I'll throw another name into the hat.....EKO, just for the sake of confusing, cause thats what will happen, there's just too many to choose from......happy hunting

Hi way cool.

I'm with Nutter on the Freshmans.......I love mine and they are amazing value for money, well they were.......they have shot up in price over here in the last five years!

Yamahas are great. The high end ones, believe it or not, will happily stand up against any Taylor, Breedlove or Martin. In your price range, yu would get a really nice APX series Yamaha new. They are quite narrow but stick heavy strings on and it will even out(ish). THere is/was the CPX series which are deeper and probably just in your price bracket, you might even pick up a high end CPX 2nd hand for about $300-$400, THey are very similar in playability and sound to the FReshmans.

WHat style are you looking for? DReadnought, auditorium, concert, jumbo?

ALso the cheaper Takemines are great value.........

IMO, for your mentioned budget, I would steer clear of the Epis, Fenders, Washburns......

You will pick up an original EKO for next to nothing now if you keep an eye out. I have a 60s and a 70s EKO 12 string and they are FAR superior to the new Rangers.............again just my opinion.

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speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

I want their Robert Smith model so bad

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Martin guitars have a wide variety of price ranges. In my opinion, you cannot beeat "em !
But, that is just me saying it. Many may disagree! I have had 'em all, and the Martin's are the best.

I bought a Yamaha acoustic for $350 in '75 and I loved that guitar. Unfortunately it got stolen. I played a Breedlove at GC a couple of weeks ago that I really liked. I have no problem keeping my Ovation on my leg when playing. Maybe you need a lower chair?

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

Waycool, you are in the same predicament I was just after christmas. I wanted a Yamaha but I found the prices have jumped a fair bit since I remember playing a 720 years ago..

I'd go for a Takamine, the range is big for the budget & I ended up buying one and I love it. It was cheap too- Ill send some pics to you soon. It has solid top, mahogany back, sides and neck- coloured black.

I usually go for rosewood, but the mahogany sung to me & my 6 year old niece choose the colour.. dang it I didnt like black acoustics but hey- it has grown on me

Give them a try mate

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for under $1000.00 new I would look into Seagull (made in canada) they are well made and sound really good. I am partial to Martin guitar but as you know they are a small fortune ($6,500.00 for my current martin)

way cool,

The Epi masterbilt series is pretty nice. All solid wood, bone nut & saddle.
Blueridge makes some nice guitars (though,I've heard some complaints of recent quality)
I've recently played some Recording King guitars, and they were real nice too.

wow i wasnt expecting so many replies to this post to be honest.
i guess im looking for a dread style wookie.
i never thought about the chair being in part a cause to my slippage behind my ovation
issues. i can see how that could cause a problem. in a way im glad to see my small budget has so much to choose from but then again i see the curse before me lol.
this is gonna be a tough selection. i was thinking i could just slip in and grab-n-go type thing. looks like thats not gonna happen. so many choices. i still have some time left before i buy. im glad too cause i have a lot of different choices i didnt think i had. i dont know about you guys but i will think something to death before i leap. that in itself is one of my personal curses.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

'Never found Ovations too attractive, either.

And Taylors make absolutely no sense whatsover; way, way overpriced and -hyped, in this opinion, especially being bolt-necks.

'Still have a Gibson J-50 that's nigh on 40 years old. Too deep of body (like 4 7/8), but still a sonorous, lovely guitar.

Some of the lower end-oid Martins are excellent value and sound.

they are bolt on necks?

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Yep they are. And here's for some light reading.
http://www.frets.com/fretspages/Luthier ... joint.html