Broke my Epiphone, need a new, nicer guitar

[handyrandyrc]

I just joined the forum today. I have been reading user reviews on different acoustic guitars, since I'm trying to buy one.

 

I purchased a Epiphone PR-150 in 1996, not knowing much about what makes a good acoustic. I broke it a couple of months ago whilst trying to make it sound better. It buzzed all over the place, and I was trying to higher the action by doing a truss rod adjustment. At any rate, I gave the neck a good yank in the process and popped it right off.

 

I figured it wouldn't be worth the cost of repair, so I am in search for a new guitar. I now know I should at LEAST get a solid--top guitar. (I think my cheapie Epiphone was some type of laminate, as when I broke it, you could see the layers of material that made up the top.)

 

I may pick up one of these $119.00 Washburn G17S guitars on EBay. Some shop in Missouri is selling a bunch of them. Anyone have any experience with them? (Or with this type of guitar?) I wanted to be able to PLAY the guitar to see how it feels, but the deal is so good (locally I can only find solid tops in the $200 dollar range) I don't want to pass it up. (Or am I making a mistake?)

 

Randy Clements

Salt Lake City, UT

[seven7]

welcome to the forum!

 

first off, i don't know who started this whole 'truss rod is for adjusting action thing' but it's dangerous and you can see why. over and over i've seen people mention using the truss rod to adjust action and it's just not the way to do it. the truss rod is not meant to adjust the action. it's made to set the proper neck relief only. your guitar possibly needed the frets to be level, or a new taller saddle to raise the action. it also could've been that the top had sunk or bellied.

 

as far as new guitars, there are plenty of good ones out there to choose from. if you would state your budget a lot of people can chime in with possibilities. i'm not familiar with that washburn you mentioned, but washburn is known for making some very good instruments for the price. if the place has a return policy you could always send it back. it might cost you shipping, but for that price it might be worth it to you.

[geek_usa]

hey randy, I would be willing to sell you my Yamaha FG412-S Acoustic for $175 shipped. It has a solid spruce top, nato back and sides, and has a deep, rich, throaty character.

 

average music store price is $399.

 

I would be willing to haggle with you on the price as well. email me at siamesedream49@hotmail.com

 

 

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/136629406/136634392DHqeEl

[kwhman]

I bought one of the Washburn G17S guitars from that place off E-bay. I am extremely happy with it! It came to me exactly as described. I bought the guitar to learn on.

 

As soon as I got it I took it to a shop here in town and had them put on a bone saddle, bone nut, new strings and set up. He charged me $70 but from what I can tell looking at these forums that was not a bad deal. I also got his opinion on the guitar and he said it was a great guitar and I got a very good deal. He played it for me and I was impressed.

 

I'm not am expert and I know quality can vary even inside the same modle of a guitar but mine is great and I have been very inpressed with the seller. In fact I bought a Knoa K2 thin body from him for my daughter.

 

I also e-mailed Washburn and asked about the guitar and they sent me specs on a similar guitar but the G17S has more "options" like neck binding and gold sealed tuners. It is made in China.

 

I know when I was thinking about buying mine I had a tough time getting info but I went ahead since $119 for a brand name solid top guitar seemed like a great deal. I hope this helps with your decision.

 

- Steve in Ga

[handyrandyrc]

Steve, thanks for the info on the guitar. I had read your thread last week after "googling" G17S -- this is actually how I found the forum! I saw the EBay listing, and wanted to see what others thought about the G17S.

 

Well I got impatient and ended up getting one locally. I ended up with a Fender DG-8S. I really liked the feel of it compared to the Yamaha I played there. They had just gotten a bunch in, and they were the right price point for me. I got a discount at $179.99, but ended up getting a "starter kit" with it (cordura bag, strings, string winder, junk chromatic tuner, and a DVD to learn how to play.)

 

I actually watched the DVD a practiced through the lessons. I did learn quite a bit, even though I have played off and on for years. I learned some exercises and patterns to practice some pentatonic scales. I knew the pentatonic scale, but wasn't proficient at "using" it well. I could arpeggio the scale up and down, but didn't know what else to do (not been using patterns or skipping around to a rhythm.)

 

I also learned I have been forming my open G chord differently. So I've been trying it the way the instructor shows (fingers 2 and 3 up on the low strings, and pinky on the high E string). I've been using 1 and 2 on the low strings, and 3 and 4 on the high B and E strings.

 

This Fender being a solid top, and having such a good feel (and I like how it sounds more open on the high notes -- more "bright")..

 

Thanks to all for the words of advice and offers. I plan to spend as much time here as I can to learn and share.

 

Randy Clements

Salt Lake City, UT

[guitarcapo]

Call rondomusic.com and ask Kurt if he's getting any more of those SX acoustics in for 99.00 plus 20 shipping. They had solid spruce tops and were better than Yamahas in my opinion.

[postalsock]

yea my brother has a dg8s and hes had it for years, and i have a yamaha what do you know. Rivals against brothers.

[unpluggedthumb]

for around 250 no case, you can get an art and lutherie, solide cedar top dred. Cherry laminate side and back, I played one at the local store and I liked it a lot. It had some bass puch which I like in an acousic. Check out any Godin product, they make segulls too; most peaple love them for the cash, maybe 350 for a cedar one.

 

I also saw a washburn D 10, for 189 new, it sounded pretty nice for a cheaper guitar.