Members Penelope Tree Posted December 7, 2003 Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 Ive been playing electric guitar for several years and recently decided to acquire an acoustic. Ive always been discouraged from buying an acoustic in the past because they generally seemed have bulbous necks and high action. I do, however love the tonal qualities only an acoustic can provide. . Ideally Id like a neck/action similar to that of a tele or a rickenbacker although I realise thats probably impossible to attain. Any suggestions? The Big Baby is kinda within my price range and Im also attracted by its size/weight. Im in Europe btw and American guitars are alot more expensive here! Thanks for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matt McGriff Posted December 7, 2003 Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 I have had two Big Babies that I have absolutely loved. They are nice and compact and put out some righteous tone. They are not as loud or boomy as other guitars, but the tone is incredible for a guitar in that price range ($340 USD) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members USian Pie Posted December 7, 2003 Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 The neck shape on the Big Baby and Taylor's 214 is my favorite neck shape in the world -- acoustic or electric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilTwin Posted December 7, 2003 Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 It's generally a consensus that if you're an electric player, an Ovation will have the action and neck size you'll be most used to. On the more traditional acoustic tip, though, Taylors are renowned for their low action and great playability. However, with just about any acoustic you can make a great player out of it. With a straight neck, you can lower to your heart's content. There is a tradeoff, though...going too low chokes your sound somewhat. You have to find a happy medium. I wouldn't limit myself to just Taylors. I've played a few Big Baby's. They're hit and miss. I've played some that sounded wonderful and were put together VERY well. I've played others that had glue beads, roughed up wood and plain 'ole nasty-looking wood. Just rough playing and sounding guitars with bad craftsmanship. Seagull's are in your price range, too. Solid top and laminated back/sides...same as the Big Baby. You actually get binding and a neat rosette, too, though. I've played some M-Series 'Gulls with very electric-feeling necks. Explore a lot of options, my friend. Don't settle on the first thing that turns your head. I make it a rule to go back to a guitar store and play a guitar at least three times to see if it's really for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matt McGriff Posted December 7, 2003 Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 Seagulls are great guitars but their necks are the antithesis of an electric neck. Very wide and meaty, great for fingerpicking. I have a S12+ that I love, and it has a 1.8" neck, the same as the 6 string S6+. If you are an electric player coming over to acoustic playing you might find the neck on a Seagull to be huge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Penelope Tree Posted December 7, 2003 Author Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 Yeah Ive toyed with the idea of getting an acoustic several times before but always been put off by the size of the neck and the guitar in general. Im sure I could get accustomed to a thicker neck eventually but id rather not have to! What model of Ovation would you recommend? Im not particularly familiar with acoustic brands. . besides Taylor, Martin etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilHippy Posted December 7, 2003 Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 You should definately not get a seagull if you are used to Rickenbacker necks.I don't know if any of you in this thread play electric or even if you have played a Rickenbacker, but from my experiance, Rickenbackers have very thin necks.I've played 330's,360's,and a 650D (Dakota) and I have to say that they are fairly thin necks.A lot of females play Rickenbackers for that exact reason.Ovations have a lot of different neckshapes but the majority of Ovations and the stereotypical thought is that Ovation uses fairly thin necks on the majority of their models that are made.I know that you're looking at the Taylor Big Baby which is a fairly low to moderate range for an average person so bare with me on this next idea for a guitar.Go out to some music stores and go in and play some Ovations if they have any.You are on the lower end of a guitar budget so I suggest trying some of the lower priced Applause model Ovations since it fits your budget.I think all Ovations are asian made guitars so the price shouldn't be too bad on one.But if I were you, I would go straight to the top of the line and try out an Adamas which is the highest priced but best series made by Ovation.There is one at my local dealer that I have played.They go for about $1000 USD around here.Not sure what they would be for you.If possible, just go out and try Ovations and other brands.You may like Taylor as well.If you try finding a Taylor, I suggest going with the 210 which is a large bodied dreadnought (10 shape) but is all solid unlike the baby series or the 110's.I have heard that the 210 doesn't sound as good as some guitars but the tone is said to improve and open up with age just as any non laminate guitar.Do a Google search on Ovations.Also, what neck shape do you like (C shape,V shape,low profile etc.) ~EH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilTwin Posted December 7, 2003 Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 Originally posted by Matt McGriff Seagulls are great guitars but their necks are the antithesis of an electric neck. Very wide and meaty, great for fingerpicking. I have a S12+ that I love, and it has a 1.8" neck, the same as the 6 string S6+. If you are an electric player coming over to acoustic playing you might find the neck on a Seagull to be huge. See, my 'Gull is just like that. My friend who turned me onto 'Gulls, though, was not. Yes, it had a wider nut width, but it wasn't a baseball bat-type neck at all. It was a very shallow, more "C"-shaped neck. I think it was an M6. In my experiences, width is something that's much easier to get used to than going from a clubby neck to something very shallow. And I can't believe I forgot to mention this, but check out a Tacoma or Olympia Chief. The Olympia is the budget one, but I think it still has a solid-top. The Chief's I've played have had very forgiving necks. That said, I haven't tried one recently. I haven't been able to find one since my main dealer back home stopped carrying Tacoma. I think they're well worth checking out, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Penelope Tree Posted December 7, 2003 Author Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 Im certainly prepared to look at different types and makes. I could even be persuaded to increase my budget quite alot if I found something that I really liked. But I cant see me compromising much on the neck issue! I know Rickies have unsusually thin necks and I wouldnt expect something that slender. .but maybe something towards a tele. Playability has precedence over tone for me so it doesnt have to be the premier larrivee or whatever. Thanks for your assistance guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilTwin Posted December 7, 2003 Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 Well I'd go the Ovation route at first, then. You can always try other guitars. But most electric players I've come across think they're the easiest transition into the acoustic world. I've heard some that have loved the Tacoma Chief guitars, too. Playing a ton of guitars is half the fun of finding the one you want. Check 'em out: http://www.tacomaguitars.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 54merk Posted December 7, 2003 Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 Lot's of good suggestions except that some of the previously metnioned brands such as Tacoma and Seagull are not widely distributed in Europe. I am not familiar with European brands, except for Lowden, so I do not know what is available . Hopefully Cams will chime in with some suggestions. If you like the feel of the Taylor neck, then by all means that may be the brand for you. Taylors have the most electric style necks, however they have a bright sound. People either love them or hate them. The higher priced Ovations like the Adamas and Legend are still made in the US, however Ovation's main selling point continues to be their built in electronics and amplified sound. As a straight acoustic, most people prefer a wood instrument. The Adamas models, as well as higher end wide bodies such as the Legend do have a fairly decent unamplified tone, but they are $$, and people sometimes have difficulty getting comfortable with the shape of the round back. IMO over a period of time the player can adapt to the acoustic neck and easily switch back and forth between an electric, particularly since the playing styles are usually so different. It does take time but the awkwardness will eventually fade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilTwin Posted December 7, 2003 Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 I'm not too familiar with 'em, but I've heard that Tanglewood guitars are pretty big in Europe, specifically the UK. They're supposed to have a Taylor-ish feel, from what I've heard. Might be worth checking out: http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/guitars/brands/results/index.asp?CatID=9&SubCatID=115&ArtistAuthor=Tanglewood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Penelope Tree Posted December 7, 2003 Author Members Share Posted December 7, 2003 Apparently the Lowden factory has just closed. .or else I wouldve considered one because I have a few friends that worked there. Ill have to research Tanglewood and Ovation then:) Although I dont really require a built-in PU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bdegrande Posted December 8, 2003 Members Share Posted December 8, 2003 Big Baby Taylors are excellent. I also like Garrisons, which have solid back, top, and sides at a low price. They should be available in Europe, I've seen them reviewed in British magazines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SpoonyJank Posted December 8, 2003 Members Share Posted December 8, 2003 Asian/japanese like Takamine alvarez or yairi/alvarez have slim (but narrow) necks and normally good action. The only European brands we really know much of over here are the super-expensive ones. Maybe an alvarez fusion series? they're thinbody with nice necks with a cutaway and a pretty good pickup, all solid figured maple for $500 over here. Electric players can probably tolerate the funky colors better too . pretty much the opposite tone you'd expect from a maple thinbody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Penelope Tree Posted December 8, 2003 Author Members Share Posted December 8, 2003 Thanks for your suggestions. .I dont think there are very many budget-mid range acoustic guitar makers here really. The majority are small companies that specialise in expensive handmade models. As far as Im aware. Hopefully Ill be able to try some of those guitars alongside a Big Baby to see how they compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J. Posted December 8, 2003 Members Share Posted December 8, 2003 I was actually going to post a new thread about the Taylor Big Baby but I was pleasantly surprised to see a new one had already been started! I just bought a Big Baby yesterday. I went into Guitar Center (I know, I know) to check out some basses as usual, and of course I strolled into the room with the acoustics. I don't like buying at Guitar Center unless the deals are incredible, and the acoustics are usually pretty dried out after they've been there for awhile. Anyway, I played a Big Baby and fell in love with it. I'm really tight with my money but before I knew it I was paying the full $329 sticker price and walking out the door with a new guitar. I played four of them, two of which were pieces of junk- nasty jagged frets, etc. One of them really spoke to me, so I took it home. It hadn't been on the floor for very long at all, and the salesman said they'd been selling quite readily. Of course I've also been told by salesman at GC that their acoustic room has a good humidification system, despite the fact that it always seems really dry in there. I guess I'd have to recommend the Big Baby, but make sure to play a few and get a good one. I really think mine's a nice little guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BassistSeth Posted December 8, 2003 Members Share Posted December 8, 2003 A friend of mine got a Big Baby earlier this summer as a "first guitar." It's got so much nicer a tone than my guitar - real crisp and bright. I'm totally jealous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Penelope Tree Posted December 8, 2003 Author Members Share Posted December 8, 2003 Im not particularly familiar with acoustics, what kind of flaws should I look for on the Big Baby? Besides just having a bad tone, high action etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J. Posted December 8, 2003 Members Share Posted December 8, 2003 Here's what I looked for:-Fretwork. Make sure there are no jagged edges... sometimes they occur due to extremely low humidity, but sometimes it's due to poor craftsmanship *coughgibsoncough* Make sure there isn't any excessive buzzing and/or fretting out as well. -The Big Baby has a bolt-on neck. Make sure the joint is tight and that there are no gaps -Finish. Feel over the guitar for rough spots, glue beads, etc. -Playability and feel. The biggest one in my opinion. Make sure the guitar plays easy and feels good in your hands. If it doesn't, don't buy it. The factory setup should provide decent action... good enough that you can easily forsee the guitar being set up to your needs and wants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Edward Posted December 10, 2003 Members Share Posted December 10, 2003 Originally posted by Penelope Tree Apparently the Lowden factory has just closed. .or else I wouldve considered one because I have a few friends that worked there. Ill have to research Tanglewood and Ovation then:)Although I dont really require a built-in PU. I heard a rumour about that... what's the deal? Shame - I'd never be able to afford a Lowden, but it was nice to dream that one day i might... Is Avalon (the sister brand) replacing Lowden, then? I'd certainly recommend Tanglewood. I have an old Tanglewood bowl back that I'm selling off solely because I've moved away from that style of guitar, but it always had lovely tone. I'm heading out tomorrow to pick up it's repalcement - another Tanglewood! I was planning to try out the Tanglewood against a big Baby, but then i got such a good deal on eBay.... The Tanglewood I've bought is a TW15 - mine is the NS suffix model, spruce top, mahogany back and sides. The really special thing about it is that it's ALL SOLID, not just a solid top. RRP is UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J. Posted December 10, 2003 Members Share Posted December 10, 2003 Question for the Big Baby owners: how do you adjust the trussrod on the BB? I see the normal hole in the base of the neck accessible through the soundhole, but I don't know what kind of tool it needs. Does the guitar come with an adjusting tool for the trussrod? If so, I'm gonna have to call up GC. They're notorious for not giving you the manuals/tools/etc that come with an instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matt McGriff Posted December 10, 2003 Members Share Posted December 10, 2003 The Big Baby ships with a truss rod tool. BTW, new Big Babies are going to have headstock truss rod access. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J. Posted December 10, 2003 Members Share Posted December 10, 2003 Darn guitar center! They did this the one other time I bought an instrument from them. I bought a Warwick and they didn't give me the big T-wrench or the owners manual... I called back and got it, but I never did get the Warwick wax. Now I have to call and get my warranty card and my truss rod wrench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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