• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

ADVICE: Looking to buy a guitar

X

xarmian

Senior member
Harnessing the power of ATOT: I'm looking to buy a decent guitar that isn't going to fall apart anytime soon. I've been looking at Acoustic Electrics, however I'm curious how much more one costs for the same quality of a straight Acoustic. I'm willing to spend up to about $400.

I know very little about quality of manufacturers, etc. and have done very little research thus far.

Thanks,

-Dave
 
go to sam ash. check some out. you don't have to buy there, but maybe there are people there who can help you. i went with my friend who ended up buying a fender acoustic guitar, i believe, and they were really helpful to her.
 
an acoustic electric eh.. i bought one recently for about $450, an ibanez..pretty decent~
but i'd advise u to spend about $1200 and get a Taylor. Wow taylors are sooooo hOT man...
theres a 300 acoustic that sounds better than a $400 electric acoustic ...

taylor is the way to go...

-.-
 
Originally posted by: dkone
an acoustic electric eh.. i bought one recently for about $450, an ibanez..pretty decent~
but i'd advise u to spend about $1200 and get a Taylor. Wow taylors are sooooo hOT man...
theres a 300 acoustic that sounds better than a $400 electric acoustic ...

taylor is the way to go...

-.-
Click to expand...

I'd love to, however my budget just doesn't have the capacity for a $1200 guitar 🙁

what do you mean by a 300 acoustic that sounds better than a 400 electric acoustic?
 
Originally posted by: xarmian
Originally posted by: dkone
an acoustic electric eh.. i bought one recently for about $450, an ibanez..pretty decent~
but i'd advise u to spend about $1200 and get a Taylor. Wow taylors are sooooo hOT man...
theres a 300 acoustic that sounds better than a $400 electric acoustic ...

taylor is the way to go...

-.-
Click to expand...

I'd love to, however my budget just doesn't have the capacity for a $1200 guitar 🙁

what do you mean by a 300 acoustic that sounds better than a 400 electric acoustic?
Click to expand...

He means the electric part can add enough cost that the cheaper guitar sounds better.

I bought a used Sigma (cheaper Martin line, basically) guitar for $400 with a hard case and bargained for an electric pickup system to be included in the cost. So I'd hit up the used guitar stores (I bought mine from a luthier shop) and see what they have.

Failing that, what I did to pick my guitar is I borrowed a friend's expensive acoustic and learned a song on it. Then I went and played guitars all day on Saturday and bought the guitar that sounded most like it. Make sure to buy a tuner with a mic in it so you can tune the guitars before you play them.
 
Failing that, what I did to pick my guitar is I borrowed a friend's expensive acoustic and learned a song on it. Then I went and played guitars all day on Saturday and bought the guitar that sounded most like it. Make sure to buy a tuner with a mic in it so you can tune the guitars before you play them.
Click to expand...

Good idea.. Of course I don't know anyone with an expensive guitar, I've just been learning on my roommate's... but i'll probably try taking one song and try guitars all day..
 
Your roomate's guitar is fine. Play an expensive acoustic (i.e., a $1000+ Taylor or Martin) to get the sound in your head then go find something like it. Low action is good as long as the string buzz it causes is acceptable. Take your roommate with you if he's willing, it makes the guitar selection process go faster.

If you buy used, look down the neck of the guitar to make sure it hasn't twisted or warped.
 
washburn d10s' are pretty highly rated relative to their cost

but i'd throw down the money to get it setup cuz the action is pretty high
 
go to a local guitar shop and try different stuff out in your price range. ask questions to the salesman. it's usually not a good idea to buy a guitar online that you can't handle beforehand.
 
Follow the advice given thus far. Go out and try some guitars, ask questions, sample a few that are out of your price range so you know what to shoot for and what feels comfortable to you.
 
Originally posted by: hdeck
go to a local guitar shop and try different stuff out in your price range. ask questions to the salesman. it's usually not a good idea to buy a guitar online that you can't handle beforehand.
Click to expand...

I agree. Go to a music shop and play the guitars in your price range. I would be more concerned about the guitar's action and sound than anything else.

How long have you been playing?
 
Originally posted by: Siddhartha
Originally posted by: hdeck
go to a local guitar shop and try different stuff out in your price range. ask questions to the salesman. it's usually not a good idea to buy a guitar online that you can't handle beforehand.
Click to expand...

I agree. Go to a music shop and play the guitars in your price range. I would be more concerned about the guitar's action and sound than anything else.

How long have you been playing?
Click to expand...

That's my plan, just trying to get a feel for where to start looking.. I've just been toying with it for a few weeks, enough time for my left index finger to be completely numb, and the rest of my fingers on that hand to have lost at least part of their feeling🙂

-Dave
 
i agree with the advice given above. Go to a guitar store and play all day long until you find something you love. However, if you are going to test the electronics, don't plug it into an insanely expensive but wonderful sounding amp unless you plan on buying one of those as well.
 
as with all the advice above, you MUST try out a guitar and see which you like...

if you're willing to spend just a bit more, i would recommend a Seagull S6+CW with the Quantum Electronics... i love it, it has great tone (not as great as a Martin or Taylor, but i think it's a lot better than most in the 400-1000 range)... i got the guy to get it down to ~$450, and recently i saw it for around $465 or so... i think the S6 is the only lower-end model with electronics, but any of the strictly acoustic Seagulls will treat you well...
 
All of the advice so far has been spot on.
Play some, play them through smaller amps (that tech21 amp recommended in another thread would be a good one) and LOOK CAREFULLY at the neck before accepting it.
Also, ask if it has a truus rod, that can be adjusted should the geometry change.
As for brands, Takamine, Yamaha, Fender, Ovation and Gibson all make acceptable guitars in that price range. Just find one that doesn't buzz when played and fits your "esthetic needs".
Make sure you get a HARDSHELL CASE and a stand to set it in when not playing. Get some extra strings and change them when they need it.
Wipe the guitar strings down when through playing to prevent corrosion and play, brother, play!
 
I just went through the same thing as you. My wife wanted to buy me a guitar for my birthday, but it had to be sub-200 range. I don't think you can go wrong if you get something with a SOLID TOP (no laminate). That one thing will make a world of difference in the sound of the guitar. I settled on a Fender box set for $199 at the local Guitar Center. I probably played a hundred different guitars that week, and although the Martins and Taylors sound great, this one played just as well for me (as a beginner), and sounded great. REMEMBER: if it doesn't specifically say SOLID TOP (solid spruce usually or sometimes cedar) it's going to be some type of laminate top. A solid top sounds much more rich since it's an actual piece of wood rather than glued layers.
 
This is good info.. cliff notes:

1. Takamine, Yamaha, Fender, Ovation, or Gibson, or Ibanez
2. if you're willing to spend just a bit more, i would recommend a Seagull S6+CW with the Quantum Electronics (I will investigate prices and how much of a budget I have when I go shopping)
3. play all day long
4. get a HARDSHELL CASE and a stand to set it in when not playing (which I planned to do anyway, but still a good note)
5. play them through smaller amps (ex. tech21)
6. Get some extra strings
7. Wipe the guitar strings down when through playing to prevent corrosion
8. get something with a SOLID TOP (no laminate)

Thanks for the tips. I'll be sure to post pictures when I do finally get it🙂

-Dave
 
Originally posted by: randalee
I just went through the same thing as you. My wife wanted to buy me a guitar for my birthday, but it had to be sub-200 range. I don't think you can go wrong if you get something with a SOLID TOP (no laminate). That one thing will make a world of difference in the sound of the guitar. I settled on a Fender box set for $199 at the local Guitar Center. I probably played a hundred different guitars that week, and although the Martins and Taylors sound great, this one played just as well for me (as a beginner), and sounded great. REMEMBER: if it doesn't specifically say SOLID TOP (solid spruce usually or sometimes cedar) it's going to be some type of laminate top. A solid top sounds much more rich since it's an actual piece of wood rather than glued layers.
Click to expand...

The absolute best sub $200 acoustic-electric I've ever played is an Austin. I paid $180 brand new, and it was a really good purchase. I have a 50 year old friend who's been playing for decades, and says it plays almost the same as his 1954 Gibson acoustic.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top