Low Budget Acoustic?

[a1rflow]

Hey everyone, I'm looking around for an acoustic electric guitar. My perferred style of body is dreadnought with a cutaway, and I'm looking to spend around up to $500.

 

I've been looking at Alvarez. I'm not a big fan of those guitars like ovation's "backing" that they use for the guitar.

 

My local shops aren't even Alvarez dealers, so I have no idea how to try one out however, so recommend me some brands /guitars.

 

Hopefully i'll be able to go to my local guitar shop and check a few out. Just looking for some guitars I should look out for.

 

Any help is appreciated. Thanks

[Vespeed]

Have a look at Simon & Patrick

 

http://www.simonandpatrick.com/woodlandcwspruce.htm

 

I can tell you by experience that anything made by the Godin guitar company, including the Simon & Patrick line are quality built for a great price.

[guitarist21]

Alvarez is a great place to start in that price range. Ovation, IMO, is not. Some other great brands to look at in that price range and under include:

 

Washburn (great guitars for the price)

 

Epiphone Masterbilt (you may end up paying more than $500 but its totally worth it)

 

Ibanez AE series (great plugged in sound, not as awesome acoustic, but still not terrible)

 

Yamaha (they have a great reputation around here)

 

Seagull (very well built guitars)

 

Most important, though, is probably going to the store to try them out yourself. Try as many guitars as you can. And don't be afraid to travel a little to look at Alvarez. They make some fantastic guitars.

 

Ellen

[a1rflow]

Any ideas on Takamine?

 

I just called and they have a EG530SSC for $499.

[Vespeed]

 

Originally posted by a1rflow Any ideas on Takamine? I just called and they have a EG530SSC for $499.

 

 

Thats a good price, I say go check it out. My sister and her boyfriend both have Takamines, they like them very much.

[guitarist21]

 

Originally posted by a1rflow Any ideas on Takamine? I just called and they have a EG530SSC for $499.

 

 

I like Takamine in the $500+ price range. IMO, anything lower and they sacrifice a lot in the quality department.

 

Ellen

[DeepEnd]

Originally posted by guitarist21 . . . Ibanez AE series (great plugged in sound, not as awesome acoustic, but still not terrible) . . .

The AW series is a better choice, IMHO. The AW120ECE goes for a bit more than your price range but it's a dynamite guitar, plugged in or unplugged. And yes, Takamine is a good choice as well. That's a great price on the EG530SSC.

[kwakatak]

Used Larriv

[TimZ]

I've owned an Alvarez, I think you'll do OK there. I did sell mine but that's wasn't the guitars fault. I also own two Seagulls and will probably get more from the Godin products. I think they are very nice but you will have to decide on the short scale and wide nut on most of their guitars. I think Takamine is right there with Alvarez at that price, but I would place Seagull ahead.

[knockwood]

 

Originally posted by Vespeed Have a look at Simon & Patrick http://www.simonandpatrick.com/woodlandcwspruce.htm I can tell you by experience that anything made by the Godin guitar company, including the Simon & Patrick line are quality built for a great price.

 

 

+1

+1 also for Epiphone Masterbilt

 

If you don't really need a cutaway for practical purposes, I'd suggest dropping that requirement. The extra work required to fashion a cutaway makes it an expensive feature, and you'll get much more bang for your buck in that price range with a non-cutaway.

[flip333]

I've never been inclined towards the cutaways but I watched a guy on youtube in a band playing "Little Wing" on one. Superb, and he used the cutaway to make it happen.

[mike.sartori]

The Epiphone Masterbuilt guitars are excellent for the money. they just sound great, and play well too.

[guit30]

Alvarez RD20S

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alvarez-RD20S-Regent-Series-Dreadnought-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=518725&src=3SOSWXXA

[yeoldboat]

Most brands mentioned above are Asian built, with the exception of Godin and Seagull which are Canadian. In my experience, Canada is currently producing the finest affordable guitars out there. This would also include Art & Lutherie and Garrison.

 

Asian guitars can be good but the good ones are out of your budget. My Asian-built Fender GD-47SCE ran $700 and I had to put a new saddle and nut on it to get good tone. I'd still only rate it about a 7.5 on a scale of ten. When you drop to $500 or less with an Asian-built guitar, there are definite compromises in quality (especially with a 12-string acoustic electric).

 

I got my Garrison 12-string acoustic electric on e-bay for $440 including shipping, and it's a dream! Canadain companies use superior tonewoods and construction as a rule. Check out those four Canadian brands and you won't go wrong. Good Luck!

[cormac]

Takamine, Seagull ... both have great low-budget guitars ... i wish i'd had guitars this nice at those prices when i was starting out -- you can't go wrong with either one and the EG530SSC you mentioned is a very nice one and for that price, i don't think you could do better -- i think they're typically listed at about $100 more than that ...

 

the Epi Masterbilts are great ... if you can up your price range a bit, these are truly guitars for a lifetime ... like they used to make in Kalamazoo years ago ... smooth playing and great tone

 

and the two Garrisons (as mentioned) that I've had the pleasure to play are excellent guitars -- i think Canada does have some of the nicest guitars going recently ... if you can find them, they are definitely worth checking out

 

also you should keep an eye out for some of the old Yamaha Nippons from the 70s ... i don't think they made a cutaway (per your Takamine example) but these are known for their 'tank-like' endurance, full volume, and great tone ...

 

it might be silly, but the first thing i look for in most any guitar are smooth fret ends ... i think it's the first indication of how much care went into the production of the instrument ... just one of my little "things"

 

let us know what you find

[kwakatak]

Originally posted by yeoldboat Most brands mentioned above are Asian built, with the exception of Godin and Seagull which are Canadian. In my experience, Canada is currently producing the finest affordable guitars out there. This would also include Art & Lutherie and Garrison. Asian guitars can be good but the good ones are out of your budget. My Asian-built Fender GD-47SCE ran $700 and I had to put a new saddle and nut on it to get good tone. I'd still only rate it about a 7.5 on a scale of ten. When you drop to $500 or less with an Asian-built guitar, there are definite compromises in quality (especially with a 12-string acoustic electric). I got my Garrison 12-string acoustic electric on e-bay for $440 including shipping, and it's a dream! Canadain companies use superior tonewoods and construction as a rule. Check out those four Canadian brands and you won't go wrong. Good Luck!

 

+1

 

Godin is to Canadian guitars as General Motors is to American cars. Godin has several sub-brands which include Seagull, Art & Lutherie, Simon & Patrick, Norman, and LaPetrie (I think but don't quote me on that). No word on which ones are the respective :Caddilac", "Chevy" or even "Buick" (for those "seasoned" players on a budget out there! )

 

BTW, Larriv

[DeepEnd]

Originally posted by cormac . . . it might be silly, but the first thing i look for in most any guitar are smooth fret ends ... i think it's the first indication of how much care went into the production of the instrument ... just one of my little "things" . . .

Not silly at all. Before I bought my Ibanez I looked at a used Goya. Beautiful guitar from a distance, lovely tobacco burst top, but the edges of the soundhole hadn't been sanded! It was very rough and unfinished looking. Between that and a bowed neck (admittedly more significant), I passed on the Goya.

[Ron Bloor]

I have owned many of the guitars talked about in this thread.. The one thing I would like to offer is SOLID WOOD (throughout)is the key to a good guitar. I have purchased guitars from ebay for as little as $122.50 that were constructed of solid tonewoods.. and they sound great. Plywood (pressed etc) sound thin and never improve (much).. Solid tonewoods will improve with playing... even if you just put them in front of you speaker cabinet... They improve because the woods open up.. IMHO.

[kwakatak]

Originally posted by cormac it might be silly, but the first thing i look for in most any guitar are smooth fret ends ... i think it's the first indication of how much care went into the production of the instrument ... just one of my little "things"

 

I don't know if it's an indicator of bad workmanship in as much as bad treatment of displays by the retailer. I've played some "high priced" guitars in Guitar Center (which is a relative term in this example) that had exposed and barbed fret ends not to mention bad (and sometimes broken) strings and I wouldn't fault the manufacturer for that.

 

For example, I played a Taylor 214 and a 314 at a Guitar Center a couple of years ago and both had bad fret ends. They also happened to be marked down, but not enough in my book. I looked at it as an example of both being "shop worn" and wondered what else might have been wrong with them that wasn't so clearly evident. Needless to say I walked away without forming a completely bad opinion on either model. I've since played other Taylor guitars (including another 214 and 314) and think their necks are actually some of the most comfortable (if not "the" most comfortable) out there. I'd just gotten hold of a couple of "dogs" before.

 

BTW - my only gripe about Taylor now is the neck/headstock fingerjoint. OTOH it's come to my attention that they've addressed that and changed to the lessunsightly "scarf" joint so they have begun to tempt me as a rela contender for a new guitar somewhere down the line. Now if only Martin would do something about the "wings" they use on their headstocks...!

[babablowfish]

Ron Bloor wrote:

 

 

I have owned many of the guitars talked about in this thread.. The one thing I would like to offer is SOLID WOOD (throughout)is the key to a good guitar. I have purchased guitars from ebay for as little as $122.50 that were constructed of solid tonewoods.. and they sound great. Plywood (pressed etc) sound thin and never improve (much).. Solid tonewoods will improve with playing... even if you just put them in front of you speaker cabinet... They improve because the woods open up.. IMHO.

 

 

With all due respect, I disagree with this as a categorical statement. I agree that what you said is generally true, but not always. Those who have been on this forum for a while have heard me say this to the point that they are probably sick of hearing it but here goes: the old Yamaha FGs are famous for aging well and producing a tone that laminates supposedly cannot produce. There are also many guitars that have solid tops only and laminate sides and backs that also out-perform all solid guitars.

[heymelbs]

I'll second the vote for the Nippon Gakki's...

 

You might want to check out some of the lower end Martin guitars (x series). Quality guitars and they sound awesome even though they aren't solid wood.

[cormac]

Originally posted by kwakatak I don't know if it's an indicator of bad workmanship in as much as bad treatment of displays by the retailer. I've played some "high priced" guitars in Guitar Center (which is a relative term in this example) that had exposed and barbed fret ends not to mention bad (and sometimes broken) strings and I wouldn't fault the manufacturer for that. For example, I played a Taylor 214 and a 314 at a Guitar Center a couple of years ago and both had bad fret ends. They also happened to be marked down, but not enough in my book. I looked at it as an example of both being "shop worn" and wondered what else might have been wrong with them that wasn't so clearly evident. Needless to say I walked away without forming a completely bad opinion on either model. I've since played other Taylor guitars (including another 214 and 314) and think their necks are actually some of the most comfortable (if not "the" most comfortable) out there. I'd just gotten hold of a couple of "dogs" before. BTW - my only gripe about Taylor now is the neck/headstock fingerjoint. OTOH it's come to my attention that they've addressed that and changed to the lessunsightly "scarf" joint so they have begun to tempt me as a rela contender for a new guitar somewhere down the line. Now if only Martin would do something about the "wings" they use on their headstocks...!

 

i'm not sure i understand your point about rough fret ends being a retailer problem ... but certainly understand your point about 'shop worn' ... i go to guitar center to just try out various guitars and they really don't give a {censored} about whether their product have all their strings, etc ... i'd only ever explore different guitars there and then go look for them at my fave shop in chicago (about 2 hours away so i can't just stop by too often) or just order them new ... be better than buying one that the maniacs at GC have beaten into submission lol