Challenge to you All

[Loser12]

All right so here's the challenge to you all:

 

Recommend, in your opinion, the best acoustic/electric guitar for the price.

 

List the strengths of the guitar you suggest (AKA why you think this guitar is better, in your opinion, than other guitars)

 

How does the guitar sound plugged/unplugged, feel/play, look (color options, fret inlays, etc)

 

 

Thanks and I can't wait to hear your opinions.

[JasmineTea]

How come all the Takamine players hav'nt showed up yet?

[Robert Freeman]

A Taylor Big Baby with an active Fishman bridge pickup is a hard to beat. See "Big Baby Amplified"

[UGB]

You can't get a Big Baby Taylor w/electronics for $300 can you?

Washburn D10SCE is less than $300 and is a solid performer in this group.

An all laminate Art & Lutherie dreadnought just squeaks in at $299 and w/a solid top busts the budget by a whopping $19 at $319. That'd be the one I'd get if I could go that high. Otherwise I'd snag the Washburn.

[onetubetone]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Alvarez-AD-60-SC-Acoustic-Electric-Natural-Freebies_W0QQitemZ7350822425QQcategoryZ47064QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Loser12]

What do people think about Yamaha's. My local guitar shop had a few there that sounded pretty nice, a lil more than I'd have liked to spend, but seemed to have a good tone to it, any thoughts?

[solitaire]

A Tanglewood TW-15 or TW-1000 with a Fishman - all solid guitars, these. Nothing can even get close.

[Stophe88]

seagull w/o a doubt has best value for accoustics
without a doubt

[ExtremeRyno]

I played a Dean Exotica. It ran at $269 at a local store, cheaper online. It had a large sound. Great highs and lows, and it stayed in tune for the 20 minutes or so that I treated it like a red-headed step child. Thin neck and low action made it a very quick player. I didn't get to plug it in, but with the un-amped sound, I just didn't feel like it. The Kona K2 appears to be a copy of this guitar. I played the K2 at the same shop, and it sounded and felt identical. Both laminate spruce top, mahogany back/sides, etc. Kona was about $150. I'd get the Kona if I had to choose today.

Fortunately I get to choose later.

I'm current high bidder on an Alvarez AD60SBK on ebay for much less than that.

I've also looked at the Kona Gold Series KG1N and I'm partial to the look of the Dean Evocoustic. Evocoustic is $269 from most online places, down to about $219. In a store it runs right under $300. Found one from a shop in NY for $159. I'm gonna go play one today and if I like it, I'm gonna order it from the NY dealer.

[UGB]

Originally posted by Stophe88 seagull w/o a doubt has best value for accoustics without a doubt

If a new Art & Lutherie pops the budget, a new Seagull will pop it by over $100 more. They're made by the same company, Godin, and the A&L is the 'bargin' version of the Seagull.

Now used, that might be possible.

[UGB]

I've played over 2 dozen Dean Exoticas in my lifetime and at least half a dozen Konas. None was a superior instrument in any way when compared to a Washburn, Alvarez, Art & Lutherie, or Cort. I'd put them on a level just below Oscar Schmidt. This is not to say that there can't be a Dean or a Kona that's not a great guitar. I know I played ONE Dean Exotica that was just an awesome instrument. When I went back to buy it, it had sold already. I tried the others there and they were all run of the mill duds. I kept waiting and trying new ones out as they came in and eventually had to move on to another brand/model because I realized I had found and lost a diamond in the rough.

[ExtremeRyno]

I certainly hope that doesn't happen here. The shop had one Exotica and one K2. Both sounded just superior when compared to the other 20 or so guitars (Stagg, Washburn, Oscar, and Jackson) under the $300 price mark at the shop. If you're right, then I may need to just go get that Dean...I really liked it.

[woody b]

Most people who spend $300 or less on a new acoustic electric will either quit playing (acoustic) or be looking for a better guitar in a year or less. You might get lucky and find a used one for that price that will keep someone happy.

[ExtremeRyno]

Most, maybe...But I've had my share of cheap-ass acoustics, and I've had some great luck. The one guitar I've had that was over the $1000 mark was a Martin, and I didn't care for the sound. I sold it and ended up with a cheap Mexican no-name that I played for about 8 years. In that time, I had a few Fenders, a Yamaha, and even one that claimed to be a "Crate". I kept the "Crate" and my Mexican knock off until this time last year when I pawned them both away. Since then I've been playing my wife's Epiphone electric, and I just can't stand not making real sound without being plugged in.

[Loser12]

Originally posted by Loser12 What do people think about Yamaha's. My local guitar shop had a few there that sounded pretty nice, a lil more than I'd have liked to spend, but seemed to have a good tone to it, any thoughts?

 

[cfgsteak]

I don't know crap about Yamahas (except keyborads).

However, over the weekend I bought a Simon and Patrick cw in excellent condition that only ran me $240. I'm not sure you can beat that with any new guitar, even a Yamahammer.

French Canadien guitars are sweet!!!

[scoutll]

I think the best acoustic electric "VALUE" going right now has got to be a Kona K1E (dred) or K2 (slimline dred). There are better guitars out there, but in my opinion, when you can find one at less than 200 shipped with a hardcase, there are no better values. I've played several Konas and own a K1E and am pretty impressed with them. Just my opinion.