BigWheeledWagon Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 yup got here late again...been touring build one eh...am i that hardcore? well 2 things in your favor i reckon... first, $500 is pretty good place to be looking, and i have gotten to the point where i will never buy a guitar new again...just like a car you loose resale value and inherit a crappy or difficult warranty...yet, unlike a car, most acoustics get better with age... secondly, you live in nashville, a city with more music stores per citizen than anywhere in the us, save LA...you have alot of places to look and test drive so, having put that out there, id be looking for a used Yairi (a super value), guild, takamine (the japanese ones), or maybe higher end seagull (good stuff, youll want the spruce top one, not cedar)...you can some times find a used larrivee for about that, which would be a steal...the epiphone masterbuilt series gets good reviews, but i never played one, so caveat emptor...breedlove atlas series are in you range and are pretty good ( i have a 12 string model which is solid) one problem youre likely to run into is there arent too many builders that make anything but dreads in your price range...so if youre looking for something more on the crisp and middy side, could be tough... FWIW the martin suggested is about as far away from a 'martin' as you can get....its laminate except its top, too much glue for me...you can however usually find a d16gt for around 5 bills...i wouldnt bother with Ibanez, Dean, Fender, really most of the asian factories are tuning out good looking guitars that sound like shit...but one man's garbage is anothers gem... have fun shopping man...always a ball for me...ill keep my eyes open for something that might suit you here in memphis I was wondering when you would show up -- it's good to get your two cents. Great advice. I don't really know much about Yairi, so I'll have to check some out. I've already got used Guilds on my checklist -- back in the day, a guy I was in a band with had a Guild that I loved the sound of, even if it was as ugly as it could be. Agreed about the Ibanez, Dean, Fender, etc. -- never even crossed my mind. I don't know why Fender even bothers with acoustics, but if there's money to be made . . . You're certainly not the first to mention Seagull, so that's something I'm going to have to keep an eye out for. I am definitely finding that most things in this price range are indeed dreads, so this could be a long process . . . which is fine with me. It just gives me an excuse to play a lot of different guitars. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oceanman Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 You can still get a vintage LG1 for around 600.00-700.00. Seagull's never let you down,great guitars. If your in the mood for a parlor,I know of a few vintage one's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
danelectro Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I've been buying old 70's "lawsuit" era Japanese made copies of famous guitars and have had really good luck buying on eBay. Many people have a problem with the eBay thing but I've been extremely lucky, buying from sellers with good feedback that have informative listings helps. Anyway so far the old Takamine copies of Martin's are my favorite. I have 3 and I didn't spend $500 for the lot. I have a Tak F-360 which is a D-28 copy, a F-340 D-18 copy and an F-310 OM copy. All a great and I can honestly say are better than many new Martin's I've played that cost much more. No exaggeration when I say the F-360 D-28 copy is better than any new D-28 I've seen in a long time. I've also bought a few lawsuit era Alvarez models based on Gibson jumbos that are really great too, but those were more expensive, in the $500 each range so the quality was expected. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dondoboy Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 This is a sweet guitar for about $500Martin dx1k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oceanman Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Anyone ever play a Cort? Price is super cheap and material looks decent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
asmara Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 I always buy guitars used. In the 500 range from what you are talking I would consider a small bodied Yamaha FG-180 from the 80s. Also I would look at Guild older guitars. If you like Wilco guitar sounds dont be afraid of all Mahogany wood. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anthony Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 If you like Wilco guitar sounds dont be afraid of all Mahogany wood. The next time I can scrap up some GAS cash (which seems a long way off ... Grrr)I am gonna order me a Martin D-17 (a defunct seires, but custom shop will make ya one, so I hear). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine bends Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 breedlove retro series OM/SM I have one... great acoustic guitar for the money... not american made ..but who can afford the American mades Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmacomber68w Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 This is what I would recommend, I own a taylor and love her. A bit out of your range, but preowned maybe? http://taylorguitars.com/Guitars/100-200/200/210e/ If you live in the New England area I highly recommend Daddys.com for used gear Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Just go to a bunch of guitar stores, play a whole shitton of guitars that are in your price range, and buy the one that feels and sounds the best to you.If you follow my advice, you'll probably find something that you never dreamed of ever owning; and being a whole lot happier with it. The wand chooses the wizard. or something. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Larrivee Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Larrivee's are pretty nice, went into a store with the idea of a Taylor and had always heard good things about Larrivee's. Had the Taylor in my hand, saw a Larrivee and wanted to check it out, walk out with it. Little warmer sound that the higher pitch of Taylor (IMO) and very friendly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
knotgreen Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 I'm about to purchase my first guitar (I've got a $3-400ish budget) and am thinking of the Yamaha FG730s. Anyone here ever play one? http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-FG730S-Solid-Top-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=519049 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I'm about to purchase my first guitar (I've got a $3-400ish budget) and am thinking of the Yamaha FG730s. Anyone here ever play one? http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-FG730S-Solid-Top-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=519049 I've never played one, but I've found yamaha guitars, on the whole, to be pretty darn good guitars. Can someone explain to me how a guitar with a solid sitka spruce top, and a rosewood back and sides, is $299? There's got to be a catch, obviously. Is there a such thing as rosewood laminate?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
In a little rowboat Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I've never played one, but I've found yamaha guitars, on the whole, to be pretty darn good guitars. Can someone explain to me how a guitar with a solid sitka spruce top, and a rosewood back and sides, is $299? There's got to be a catch, obviously. Is there a such thing as rosewood laminate?? Absolutely such a thing...more common than not on import guitars...the catch is the incredible amount of glue in the instrument coupled with a lack of human craftmanship and poor quality control...most asian factories turn out a fairly consistent product which is often lacking in many qualities...short cuts and shoddy hardware are also common...yamahas generally have a decent rep, but i prefer other brands in that price range (takamine, seagull)... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
knotgreen Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Absolutely such a thing...more common than not on import guitars...the catch is the incredible amount of glue in the instrument coupled with a lack of human craftmanship and poor quality control...most asian factories turn out a fairly consistent product which is often lacking in many qualities...short cuts and shoddy hardware are also common...yamahas generally have a decent rep, but i prefer other brands in that price range (takamine, seagull)... Aside from the Seagull S6, do you have any specific models for me to check out. This will be my first guitar purchase, so I'd prefer to stick to the $300 range! Thanks for the input. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anthony Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 If you can stretch your budget a little more, I'd suggets the Epi Masterbilt series. In my experience, a lot of bang-fo-buck and a guitar you won't quickly out-grow. http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Masterbilt-AJ500M-Advanced-Jumbo-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=519028 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oceanman Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I've never played one, but I've found yamaha guitars, on the whole, to be pretty darn good guitars. Can someone explain to me how a guitar with a solid sitka spruce top, and a rosewood back and sides, is $299? There's got to be a catch, obviously. Is there a such thing as rosewood laminate?? CHILD LABOR and BREAKING FSC LAWS Most of these are solid woods traded with peoples heads turned. Only gear I won't sell is a 60's Yamaha small body and a 90's Yamaha drumset. And you can laminate anything.............Blueridge has a Brazillian Rosewood laminate model..WTF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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