Looking to buy a new Acoustic...

[kmano8]

Here's my story...

My first guitar was an electric (Standard Fender Telecaster). Then when I decided I wanted an acoustic, I went looking and was extremely attracted to the ovations because of their slim body and amazing sound through an amp. I really thought that a full body would be an obstacle to overcome, being the naive freshmen in high school... so I bought it.

I don't regret buying it... it's a gorgeous guitar (i got the deluxe one with the leaves... and it's plum burst), and it sounds wonderful through in amp. However, it sounds empty without an amp due to a lack of full body.

My question for you ants is what full body should I graduate to? I'm looking to spend under $1000. I suppose the best way to decide what I want is to just go out and play to see what I like. I'd like somewhere to start though since I haven't been guitar shopping in a few years. If I could get some good models to try out, that would be awesome. Thanks!

-Karl

[ZaqDiesel]

If you don't mind buying a used guitar, you can always find incredible deals on Martins and 3 and 4 series Taylors on Ebay. I just sold a Taylor 410ce that was essentially brand new (couple of years old) for $925 and I had originally purchased the guitar for around $1500.

Otherwise, my suggestion to you would be to go to as many guitar stores as you can and play every guitar in your price range. Ignore the brand names (as hard as that sounds) and concentrate on the sound you're hearing and how comfortable the guitar feels. Don't forget to have somebody play it for you so you can get a different perspective on the sound as the listener in front of the guitar rather than behind it. Don't forget to keep in mind your other needs such as pickups. Many times you're just as well off adding a pickup to a guitar that doesn't have one, especially if you'll be playing primarily unplugged.

[Nitro1515]

I got my Martin DCX1E for about 800 bucks and I absolutely love it. It has a pickup and a cutaway and the action is perfect right out of the box.

[three stones]

i just got my Martin DC-15E the other month, waited over 6 months to get it from Martin, love the sound, feel and look [not many ppl like the look]. and she still smells of that rich mahogany. keeper for life

[Rob]

As I've recommended many, many times in these same threads, it becomes especially important when you're making a more expensive investment to close your eyes to brand and just play everything in your price range (including those guitars a little more expensive and a little cheaper) at a variety of stores. Find what looks, sounds, and plays best to YOU, totally ignoring the biased suggestions of owners, and go home with what makes you happiest. Your only real research should go into the factory brand of strings (in many cases, they're crap, and can have an effect on sound) and long-term durability, as well as customer service.

The key is this- whenever somebody buys a guitar, it's what was best for them, and they're going to rave about it. What was best for them might not be the same for you, so trust your senses and instincts.

[greenpick41]

I just bought a Martin DC-16RGTE for $1260, but the other one I was looking at was the D-16RGT and it was about $960. I played both guitars for about 2 hours at the store because they both sounded so amazing, so you should go find one (the D-16RGT) and see how you like it.

[kmano8]

I played some Martins and Taylor today for only about a half hour (just a light browse). And what I seemed to be worried about then which I'm not now (thanks to some replies!) is the onboard electronics. I suppose that because I have an ovation I'm so used to having that built in amp... which is great. But I suppose I could always just get a pickup added.
I definitely think I'm going to go with a dreadnought for starters. So I'm off to guitar center tomorrow to try some new things.

[davisme2]

Don't just stick to martin and taylor. Go to some smaller guitar stores, and check out some of their featured brands. I went to a store and played a $450 blueridge (I think) that could nock the socks off of alot of the cheaper Martins out there. But I still will never love another guitar as I love my martin now. Hope that helps.

[unccrombie]

I played some Martins and Taylor today for only about a half hour (just a light browse). And what I seemed to be worried about then which I'm not now (thanks to some replies!) is the onboard electronics. I suppose that because I have an ovation I'm so used to having that built in amp... which is great. But I suppose I could always just get a pickup added.
I definitely think I'm going to go with a dreadnought for starters. So I'm off to guitar center tomorrow to try some new things.
the taylor ES is the best system you'll find on any guitar. they charge like $500 to put it on a taylor without one (i believe) the martin electronic system isn't shabby either. if you're going to install one yourself, theres always the fishman matrix nat 1 & 2. stay away from anything like the goes on the soundboard because they tend to get a lot of feedback (i learned that the hard way). there are some good pickups out there if ya do a search on musicians friend

[youneverno41]

I have a Taylor 214, it was a little under 900, great sound. I personally think the guitar is underrated. The only downfall is that it doesnt have the ES with the guitar

[unccrombie]

Don't just stick to martin and taylor. Go to some smaller guitar stores, and check out some of their featured brands. I went to a store and played a $450 blueridge (I think) that could nock the socks off of alot of the cheaper Martins out there. But I still will never love another guitar as I love my martin now. Hope that helps.
:thumbsup im a big fan of alvarez myself. i think a solid $500-700 alvarez can compete with any entry level martin/taylor

[Bran]

I play a Martin (though a small body) myself, but I wouldn't overlook the Takamine dreads. :thumbsup

[alphatabs]

i b a n e z a r t w o o d

[Rob]

See what I mean? Everybody suggest the guitar they own! Nothing wrong with that, but follow your instincts, not ours!

[JHacker]

Obviously everyone suggests the guitar they own...that's why they bought it...because they felt it was the best. People aren't bragging about what they own...they are suggesting guitars to check out. Obviously the person buying isn't going to buy it because someone else likes it. They might play what people suggest and buy what they find to be the best overall. I play a Taylor 314ce. I would obviously recommend that over anything else. But I still think he should get what he likes.

[mr.MikeD]

See what I mean? Everybody suggest the guitar they own! Nothing wrong with that, but follow your instincts, not ours!

i've seen your advice on multiple threads about playing guitars until finding the one YOU like. This is fantastic advice, but I have a bit to add. DO NOT include guitars out of you price range when doing this. I did this, and whenever i played something else, it paled in comparison to the one i loved, but couldn't afford. I'm not a super-star player, so i'm talking 400-600 dollar range. I lucked out big-time and found the one i liked on sale, and bought it, but I might have been dissappointed in whatever i had found after playing that one.

[Rob]

The reason I give the advice to check out slightly more expensive guitars is this- if something blows you away for $100 more, then wait until you have the extra $100. This isn't a recurring process, but if you sell yourself $100 short now you're selling yourself $1000 short later.

[mr.MikeD]

The reason I give the advice to check out slightly more expensive guitars is this- if something blows you away for $100 more, then wait until you have the extra $100. This isn't a recurring process, but if you sell yourself $100 short now you're selling yourself $1000 short later.

very true.

[Wesley Mariner]

I would suggest trying a Larrivee. They are solid wood guitars and have the same sound as a Taylor for under $1000. They had one a local guitar shop that was used, but was in brand new condition for $600, and it sounded just like a high end Taylor. Most all country singers use Larrivee in the studio, they are deffinately worth a listen.
www.larrivee.com

[maxpower00044]

I got my Martin DCX1E for about 800 bucks and I absolutely love it. It has a pickup and a cutaway and the action is perfect right out of the box.

rock on I got the Dcx1e of 600 (my friend works at the shop), although its in the shop right now cause my gig bag strap broke and i put some cracks in it....worst thing ever!

[davisme2]

What ever you do don't settle based on price alone. A sound investment could last you life time, or a few hundred dollars could turn into alot more when you decide to buy another. Of course you will always wan't to buy another one. I always do..

Hmm like an HD-28 instead of my 16 series I have now...

Choices.....

[AcousTronic]

Another vote for LARRIVEE!!... People think you need to spend $3k to get a great guitar but that simply is not the case. I played every Martin and Taylor within 50 miles before buying my Larrivee. Since then I've continued to try to find a Martin or Taylor that can compete with it... Just bought Larrivee #2 a couple months ago and will never look back.

Go needle around on the Larrivee guitar forum for a while. You will learn a ton of great info. And most of the folks over there are reformed Martin and Taylor players.

[Rob]

I don't like the implication that you are somehow more enlightened because a Larivee works for you... I'm happy for you that it's the best guitar for you, but it sure as hell ain't the best guitar for me, and I don't consider myself "malformed."

[cptnhansel]

I own a Taylor 110G

It is perfect... I love the sound, I love the action, I love everything about it.

I got it for $450 bucks. You can get one with a pickup for about $550.

[AcousTronic]

I don't like the implication that you are somehow more enlightened because a Larivee works for you... I'm happy for you that it's the best guitar for you, but it sure as hell ain't the best guitar for me, and I don't consider myself "malformed."

Hey Rob, I wasn't making any implications that i am somehow more enlightened, as you put it. Just stating that they are great guitars at a fraction of the cost of the high end Martin and Taylors. Yes it works for me, which is why this thread was started. He was wondering what works for each of us to generate a direction for himself.

I'm not here to argue, but for argument's sake, I have brought my Larrivee D-03BW (blackwood dread) to many open mics and acoustic jams at which many people feel the need to check out my guitar for some reason. Most of these guys are Taylor/Martin folks that after playing it, cringe when I tell them that it costs less than $800. Granted, I did my own set-up, added an FWI saddle, and K&K Sound pickup system. But when D-28 owners ask to play my guitar again and again, it makes me feel pretty good.

[Rob]

Well, saying "reformed Martin and Taylor owners" makes you sound quite snobbish. I won't touch Larrivee personally due to their horrendous quality control issues, which is the only real drawback I see to their guitars. I agree about great sound and playability. I know a gentleman, however, that uses his Larrivee as the "canary in the coal mine," so to speak. It's the most sensitive guitar in his collection, and when it's showing a problem he knows that there's something to correct quickly.

[Arron82]

I kind of gather from you that your in the market to purchase a "higher end" guitar. However, I just thought I'd let you know about the Washburn that I recently purchased. It's a Washburn D-100M/TWR, I spent $179.99 on it brand new! It's a full body acoustic with a dark redish finish and gold colored hardware, believe it or not it really doesn't look like I spent under $200 dollars on it. Upon buying it I had the action lowered on it as close as you can without any of the frets interfering with the sound. I strung it up with some light gauge Martin SP strings, you would not believe how full the sound is that comes from this guitar. I personally have always been a fan of the higher end guitars myself, i.e. Taylors and Martins ( you know, like Dave plays!) however I've never been quite able to afford one, or atleast the ones that I want. Keep in mind when you go shopping that if your going after an acoustic-electric that when you have the guitar plugged in, that its only gonna sound as good as the pre-amp that it has in it. Where I'm going with this is you could buy something like the Washburn that I just got and have a really nice pre-amp installed in it, and you'd have one hell of a nice guitar! I hope I've been some help.

[AcousTronic]

Here you go... your search is over!!! Man, if I had the cash I would buy another one of these in a second!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2385&item=7327172059&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[kmano8]

I am indeed looking for a "higher end" guitar. I really just have to go out and play at some stores. The input you guys are giving me is great!

I think at this point, my best move would be to widen my search to include acoustics without the electronics as well since it seems as though many folks here are saying you can get a good pickup installed for $100 extra... which may be worth it if I have more flexability.

[JHacker]

3 words...Taylor Expression System. Absolutely worth every extra penny it costs. Make sure you check it out because it sounds incredible. I always knew it was great but I never realized exactly how amazing it is until I brought my guitar home and plugged in...

[AcousTronic]

3 words...Taylor Expression System. Absolutely worth every extra penny it costs.

I disaggree, because Taylor is charging a lot of money for what they consider a "patented" placement of the pickups... K&K pickups also use the same sensor technology of the Taylor ES, but all three are on the soundboard, where it counts. Taylor's system only has one on the sound board, and the other two oddly placed on the back and neck position.

I have tried the ES, and though it doesn't sound bad, I much prefer the sound of the K&K. Plus you can get the K&K "Pure Western" pickup for $100, and easily install it yourself on any guitar.