Guitarists: Need some advice on a guitar ***update: found me one!***

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iotone

Senior member
Dec 1, 2000
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i bought an electric guitar to learn to play on (a cheap squier affinity strat), and now i'm looking to upgrade to either an acoustic or acoustic/electric...

i've been playing guitar for about a year, and i play weekly at my church here on campus, and i'd like to be able to plug into the amplifier... so i'm looking on some recommendations...

price range: 400-500, but i might go as high as 600 if someone can convince me that it's worth it...

here's some things i'm wondering about too... should i spend money on a purely acoustic guitar (with a nice sound) and buy a pickup, or sacrifice some sound and buy an acoustic electric??

thanks in advanced :D

edit: so this is the one i've decided to buy: SeaGull!

comments?
 
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crumpet19

Platinum Member
Feb 10, 2002
2,189
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If you don't mind doing a little leg work...
Buy a nice acoustic, spend $100-150 sometime down the road on a nice piezo pickup, mount the pickup just infront of the tail bridge and enjoy the orgasmic sound.

Oh, and smash the HELL out of that strat.
 
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iotone

Senior member
Dec 1, 2000
946
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well, i really like music along the lines of foo fighters, 311, stuff like that... but i'm inclined to play anything i like...

but yeah, mostly i'd prolly be using it for church music when i'm actually plugged in and not at home just jamming...
 
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iotone

Senior member
Dec 1, 2000
946
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Originally posted by: crumpet19
If you don't mind doing a little leg work...
Buy a nice acoustic, spend $100-150 sometime down the road on a nice piezo pickup, mount the pickup just infront of the tail bridge and enjoy the orgasmic sound.

Oh, and smash the HELL out of that strat.
Click to expand...


yeah i was thinking about it... but i'm prolly gonna pass it to someone else who's figuring out if they want to learn to play or not...
 
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theNEOone

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
5,745
4
81
i've got a beautiful cordoba 50R classical acoustic (also a hardshell case) if you're interested. i paid $950 (retailed for $1200+) for it and only played it twice. woohoo, my spending habits are disgusting. anyway, let me know if you're interested. i'd def bring it down to your $600 price range since it's just sitting around.



=|
 
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gistech1978

Diamond Member
Aug 30, 2002
5,047
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i would say go for acoustic/electric.
chances are youre going to be playing C, G and D (primarily) if you want to join up with a worship band.
i think an acoustic/electric would sound just fine for that.
my friend has a pretty nice ibanez acoustic/electric, it sounds sort of "plastic-y" but on the other hand it doesnt sound bad either.
i dont know what he paid for it.
300~400 range would be my best guess.
:confused:

and dont smash your strat.
 
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iotone

Senior member
Dec 1, 2000
946
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Originally posted by: theNEOone
i've got a beautiful cordoba 50R classical acoustic (also a hardshell case) if you're interested. i paid $950 (retailed for $1200+) for it and only played it twice. woohoo, my spending habits are disgusting. anyway, let me know if you're interested. i'd def bring it down to your $600 price range since it's just sitting around.



=|
Click to expand...



thanks for the offer, but i'm not really looking for a classical guitar... sorry...
 
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Nutdotnet

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2000
7,721
3
81
Hands down, the two best guitars to get in the price range come from Seagull and Larrivee. Actually, Tacoma makes a nice guitar in that price range as well.
 
Lithium381

Lithium381

Lifer
May 12, 2001
12,452
2
0
Originally posted by: iotone
Originally posted by: theNEOone
i've got a beautiful cordoba 50R classical acoustic (also a hardshell case) if you're interested. i paid $950 (retailed for $1200+) for it and only played it twice. woohoo, my spending habits are disgusting. anyway, let me know if you're interested. i'd def bring it down to your $600 price range since it's just sitting around.



=|
Click to expand...



thanks for the offer, but i'm not really looking for a classical guitar... sorry...
Click to expand...


i'd be tempted to buy that off of you, do you have pics you could send me? i just spent 1800 on my latest guitar, but i don't have a really nice classical one yet, and that's my favorite style to play as yet......

go with a takamine electric acoustic, they're right in your price range, and they sound really nice, IMO

and for church, acoustic sounds better, and as mentioned MOST songs are in the keys of C D or G, lots of open, soft patterned chords....
 
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iotone

Senior member
Dec 1, 2000
946
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Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Hands down, the two best guitars to get in the price range come from Seagull and Larrivee. Actually, Tacoma makes a nice guitar in that price range as well.
Click to expand...

hmmm... any particular models to recommend??
 
BigSmooth

BigSmooth

Lifer
Aug 18, 2000
10,484
12
81
Personally, I'd go with an acoustic-electric (perhaps even a semi-hollow body) for the versatility if this is going to be your only guitar. I don't have any specific recommendations. My stepdad's got a bunch of guitars, my favorites are his Takamine and his Epiphone Casino but many brands should have something good in your price range.
 
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lchyi

Senior member
May 1, 2003
935
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0
Yes since it is for worship, you should get an Acoustic/Electric. Technology's getting so good these days you won't be able to distinguish much of a difference between a midrange acoustic with a midrange acoustic/electric sound. I personally like Martins. You won't be able to afford Taylor acoustic/electrics, but those are so sweet. So I guess try for a low end Martin (play it first of course), Takamine, and Fender. But whatever you do, play the heck out of them before you buy them. If you have a Guitar Center close to you, go there.
 
Lithium381

Lithium381

Lifer
May 12, 2001
12,452
2
0
Originally posted by: iotone
hmmm... looking at this one... comments?
Click to expand...

doesn't look bad at all, nice price, and comes with case.......and it's got grover tuners = win!

remember - don't order off the internet, go down to the store and buy A guitar, not a type, but go there and buy a specific guitar that you've played and enjoy, two guitars that are the same model might be different in action etc
 
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iotone

Senior member
Dec 1, 2000
946
0
0
Originally posted by: Lithium381
Originally posted by: iotone
hmmm... looking at this one... comments?
Click to expand...

doesn't look bad at all, nice price, and comes with case.......and it's got grover tuners = win!

remember - don't order off the internet, go down to the store and buy A guitar, not a type, but go there and buy a specific guitar that you've played and enjoy, two guitars that are the same model might be different in action etc
Click to expand...

yeah i was just using that as a reference, i wouldn't order it off the internet, i'd need to have it in my hands...

another note, has anyone tried Ovation acoustic electrics??? comments on those??
 
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HokieESM

Senior member
Jun 10, 2002
798
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If you're going acoustic/electric, I would highly consider looking at Seagulls. Good prices, nice piezo pickups.

But to be perfectly honest: Go to a good guitar store. Play LOTS of them. see what FEELS good to you. I would immediately strike out anything that doesn't at least have a solid top (look closely, you can probably see the plies on the plywood topped ones). Look for good piezo pickups. Under the bridge, preferably. If you like playing unamplified, listen to the sound. In a VERY quiet room with no one else playing. Acoustic guitars (even of the same maker AND model) can vary considerably.

An acoustic is a very personal thing. VERY. Find what you like. Personally, I own a Larrivee OM-03 (which MIGHT be in your price range, but I didn't get the pickup because, well, I suck) and a Martin OM that was my grandfather's (which I'm almost scared to play after having it appraised). But you might play a Larrivee and hate it. Or might love it. Just find what YOU like and buy it.

(one word of warning: I would NEVER order a guitar on the internet. I would be VERY cautious of ordering any guitar--unless the seller would let me play it before buying it. Like I said, individual guitars can vary tremendously from one to another--Martin is a classic example of this).
 
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yellowperil

Diamond Member
Jan 17, 2000
4,598
0
0
In that price range, I would look at Carvin Cobalts (www.carvin.com/cobalt), Seagulls, a used Tacoma, or a Martin D-15. Check out harmonycentral.com for a user review database.

Ovations are kind of a novelty, but you might find yourself wanting a new guitar after it wears off and you get sick of the plastic-y sound.
 
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HokieESM

Senior member
Jun 10, 2002
798
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Originally posted by: Lithium381

remember - don't order off the internet, go down to the store and buy A guitar, not a type, but go there and buy a specific guitar that you've played and enjoy, two guitars that are the same model might be different in action etc
Click to expand...

We replied the same thing at the same time. :-D

Oh... and another point--if you'll leave enough "room" in your budget, a $50 action job from a good guitar store can do WONDERS for a guitar's playability.
 
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iotone

Senior member
Dec 1, 2000
946
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thanks for all the advice!! i'm gonna go check out guitar center after work, and maybe a sam ash this weekend...
 
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iotone

Senior member
Dec 1, 2000
946
0
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Originally posted by: HokieESM
Oh... and another point--if you'll leave enough "room" in your budget, a $50 action job from a good guitar store can do WONDERS for a guitar's playability.
Click to expand...

yeah, i got a place that hooks me up with an entire guitar setup for about $25... i've been told to get the setup to get the neck set for the gauge of strings i want, and to get the action all set up too...
 
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HokieESM

Senior member
Jun 10, 2002
798
0
0
Originally posted by: iotone


yeah, i got a place that hooks me up with an entire guitar setup for about $25... i've been told to get the setup to get the neck set for the gauge of strings i want, and to get the action all set up too...
Click to expand...

A good setup is like black magic (I'm convinced).... some guys can do it marvelously, some its hardly worth paying. :)

For the acoustic, heavier is typically better when it comes to strings--it sounds lots fuller. The only problem is that they get MUCH harder to push down (remember, .011s are lights when it comes to acoustics, as compared to .009s for electrics). Build up that finger strength!

Good luck finding one that you want!

 
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