Help with Guitar Search

[guit30]

Greetings,

I have a chronic pain problem, cervical stenosis(pinched nerves in neck) which makes guitar playing painful. In fact I gave up playing for 6 years until I ran into a great fiddle player and have been playing some since. You can see below that I currently have a used Alvarez AD60S which is set up almost like an electric and I use 10-47 strings. It sounds good and the neck is pretty slim, but not like a Taylor. I can only play for short periods of time, but it is worth it to be playing again, I have played for 25 years.

I have played a Taylor 110 and also a 410 and was blown away by how easy they are to finger when set up good. I have set myself a limit for about $500. I would rather have a 210 or 214 as they are all solid wood.

The last guitar that I had before I quit playing was a Martin D16-GT which sounded great, but was a bear to play. So I am starting totally over. I sold the Martin in 2000 and gave away everything else including a nice acoustic amp. Now that I know playing is a possibility I would like to get something nicer, any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jim

[UGB]

do you think a smaller bodied guitar might help the pain?

[guit30]

That is possible, that is why I am considering the Taylor 214, which has the basic size of a dread, but it is thinner and has that real comfy curve to put on your knee, a dread is a bit uncomfortable to hold. I tried an Alvarez folk size (grand concert), but I found that too small for me. I have long arms. I think a real thin neck, like a Taylor would be most helpful. Wish there was A Blueridge dealer around here so that I could see what their 000 size is like, it looks in pics to be more of a Grand Concert. I ordered 2 guitars by mail without trying them out, before I bought the used Alvarez and I wouldn't do that again unless I had played the instrument first. I like the Taylor sound too.

Thanks,

Jim

[Khan Fused]

My wife's Seagull S6+ Cedar Folk is a little smaller than my S6+ Cedar GT, & it's a more comfortable. It feels a little more natural. I don't own one, but have heard good things about the Yamaha A5 (my apologies-the model # is incomplete, but it's one of their thin body cutaway elec/acous).

[UGB]

I have an S6+ Folk and it's very comfortable. I sell Blueridges and the 000 is just super. For the size, the Blueridges are so loud and the necks are thin.

[guit30]

Thanks everyone for your advice, I read all of the user reviews on the Blueridge 000s and the Seagull S+folk, the Seagull seems to have a large neck according to reviewers which I would like to stay away from. While the Blueridge reviewers all brag about the thin though almost not wide enough necks. I wish I could see one of those Blueridge instruments, there is one on ebay now for $99, I think I found a local dealer that sells them where I could try one out. Lots of quality complaints about Blueridge 000's, string spacing crowded, headstock too small, but most people overlook that and still say they love them. I have heard they are the same size as An Eric Clapton Martin 00028, which means they are the size I'm looking for.

Jim