Fender Acoustics, your opions.

[jerime]

I've been looking at the Fender DGO-300 and was wondering if anyone had any opions on them. I played one at my local dealer last week and coudn't come to a clear decision. I would really like to try out an Alvarez RF20SM or a Yamaha FG-75, but I can't find either one at any of my local guitar places. Really looking for something cheaper with a good booming midrange.

[KATMAN]

 

I've been looking at the Fender DGO-300 and was wondering if anyone had any opions on them. I played one at my local dealer last week and coudn't come to a clear decision. I would really like to try out an Alvarez RF20SM or a Yamaha FG-75, but I can't find either one at any of my local guitar places. Really looking for something cheaper with a good booming midrange.

 

 

The Yamaha should outplay the Fender.I've played the Fender starters pack and I wasn't impress with it.However their palor guitar plays and sounds well,but I always felt tha Fender dreads sound a bit thin.See if you can find a solid top Yamaha or Alverez,both would would be pretty boomy.

[jerime]

I found another one to add to my list that looks very good also. The Art & Lutherie Folk guitar. Any opions on this one?

[AugTPD]

Between those I'd go with the A&L Folk. They're made by Godin who also makes Seagull, Norman, Simon & Patrick.... They make great stuff for the money and I've never heard of anyone that has been unhappy with one.

 

But in the end you have to go with the guitar that you like the most.

[guitarist21]

 

Really looking for something cheaper with a good booming midrange.

 

 

My favorite brands for "something cheaper" are Washburn, Yamaha and Art and Luthiere.

 

For "booming midrange," keep your eyes open for guitars with mahogany back and sides and/or top.

 

Ellen

[MBWendel]

Although I don't usually advocate brands over one another, I think that Yamaha builds a better acoustic than does Fender. YMMV.

 

In terms of A&L, Jerime, I am very impressed with them. I remember avoiding them because of the price tag and I figured they were made in China. But, I saw a Parlor and I picked it up and was impressed. I liked it, it sounded and played well and did not have any overt negatives like poor fret work, etc.

 

If I did not build instruments I would own an Art&Luthiery Parlor as my travel guitar (not that I travel...).

[Tony Burns]

Fender does not have a good reputation for making quality acoustics - most if not all are very disapointing ( think thats why they bought Guild ) now Guild Gads are a decent instrument ( low end chinese are decent ) Blueridge are in about the same boat - Seagull is another in this price range and quality . Yamaha as well as alvarez yairis are decent ( even some alvarezs - thou the very low end are junk )

When buying any guitar its always better to look ahead and buy something a little better than you want to - you may not have to move up to a decent instrument if you satart with one . Low end Taylors as well as Larrivees are a better place to start , but most of these start about a grand -- you can always look for one used- just a thought -- but you have to live with your choice not me , so make a wise one !

[kwakatak]

 

Fender does not have a good reputation for making quality acoustics - most if not all are very disapointing ( think thats why they bought Guild ) now Guild Gads are a decent instrument ( low end chinese are decent ) Blueridge are in about the same boat - Seagull is another in this price range and quality . Yamaha as well as alvarez yairis are decent ( even some alvarezs - thou the very low end are junk ) When buying any guitar its always better to look ahead and buy something a little better than you want to - you may not have to move up to a decent instrument if you satart with one . Low end Taylors as well as Larrivees are a better place to start , but most of these start about a grand -- you can always look for one used- just a thought -- but you have to live with your choice not me , so make a wise one !

 

 

+1

 

Consider looking for something at or above the $500 mark, such as:

 

Guild GAD series (can't recall which model is the 000 size)

Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500R or EF-500M

Martin 000X1

Taylor 114 or 214

Larrivee OM-03

[jerime]

I played a Larrivee a few weeks ago, it may have been the one mentioned above I'm not sure. I also played a similar Martin that had a higher price tag, and honestly I liked the Larrivee much more.

[guit30]

That hog Alvarez is nice Rf20Ms,

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alvarez-Regent-Series-RF20SM-Mahogany-Folk-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=518724

[Chrisf_999]

I had a DG-10 and could never get a good sound from it. Too thin and tinny sounding. I later bought an Alvarez that I really liked. I bought a Larrivee

D-03 lefty used for $450 and it was in mint condition. I'm sure you could probably get a righty for less than that and you won't be disappointed.

[bigmo66]

 

That hog Alvarez is nice Rf20Ms, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alvarez-Regent-Series-RF20SM-Mahogany-Folk-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=518724

 

 

Played one of these yesterday and I was surprised in a good way! One of the best sounding $200 hog tops I ever played. Not dull at all like some other cheapo hog tops.

[larry50]

The good Fender acoustics are the Guild's.

[knockwood]

The good Fender acoustics are the Guild's.

 

[ESL94]

 

+1 Consider looking for something at or above the $500 mark, such as: Guild GAD series (can't recall which model is the 000 size) Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500R or EF-500M Martin 000X1 Taylor 114 or 214 Larrivee OM-03

 

 

+1 bumb

I have old Fender acoustic about 20 yrs. old. Got it in a trade, had to do a lot of work to get it set up the way I wanted: new keys, bone nut & saddle just to name some changes.

[gt5litre]

The Ensenada series can be very good guitars. All solid woods, made in Mexico from Mexican tonewoods, spruce tops however. Play as well as Taylors to my humble digits and have a bright , but full tone and not in the Martin camp. They have forward-shifted bracing, Grover open-back tuners and the Palo Escrito back and sides gives a tone that to me is not as bassy as rosewood and not dry llike a good mahogany dread.

 

I like several of the Tacoma series and can't wait to try a Guild from the Tacoma plant. Also, the GADs can sound great and I found several GAD50s I loves the tone ans playability of, however several had the vibrating trussrod issue and scared me away. The Gad50 has the rich tone that rosewood can bring, but the mids and highs are better represented than you would find on a typical (perhaps stereo-typical??) Martin sound.

 

gt5litre