[Lucretia]

I have $800 saved. I already own a ######ty $80 acoustic. I also have a strat along with a Marshal amp. I'm planning on investing the $800 in a new guitar. However, I don't know what to get. A normal acoustic or an electric-acoustic? Also, do electric-acoustics need a special amp or can they be plugged into a marshal electric guitar amp?

Also, what kind of acoustic guitar would you recommend for me to buy? I'd like something that's not rare enough to the point that I can't find it at my local Guitar Center.

[dadfad]

In that price range (actually a little less) I like the AJ-60 Alvarez and the Yamaha FG700-SB. But there are others, so try out as many as possible. How they feel is just as important as how they sound. And yes you can plug into a regular amp with onboard-electronics. An acoustic amp or PA might be able to be tweaked into a little better acoustic sound, but a regular amp will work and sound pretty good.

[Lucretia]

Thanks for the recommendations.

What exactly are the advantages of having a normal acoustic instead of an electric-acoustic?

[dadfad]

You get a little more natural volume from a pure acoustic soley from the facts that there's a slight decrease in the amount of inside the guitar space (having a cutaway does the same thing) and that anything fixed to the body slightly detracts from the volume (decreasing vibrational ability of the body-woods slightly). There isn't a great deal of difference. If you plan to plug in frequently and you like the sound you get with on-board electronics (as opposed to purely acoustic guitar-to-mic sound) then I wouldn't let that slight difference influence a decision to get on-board electronics.

[matt_theripper]

I agree with John on the Alvarez. They are great guitars for the price. You might also check out Blueridge and Epiphone's masterbuilt series. Both have several guitars in that price range and both play and sound very good. Most Blueridge's don't have onboard electronics, though, so that might influence your decision.

[Lucretia]

Well I don't think I'll be plugged in that much so I really don't know what to do.

[okiejohn]

I went for the on board electronics on my 6-string Seagull, paid a little extra for it, never use it, total waste of $$$$.

If I had it to do over I would go straight acoustic, and I did just that when I got the 12-string.

[Bill_Sheffield]

Lucretia!

You......... My most favorite!!!

I'm playing a Washburn SBS-20 Acoustic/electric. Get one!!! These work!!! I can play Blind Blake to Rory Gallagher, then go to my personal shred mode into my modified Marshall JCM 800 2210.

Bill

[dadfad]

Well I don't think I'll be plugged in that much so I really don't know what to do.

I went for the on board electronics on my 6-string Seagull, paid a little extra for it, never use it, total waste of $$$$.

If I had it to do over I would go straight acoustic, and I did just that when I got the 12-string.

If you aren't going to use the electronics, like Okie said you're better off putting that money into what you can spend on the guitar itself with no electronics.

[-=FreeBird=-]

You can always purchase a pickup that sits in the sound hole of the guitar. It limits your mobility but chances are you aren't pretending to be garth brooks anyway.

[count crunkula]

I'd get a regular guitar with no pickup and then later on you could jury rig something up with a regular pickup if you wanted more volume.

[ninjato]

Lucretia!

You......... My most favorite!!!

I'm playing a Washburn SBS-20 Acoustic/electric. Get one!!! These work!!! I can play Blind Blake to Rory Gallagher, then go to my personal shred mode into my modified Marshall JCM 800 2210.

Bill

Here's one for $250

http://www.elderly.c...ms/20U-6301.htm