Decent inexpensive guitars for beginners, low-income people, and the just-plain curio

[telenate]

There was a thread the other day that I admit to starting called Please Be Specific and Kwakatak had an awesome idea:

 

"I've lost count how many times some newbie has posted a 'recommend me a good cheap acoustic guitar' thread. Somebody should make a sticky that just says try a Seagull, Washburn, Alvarez, yada yada yada..."

 

So here's a little poll of seven brands that market inexpensive guitars. Anyone may vote for basically any other brand not listed in the message section. Let's see if we can move all of these questions to this one poll-thread and stop the redundancy.

 

Just an idea....

[long finger]

does taylor big baby count as inexpensive? i should secondhand at least.

if yes, consider this a vote!

[social]

For any relativly inexpensive acoustic you buy, playability is first and foremost imho. Make sure the neck feels good. The tone itself can be vastly improved by later switching the probably plastic nut and saddle with bone versions.

I've always found the low end alvarez's to be surprisingly well made.

[telenate]

MANDOLIN BROTHERS LTD. 's owner Stan goes only with Yamahas for starter guitars. He knows his guitars very well.

My starter was a late '80s California series "Redondo." It did the job, but Yamahas are better. Yamahas are a great value IMO.

I'd try a Seagull now after all the good reports I've heard.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Originally posted by social For any relativly inexpensive acoustic you buy, playability is first and foremost imho. Make sure the neck feels good. The tone itself can be vastly improved by later switching the probably plastic nut and saddle with bone versions. I've always found the low end alvarez's to be surprisingly well made.

Cort, Yamaha and Epiphone are all 3 decent instruments for the $$$, but if I was in need of a GREAT "budget-conscience" guitar, I'd go with Alvarez...everything a Takamine could be (but isn't), at 1/3 (or less!) of the price!

**Prepares for the flaming Tak owners will soon be hurling**

[strummilo]

Art & Lutherie

[geek_usa]

I still miss my Yamaha FG412-S. Still to this day



Do I need it? No. But it was the best $150 I ever spent in my entire life.




Yamahas should be the top vote here; but I checked off Epi and Alvarez too, because I love Epi acoustics, and I once owned an Alvarez 12 string that was too cool for me.

[telenate]

bump

[kwakatak]

I put down Epiphone because they're putting out all-solid wood guitars at the same price point to many of the other makes that only have solid tops.

My next choice would be Washburn. I really like their mid-level acoustics (with the butterfly bridges) and think they give Taylors a run for their money.

My next choice would be Seagull but that's based on reputation only. I like their price, but I can't really get on board with the reversed-taper on the headstock. The wider fretbaord could be a good thing though.

Moving above $600 I would start looking looking at new or used Larriv

[Cortfan]

I voted for Cort, but I also have 2 very decent Fender acoustics that were less than $150.00. A DG-7, and an F-65.

[telenate]

[fantasticsound]

Blueridge. Mine's a dream and I've played others that were wonderful. The guitar I play cost less than $500 after a world class luthier ordered it, set it up properly, and installed an L.R. Baggs ribbon pickup with onboard EQ/preamp.

The guitar would've sold for less than $300, by itself.

And if you're really just starting, I just wrote a post about a First Act guitar my parents bought my 6 year old. I've been taking it everywhere the past month. It plays well, keeps tune, stays in tune up the neck, and is a small body, small scale guitar that can be easily taken anywhere. The sound is boxy, but it sounds a lot like a dobro. Great acoustic blues guitar.

And they cost around $25 - $35. Talk about checking out guitar on a budget!

[UGB]

There's some brands that are missing; polls are hard to do because so much of it is personal, but I think you have a great idea. I think a first guitar can be narrowed by price range a bit. Some are only willing to spend around $100 on a new guitar. That becomes a much tougher area to try and suggest something because you can easily slip off the quality slope at that price point. I'd suggest the following, based on my experience selling new guitars to first time players:

$100 or less

$100 - $200

$200 - $300

$300 - $400

Very few first time purchasers spend more than $400 for a new guitar w/a case, etc. especially for a child which is the overwhelming catagory of first time guitar players. Many adults will kick it up to the $300 range and some parents are willing to go into that range for a teenaged child, but not too many. I think that's going to change. An X-box system or a good skateboard are over $150 so several parents are getting more comfortable with spending that much on a guitar, or more. Most of what I stock is in the $200 range. I only stock one guitar that, with a case, is over $400. The good news for the consumer is that there is much to chose from and it overall is a good product.

[telenate]

so many beginner guitar questions. Hmm. rolleyes:

[bbarkow]

Originally posted by Terry Allan Hall **Prepares for the flaming Tak owners will soon be hurling**

Ok, Terry... consider yourself flamed. I've decided that it's not worth the effort to try to change your mind.

There are a couple of makers that I have an unreasonable hardon for as well...

[knockwood]

Olson.

[kwakatak]

I'm bumping this in light of the dozen or so similar requests in the past week

[Winston O Boogy]

Martin 000-M $630
Martin D-M $630

Martin 000X1 $400
Martin DX1 $400

Martin 000-15 $660
Martin D-15 $660
Martin J-15 $660
Martin 00-15 $660

These prices are aprox 40% off what's listed at the Martin site, witch is what most shops should sell them for.

[SlowFingers]

My vote goes to the Seagull. I know the neck is not ideal for everyone, but it is the best to me for my hand size and taste.

[Tony Burns]

good advice - reguardless of what you buy , take someone with you to check out the action , and condition - and stay away from WALMART !

[The Armadillo of leprosy]

hard to beat alvarez in the high end lines, middle road, or low end lines

[nicolicious]

Where is the Ibanez Love?

is it just crap.....Im really impressed with mine

AEF18 BK

[Winston O Boogy]

Can someone post a Seagull price list? I think this thread could use it.

[grek3030]

You left out Takamines, great value for the lower end models

[JasmineTea]

bump