[acoustic_soul]

I own two acoustic guitars, and a LP Epiphone. I usually don't care for the makers or style, I usually would just purchase an acoustic for low price.

That was then this is now. Now i have some mulah (money) and I'm willing to spend up to $480 on an acoustic. I want to go all out this time and get myself a guitar made by like Gibson, or Martin, or maybe Ovation, you know, the acoustics that are on top of the foodchain.

>>So my question is: What guitar companies make THE BEST acoustic guitars? I'm talking about quality of sound, looks, feel, everything. I'm looking for something that I can record with, practice with, fool around with, and maybe do a few gigs with.

If you guys know of any good acoustic guitars, or have a good one, or had a chance to play a good one. please let me know.

I'm going all out this christmas to get some good stuff. Thanks in advance.

[acousticmoose]

You will get a lot of different answers to this question because different ppl have different loyalties! Personally my favourite guitars are made by lowden! However you would not get one for the money you are talking of! A more apt question would be 'what is the best guitar for the money' and i would suggest a tanglewood guitar! They are solidly built and have a good tone! If not maybe look at a larivvee!

[capo2nd]

Takamine. Full Stop.

[dadfad]

Most Gibsons, Martins, Taylors, etc are above that range. (Although Martin makes some very decent guitars, their newer DX series, that start in that range. Gibson has its "Working Man Series" guitars that start near there too.). So you might look at those, or check out used ones (most people who have brands like that take good care of them and only get rid of them to trade up even higher), or look at some of the brands suggested. They make some nice instruments too.

[bobchild44]

Takamine's the best. I've got an A/E that's been used by 2 or 3 people besides me in the past and it still sounds great.

[pimp_vince]

taylor gibson martin takamine

those are THE best brands.

but top quality would come from a professional luthier. but that would cost WAY more.

[acoustic_soul]

Hey thanks everyone. Yah, i've been looking around and have been leaning towards a gibson, martin or a takamine. I really love the look on the Gibsons though, the Elvis Presley looking type Gibsons. If I can get a Martin, i'd probably go for that.

I have a Yamaha FX310, not a bad guitar, but, why have a ford when you can have a Mercedez right? I'm stationed overseased Naval Air Station Sigonella Italy, there's some shops out in town with decent guitars. found a Gibson LP Black Beauty for around $500. hopefully i can find a good price on an acoustic. If i can find a Martin, I'll probably go Martin.

Anyways Thanks everyone . I'll keep researchin', and head down to the stores this weekend and get a feel of the guitars and the sounds of each type.

[pimp_vince]

i really recommend you at least try a Taylor, the tone is a lot more seperated than say a gibson or martin, the sound doesn't really "bleed" from mid to low or high to mid. so you know it'll never get muddy. it's got great clarity but a bit lacking in the warmth of tone department.

[lowden]

i really recommend you at least try a Taylor, the tone is a lot more seperated than say a gibson or martin, the sound doesn't really "bleed" from mid to low or high to mid. so you know it'll never get muddy. it's got great clarity but a bit lacking in the warmth of tone department.

I don't like the lower end Taylors at all and reckon they only come good at the top of the range. Takemines also are not great until you start to spend some serious money. Both makes always sound and feel too 'mass-produced' for my liking. But for $480 you're probably in Takemine, Seagull, Tanglewood territory. A little more dosh will get you into the lower end Martin, Gibson, Taylor area.

My advice is to play a lot of makes that cost above and below your price. You're in the area where you can pick up good guitars at reasonnable prices, but some makes have great variations in tones i.e. The Martin Dx range mentioned by DADFAD, these guitars can vary hugely in tone and playability and with a bit of luck you might just get a good one. I know two guys who have the same Martin Dx guitar (identical in model number and looks) but one is far better than the other, it quite astounding.

So play a lot of makes, if they have pickup systems plug them in and listen to that sound, and pick the one that feels good to you, sounds good to you (both acoustically and plugged in) and then you'll have the right guitar.

Or save up for 10 years and get a Lowden or a James Olson or a Kevin Ryan or a Bourgeois or a 'big' Martin or a Gibson J-200

[stuartmerenbloom]

For my $$$$, you can't beat a Seagul.

[grzegorz_panek]

. found a Gibson LP Black Beauty for around $500.

In Europe? That's a real bargain!




Dadfad, I'm wondering if you have some Takamine in your collection, or have you tried them? You never talk about Takamines.

[dadfad]

. found a Gibson LP Black Beauty for around $500.

In Europe? That's a real bargain!




Dadfad, I'm wondering if you have some Takamine in your collection, or have you tried them? You never talk about Takamines.

Grzeg, I don't have one. I've played a few and found them both excellent guitars and not very good at all, depending on the specific instrument I was playing. I almost bought one about twenty years ago when I saw (of all people) Sinead O'Connor use one in a solo concert and thought it had an interesting tone. Checked it out, thought it was pretty nice and worth the money but instead bought another old Gibson that was for sale in the shop! (an old LG-3)

[grzegorz_panek]

. found a Gibson LP Black Beauty for around $500.

In Europe? That's a real bargain!




Dadfad, I'm wondering if you have some Takamine in your collection, or have you tried them? You never talk about Takamines.

Grzeg, I don't have one. I've played a few and found them both excellent guitars and not very good at all, depending on the specific instrument I was playing. I almost bought one about twenty years ago when I saw (of all people) Sinead O'Connor use one in a solo concert and thought it had an interesting tone. Checked it out, thought it was pretty nice and worth the money but instead bought another old Gibson that was for sale in the shop! (an old LG-3)

Sure, there are better and worse models... I feel it's a bit about patriotism too? I would protect the home guitar production too if I had something decent to protect.

[dadfad]

Maybe a little bit, but not much. I look at it this way..... why buy the product where the newer maker tries to convince you (rightly or wrongly) that their product is "just as good as" such and such. Buy the original "such and such"! Of course there are other very nice guitars being built nowadays by companies around the world and they suit the different needs of different musicians (from price to sound to playing-style). But for the things I'm mostly into (to quote the old 1930's logo) "Only a Gibson is Good Enough"!




(And to be even more of a Gib-head, I prefer vintage to new!)

[acoustic_soul]

Thanks everyone. I'm thinking of throwing in some extra $$$ to get something of a higher model. Like you guys said, something around my range would be the tip of the iceberg of or the lower end of something great. I'll make sure I keep an eye out for the Taylor, Takamine, Gibson and Martin models, and go around this weekend and just play them at the shops, Plugged and unplugged.

All i'm really looking for is a soulful guitar where everytime you play it, you get the shivers cuz of the tone and sound quality. Just something that can I can play heart and soul with, and something that will give me in return the heart and soul of the instrument.

[dadfad]

(Sounds like he's talking about a GIbson! )

[lowden]

(Sounds like he's talking about a GIbson! )

Methinks a Lowden , or the James Olson James Taylor Signiture model at $15,000, (100 being made) I've played one, the original one, for about 3 minutes and want one now, but I don't want to re-mortgage my house.

The right guitar is out there for everybody it just take a lot of buying and selling and storing the ones that are 'yours' i.e the one's that feel right to you. You'll soon end up with lots of guitars, all of them different 'flavours'

This post has been edited by lowden: 18 November 2003 - 05:36 PM

[grzegorz_panek]

Sounds like ..... aaah!


A Takamine dreadnaught is a guitar I bought in May. That's my favourite one. Whenever I pick it up again after playing something else I'm shocked how great it feels and sounds. It has the most playable neck I've ever seen on any type of guitar, so each time I reach for it I'm amazed. That's my best guitar match so far.

[tzara]

Although Martin makes some very decent guitars, their newer DX series, that start in that range.

I saw one of those in a shop, picked it up, and was horrified by the shoddy workmanship and awful tone. Then again that might be because I'd just played the D-42.

I'd sooner go with a guitar from a smaller luthier. Seagulls are nice and not particularly expensive. Larivees are wonderful, but they run a bit more. Tacoma is the same way.

[folkgirl]

My Uncle used to let me play his Martin accoustic (before he became estranged from my family) and it was FABULOUS.
had the nicest sound ever.
one day i'd like to own a martin but i think i'd rather have a retirmement plan for the amount i'd have to spend on one.