Im stuck on what acoustic to get......

[Ross82]

Im selling my Jackson SL2H to get a decent acoustic since i've wanted one for years now. Now the 3 guitars im mainly looking at are the Takamine EAN 60C and the Taylor 314ce and NS32ce. Now, i love the sound of classical guitars however they've always seemed to have a realy cumbersome neck profile and a whopping action, how ever i've only ever played cheap nasty classicals so i doubt a taylor would be like that though i understand that classicals do have a wider neck than steel acoustics. Has anyone here got or played an NS32, how do u find it?. Is it comfortable to play for extended lengths of time?.

 

The 314ce i've fancied ever since i played a friend 714ce which i thought was absolutley awesome and played like a dream however my budget is nowhere near that big. I may possibly be able to get one off ebay if i buy from the states since the exchange rate is decent right now. Would the 314 compare in any way to the 714 or is it like Epiphone/Gibson?

 

And the EAN60c, this one seems to bit a good middle ground between classical and steel though i understand it will sound largely steel there's something about the look of slotted headstocks that gives off a more reserved vibe. Anyways i've read a few comments on the wider than normal neck width and am just wondering how comfortable it would be. I used to play 7 string in my youth and obviously managed to play that without problems after getting accustomed to it, but the wizard necks are thin as ice so the stretch doesnt seem so bad. If the EAN neck is both wide and with a big profile i think it would be uncomfortable especially for stretch out chords.

 

If anyone has any viewpoints on these guitars please let me know what you think and also if you have any other suggestions i've missed

 

Cheers

[jerrysimon]

Ross,

 

Hi I can't really comment on two but can the Taylor 314CE which I have had for about 4 years now.

 

I started and played with a Ibanez steel string acoustic for about 14 years until my wife finally convinced me to upgrade and brought me a Guild. There is something amazing about moving from a run of the mill low end beginners guitar to mid range and my playing increased and improved more in the 3 years after I bought that, than in the five or six years I had become a bit stale on the Ibanez.

 

Unfortuantley or fortunately as you may see it the Guild got damaged, still playable but has an extrax hole in the top

 

Anyway the insurance paid out and I went looking for a replacement. I tried more Guilds but picked up a 314CE. It was was incredible. With these guitars you almost don't have to worry about the the physcial effort to fret them you can just get on and play. Some people use the term "they play themself" which is a bit OTT but I understand what they mean.

 

For me, a strong "picker" the base just seems to sing. I also love the ebony fretboard. I also like the Grand Auditorium body rather than the massive Guild Dreadnought cutaway my Guild is.

 

I can't comment as I said on the other 2 although I did try a Takamine EN10c I think it was called, all the rage at the time. The Guild DC1E sounded better but that was in the time when Guild had not been taken over by Fender.

 

I guess my best advice would be get out there and try them. After playing steel string for a few years I took classical lessons for a year, but went back to acoustic steel string. My real passion is James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel etc etc as I love to play and sing.

 

Anyway sorry for the essay just sort of introducing myself to this board as well.

 

I am about to post again as I have been looking at 12 strings and have ended up back in the Taylor camp.

 

Oh I should add as my Taylor is now 3 or 4 years old so they now come with different electrics mine having the sqaure pop out Fisherman on the side the newer ones with the Expression System with the more discreat three control buttons on the top.

 

Plugged or unplugged they sound great. But as I said go out and try one

 

I have never played the higher spec Taylors especially the 714CE. I would not dare as they are way out of my price league!

 

PS like you I am in the UK and as you say prices over here are steep. Mail order might be an option as many of them have a 7 day return policy and are much cheaper.

 

Regards

 

Jerry

[jerrysimon]

Just saw your Jackson SL2H on Ebay

 

If you get what you are asking you should be able to cover the cost of a Taylor 314CE

 

Jerry