Members Twitch Posted March 3, 2005 Members Posted March 3, 2005 My OD-3 Olympia by Tacoma just isn't cutting it anymore and I would like a new acoustic for my birthday. My budget is $400 and I would prefer to get new. I'm going to be playing Ben Harper type music on this, so bluesy/mellow/pop music. Right now I'm looking at: SeagullAlvarezYamahaIbanezNormanCort What are some essential features that acoustics should have? Thanks
Members Greg Bogoshian Posted March 3, 2005 Members Posted March 3, 2005 You must check out the Carvin Cobalts at www.carvin.com/cobalt . They are running a special at $100 off for any Cobalt. KILLER guitars at twice their regular price... At the special price, it's a no-brainer! You can hear clips of one of the models in your price range at www.carvin.com/jamroom . I played a bunch of them at the factory store and they are all built to the same high quality standards. I've had a Cobalt for several years now and it has been stable as hell. Very well put together instrument.
Members PapaTom1 Posted March 3, 2005 Members Posted March 3, 2005 Twitch, all of those are good choices. I like the Seagulls the best (I have two of them) followed by Alvarez, but you could also find a great sounding Yamaha, Cort, Ibanez or others. You have to play as many of these brands as you can. BTW, read up on Carvin and see if it sounds interesting to you. I've never played one but they do get good reviews. Not sure if it fits in your price range though. Good luck shopping.
Members Twitch Posted March 3, 2005 Author Members Posted March 3, 2005 Well I just found out that their aren't any Alvarez or Carvin dealers within 200 miles of my house, so those two are out. I'm leaning towards the Seagulls, which of their guitars would be in my price range?
Members EvilTwin Posted March 3, 2005 Members Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Twitch What are some essential features that acoustics should have? In the price range you're in, a solid top is a must. Solid wood back and sides are a plus, but the top is the primary tone generator. I highly recommend Seagull. You can get a nice one for about $350 with a hardshell case. Alvarez's are also very nice. But they're a lot more hit or miss than the 'Gulls. In their budget models, the RD8M (solid mahogany top, satin finished) and RD20SSB (solid spruce top, gloss sunburst finish) are my favs. But again, you've got to play a couple to find the really good ones. Check out the used market, too. You might be able to find a Tacoma (the natural move up from your Olympia) used for that price, and they're constructed from all solids.
Members EvilTwin Posted March 3, 2005 Members Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Twitch Well I just found out that their aren't any Alvarez or Carvin dealers within 200 miles of my house, so those two are out. I'm leaning towards the Seagulls, which of their guitars would be in my price range? Sorry, shoulda read this before talking about Alvarez. Just about all Seagulls will be in your price range except the Artists series.If you're more of a flat picker, their dreads will fit your bill.If you're more into fingerstyle, their folk guitars are excellent. I own the S6+Folk (got it for $350 with HSC), and it sounds wonderful, even when I do use it with a pick.
Members Twitch Posted March 3, 2005 Author Members Posted March 3, 2005 What if I do both I like playing rhythm and Ben Harper style leads on acoustic.
Members Greg Bogoshian Posted March 4, 2005 Members Posted March 4, 2005 Carvin is factory direct. They ship to your door. You don't pay for any middle-men markups. 10 day money-back guarantee. If you decide you don't like it as well as others, call them and all you pay for is the shipping back. It's like renting a brand new guitar for 10 days (and they are pretty flexible on the time) for the price of shipping. Take that 10 days to take the guitar with you to as many stores as you want to and compare it directly to all comers. Call them and in the guitar specialist option, ask for Sean or Marco and tell them Boggs referred you. They will answer any questions you may have. Listen to the clips in the jamroom. These are too good to pass up at that price especially. Boggs
Members UGB Posted March 4, 2005 Members Posted March 4, 2005 Hate to be the bearer of bad news to you Greg but Sean no longer works at Carvin. What a shame.I own a Seagull S6+ Folk and really like it.Carvin's are nice guitars.Others not mentioned yet that are most worthy of your examination are Blueridge and Walden.From your playing style I'd shoot for a Grand Auditorium body size. Small enough to be comfortable but big enough for the picking and strumming you want to do.
Members Cortfan Posted March 4, 2005 Members Posted March 4, 2005 Now is an excellent time to get a Carvin. They are made by Cort, and Carvin does a pro set up at the California plant. Plus $100 off.
Members chopz Posted March 4, 2005 Members Posted March 4, 2005 Washburn, voted best acoustic under $500. Here's a great dealer for you:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33032&item=7305019176&rd=1
Members UGB Posted March 4, 2005 Members Posted March 4, 2005 Originally posted by chopz Washburn, voted best acoustic under $500.Here's a great dealer for you:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33032&item=7305019176&rd=1 I'm not saying the D-10S is a bad guitar, a bad value, or anything like that, but if your budget was $400 would you really buy a D-10S for under $200? For twice that money, $400, I know I can find twice the guitar of the D-10S. Here's one of them and Here's another one and Here's a third one
Members Vere Posted March 4, 2005 Members Posted March 4, 2005 wait are you tuning down to dgcfad or using an open or modal tuning? if you are, then that might influence your choice. as a fairly big ben harper far, i have found that it is impossible to really play a good number of his songs on one guitar. i would have to keep one tuned to burn one down and another lonely day and probably another lapsteel in modal d for pleasure and pain or open for temporary remedy. then i would need one in standard for everything else.
Members eyeofthetiger Posted March 4, 2005 Members Posted March 4, 2005 i work at a music store and get to play tons of guitars. i like the yamah fxg401 i believe it's called, it's $400 but has electronics and a cutaway. Takamini's are also very nice. Personally I'd look for a used guild, you might be able to swing a d4 on ebay for arund $400, we had a used one in and it was the best sounding guitar i've played in my life but it had no cutaway but otherwise I would have bought it on the spot.
Members chopz Posted March 4, 2005 Members Posted March 4, 2005 Originally posted by UGB I'm not saying the D-10S is a bad guitar, a bad value, or anything like that, but if your budget was $400 would you really buy a D-10S for under $200? For twice that money, $400, I know I can find twice the guitar of the D-10S. Here's a third one No I would buy a Washburn Jumbo.
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