Members theGOOCH Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 Good ones are so expensive! I like electrics too, but you can pick up a pretty respectable electric...like a Mexican Strat for $400 (not top of the line and I'm sure some people hate them like any other guitar, but overall they are pretty good guitars and pretty well respected.) How many good acoustics from a proven name can you get for that price? I think not many.
Members t60 fan Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 "from a proven name" is the part I question. Don't pay attention to the name and you'll end up happier in you quest...
Members babablowfish Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 Check out eBay and you will periodically find a Yamaha FG340 or a Yamaha FG365s or an FG375s going for anywhere from $250 - $400, depending on their condition.I know that I wouldn't trade my FG340 for any Martin, Taylor, Gibson or Larivee - and it is all laminate!So don't despair. You don't have to drop big bucks to get a great guitar. Then again, some folks here will say that I am deluded, but so what? The voices assure me that they are wrong.
Members theGOOCH Posted June 22, 2006 Author Members Posted June 22, 2006 I agree that the name on the headstock isn't everything, but a lot of the big names are big names for a reason. Maybe there are newer brands that sound great now, but will they hold up like a Martin or Taylor or Gibson? I don't know. They certainly won't hold their value as well. I guess I'm just venting frustration that I haven't won the lottery yet. LOL Are you ever worried you're going to get screwed on ebay (counterfeit guitar etc)? I buy and sell little stuff there, but I might be a little hesitant to drop a few hundred bucks sight unseen from an individual.
Members t60 fan Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 Originally posted by theGOOCH Good ones are so expensive! I like electrics too, but you can pick up a pretty respectable electric...like a Mexican Strat for $400 (not top of the line and I'm sure some people hate them like any other guitar, but overall they are pretty good guitars and pretty well respected.)How many good acoustics from a proven name can you get for that price? I think not many. Lets say you're gonna' make your own guitars. I think it's fairly obvious that the accoustic will be more difficult and expensive to build than an electric.
Members babablowfish Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 theGooch wrote:Are you ever worried you're going to get screwed on ebay (counterfeit guitar etc)?I buy and sell little stuff there, but I might be a little hesitant to drop a few hundred bucks sight unseen from an individual. I got screwed on one FG340 I bought on eBay - it had a top that had bellied, a bridge that was planed down, deep ruts in the fretboard, a finish that was a nightmare - none of which had been described. Oh well. I put $ into fixing it up and traded it in. On the other hand, the other FG340 I bought on eBay, although it had been "rode hard and put away wet" by a Bluegrass musician up in Maine, at least was accurately described. By the time my Luthier got through with it it was a dream! I haven't seen any of these anywhere but on eBay and even with the money I put into fixing it up (replaced 8 frets, bone saddle and nut, John Pearse KingPins, set-up, tons of elbow grease polishing it up) I spent well under $400.00 for a guitar that to me is worth many times that. Anyway, I am happy.
Members Hudman Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 Hey Gooch - There are a ton of nice acoustic guitars on the market for under $500. Epiphone Masterbilts can be found new for less than $500 on Ebay (solid wood construction, bone nut and bone saddle). You can get Taylors, Martins and Larrivees new for less than $800. The guitars in my signature cost $779 and $199.
Members MyM.O. Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 Originally posted by theGOOCH Good ones are so expensive! I like electrics too, but you can pick up a pretty respectable electric...like a Mexican Strat for $400 (not top of the line and I'm sure some people hate them like any other guitar, but overall they are pretty good guitars and pretty well respected.) How many good acoustics from a proven name can you get for that price? I think not many. Well, I agree with you. I know that a lot of work is put into the acoustic, but I think the prices are astronomical for many brands. Used is a good way to go, as is playing your way through the cheaper brands and imports for one you can live with (yes, even love!). We're lucky that the imports are sounding so good these days. When I first started playing (near end of 60s) cheap was crap, pure and simple .
Members TXTooMuch Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 To be fair, when you buy a decent acoustic the tone is already there. When you buy an electric you still have to obsess over which amp to get, possibly pedals etc.
Members guitapick Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 Hey, man...check out the Alvarez line. I was in a shop in Virginia. They had a used Taylor for $2000.00 and a new Alvarez for $450.00. I just went in for strings...but was thinking of buying a flattop.Guy let me try the Taylor. VERY nice. Then I picked up the Alvarez. If I'd been there to seriously buy, it would have been an easy decision, considering the money. The Alvarez had a really lively tone and played beautifully, too.Maybe in another shop with two similar guits the results would have been different...but if I were you, I'd start checking out that line. That was one sweet guitar...plus it's in the right $ ballpark.
Members EvilThatMenDo Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 +1 for Alvarez. i got my RD20S today. best $230 i've ever spent.
Members guitapick Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 I was really blown away by it, to tell you the truth. Everyone talks about how the old ones are the best...and they must be awfully good, 'cause this thing sang.
Members Tony Burns Posted June 22, 2006 Members Posted June 22, 2006 when your talking 400 dollar electric's , thats not really pro quality - a really good top end electric is as much as a top end acoustic - there are deals to be had on either electrics or acoustics - but the lines drawn on quality - its about the same on both ( in most case's ) now this is my opinion but over the past 35 years of playing both electric and acoustic's i believe this to be true. I also love having a electric kicking around with my acoustics - and you may also like having an acoustic to go with your electric - if your new to acoustics you need to spend some time familiarizing yourself with whats out there- there are way to many choices to be had -so you make the right choice for you !
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