Members clipari Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 Everywhere I seem to turn, I cannot find an all-solid wood guitar for under $700 anywhere... Where should I be looking? And, what should I be looking for? I prefer a cedar top and rosewood back and sides... Preferably 6-string dreadnought...
Members AtomHeartMother Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 Originally posted by clipari Everywhere I seem to turn, I cannot find an all-solid wood guitar for under $700 anywhere... Where should I be looking? And, what should I be looking for?I prefer a cedar top and rosewood back and sides... Preferably 6-string dreadnought... You can get tons. They're all made in China though if that matters to you. There are some cheaper all-wood Washburns (WD32SW), some Aria (I've seen it on ebay), some Blueridges, Epiphone Masterbuilts...they range from $300 or so (Washburn, Aria) to $500-600 (Blueridge, Epiphone). However, my recommendation goes to the newer Guild GAD series. The GAD-50 that I tried was fantastic. I had a great tone and felt great. They come with HSC's too. The GAD-50 is solid spruce top and solid mahogany back/sides (I believe, it might have been rosewood). The GAD-25 is all solid mahogany. There was also one similar to the GAD-50 but with a cutaway. If I recall correctly, the 50 was $569 and the 25 was $475.
Members kwakatak Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 Well, I don't know about cedar/rosewood but there are several options in your price range: Larriv
Members AtomHeartMother Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 Oh yeah. MF has the Martin D-15 Custom for $700 that is all-solid wood. I know that Seagull makes an Artist Series Mosaic that has a solid cedar top and a solid mahogany back with laminate sides. New it goes for $659, but Elderly also has one for $450 used. http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/MOS.htm
Members pathofspirit Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 A couple of weeks ago I picked up a Masterbilt AJ - 500M. I must say this is one of the nicest sounding guitars I've ever played. Solid wood - solid spruce top/mahogony back and sides. Great tone, great volume. I paid around $550 for this new - case included. I also added an LR Baggs M1 pickup which likewise sounds great.
Members guitarcapo Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 You know you can get all solid wood/American made for less than 100 bucks if you are willing to buy used. Check out this vintage fingerpicker I picked up yesterday. It helps if you work on guitars a bit like I do.
Members guitarcapo Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 oops...just read your requirements. This fits the bill. Solid cedar top. Solid rosewood back and sides...and under 700 bucks by a penny...
Members Rada Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 I never really understood the obsession with "all-solid" wood..... Just because it's all solid doesn't mean it's going to sound great or even better than a guitar with laminate backs and sides....and for under $700, I don't think you'll get a guitar with solid wood that is QUALITY solid wood....
Members guitarcapo Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 Actually I never understood manufacturer's obsession with plywood. Is spruce plywood that much cheaper than solid spruce for the soundboard? I can understand the back and sides being plywood because exotic hardwood is expensive..But spruce is pretty plentiful and relatively cheap. How much are you saving making it out of thin laminations glued together? Frankly I think only the top matters being solid wood. Back and sides being plywood might get you a prettier guitar. Less apt to vibrate and leech off energy to your stomach and arm draped over the top. More stable and less apt to crack. I hear some high end classical guitar builders use laminate construction these days for the sides. A solid gold watch and a gold-plated watch are equally capable of telling you the time. One will always be valued more though.
Members Gretsch Fan Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 Look and be careful what you select and you will find some excellent guitars. I have owned both an Epi Masterbuilt AJ500 and a Blueridge BR160. They were great guitars. The sound they produced was on par with much more expensive versions by Martin, Larrivee, etc. Of the acoustics I still have, the Gretsch Jumbo Rancher and Tanara are solid wood. The Epi Ej300 and Gretsch Sierra Jumbo sound good in their own right with laminate sides for both and laminated back for the EPi. A solid top is the most important part on the lower end. I won't buy another laminate top guitar but I will if the sides and back are and it sounds good. I would not hesitate to buy another Masterbuilt or Blueridge.
Members tamolina Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 I can't find anything I don't like about my Washburn WD56SW. I paid $550 for it with a hard case at Music123. Solid spruce and redwood. Great projection for a brand new guitar, sweet tone, and easy to play. I bought from them because they have a 45 day return policy. If they want it back they will have to come pry it out of my hands.
Members tamolina Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 Uh, that should say "rosewood" not "redwood".
Members 6942 Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 I have a solid wood (All Mahogany), Washburn WD18SW. Sounds very warm & dark, but not great volume. It's my "gots-ta-play-da-blues" guitar of choice.Normally sells for: $329.Bought it as a NEW, repaired 2nd:$82. Probably better sounding guitars out there, but not for THAT price!!
Members ben robinson Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 All the Chinese all solid guitars that are any good are made in the same factory: Grand Rewards near Shenzhen. The Korean Breedloves are excellent, but do not have solid sides. I bought a Parkwood guitar, made in Korea, that is all solid and sounds really great. I got it at Guitar Center for $499. I know they have cutaway electric models, but I don't know the prices. This guitar is a sleeper and worth checking out. I liked the Parkwood sound better than the Epiphone Masterbilt. The Breedlove did sound better, but cost more money.
Members Rada Posted May 16, 2006 Members Posted May 16, 2006 Originally posted by guitarcapo Actually I never understood manufacturer's obsession with plywood.Is spruce plywood that much cheaper than solid spruce for the soundboard? I can understand the back and sides being plywood because exotic hardwood is expensive..But spruce is pretty plentiful and relatively cheap. How much are you saving making it out of thin laminations glued together? Frankly I think only the top matters being solid wood. Back and sides being plywood might get you a prettier guitar. Less apt to vibrate and leech off energy to your stomach and arm draped over the top. More stable and less apt to crack. I hear some high end classical guitar builders use laminate construction these days for the sides.A solid gold watch and a gold-plated watch are equally capable of telling you the time. One will always be valued more though. I agree that the top is the only piece that really NEEDS to be solid to be a quality instrument, but I think the reason so many companies use laminate back and sides is because they are sturdier and less affected by humidity....
Members knockwood Posted May 17, 2006 Members Posted May 17, 2006 Originally posted by guitarcapo oops...just read your requirements. This fits the bill. Solid cedar top. Solid rosewood back and sides...and under 700 bucks by a penny... Acoustic Guitar magazine recently gave this thing a rave review. Considering your requirements, definitely take a look at this one.
Members knockwood Posted May 17, 2006 Members Posted May 17, 2006 Originally posted by Rada I agree that the top is the only piece that really NEEDS to be solid to be a quality instrument, but I think the reason so many companies use laminate back and sides is because they are sturdier and less affected by humidity.... I think a lot of the reason more manufacturers don't use lam b/s is plain old batty stigma. "All Solid Wood" has become a catch phrase and, in a lot of minds, "laminated" immediately translates to "inferior." It's retarded, but there it is. I have a Martin D-1 with lam sides and if I could snap my fingers and make 'em solid, I wouldn't do it. I admire Godin for flipping the bird to stigma and continuing to offer kickass guitars at affordable prices. Before I unwittingly engage myself in a flame war here, my semi-disclaimer is that I am NOT arguing that there is necessarily no tonal impact in the lam vs. solid b/s thing. But if there is, I'd personally never hear it in a million frickin' years.
Members clipari Posted May 17, 2006 Author Members Posted May 17, 2006 I had started this thread in hopes of getting some ideas for some all solid-wood guitars for under $700, and it's turned into a debate over laminate and solid-wood. I'm not pissed. I'm pleased... Because, it's made me reconsider my "need" for an all-solid body. What I really need to be focusing in on is finding a guitar that sounds great to me in my budget. I've got to stop listening to the guitar salesmen out there that just want to sell a more expensive guitar and therefore go for that "all solid-wood" catch phrase... I've tested out dozens of guitars for the past few weeks, and have yet to find a guitar that is significantly more pleasing to the ear because of solid backs and sides. If there's been a difference in tone, it's been because of guitar shape and manufacturer. Today, I played a Blueridge BR-160 and loved it. It felt great and the sound was easily compared to a Martin D-28... It's funny how you can play one chord on a guitar and know if the sound is right for you. The guy gave me a great price of just $595. Just so happens to be an all solid-wood guitar. Let me know what everyone thinks...
Members knockwood Posted May 17, 2006 Members Posted May 17, 2006 Originally posted by clipari Today, I played a Blueridge BR-160 and loved it. Great guitar, IMHO. I've tried a few and liked all of them. More importantly, YOU loved it. Blueridge offers huge bang for your buck: dovetail neck joint, scalloped & forward-shifted x braces, bone nut & saddle... The same appointments on a North-American-made guitar would run you at least twice the price. Having said that, bear in mind that making a selection based on others' opinions is hazardous. I bought a guitar last year having been heavily influenced by one fantastic customer review after another... I bought the thing and was never able to bond with it. Make sure the advice you ultimately take is your own. If you try a guitar and you love it and it's within your price range, go for it.
Members Gretsch Fan Posted May 17, 2006 Members Posted May 17, 2006 Originally posted by clipari Today, I played a Blueridge BR-160 and loved it. It felt great and the sound was easily compared to a Martin D-28... It's funny how you can play one chord on a guitar and know if the sound is right for you. The guy gave me a great price of just $595. Just so happens to be an all solid-wood guitar. Let me know what everyone thinks... As I indicated my BR160 was a great guitar. You've held it and played it so your hands and ears on tell you it is good. I would go for it. At this point in life, I am not concerned about the name on the headstock or where it is made. The BR160 has the added bonus of also being rosewood sides and back so it is an even better deal as it is normally more expensive. I had a Martin 000-16 at the same time. Both guitars had the same physical specs except the Martin had mahogany sides/back and the BR stood up well to the Martin and had a different tone because of the rosewood.
Members easton Posted May 17, 2006 Members Posted May 17, 2006 Tacoma guitars are all solid, made in Tacoma Washington. Worth a try.
Members gibson185 Posted May 17, 2006 Members Posted May 17, 2006 You can get a Taylor 210 around your price range, all solid wood and made in the USA.
Members tamolina Posted May 18, 2006 Members Posted May 18, 2006 I am old enough to remember when "Made In Japan" meant cheap crap. I haven't heard anyone say that lately. "Made In China" wouldn't scare me off a guitar. They have been making stringed instruments over there for a thousand years. Before you lay out hard-earned bucks for a guitar you should hold it in your hands, look at the fit and finish, and play it. Maybe have someone else play it while you stand a few feet away and listen. If it is not practical to do that, then buy it from someone who will let you return it if it does not meet your expectations. Judge the instrument on its own merits. Country of origin or the name on the headstock don't guarantee anything, good or bad.
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