Gah...help me pick a guitar!

Mrvile

Lifer
Oct 16, 2004
14,066
1
0
Hey all

I'm looking to buy a new guitar, an acoustic-electric, and nothing too fancy. I'm coming from a POS Fender dreadnought, which sounds pretty good but is a bitch to play. I want something that's closer to an electric in playability - smaller overall size, smaller neck, lower action, softer strings, etc. I'd like it to sound decent unplugged, low volume is fine (and expected) but still would prefer good tone. Plugged in, I'd like it to sound pretty good.

As for price range, I was originally expecting to spend like $200-300 on an entry-level model, but I might consider going up to say $500.

I went to Guitar Center today and played a lot of different guitars. They didn't have the entry-level Ibanez's I was looking for so I didn't get to demo those, so I played some more expensive ones that were all pretty nice. However, it was still really overwhelming with the number of guitars they had, and since I'm largely an electric player, I don't really know what to look for in an electric-acoustic.

So any suggestions as to what to watch out for the next time I go to GC would be appreciated.

Thanks.
 

Jesusthewererabbit

Senior member
Mar 20, 2008
934
0
76
The Ibanez acoustics that I have played are extremely nice, and even the exotic wood ones don't run too high.

Alvarez also makes some nice guitars. I first learned to play on an Alvarez electric, and have an acoustic I'm about to buy sitting next to me, but expect to spend closer to $500 on one.

Takamine is another decent company.


To me, buying an acoustic is just like buying an electric: play as many as possible and find one that feels right in your hands, and has the sound you are looking for.

First post! Hi everyone!

WWJWRD
 

Auryg

Platinum Member
Dec 28, 2003
2,377
0
71
My girlfriend's Ibanez is nice.

I used to be able to get music equipment at cost :D That was fun..
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
First, acoustics are really an "eye of teh beholder" sort of deal. You have to go out and find what you like. For your price range ($200) I wouldn't expect something different from your Fender. For $500, you have plenty to choose from.

2nd. That said, I have never played on a brand name guitar that "is a bitch to play". Have you tried lower gauge strings?

3rd....just a question....you looking sor a semi-acoustic? I have heard people call them electric acoustics before.
 

Mrvile

Lifer
Oct 16, 2004
14,066
1
0
Originally posted by: Jesusthewererabbit
The Ibanez acoustics that I have played are extremely nice, and even the exotic wood ones don't run too high.

Alvarez also makes some nice guitars. I first learned to play on an Alvarez electric, and have an acoustic I'm about to buy sitting next to me, but expect to spend closer to $500 on one.

Takamine is another decent company.


To me, buying an acoustic is just like buying an electric: play as many as possible and find one that feels right in your hands, and has the sound you are looking for.

First post! Hi everyone!

WWJWRD

Welcome :)

Anyway my friend has the Ibanez AEL10E which is a great guitar...he's just starting so he doesn't know how nice it is, but when I first played it I was like wtf, guitars this nice run this cheap (his brother, who has been playing for several years, reacted similarly). That sort of inspired me to get an a-e, and I personally love my own Ibanez GRX20, which is cheap but plays better than a Strat IMO, so I was looking mainly at Ibanez. Anyway I wanted something less "standard acoustic" than the AEL10E, and I was looking at the Ibanez Talman series which seemed pretty nice but our local Guitar Center doesn't carry those (they're on order) so I won't have a chance to try it.

Some other guitars I was looking at were Ovations...their Celebrity series looks right about in my price range and they also seem to fit my needs. I didn't play any but I'm pretty sure there were a couple hanging around the store.
 

Mrvile

Lifer
Oct 16, 2004
14,066
1
0
Originally posted by: Gibson486
First, acoustics are really an "eye of teh beholder" sort of deal. You have to go out and find what you like. For your price range ($200) I wouldn't expect something different from your Fender. For $500, you have plenty to choose from.

2nd. That said, I have never played on a brand name guitar that "is a bitch to play". Have you tried lower gauge strings?

3rd....just a question....you looking sor a semi-acoustic? I have heard people call them electric acoustics before.

1. Well my friend's AEL10E is pretty magical, and it's only $300 (he got it on sale for $250).

2. My friend's brother, who normally plays a Strat but also owns the same Fender acoustic I do, agrees that it's a bitch to play because the action is so high.

3. I looked at bunch of semi-hollow/hollow electrics, which were pretty fun to play and all, but at this point I don't have any need to upgrade my standard electric to anything else (the ones at the store didn't play any better than my GRX) so I just wanted to add an electric-acoustic to my inventory.
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
Originally posted by: Mrvile
Originally posted by: Gibson486
First, acoustics are really an "eye of teh beholder" sort of deal. You have to go out and find what you like. For your price range ($200) I wouldn't expect something different from your Fender. For $500, you have plenty to choose from.

2nd. That said, I have never played on a brand name guitar that "is a bitch to play". Have you tried lower gauge strings?

3rd....just a question....you looking sor a semi-acoustic? I have heard people call them electric acoustics before.

1. Well my friend's AEL10E is pretty magical, and it's only $300 (he got it on sale for $250).

2. My friend's brother, who normally plays a Strat but also owns the same Fender acoustic I do, agrees that it's a bitch to play because the action is so high.

3. I looked at bunch of semi-hollow/hollow electrics, which were pretty fun to play and all, but at this point I don't have any need to upgrade my standard electric to anything else (the ones at the store didn't play any better than my GRX) so I just wanted to add an electric-acoustic to my inventory.

I guess....I have not played the AEL10E, so I will not pass judgement. Looking at the specs, however, it seems to be an average guitar. If you hunt around enough, you could probably get a solid top version for not much more. I played a Takamine EG531SSC last month, and I liked it alot. It was $450 used at some no name guitar shop.I wa sgonna buy it, but ducked at the last second because I saw how much food was costing me each week.

 

Mrvile

Lifer
Oct 16, 2004
14,066
1
0
Originally posted by: CptObvious
Some A/E's under $500 with solid tops:

Ibanez AW30ECENT
Ibanez AW35RECENT
Takamine EG340SC
Alvarez AD60SC
Alvarez AD70SC
Seagull Slim AE
Takamine EGS-330SC

I personally prefer Takamine and Seagull brands over Ibanez and Alvarez

Thanks for the suggestions, but those are all pretty hefty guitars. At this point, sound stuff (like the solid top) don't matter to me as much as specific playability...which is why I don't feel like investing too much into it.

For a starter...my "dream" guitar under these conditions would be the Martin 00CXAE...but at $650 it's a little more than I want to spend on a guitar right now.
 

Mrvile

Lifer
Oct 16, 2004
14,066
1
0
Originally posted by: Gibson486
I guess....I have not played the AEL10E, so I will not pass judgement. Looking at the specs, however, it seems to be an average guitar. If you hunt around enough, you could probably get a solid top version for not much more. I played a Takamine EG531SSC last month, and I liked it alot. It was $450 used at some no name guitar shop.I wa sgonna buy it, but ducked at the last second because I saw how much food was costing me each week.

I agree that the AEL10E is an average guitar, but compared to the Fender "DG-7" it plays a lot better. As did all of the other guitars in the store.
 

Jesusthewererabbit

Senior member
Mar 20, 2008
934
0
76
Ibanez has really impressed me over the last couple of years. All of their newer instruments that I've played have been outstanding. Have you taken your Fender in to have a neck adjustment done on it? The Guitar Centers I've been to will do it for tips.

Ovations are a love em or hate em guitar. I like them a lot, but some people really hate the round back.
 

Mrvile

Lifer
Oct 16, 2004
14,066
1
0
Originally posted by: Jesusthewererabbit
Ibanez has really impressed me over the last couple of years. All of their newer instruments that I've played have been outstanding. Have you taken your Fender in to have a neck adjustment done on it? The Guitar Centers I've been to will do it for tips.

Ovations are a love em or hate em guitar. I like them a lot, but some people really hate the round back.

That's the thing, I really want to play an Ovation first before I make any real judgment.

I might just do that with the Fender...I still want to get an a-e, but the Fender might still make a great dreadnought. We'll see.
 

ed21x

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2001
5,411
8
81
Buy a Breedlove AD25/SM.

Amazing guitar, beautiful, low action, solid front/back.
 

Invisible Evil

Golden Member
Dec 7, 2004
1,050
0
0
I have an Alvarez that was my fathers and I have never played a guitar that I find to be better, as far as acoustic goes.
Maybe I am bias.