditch the cutaway, unless you tend to play far up the neck often enough to necessitate one. A cutaway is a fairly expensive construction element, so if you don't genuinely need one you will get more guitar for your money without it.

 

Having said all of that and not knowing whether any of it applies, I would want to look into this stuff if I were looking for something in your price range:

Taylor 214

Larrivee OM-03

Guild GAD-30 and GAD-30R

[rjoxyz]

+1 on every syllable from Knockwood.

 

I will add that if you are not using this guitar primarily on stage, I would take the Ovation out of the mix. I have owned a couple over the years. Their acoustic tone pales in comparison to almost anything, especially in Ovation's lower price range. My opinion only, but based on some ownership experience and what I think you will find as a consensus around here.

[Cripes]

The sensible suggestions have already been made. That said, I have had experience with both electronics and body styles. Because I do play up "there" I opted for the cutaway. Having used B-Band, Fishman, Quantum (Seagull), and LR Baggs on-board systems, I chose the LR Baggs Dual Source in a cutaway concert size guitar and until something better comes along I'm pretty much set. The LR Baggs system controls are non-invasive (no holes in the guitar) and include thumbwheels for the volume and blend. On-board EQ is a handy feature but if a channel fails - and they do - then the whole system suffers and is lost while out for repair. So, I decided the safest way to go is a simple dual source with volume and blend. The rest can be tweaked at the amp.

[Queequeg]

Just to build on the preponderance, all of the same opinion, listen to what is being said in this thread. These are acoustic guitar players with opinions on acoustics, all speaking with one voice, in this instance, anyway. Your interest in Ovations betrays your electric history. Acoustic players as a rule select a different guitar. Yes, of course there are exceptions. Electric players like them because there is an element of old familiar territory there. It is a hybrid, and acoustic players tend to find them well, synthetic and that being somewhat antithetical with the whole acoustic natural wood sound thing.

Check out the Larrivee and the LR Baggs.

Field tested and approved.

(By Acoustic players.)

[guitarist21]

Everything Knock, Queg, Cripes and Rjoxyz said... plus an Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500R.

 

Ellen

[mike89914]

hey guys thank you for all your suggestions.

I've pretty much ditched the Ovation

and I only played the APX900 plugged in. I should have played it without the amp :/ I actually really liked how it played and how comfortable and how good it looked.

I'm going into college dorms in September this year so i was thinking of bringing a small amp with me to play. but

now that you guys mention it playing without an amp doesn't sound too bad.

so i started considering the taylor 214 but guitarcenter says it's online order only. and there's no other guitar dealer besides guitarcenter around me.

also I wanted to play the Larivee OM-03 but there isn't any larivee dealer in a 30 minute radius of me.

 

any opinions on the guitars and how they play and sound compared to APX unplugged would be great.

 

also I've only been playing electric so the I need all the help i can get on playing acoustics so... the easier they play the better.

 

time for another trip to guitartrader and guitarcenter!

thanks for all the input!

[larry50]

For the money and quality, particulary the OM-03 and OM-03R, it would be worth expanding your search area for Larrivee's to at least 1-2 hours. You won't be sorry. The other stuff mentioned just won't stack up price-point to quality wise. One of the safer to buy on-line from a reputable dealer, too, since their quality is scarily consistent.

[AK47]

For the money and quality, particulary the OM-03 and OM-03R, it would be worth expanding your search for area for Larrivee's to at least 1-2 hours. You won't be sorry. The other stuff mentioned just won't stack up price-point to quality wise. One of the safer to buy on-line from a reputable dealer, too, since their quality is scarily consistent.

 

Yeah, what he said.

 

As a guitarist that does electric and acoustic both I will say that the Larrys' play quite well. If you ever decide to play out IMHO a satin finish looks better under the lights. Less glare and smudges and more guitar. Definately worth checking out.

[mike89914]

what's a good larrivee dealer?

all the major ones i can think of didn't carry it.

[knowspicker]

If you want to buy online...

http://notableguitars.com

 

notable guitars is probably the way to go and the Larrivee are one of the best acoustics around for the price. If I had a little more cash I'd have an OM-3MT

[guitarist21]

 

If you want to buy online... http://notableguitars.com notable guitars is probably the way to go and the Larrivee are one of the best acoustics around for the price.

 

 

+1 Everyone who's dealt with them says they're great.

 

Ellen

[kwakatak]

 

For the money and quality, particulary the OM-03 and OM-03R, it would be worth expanding your search area for Larrivee's to at least 1-2 hours. You won't be sorry. The other stuff mentioned just won't stack up price-point to quality wise. One of the safer to buy on-line from a reputable dealer, too, since their quality is scarily consistent.

 

 

 

+1

 

That's what I did. I drove 45 minutes to find a local Larrivee dealer and nearly every 03 series guitar seemed to be a BIG step up from anything I'd tried in the sub-$700 price range.

 

FWIW, the Taylor 214 isn't a bad guitar. IMO it's certainly improved since they now offer it with (laminated) rosewood back & sides. The OM-03/OM-03R is a little smaller but is in 214's price range and features some specs (like all-solid wood construction) that outclass it IMO.

 

BTW, the Breedlove Atlas AC25/SR is also another pretty nice guitar in the $800 neighborhood.

[rjoxyz]

 

what's a good larrivee dealer? all the major ones i can think of didn't carry it.

 

 

Trinity Guitars in NY is also excellent. I bought my OM-03R from Trinity. Jim Holler, the owner, was a true pleasure to deal with.

[mike89914]

Hey guys. after finding a Larrivee dealer

and playing the OM-03R

I have decided it sounds so much better than taylor and the yamaha.

so I ordered it from notable guitars

because the one nearby didn't give me a nice price.

asking price was 900 and I could only get it down to about 850

but Notable Guitars has none in stock and there's like a waiting list

so....

the long wait begins

[kwakatak]

...but it'll be worth the wait, believe me. My OM-03R came from Notable last year. If at all possible, ask him to put a bone saddle on it for you. The TUSQ is OK but with the bone saddle the guitar will have more clarity.

[rjoxyz]

Hey guys. after finding a Larrivee dealer and playing the OM-03R I have decided it sounds so much better than taylor and the yamaha. so I ordered it from notable guitars because the one nearby didn't give me a nice price. asking price was 900 and I could only get it down to about 850 but Notable Guitars has none in stock and there's like a waiting list so.... the long wait begins

 

 

Consider contacting Trinity to see if any in stock. The owner hand cut and intonated a bone saddle for my OM-03R when I got it. The price was very close to Notable--within $15-20. Service was outstanding.

 

http://www.trinityguitars.com/steelstr/frame.htm

[EvilTwin]

Well, if you're getting a Larry, congrats! Fine, fine instruments. I think Larrivee is really just a small, boutique builder masquerading as a mass manufacturer.

[Queequeg]

used OM-03R on the Larrivee forum site.

not mine and I don't know the seller.

I make no claims with respect to this guitar and wish to be held harmless.

[mike89914]

Nice find! but I already ordered

and I asked the bone saddle to be installed!

he was doing it for 25 dollars. hopefully it'll be here soon!

besides the aesthetic reasons, do you think

upgraded bridge pins do anything?

i've never actually changed the stock anything before so yeah.

[Queequeg]

besides the aesthetic reasons, do you think upgraded bridge pins do anything? i've never actually changed the stock anything before so yeah.

I don't know....

Hey Freeman- Hey baba-

you boys think bridge pins can affect tone???

 

(I shouldn't do this when the search functionality is "temporarily disabled")

 

If they ever get it up-and-running again, Freeman Keller did a string and pin test & you can listen to various configurations.

I'm sure he wouldn't mind doing it again, though...

babablowfish & I both believe we have guitars that were significantly changed for the better due to the use of brass bridge pins.