Making The Jump: Electric To Acoustic

[guitardeder]

Well... now that my high school days are over I've found myself tired of ear-piercing and the headaches of all of my distortion pedals. and now I'm looking to go into the world of softer acoustic rock. So tell me... what's good? What should I buy with a budget below $900 to get me started out in the world of acoustic-electrics? I've played some Ovations and loved em' as well as a Telecoustic... but is there anything I need to know about this strange place I've never been?

[guitardeder]

bump

[andrewjudah]

Deffinitly check out Larrivee acoustic guitars, they are the best bang for the buck out their. Go here Guitar adoptions and check out the 03 series. Email dave for the best price

[ChrisNJ]

Check out Carvin's Cobalt series line of acoustics. Great sound and playability at affordable prices

 

http://www.carvin.com

[XeroStar33]

Larrivee acoustic guitars are very, very nice. There's this one model that I particularly liked, I think it was a limited run of Koa instruments that wasn't that expensive (maybe 1200 - 1500 CAD... I can't remember exactly). It was a great sounding guitar.

 

There's also Seagull acoustics, although I've never played one. They seem like very well built instruments.

[andrewjudah]

Originally posted by XeroStar33 Larrivee acoustic guitars are very, very nice. There's this one model that I particularly liked, I think it was a limited run of Koa instruments that wasn't that expensive (maybe 1200 - 1500 CAD... I can't remember exactly). It was a great sounding guitar. There's also Seagull acoustics, although I've never played one. They seem like very well built instruments.

 

Is it perhaps this one you speak of?

 

[WilsonMak]

A lot of electric players like Taylor Acoustic guitars because they feel electricky...

[LittleBrother]

Well I like to buy guitars that are solid wood, lifetime warranty and then past that it really comes down to personal preference but there are many great brands right now from 1000-1500.

 

I would suggest since you are already a guitarist that you save yourself a few levels of headaches and leap frog ahead to a better quality guitar. At least a USA or Canada made name brand with good support, high grade solid woods and a 1 piece neck.

 

Just take your time and get something good that you will like. Learn the styles of guitars like dreadnoughts, grand concerts, 00, 000 and OMs, sloped dreads and what styles you play and how these general types will best serve you.

 

You'll notice my qualifications rule out many brands like the Carvins, Epiphones and others. They either have short warranties, laminated woods, asian made and USA setup or some type of issue that limits them to be in the 500.00 range used.

 

Try to buy the best you can get. Again... solid woods, one piece neck, USA or Canada made, life warranty, name brand. I also like to buy them with NO pickup system then get to know the guitar and add in my pickups of choice afterwards. You get more choices and usually MUCH better results. I also dont like those control panels cut into the sides of my guitars. Makes them worth less IMO.

 

Good luck and you'll never be sorry for the decision to go acoustic. In fact it will no doubt make you a much better electric player too.

 

Try to play at least light 12-54 sized strings and give beefy necks a chance. Dont limit yourself to trying to play electric on acoustic. They are different animals and should be treated as such.

 

If you try to go with a thin sleek acoustic neck and extra-light strings and your wrists and joints start giving you problems a year later just remember what I said. Been there done that

 

[UGB]

I see you've tried the Telecoustic which is a thin body guitar. To me, the tone is absolutly horrid on those, but how did it feel? My question is, after so much time on a solid body, you might feel more comfortable and adapt better to a thinner body over a full size guitar. LB is hitting the head on the nail w/the quality construction and one day I might even be able to afford some of those guitars.

 

For full-size acoustics in your price range, Larrivee and Tacoma are nice choices. Larrivee doesn't make a thin body, but Tacoma does, the Chief, and it plays like butter. You'll feel right at home on that neck.

 

Now, some don't like bolt on necks for acoustics just like some don't like them for electrics, but I feel it should be the players' call.

[andrewjudah]

 

Originally posted by LittleBrother They are different animals and should be treated as such.

 

 

So true

[UGB]

that's my biggest problem. I keep trying to play an acoustic like an electric.

[sdelsolray]

If you want to make the "jump" to acoustic guitar, I would suggest several things. First, forget about electric guitar. Acoustic guitar is a different universe, not better or worse, just very different. Second, before you buy a guitar, check out acoustic guitar music. Sounds mundane, I know, but how about spending $100 or so on a half dozen CDs, a subscription or two to an acoustic guitar magazine(s) and a concert ticket to an established (think revered) acoustic guitar musician? There's a wealth of music and history out there about the acoustic guitar. Lern about it. Third, get the guitar.

 

Here's a short list of acoustic guitar music you might want to check out (in no particular order):

 

1) Leo Kottke "6 and 12 String Guitar" (1969) - Primative American. One of the most important and influential players and composers. Leo is the "Jimi Hendrix" of acoustic guitar.

 

2) Michael Hedges "Aerial Boundaries" (1984) - Avande Garde acoustic. Incredible composer and player.

 

3) Alex DeGrassi - "Water Music" (circa 2001). New Age. Stunning.

 

4) Doug Smith "Alone at Last" (2001). Modern Fingerstyle. About as good as it gets.

 

5) Chet Atkins (Just about any album). Nashville fingerstyle.

 

6) Robert Johnson (compilation). Blues fingerstyle.

 

Forget about the electric guitar (at least for a while). Listen to the acoustic music done by others. Then look for that acouctic guitar.

[Greg Bogoshian]

I feel I must VERY respectfully disagree with LittleBrother on his comments on the use of laminates in guitars. Just as there are different grades and qualities of solid woods used in guitars, so are there differences int he quality and construction of laminates in guitars and in the guitars themselves. Use of high quality laminates particularly in the sides offer consistency, stability of shape and tone in changing atmospheric (particularly humidity) conditions, and also added rigidity. In backs, they tend to produce more projection (depending on the bracing design) albeit at the cost of some resonance to the body of the player which some legitimately feel is a part of the acoustic playing experience. My Carvin Cobalt C980 has both laminate sides and back and everyone who has played or heard it has been knocked over by its tone, response, beauty, action and playability... all things that make a great guitar great.

 

I owned a solid wood guitar (2 of them in fact) that had problems right from the get-go due to chorusing out when playing for more than 5 minutes as the manufacturer finally admitted to having some bad wood in some of their guitars. Both were Alvarez Yairi classical guitars. Both were defective. Both were more expensive than my Cobalt which I got to replace those guitars and I never looked back. Don't limit yourself to guitars which use laminates just because of the maligned and misunderstood "L" word.

 

My 35 year old Yamaha FG-230 Red Label 12-string acoustic which is still coveted to this day and part of a highly respected series of guitars Yamaha built in the late '60s even has a laminated spruce top...

 

Now, I am NOT saying that totally solid wood guitars are not as good as guitars with laminates nor am I saying that guitars with laminates are always better than solid wood. I AM suggesting to not use the use of laminates as a sole criteria for consideration. I am still totally infatuated with my Cobalt C980 and would love nothing better than to add the C980-12 12-string to my stable as it is the most playable, overall best balanced tone to my ears of ANY 12-string I have ever played at ANY price. It has laminate sides and backs.

 

For the record, Carvin's Cobalts with mahogany bodies have solid backs and laminate sides. The rosewood bodies have laminate sides and backs. ALL Cobalts have solid tops. All setups including nut and saddle installation and fret dressing and trussrod adjustment and action are done by hand at the San Diego factory. They are built in Korea to Carvin's standards by the same manufacturer in Korea as who manufactures the PRS Santana.

 

Thank you for taking the time to check this out, and as I said... I highly respect LittleBrother and his opinions. It is only on this issue that we have any disagreement, but it is a healthy one and we are good friends even on this issue. Mine is just the other side of the story. Boggs

[UGB]

my Washburn EA11 is 100% maple laminate and it sounds fine to me unplugged; a thin body in fact. Lacks a tad in bass, but I've played far worse sounding while far more expensive guitars that were both laminate and/or solid woods.

[LittleBrother]

Originally posted by Greg Bogoshian Thank you for taking the time to check this out, and as I said... I highly respect LittleBrother and his opinions. It is only on this issue that we have any disagreement, but it is a healthy one and we are good friends even on this issue. Mine is just the other side of the story. Boggs

 

Greg you are a true gentleman and I appreciate you being tolerant with me on my harsh opinions. I was quite a bit more positive on laminates in the past and I still have no real big problem with them. I do have a problem on how much you spend on a guitar with them compared to some solids that are getting so affordable. I totally respect what you are saying and I am not sure I really disagree. As you say it's just a very healthy freindly disagreement. Thanks for seeing it this way

[Preacher Will]

Originally posted by LittleBrother Well I like to buy guitars that are solid wood, lifetime warranty and then past that it really comes down to personal preference but there are many great brands right now from 1000-1500. I would suggest since you are already a guitarist that you save yourself a few levels of headaches and leap frog ahead to a better quality guitar. At least a USA or Canada made name brand with good support, high grade solid woods and a 1 piece neck. Just take your time and get something good that you will like. Learn the styles of guitars like dreadnoughts, grand concerts, 00, 000 and OMs, sloped dreads and what styles you play and how these general types will best serve you. You'll notice my qualifications rule out many brands like the Carvins, Epiphones and others. They either have short warranties, laminated woods, asian made and USA setup or some type of issue that limits them to be in the 500.00 range used. Try to buy the best you can get. Again... solid woods, one piece neck, USA or Canada made, life warranty, name brand. I also like to buy them with NO pickup system then get to know the guitar and add in my pickups of choice afterwards. You get more choices and usually MUCH better results. I also dont like those control panels cut into the sides of my guitars. Makes them worth less IMO. Good luck and you'll never be sorry for the decision to go acoustic. In fact it will no doubt make you a much better electric player too. Try to play at least light 12-54 sized strings and give beefy necks a chance. Dont limit yourself to trying to play electric on acoustic. They are different animals and should be treated as such. If you try to go with a thin sleek acoustic neck and extra-light strings and your wrists and joints start giving you problems a year later just remember what I said. Been there done that

 

Lotta wisdom here, lotta wisdom . . .

[sickman]

Sorry to thread hijack.... but I'm also looking for an acoustic and have around $1200 to spend. What should I be looking at? I've been out a few times and talked to a few people. In that price range the stuff I've played owned by friends included a Taylor and an Ovation (didn't like it). I've been looking for a few months now and I've finally decided to just go ahead and buy something and get use to it. I had an Epiphone that fell apart so this will definetely be a step up.

 

All of the different models/shapes I'm clueless. I can look at them and see the difference and maybe even hear the difference, but I couldn't tell you the difference. Some of the musicians I like include the Beatles, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, BB King, GNR, Jimi Hendrix, Lightning Hopkins, Govt Mule, Pink Floyd, etc, etc.

 

Any suggestions?

[guitardeder]

I notice that on both sides of the ticket they are lambasting the Telecoustic but you know I liked it probably because it still felt like an electric and I don't have much of an ear for that sort of thing. I'm so used to electric

[UGB]

 

Originally posted by guitardeder I notice that on both sides of the ticket they are lambasting the Telecoustic but you know I liked it probably because it still felt like an electric and I don't have much of an ear for that sort of thing. I'm so used to electric

 

 

If you like the feel of the Telecoustic then check out Washburn EA17, EA20, NV-100, Carvin AC375, Tacoma Chief, Kona K-2, that's all I can think of at the moment.

[SurrealMcCoy]

Originally posted by sickman Sorry to thread hijack.... but I'm also looking for an acoustic and have around $1200 to spend. What should I be looking at? I've been out a few times and talked to a few people. In that price range the stuff I've played owned by friends included a Taylor and an Ovation (didn't like it). I've been looking for a few months now and I've finally decided to just go ahead and buy something and get use to it. I had an Epiphone that fell apart so this will definetely be a step up. All of the different models/shapes I'm clueless. I can look at them and see the difference and maybe even hear the difference, but I couldn't tell you the difference. Some of the musicians I like include the Beatles, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, BB King, GNR, Jimi Hendrix, Lightning Hopkins, Govt Mule, Pink Floyd, etc, etc. Any suggestions?

 

 

 

You really should take the time to audition different body styles/ woods.

 

Are you a fingerstylist or a flatpicker?

 

What type of tone is important to you? Neck width at the nut?

 

Play an orchestra model, dreadnaught, jumbo..........

 

Compare &

LISTEN !!!