In the market for an acoustic

[madison]

Just never had a great experience with acoustic geetars......
Well, besides the time I played my friend's Hummingbird.That was sweet but out of my price range.

At any rate, I need one for some up coming jams.
I am really liking these Seagull guitars.(most all are under $1k, made in Canada, etc etc)
Any comments on these or others acoustics out there?

[tubesornothing]

I typically only play acoustic when on camping trips.  I bought a Martin laminate guitar (D-1 DX-1 ?). $500  Big sound.  Doesn't play like any of my electrics, but I guess that's because it is not. 


Anyways, another one to try.

[Platefire]

My main acoustic is a Tocma, named after Tocma Washington. I forget the model number but is the best acoustic I've ever had. Very well made and great playing guitar. On a second note, Iive got a cheap MIC Kona as a knock around guitar that I leave on a stand in my living room for easy access. Let all my grandchildren beat around on it when they come(that keeps them away from all my other guitars). I'm still amazed at quality, playability and sound of this cheap guitar also. When the grandchildren are gone, I just wipe it off, tune it up and it's ready to go again. Plate  

BTW-If you've never played an acoustic, an acoustic really requires a whole different approach than an electric. If you start to jam with it on a regular basis, it will cause a whole other side of your playing to develop. You can play an acoustic like an electric if you want to but I think it's much better to adapt a whole new style around the acoustics response and the more fingers you learn to use, the more you will get out of it. I love an acoustic in my hands along with cup of coffee on a nice liesure morning. Great way to start the day. Plate

[tubenit]

I don't currently own an acoustic. I have had the privilege of playing some J-45 Gibsons, Martins, Taylors, Breedlove and Larivee.  Other people's guitars.

I have built two acoustics that were Martin copies but gave one to my kid and sold the other.

I like the Larivee and a Taylor that was all mahoganey the best of all I've played.

With respect, Tubenit

[mackie2]

I have had everything  from Martin D-35 to Larivee.  All  have come by some mishap--I decided to go good sound cheap--Blueridge and Morgan Monroe.  Both are OK after a little  work--lowering action, etc.  The Morgan Monroe sounds the best  recorded.  At my age, I probably won't ever  have an expensive acoustric again! I now have just the Morgan Monroe.  It is a copy of one of the Gibson  guitars of the 30"s--Model M00 TBV.  I've  been looking for an all Mahogany 1948 Harmony with a good neck--that model makes a killer blues acoustic.  Acoustics seem to  have a more personal relationship, player to instrument.

Mackie2

[catnine]

 In the 60's I had a Gibson now called the Lennon model and a twelve string Gibson like he used in Help.

 Since then I had an Applause horrible thing, an Alvereze which was nice and then in the 90's I had a fender msidsize with 3 keys on each side , it sucked thenand don't laugh I got a Daisy yellow acoustic I was amazed how well it was setup and sounded, trouble neck heavy . I had a stratocaster kind of a quiet acoustic but a lot like an electric so I got rid of it . then I got a AMI A&L for a small guitar I really liked thaat guitar and at the same time I had a seagull grand . Kept the grand because it had the body joined at the 14th fret and looked nicer but it still to me does not ring out like the AMI did .

 I look for sound especially after the 7th fret and up , many are dead past that point , seagulls are nice and I am happy with mine .

 Most great acoustics are so far past my price range which is zero now that I don't even go to try them out , I also look to see if the neck and body are aligned not like many I've seen with the high or low E near the edge of the board .

 I don't play acoustic anything like an electric , different world and feel and response.  

[jhadhar65]

I've had a lot of acoustics and played even more.  I like maple a lot and I've currently got an all maple Fender, DG22, with onboard Fishman electronics from the factory.  You can't get those new anymore, but you might find one used.  Of all the acoustics I've pawed, this one is my favorite.  I play it tuned double flat with a capo for flat, standard, etc.

This isn't mine, but same-same:


If I lost it and couldn't get another one and I need to spend as little as possible, I'd look at Epi's version of the Gibson Dove:

[G._Hoffman]

The best value in acoustics on the market right now, in my opinion, is the Martin style 15 guitars (the D15, OOO15, etc).  All solid wood, very reasonably priced, and well made right there in Nazareth, PA.  The Seagulls are damn nice too, though.


Gabriel

[bigsbybender]

+1 on the Seagull. I have an S6+ Cedar top, I bought it 13 or so years ago. I take mine everywhere. (11 countries on 4 continents) The S6 is one of the best playing and best sounding guitars for the money.  The necks aren't set in the traditional way, being bolted on at the heel..but they are "real" bolts and not just screws like a stratocaster.  The cedar top seems to "age" faster than spruce topped guitars..so the tone matured pretty quickly.  (solid top guitars tend to sound better with age). The seagull is also pretty nice to set up for more electrically inclined players. A set of .11 Gauge strings works well, but you can go lighter, sacrificing tone and volume of course.
 I have a high end Guild acoustic, but the Seagull gets most of my acoustic workout.  It's always been my recommendation, it's inexpensive enough for a serious beginner but good enough to play throughout your playing career.


j.

[OldHouseScott]

As stated above, Seagull, Tacoma (the old ones, not the funky new ones), Larrivee, Breedlove, Takamine, Taylor, Martin. If you want to go up a notch, Lowden, Avalon, McPherson, Olsen, Santa Cruz, Collings. Heck, even the cheap acoustics nowadays are pretty darn good and light-years better than the plywood Harmony's we had growing up.

[G._Hoffman]

As stated above, Seagull, Tacoma (the old ones, not the funky new ones), Larrivee, Breedlove, Takamine, Taylor, Martin. If you want to go up a notch, Lowden, Avalon, McPherson, Olsen, Santa Cruz, Collings. Heck, even the cheap acoustics nowadays are pretty darn good and light-years better than the plywood Harmony's we had growing up.

Uh, Olson's are more than one step up, even from the ones you have around it.  Jim's guitars START at $12,500.


Gabriel

[Dynaflow]

 I like the more expensive Ovations too, many may not, but I like the neck on like the balladeer's and adamas models for example. They do have they're own acoustic sound which people either love or hate, I like it. The seagull and tacoma's as mentioned I like those as well. I also like some of the Epiphone models which for the money aren't bad, I'd like to have the natural version of the J200 which is a huge box jumbo guitar but sounds pretty good for the 400 or less it costs (the gibson version is what almost 4 grand...).

Regards,

Dyna


 

[madison]

Hi Fellows.
Thanks for all the input!

I especially agree with Plate as far as a person's playing style changing with an acoustic.
"Takes me back"....

I ended up with a Seagull Artist Mosaic cedar top with mahogany sides and back and neck.
It's one of their high end models.(minus built in electronics)
I got this guitar at a good price with the case included.

http://www.seagullguitars.com/productartistmosaic.htm

A quick assessment...
Take this all with a grain of salt....I haven't had a decent acoustic in my hands in ages.
It's a sort of a quiet player.
And quiet light (as in weight).
Finger picking is great.
Strumming...... I think I get a bit too much fret buzz with my paws on it.
Might need truss rod adjustment, lighter pick, or simply a lighter touch.
I may in fact change it to a set of .11s today
Intonation is very good.Half the reason I bought this brand is because of the compensating bridge.
Seems to stay in tune well.
Neck is sort of wide but can get used to it very quickly.
Comfortable because the neck is also mahogany.
It's a nice looking guitar.

I hear these will sound better over time.

If I really like it I may get a S6-Spruce eventually too.
Thanks again for all the ideas.
Time to play.

[tablewine]

I had a Seagull. It was nice. Quiet. Plain Jane. Wide finger board. Got a Yamaha FG700 Sandburst from Musician's Friend with a cracked top for $120.00, delivered. Googled how to fix it. Fixed it. I love that thing. Play it more than any guitar I've ever had.