Members AdamKralic Posted August 7, 2005 Members Posted August 7, 2005 BEST VALUE solid wood acoustic for around $700? I sold one of the electrics and was thinking of FINALLY getting a nice acoustic...so give me suggestions please to narrow the search.... I'd use a pick fyi. Oh and I have already been sold on mic'ing an acoustic over getting one with electronics/pickups. THX.
Members franchelB Posted August 7, 2005 Members Posted August 7, 2005 I'd seriously look into trying out a Martin D-15.
Members knockwood Posted August 7, 2005 Members Posted August 7, 2005 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/514700/ http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/DR500M.htm http://www.elderly.com/fmic/items/GAD50-NAT.htm http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/BR160.htm http://www.elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=taylor+210 (list shown / should be less than $700 retail) http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/MOS.htm
Members onetubetone Posted August 7, 2005 Members Posted August 7, 2005 Larrivee! Try some out if you can, you won't be dissapointed!
Members AdamKralic Posted August 7, 2005 Author Members Posted August 7, 2005 Thank you all for your responses. onetubetone...I've not found a Larrivee in my price range yet but I will look a bit more... Here are my choices so far... Martin D-15 $700+Seagull Artist Series Mosiac $ 650Taylor 210 $750Breedlove Atlas Series AD20/SR plus $800Breedlove Atlas Series AD20/SM $550 If you HAD to buy one of those sight unseen...which company would you believe would put out the most consistantly well assembled guitar?
Members JasmineTea Posted August 7, 2005 Members Posted August 7, 2005 Originally posted by knockwood http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/514700/http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/DR500M.htmhttp://www.elderly.com/fmic/items/GAD50-NAT.htmhttp://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/BR160.htmhttp://www.elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=taylor+210 (list shown / should be less than $700 retail)http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/MOS.htm Jeez, if a guy bought all of those he'd have a nice collection.
Members knockwood Posted August 7, 2005 Members Posted August 7, 2005 Originally posted by JasmineTea Jeez, if a guy bought all of those he'd have a nice collection. If a guy could buy all those, he should buy a Bellezza Nera instead... & he'd still have a nice collection.
Members knockwood Posted August 7, 2005 Members Posted August 7, 2005 Originally posted by Anjinsan Thank you all for your responses.onetubetone...I've not found a Larrivee in my price range yet but I will look a bit more...Here are my choices so far...Martin D-15 $700+Seagull Artist Series Mosiac $ 650Taylor 210 $750Breedlove Atlas Series AD20/SR plus $800Breedlove Atlas Series AD20/SM $550If you HAD to buy one of those sight unseen...which company would you believe would put out the most consistantly well assembled guitar? Just curious: why sight-unseen? If the opportunity is there at all, you'll be much happier & more confident in your purchase if you give these things a test drive first. If for whatever reason that isn't a possibility, check the return period for the seller. At worst, if you're disappointed with your purchase, you'll only be out the cost of shipping - but even that can sting if you're on a tight budget for a guitar. All that crap aside, I know there're are a lot of people out there who are happy with the Breedlove Atlas series, but there's no way in hell I'd buy one sight-unseen. Have played a few and the sound varies pretty wildly from one to the next. If I were living on an island somewhere where an instrument would have to be air-dropped on me for me to get my hands on it & had to choose from your list, I'd go Martin or Seagull based on the fact that I've never heard anyone complain significantly about either brand. (You may want to take a look through the Product Review Database here on HC - some useful critiques in there sometimes.) Wider fretboards on the Seagulls, though. Taylors, too. Something to consider if you're just making the move from electric. You may find the narrower Martin fretboard a little more familiar.
Members mark guillaume Posted August 7, 2005 Members Posted August 7, 2005 I own twenty guitars, icluding Taylors, Martins and Seaguls and have tried hundreds more. Two acoustics jump out for under $1,000: a Big Baby Taylor and a Martin D16GT. The Big Baby always amazes me on how well it records and how easy it is to play. But it lacks a deep bass - but the bass is just right for recording. The Martin D16GT is almost as good as a Martin D-28 and is sweet and mellow with good bottom-end. But Martins are considered by many to be hard to play but sweet to the ear. I'd look at those two. The Baby will set you back about $300 and the Martin about $850. Regardless, be sure to take whatever you buy to a GOOD luthier and have him reset the action and intonation. ($70) That done, eventually your ear will become trained and you'll appreciate how superior both guitars are.
Members onetubetone Posted August 7, 2005 Members Posted August 7, 2005 Some on ebay! http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Larrivee-D-03R-D-03-Rosewood-w-ohsc-MINT_W0QQitemZ7341598644QQcategoryZ2385QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/LARRIVEE-GUITAR-LV-O3-ALL-SOLID-MAH-MINT-CASE_W0QQitemZ7341738336QQcategoryZ47064QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Larrivee-L-03R-Acoustic-Guitar-MINT-BARGAIN_W0QQitemZ7341205969QQcategoryZ33028QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Members Cldplytkmn Posted August 7, 2005 Members Posted August 7, 2005 Originally posted by mark guillaume But Martins are considered by many to be hard to play but sweet to the ear. who is your 'many', out of curiosity? I haven't really ever heard anything like this... besides that, the Martin "D" is pretty much what most guitar makers base their Dreadnaught models on. Which I for the most part, assume includes the neck. Get almost any decent guitar set up well and it will play well. As to the list you've given, I'd say the Martin seems more like a sure thing. I admit i have no experience with the Seagull that you list, but the seagulls i've played have been pretty consistent. Out of personal preference i'd avoid the Taylor, but its just me. I really like the 03 Larivee's though... almost bought an D03R. One more guitar I will recommend... Takamine AN10... I got mine for $630 out the door at a GC, and I think its incredible. (By the way, the song Radio in my sig link was recorded with this guitar, not that it will tell you a ton since i think the Neumanns had something to do with the sound quality. lol)
Members onetubetone Posted August 8, 2005 Members Posted August 8, 2005 Or splurge alittle and buy this http://www.guitaradoptions.com/prodcat/customer/product.php?productid=18075&cat=275&page=2 What an amazing deal!
Members rcfs1834 Posted August 9, 2005 Members Posted August 9, 2005 Try a Larrivee. I bought a brand NEW D-03R from the Mandolin Store for $699 including shipping. Dennis, the owner, answered all of my questions and it was a good online buying experience. I bought it off his store on eBay. A great guitar at a great price. I usually advocate supporting local businesses, and the only reason I purchased online is because I refuse to buy from the only Larrivee dealer in my area(they're into the ripping off business not the guitar selling business). Also the Larrivee I got from Dennis was setup better than the one I tried at the local store. As always, buyer beware when purchasing a guitar online. I've had two good experiences and one bad experience when buying online.
Members Singin' Dave Posted August 9, 2005 Members Posted August 9, 2005 Those Martin D-15LE's from MF look pretty sweet for about $700 or so. All solid wood, spruce tops and can come in rosewoodf back and sides or mahogony....
Members marekk Posted August 9, 2005 Members Posted August 9, 2005 Originally posted by Cldplytkmn who is your 'many', out of curiosity? I haven't really ever heard anything like this... besides that, the Martin "D" is pretty much what most guitar makers base their Dreadnaught models on. Which I for the most part, assume includes the neck. Get almost any decent guitar set up well and it will play well. i am a total newbie(12 months now) have an electric, but needed to get into an acoustic. I found Taylor "for me" more playable compared to Martins. T's fretbd and neck just handled and chorded easier, again "for me". Martins were great sounding. I also demo's all I could find: BlueRidge, Seagull, Epi masterbuilt, Gibson, and all the imports. I think on pure sound/tone I liked Martins, but for whatever reason Taylors fit me better. I was very predisposed to go Martin too. Seagull's were great except their necks were too fat for me. Several sales reps did indicate some folks do find Martins a little harder to play. My theory is that some folks have different hands and fingers therefore not everything fits. mark
Members Cldplytkmn Posted August 9, 2005 Members Posted August 9, 2005 Originally posted by marekk My theory is that some folks have different hands and fingers therefore not everything fits.mark quite true mark, i completely agree. I wasn't trying to inject an argument into your thread, if anybody thinks i did, apologies... it was sincere curiosity since i've just never heard martin singled out as hard or difficult to play well. the argument i've generally heard was that dreads are harder to play than OMs or auditoriums. Taylors (to my knowlege) use the same neck on every model, so this discrepancy doesn't exist there. I guess i'm lucky that I like fat necks and big guitars since i'm in love with the dread sound.
Members LeGreatOne Posted August 10, 2005 Members Posted August 10, 2005 For around $700, are you SURE you don't want even ONE little pickup? http://usera.imagecave.com/LeGreatOne/DAspiranta/ I have three other guitars, two are folk acoustics, one a Martin D35 and the other a big bodied Taylor 12 string. If you want a folk acoustic, a dreadnaught in particular, you can't go wrong with Martin. They're terribly expensive, though, and you should expect to set up the guitar's action yourself. I'd advise comparing folk-type guitars at a guitar shop.There are BIG differences in tone, depth, and volume between different makes and models. For example, my Taylor has beautiful tone, and is larger than my D35, but it has nowhere near the volume or depth of tone. The woods used and the bracing make a big difference.
Members TaZMaNiO Posted August 10, 2005 Members Posted August 10, 2005 Simon & Patrick. Hands-down the best bang for $700
Members Pikeusa Posted August 10, 2005 Members Posted August 10, 2005 Pre-owned Guild D50 or DV52 made in Westerly, RI, if you can find one.
Members smuck smith Posted August 10, 2005 Members Posted August 10, 2005 Simon & Patrick Looks like a Martin but a Seagull at heart , they may have something. I do not own one but wish I did.
Members Tony Burns Posted August 10, 2005 Members Posted August 10, 2005 dont think I can add alot - theres some pretty good advice here- havent seen any bad advice- but definitely buy it used-- and stay with a good name-- like Taylor, Greven, Martin,Gruen, Gallager, Laravee etc-( even some pre Fender Guilds are Good ) older guitars show there problems - which will help you weed them out( warped necks Etc. ) and you get a better sound to boot , plus they will hold there value if some day you decide to part with it, youll probably get your money back out of it ( if you pay an honest price )
Members bbarkow Posted August 10, 2005 Members Posted August 10, 2005 Originally posted by Cldplytkmn One more guitar I will recommend... Takamine AN10... +1
Members deevee Posted August 10, 2005 Members Posted August 10, 2005 Catch-22: You can prolly find Larrivees at Sam Ash, but at least the SA in Lombard hasn't done well with their acoustics room and those I've tried (four or five months ago, could be better now) seemed a tad dried out and frets were sticking out along the necks. Local Internet-based Guitar Adoptions could set you up with a verra nice Larrivee OM-3 for around $820.
Members knockwood Posted August 10, 2005 Members Posted August 10, 2005 Originally posted by Pikeusa Pre-owned Guild D50 or DV52 made in Westerly, RI, if you can find one. Guild DV52 is definitely one magnificent piece o' wood. But I wouldn't let mine go for $700 unless the buyer had a gun in his hand. And even then, I'd have to think about it.
Members strummilo Posted August 10, 2005 Members Posted August 10, 2005 My Guild D50ce was made in Corona, CA. by Fender. Great sound. It is a second (checking on the finish), but worth every $ I paid, $700.
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