Acoustic Guitars

M

MajorTexasFan

100+ Posts
I'm looking to buy a decent acoustic for around $1,000-$1,500 and just starting to look around. I've always been an electric guitar guy, so I'm looking for suggestions on some acoustic models I should check out. I'm familiar with Taylors and Martins, but don't know anything about the particular models. Obviously I'm going to play a bunch of them before buying one, but at this point I'm fairly ignorant about where to start.

BTW, coming from years of playing an electric, I can't live without a cutaway.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks.
 
I have a Taylor 514 (auditorium size cutaway). I bought it 5 years ago and thought it was a good buy at the time. (Around $2100 I think). In the past few years, Taylor started putting in a different pickup system called Expression. Since then, the cost of Taylors has gone up dramatically and I am not sure a new one is that good of a buy. I like mine a lot and rarely play in public anymore so I am not worried about the sound through a PA or acoustic amp.

Taylor is making tons of guitars these days. You can probably find a good used one if you look around. There is a used guitar shop close to my house and I am just now seeing Taylors come in. They usually don't last more than 2 days but for the past 8 years, you never saw one in a used shop.

Taylor also makes so many guitars that a lot of luthiers tell me that the wood hasn't been aged long enough. Mine has really opened up in the past year thought it still doesn't have the bottom end that I wish. That is probably more of a factor of the cedar top though.

You got it right. Play a lot of guitars. A buddy of mine bought a ltd Taylor that was essentially a 400 series with Koa back and sides. He got a great deal on it. They had 3 of same models and all 3 sounded drastically different.

Good luck and let us know what you decide on.
Check out the acoustic guitar forum for some discussion. There is a new thread about favorite "cheap" guitars. The Larrivee 03 models are getting praise from the folks on that forum.
 
I'm a fan of Martins and Gibsons, and you can get a fine guitar in your price range. You've got a big advantage as you already play, so hit the local store to find the one that best fits the combination of the best tone and best feel. My guess is that you'll know it when you play it, and it won't be that hard of a decision. Let us know what you get.
 
I second the Gibson's if you're looking for a steel string guitar. I play nylon currently and am playing a very nice Cordoba cutaway (2000). Like you said, play a bunch before deciding. Good luck!

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To the Gibson fans, what model? I have always thought owning a J45 would be cool and I continue to look for used ones. Anyone have any experience with any other Gibson models?
 
My wife has been storing a Martin D-28 for 30 years and I think I finally have her convinced to unload it. If it is of any interest, I will find out more about it.
 
I have a Gibson J-200 - it's a jumbo, big-*** guitar, but has a fairly mello sound compared to the more booming Martin (DC-16 accoustic/electric). The Gibson is not sold today, but is similar to what they now sell as the J-200 Western Classic. It's sunburst, has the curley mustache bridge and is absolutely beautiful. I haven't played one, but the J-45 is very popular amongst many of the alt-country/american artists I favor.
Nick, a 30 year old D-28 in good shape is going to be worth a pretty penney. Do a little research (check ebay) before you sell.
 
I've got a Gibson ES-125 (1959) that I picked up for $30 in the mid 70's. I REALLY like the sound of a Gibson Dove though. The ES-125 is nice but really needs to be played through an amp. I'll not give her up for anything.

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