Members Kipperfetish Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 Ive been playing electric guitar for about three years and want to get an acoustic. Im going to be playing with a pick, like i do on electric (is this called flatpicking?). I want to play things like Steve Vai's Rescue Me Or Bury Me. I ownt really be strumming much, mostly picking. I plan on using it unamplified so that is the most important thing for me (the sound): I think id like a sound which is quite bright but with big bass too, so lots of depth. - What type of body would suit my style? (ive seen dread, jumbo, bowleback etc) - Does a cutaway actually make higher frets easier? I looks like it helps very little as tyhe guitars body/ heel is still in the way. Cutaway or not? Does it affect the sound much? Thanks for your help.
Members Old_Joe_Clark Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 bright with big bass sounds like a maple jumbo
Members zipote123 Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 i think you should find how much money you could spend, then go from there. I think you should go with an auditorium sized.
Members dadgad7 Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 Personally, I like the concert sized guitars. but I fingerpick, if you're into playing leads and want a rich sound, I'd go with a decent Dread with rosewood back/sides. the Dread is the standard, in terms of shape and sound.A cncert is very comfortable, but the dread wins on sound. Somebody mentioned a Maple Jumbo, also a good choicebut if you're used to electric guitars, the jumbo won't be comfortable. anyways - good luck
Members Tony Burns Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 I would try as many guitars , different brands , sizes, wood types as i could get my hands on -- what might suit one person may not suit you at all-- Martin for example has a reputation as being bassey, gibsons a little more on the trebly side, some are a mix-- but dont catagorize any guitar as being any way-- i have a Jumbo Greven ( like a gibson J-200 - but a unique animal in its own right ) i know that over in the UK , you have different choices than we do in the US- in many ways i think your lucky, by the way -- a body size to consider may be the OM - its narrower ( which makes it more comfortable to play )but full in volume and tone -
Members recordingtrack1 Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 quote:________________________________originally posted by Tony Burns I would try as many guitars , different brands , sizes, wood types as i could get my hands on -- what might suit one person may not suit you at all________________________________ +1 to Tony B:thu: Cutaways do make it easier to reach the frets above 14. I personally don't do much above 12 on an acoustic. Also, I don't hear much difference in cut vs non cut. I am sure you will get many opinions going on both sides of that issue. Trust what you like. Good Luck RT1
Members Hudman Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 A lot of the rockers like Taylor, Ibanez and Carvin. Their necks tend to be low profiled and not too wide. That translate in to pretty fast playing guitars. The best advice is the advice Tony gave you. Get out there and start playing.
Members Kipperfetish Posted June 10, 2006 Author Members Posted June 10, 2006 Sadly, Music shops in my area are quite terrible, so im going to have to buy online. Can anyone guide me as to the type of guitar i should get? Thanks.
Members guit30 Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 Try an Alvarez regent series , great necksJimRD8,RF8,RD20S
Members Kipperfetish Posted June 10, 2006 Author Members Posted June 10, 2006 i think ive decided i dont want a dread or a jumbo. there too big. Im looking at Grand Auditorium type guitars or one like the 000 and OM series (what is the name of that shape??).
Members kwakatak Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 Well, I must admit that I had to find a way to do the conversion so for those folks asking "how much is
Members Misha Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 Someone has to say it: for 370 $ US, try a Seagull S6 + Folk, Simon and Patrick 6 + folk, Norman B20 + Folk!!! They are all made by Godin! Also try a Yamaha FS720S! Good luck!
Members thatsbunk Posted June 10, 2006 Members Posted June 10, 2006 imo for a first acoustic I'd stick w/ a dread, it's the most versatile. I would never get a bowlback... sound notwithstanding, i could never play my friend's ovation cause it always slipped off my lap. What about parkwood guitars? Aren't they available in the uk? I've heard some good things about them & they're in that price range...
Members smokiee Posted June 11, 2006 Members Posted June 11, 2006 When I frist bought my acoustic (custom made dread) I was playing electric for 2 years. It seems awkard cos of the size but then the more I played the more I realised that it is exactly what I was looking for. I play hard on my electric and the dread just compliments my style. Washburn and Epiphone are good sensible guitars for the price and your style of playing. A Seagull has a wider nut witdh which might be a little uncomfortable for strumming and platpicking but then I have small(ish) hands. Try to find em used, you'll get more guitar for the money. eBay Uk is a great start, I just saw a beautiful Crafter DE6-N, a dread with cutaway and Lr Baggs for 144 quids.
Members KATMAN Posted June 11, 2006 Members Posted June 11, 2006 I would go with a Takamine cutaway version.If you can find a used "G" series,that would be right up your alley. Thinner necks,cutaway reachs to the highest fret,sounds great.Paid$300 for mine,it's a nice litte axe for the price.
Members Burningleaves Posted June 11, 2006 Members Posted June 11, 2006 Originally posted by Kipperfetish Ive been playing electric guitar for about three years and want to get an acoustic. Im going to be playing with a pick, like i do on electric (is this called flatpicking?). I want to play things like Steve Vai's Rescue Me Or Bury Me. I ownt really be strumming much, mostly picking. I plan on using it unamplified so that is the most important thing for me (the sound): I think id like a sound which is quite bright but with big bass too, so lots of depth.- What type of body would suit my style? (ive seen dread, jumbo, bowleback etc)- Does a cutaway actually make higher frets easier? I looks like it helps very little as tyhe guitars body/ heel is still in the way. Cutaway or not? Does it affect the sound much?Thanks for your help. If I am not mistaken, VAI has a signature acoustic made by Takamine. Granted it is an expensive guitar but you could get the specs on it...wood types etc and get something in your price range that matches the Vai sig' specs as close as possible.
Members kwakatak Posted June 11, 2006 Members Posted June 11, 2006 Originally posted by Burningleaves If I am not mistaken, VAI has a signature acoustic made by Takamine. Granted it is an expensive guitar but you could get the specs on it...wood types etc and get something in your price range that matches the Vai sig' specs as close as possible. Actually, it's an Ibanez: http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=EP9 It's saying something when MF doesn't carry it even though they carry his signature electric guitar. I see this guitar as little more than a novelty.
Members MyM.O. Posted June 12, 2006 Members Posted June 12, 2006 Originally posted by Kipperfetish i think ive decided i dont want a dread or a jumbo. there too big. Im looking at Grand Auditorium type guitars or one like the 000 and OM series (what is the name of that shape??). You're not going to get big bass from these. A dread would be ideal. Grand Auditoriums and OM/000 are quieter and more balanced in tone. In your price range I'm going to suggest an Alvarez. The AD70 is a nice dread, an AD60 is cheaper. They do have an AF60S which is a mahogany backed, spruce top Grand Concert size. Some of the Regents sound decent (they're cheaper), but you'd want play these if possible to pick on out. Since you're going to buy without trying make sure you check out Harmony Central reviews .
Members 7and7is Posted June 12, 2006 Members Posted June 12, 2006 everyone here has been giving you good input. I say.. get a dreadnought with a spruce top. you can get a Big Baby Taylor and with Elixir strings you will want to hold onto that thing for years... also, look at Ibanez Artwood series (I just purchased one - liking it so far) and the Alvarez which I was looking for, never played, but hear nice things about.
Members Kipperfetish Posted June 12, 2006 Author Members Posted June 12, 2006 does a dread still have quite a lot of treble. i dont want a dark sound. i want a thick but quite bright sound
Members smokiee Posted June 12, 2006 Members Posted June 12, 2006 Originally posted by Kipperfetish does a dread still have quite a lot of treble. i dont want a dark sound. i want a thick but quite bright sound a dread would be just fine. if you want certain kind of sounds (bright, mellow, dark etc.) there lots of other considerations for example strings type (80/20 or PB), string gauge, action, saddle materials etc.... then there's wood type, some are brighter some mellower...
Members MyM.O. Posted June 12, 2006 Members Posted June 12, 2006 Originally posted by Kipperfetish does a dread still have quite a lot of treble. i dont want a dark sound. i want a thick but quite bright sound For sure. Some dreads are too bright for some people (not me, I'm a Taylor lover ). Like Smokiee said, different strings alone can give you different tones. If you want to consider buying used, a Taylor 110 or 210 would give you both good bass and treble.
Members Kipperfetish Posted June 12, 2006 Author Members Posted June 12, 2006 anyone played the ibanez aw40 or any of the artwood series? Ive fallen in love with this : http://www.ibanez.co.jp/ac_page.php?AREA_ID=3&PAGE_ID=129&COLOR=CL01&MODEL
Members theGOOCH Posted June 12, 2006 Members Posted June 12, 2006 7and7is (or whoever else may know): I haven't had a chance to check out a Taylor Big Baby, but I sure like the price for a solid top name brand. I currently play a dread. How much smaller is the big baby? I'm a relatively big guy (6'1 220) would it feel like I'm playing a little kid's guitar?
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