Help me decide

[Sideliner17]

I want to get a very good-keep for life-accoustic. I would spend up to $2,000. Problem is I also like to play in open tunings so it would be great to have a couple to switch to without re-tuning. Would you go for 1 great accoustic (Martin D-28) or 2-3 midrange accoustics but have the flexibility.

I have an Ovation Balladeer now but I really do not like the sound of it accoustically. Sounds good plugged in but I want a straight accoustic. My friend likes it so i may sell it to him.

 

Are there any decent mid-priced resonator guitars out there? I see Fender makes one that is not too pricey, but I have been playing electrics for a long time and I have come to realize that you get what you pay for. i havent been able to find one to try.

[Hudman]

I would go with 2 acoustics. I honestly think there are guitars equal to the D-28 for half the price.

[Freeman Keller]

We'll, I watched Kottke in concert one time start in standard, drop the 6th to D, then 1, 2, and 3 to open D, futz around a bit and be in open G, then end up in open C. All the time talking to the audience and in perfect tune when he finished. Oh, and on a 12 string too. So - it can be done.

On the other hand, I currently own four sixes, two 12's, and two reso's (I'm promising Momma I'll thin the herd) tuned about every way you can imagine, most of them out of tune. TAH has three twelves for three different tunings. So, yeah, there are some advantages of a quiver.

A D-28 is a really nice guitar and certainly can be tuned down or around - but my D-18 is probably the one that gets retuned the least. It usually sits in plain old boring concert tuning with a flatpick stuck in the strings - in part because it is so boomy to start with I hate to tune down.

As to reso's - IMHO the best medium priced one is the Beard Goldtone - Paul Beard takes some asian imports that replaces the cones, gets rid of the rattles and sets them up really well. Of course you can get a Fender or Regal or Johnson, play it for a while and do this yourself too. But after a while you'll want two resos - one for G and one for D - maybe a woodie and a style O. Then you'll play a tricone....

[kwakatak]

IMO having a couple of guitars on hand is better than having just one "workhorse". I say this because I have 2 guitars and play each differently. When I want to fingerpick I have an OM but it's not my ideal choice for strumming so I kept my old dread on, which is OK for some fingerstyle but not nearly as comfortable or tonally balanced as the OM.

For $2000 you could get two (or more) of the following brands:

Larrivee 03 series (my personal favorite )
Epiphone Masterbilt series
Guild GAD series
Martin 15 series (hog top but MF has a custom spruce-top)
Taylor 200 series (or used 300 series)

BTW, I've only had one test-drive with a Fender acoustic. It was a cheap one ($175) and didn't make a good first impression so I haven't looked at Fender acoustics since. OTOH I like their electrics and IMO that's where their area of expertise lies.

[Sideliner17]

Thanks. I am leaning toward the multiple accoustic route as well. Give me some more models to check out that are not chepos but wont break the bank. Its been a long time since I looked at accoustics. I guess larivee and Taylor are very good from what I have heard.

[TimZ]

Maybe look at some of the high end Seagulls, if you can deal with the 1.8 nut. I'm a fan of their products, I have 2 and would like others. This is not to say I wouldn't get a Martin, Taylor, Gibson, Larrivee but I too have a limit to the funds and I like having multiple guitars (sounds). Good luck.

[Freeman Keller]

One other advantage of more is that they can be fine tuned (no pun) for the tuning and/or playing style. For example, if you want one in open G or D you can tweak the 1st and last strings up a size, or set the action for the reduced tension. As an exteme case, I mostly run lights on everything but one git stays in open C (CGCGCB) - it has a light 1st string and pretty heavy bottoms. Or one 'bro that is only used for open G slide - mediums with an unwound third.

Don't be afraid to retune a guitar you are trying in a shop. I always ask first and remind them to make it right after I'm done, but if I take a reso off the wall and it is in standard it doesn't stay that way very long. Have some fun!

[Sideliner17]

I am going to try a bunch. Best way to go. Just trying to get a general direction as I said, its been a while.

Thanks for the advice.

[pgcorky]

I'm a big fan of this Taylor 314 for finger-style or strumming. And I bought mine used for about $750. Find a deal like that and you'd have plenty of room for acoustic number two and still come in under $2K!