Acoustic-Electric guitar help wanted

[GrantMeThePower]

How are the Ibanez acoustic electrics?

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Check out an Ovation Celebrity or Tangent series. They should run in the $400-$800, and their electronics are decent.

Links?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/home/navigation?q=ovation

 

[GeneValgene]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower
Hi guys.

Inspired by this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=2003127&enterthread=y i realized that I could ask good ol ATOT about something i'm looking into.

I have an acoustic guitar. But its a piece of sh!t. It was given to me by an exgirlfriend and it was given to her from someone who didn't want it. It sounds terrible and plays awful. I don't like it at all...but its the only acoustic I have. And it wasn't that big of a deal because I really play more electric anyway and I have a nice electric.

But recently I've been wanting to play more acoustic AND i went to a good friends house and he had a Taylor Acoustic-Electric. It was absolutly the sweetest sounding guitar with AMAZING playabitliy. I loved it.

But then i looked at prices and they like start at 2 grand or so. Too much money.

Does anyone know of other really good acoustic electrics that play more like electrics but sound more like acoustics that aren't so much money?

unless you are a super regular player, i would suggest something along the lines of this

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...way-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=519292

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
In the <$1000 category this would be my choice

Martin DCX1KE $700


Over $1000, this is my fav. Unbelievable guitar. This one makes top of the line Taylors wish they sounded like this

Martin SPJC-16RE $2000

Martins with an X in the model name mean they're made of HPL's (high pressure laminates), which do not age well. I myself will never own an HPL guitar for this reason. Martin's D-15 series is a favorite of mine, and it's all wood. It also doesn't cost much more than the high end HPL's.

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: nkgreen
This + Mic

WOW :Q But how does that thing sound?

For that price, it better give me a recording contract with a major record company and several platinum albums! :Q

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
In the <$1000 category this would be my choice

Martin DCX1KE $700


Over $1000, this is my fav. Unbelievable guitar. This one makes top of the line Taylors wish they sounded like this

Martin SPJC-16RE $2000

Martins with an X in the model name mean they're made of HPL's (high pressure laminates), which do not age well. I myself will never own an HPL guitar for this reason. Martin's D-15 series is a favorite of mine, and it's all wood. It also doesn't cost much more than the high end HPL's.

Its still above my price range (the d-15 martin is WAY above) but what about this taylor that seems to compete with the x seris of the martin?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...ght-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=514895

And a stupid question: What does it mean when it says dreadnought?

Here is one i found that seemed to be popular with good reviews and a nice price:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...0E-AcousticElectric-Guitar-?sku=519982
What do you think?

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: nkgreen
This + Mic

WOW :Q But how does that thing sound?

For that price, it better give me a recording contract with a major record company and several platinum albums! :Q

Totally Agree

 

[DaShen]

BTW, OP dreadnaughts are bulky guitars. If you aren't used to them, I would suggest getting a smaller sized guitar.... concert sized or something.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: DaShen
BTW, OP dreadnaughts are bulky guitars. If you aren't used to them, I would suggest getting a smaller sized guitar.... concert sized or something.

Oh, ok, gotcha....thanks!

 

[SViper]

I don't know if you have a guitar center in your town, but they have a conditioned room where they store their acoustics. You can pick any guitar off of the wall and start playing it. Playing the guitar before buying it is a pretty good idea if you have the chance.

I currently have a cheep $200 Epiphone electric-acoustic that I practice with, but the next electric-acoustic guitar I'm going to get is a Takamine. They make pretty good guitars. Here is the one I plan on getting. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...3SC-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=516302

You are pretty much only limited by how much money you want to spend on a guitar.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: Fritzo
That's not true. The guitar construction is basically the same, the finish is different. They don't use shelacs on guitars anymore due to durability ( and the fact some were toxic).

Really? I didn't know the support on the inside was toxic? What did they use?

Martin for example has used the same wishbone construction since the 1800's. However, they used to use shelac to coat the wood on the outside of the guitar. This left the wood vunerable to dents, cracks, and weathering if not cared for, but did have the advantage of letting the wood reverberate- which is why those old guitars have such good tone. Gloss finishes make the guitar look nice and protect it from the elements, but it restricts the wood a bit so the guitar's sound can't breathe quite as much.

Also, a lot of the wood treatments they used back then contained lead and other nasty chemicals, so you don't see them used anymore.

SO- they're using the same basic constuction these days, but the other touches have changed for better or worse over the years.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
In the <$1000 category this would be my choice

Martin DCX1KE $700


Over $1000, this is my fav. Unbelievable guitar. This one makes top of the line Taylors wish they sounded like this

Martin SPJC-16RE $2000

Martins with an X in the model name mean they're made of HPL's (high pressure laminates), which do not age well. I myself will never own an HPL guitar for this reason. Martin's D-15 series is a favorite of mine, and it's all wood. It also doesn't cost much more than the high end HPL's.

Its still above my price range (the d-15 martin is WAY above) but what about this taylor that seems to compete with the x seris of the martin?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...ght-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=514895

And a stupid question: What does it mean when it says dreadnought?

Here is one i found that seemed to be popular with good reviews and a nice price:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...0E-AcousticElectric-Guitar-?sku=519982
What do you think?

I'm going to stress staying away from HPL guitars because you're going to end up getting rid of it in a few years when the tone goes dead. I've never been a fan of Ibenez because of their neck shape, but that's because I have giant hands. So, I might not be the best person to get an opinion on that. You'll have to try one out at a Guitar Center or something

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: DaShen
BTW, OP dreadnaughts are bulky guitars. If you aren't used to them, I would suggest getting a smaller sized guitar.... concert sized or something.

Right..the dreadnaught size was invented by Martin and has a thick body. I think it was named after the largest warship they had at the time. They're good for high volume and are able to resonate better than concert size guitars (so they're good at projecting bass notes).

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
In the <$1000 category this would be my choice

Martin DCX1KE $700


Over $1000, this is my fav. Unbelievable guitar. This one makes top of the line Taylors wish they sounded like this

Martin SPJC-16RE $2000

Martins with an X in the model name mean they're made of HPL's (high pressure laminates), which do not age well. I myself will never own an HPL guitar for this reason. Martin's D-15 series is a favorite of mine, and it's all wood. It also doesn't cost much more than the high end HPL's.

Its still above my price range (the d-15 martin is WAY above) but what about this taylor that seems to compete with the x seris of the martin?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...ght-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=514895

And a stupid question: What does it mean when it says dreadnought?

Here is one i found that seemed to be popular with good reviews and a nice price:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...0E-AcousticElectric-Guitar-?sku=519982
What do you think?

I'm going to stress staying away from HPL guitars because you're going to end up getting rid of it in a few years when the tone goes dead. I've never been a fan of Ibenez because of their neck shape, but that's because I have giant hands. So, I might not be the best person to get an opinion on that. You'll have to try one out at a Guitar Center or something

How do you know that those are HPL guitars?

What about this one instead?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...ht-AcousticElectric-Cutaway?sku=518739

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
In the <$1000 category this would be my choice

Martin DCX1KE $700


Over $1000, this is my fav. Unbelievable guitar. This one makes top of the line Taylors wish they sounded like this

Martin SPJC-16RE $2000

Martins with an X in the model name mean they're made of HPL's (high pressure laminates), which do not age well. I myself will never own an HPL guitar for this reason. Martin's D-15 series is a favorite of mine, and it's all wood. It also doesn't cost much more than the high end HPL's.

Its still above my price range (the d-15 martin is WAY above) but what about this taylor that seems to compete with the x seris of the martin?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...ght-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=514895

And a stupid question: What does it mean when it says dreadnought?

Here is one i found that seemed to be popular with good reviews and a nice price:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...0E-AcousticElectric-Guitar-?sku=519982
What do you think?

I'm going to stress staying away from HPL guitars because you're going to end up getting rid of it in a few years when the tone goes dead. I've never been a fan of Ibenez because of their neck shape, but that's because I have giant hands. So, I might not be the best person to get an opinion on that. You'll have to try one out at a Guitar Center or something

How do you know that those are HPL guitars?

What about this one instead?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...ht-AcousticElectric-Cutaway?sku=518739

My mistake, the Taylor is made from sapele, which is a wood similar to mahogany, just a bit more brittle. It's actually a decent guitar. I saw that model and was thinking of their other line.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: Fritzo


My mistake, the Taylor is made from sapele, which is a wood similar to mahogany, just a bit more brittle. It's actually a decent guitar. I saw that model and was thinking of their other line.

So do you think its a good one? How about that other one i linked to, the Alvarez?

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: Fritzo


My mistake, the Taylor is made from sapele, which is a wood similar to mahogany, just a bit more brittle. It's actually a decent guitar. I saw that model and was thinking of their other line.

So do you think its a good one? How about that other one i linked to, the Alvarez?

It should be great. It's an all wood guitar by a good brand name.

I have no experience with the Alvarez brand, so I can't say one way or the other.

 

[BoldAsLove]

I own a brilliant acoustic electric guitar that only cost me $100 shipped free. I got it from Musicians friend. Its the Rogue Cutaway acoustic electric Grand Concert. Its wonderful...nice thin body...EXCELLENT pickup (the pickup in it is worth more than the guitar itself..its a Fishman Classic 4 which is seen in guitars 10 times its price). It plays better than most martins I have played, being almost all of them except for a D-28(costs $2000+). This Rogue can take on a D-18 anyday, and throw in the $50 musiciansfriend acoustic amp (behringer acoustasonic), and your set.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: BoldAsLove
This Rogue can take on a D-18 anyday, and throw in the $50 musiciansfriend acoustic amp (behringer acoustasonic), and your set.

Uhh......err.......heheheheh

People that say stuff like that make me giggle.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

OK, I went to guitar center yesterday and played a bunch of guitars. I now know two things: Nothing will be as nice as a Taylor or Martin. They are way ahead of the others (aside from the expensive breedloves which i also liked).

That said, they are still way out of my price range.

So I've been looking more at the online stores and think I may have narrowed it down to two of them:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...ht-AcousticElectric-Cutaway?sku=518729

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...sticElectric-Cutaway-Guitar?sku=512478

G.C. doens't carry Alvarez so I couldn't try it and they didn't have that model Ibanez, but I played a few others. I liked them, mostly, but found that they varied a bunch from model to model. One of the big problems i had with the Ibanez's they had was that they just looked funky....like they tried to really stand out and it bugged me a bit.

The things that are most important to me is a low action (fast) and a lack of buzzing (can't tell that from online).

This store, musician's friend, seems to have pretty good return policies. You get 45 days they say. What do you guys think about those two?

Thanks.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower
OK, I went to guitar center yesterday and played a bunch of guitars. I now know two things: Nothing will be as nice as a Taylor or Martin. They are way ahead of the others (aside from the expensive breedloves which i also liked).

That said, they are still way out of my price range.

So I've been looking more at the online stores and think I may have narrowed it down to two of them:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...ht-AcousticElectric-Cutaway?sku=518729

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...sticElectric-Cutaway-Guitar?sku=512478

G.C. doens't carry Alvarez so I couldn't try it and they didn't have that model Ibanez, but I played a few others. I liked them, mostly, but found that they varied a bunch from model to model. One of the big problems i had with the Ibanez's they had was that they just looked funky....like they tried to really stand out and it bugged me a bit.

The things that are most important to me is a low action (fast) and a lack of buzzing (can't tell that from online).

This store, musician's friend, seems to have pretty good return policies. You get 45 days they say. What do you guys think about those two?

Thanks.

Of those two, the Alvarez hands down!

Solid top > split top

And in general Alvarez > Ibanez

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

Originally posted by: Fritzo


My mistake, the Taylor is made from sapele, which is a wood similar to mahogany, just a bit more brittle. It's actually a decent guitar. I saw that model and was thinking of their other line.

So do you think its a good one? How about that other one i linked to, the Alvarez?

It should be great. It's an all wood guitar by a good brand name.

I have no experience with the Alvarez brand, so I can't say one way or the other.

I totally :heart: my Alvarez 12-string dreadnought acoustic-electric. No idea if it was a factory A/E or not though (pawn shop FTW ), the plug is at the bottom of the strap button.

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower

This store, musician's friend, seems to have pretty good return policies. You get 45 days they say. What do you guys think about those two?

Thanks.

Check out American Musical Supply as well. They have a great selection, really good prices and fast (and free on orders over $49.95) shipping, 45-day return policy, etc. Also, they allow you to split your purchase price into 3-5 (depending on price) equal payments if you are a little tight on cash. I ordered my acoustic from them a couple years ago and couldn't be happier.

 

[StevenYoo]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower
How are the Ibanez acoustic electrics?

I really like Ibanez's acoustics. They have a round sound to them. I find that Martin's tend too be too bright for my taste.

I actually own a Rogue, which I bought on Musiciansfriend.com and I am extremely pleased with it. It's a great quality guitar for the money you pay.

Seagull makes good guitars too

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: BoldAsLove
This Rogue can take on a D-18 anyday, and throw in the $50 musiciansfriend acoustic amp (behringer acoustasonic), and your set.

I think you meant to post in the shens thread. :laugh: