I have owned a couple of Seagulls in that range and they are great guitars, however, I found them to be a tad tinney with not much bottom end.

I think the best bang for the buck is the Yamaha FG700's.

_________________
Gary

Really? I was thrilled with the full bottom end, big sound and nice highs. It almost reminded me of a Jumbo Gibson sound.

Interesting how we have different takes on something as personal and subjective as "sound".

Now don't get me started on "tone wood."

Peace,
Gridlok

Takamine. Have someone who knows what they are doing set it up for you. Everyone is different, I run 10s on mine. Some people like heavier gauge. I don't know what you're preference is but, since you are newer at it maybe go with 10s also. A properly setup guitar makes worlds of difference. Once again I suggest for the money range you are in Takamine. They make good stuff also.

heres my Seagull 12 string. looks wise, its not very traditional, but i like it. the top is very soft and unfinished, the back and sides have a very light satin finish. i have recently changed the type of strings im using, and as mentioned above i have made the sound a bit too thin now, however on the previous strings is was full and even across the range.







the top is cedar, with i think cherry back and sides.

By the way I don't have a Takamine, I have a Washburn D10N but, I had a girlfriend that has a nice Takamine and, it was under $400 with the case. That was years ago so, expect to haggle and, maybe pay more. Acoustics get sweeter with age, if you take care of them and keep them in a good case.

+ another one for Takamine, at the price point you are shopping there might even be a few with a pick-up and tuner built in. There could be a few after holidays deals waiting in the wings, imho that's where to be as well.

Good luck,
John.E

How about a Fender CF140-SCE? I went shopping at a local store with my sweetie of about 44 years this afternoon and came home with her and the acoustic. This is called a folk style, smaller than a dreadnaught, cutaway, Fishman electronics, solid top, and when I got home I noticed mother of pearl, rosewood fretboard and ply on headstock, mahogany neck and ply sides and back. I paid $299, $274 online. It plays easy. Kind of for fingerstyle type stuff. Check it out!

Have an Epiphone SG100... I know it's no Boutique Guitar, but for the money, it plays great !

I think you need to ask youself how important is an Accoustic to your overall guitar experience.

If you consider yourself an 'electric' player, then don't throw Big Bucks at an Accoustic !!

If mainly a Folk/ Acoustic player on the other hand, then do the opposite - pay BIG for the accoustic and little money for the electric !!

cheers!

_________________


'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

Fender acoustics are always under appreciated. I love my CD-60CE, sounds great unplugged and has quite some volume. With the cutaway I can reach the 20th fret no problem but I rarely go there, still makes it easier to reach the 14. The neck is actually thinner than my tele, this is one easy guitar to play with 12-53 strings. D'Addario phosphor bronze really brings this guitar to life. The coated Fender strings sound kinda dull.

_________________
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Well, big names for a beginner in this thread.

I don't play much acoustic but I do every once in a while.
Last year I got a Baton Rouge from my wife for my birthday and I was very surprised by it's amazing tone. It's also very easy to play (I'm used to thinner necks since I started guitar playing on electrics).

So, as to my suggestion: you might wanna check out Baton Rouge guitars. Fantastic value for the money, they're rather low budget guitars (200 to 350 Euros here in Germany, mine was 285€ which is about 300 US$).

BATON ROUGE R30-F , I can highly recommend this model.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

I love my Fender CD-280. LOVE it. It's made in China but it's a solid top and it's booming, thin electric-feeling neck, low action. I walked into a guitar store (for testing--I buy online) ready to spend much more and I can seriously say the Fender felt the best of any guitar I tried, including $2,000 Martins and Taylors. The $400 range Fender 280, IMO, is the same quality as $2,000 Taylors but it's $400 because it's made in China. Might be just cause I prefer electrics, but again the Fender was the acoustic that came the closest to that -- thin neck and low action. Yes I know action is adjustable, but I'm just saying... out of the box, the Fender 280 was/is great.

Oh...totally agree on the strings too. After I installed new strings the guitar really came to life.

Mine is made in China but that doesn't matter. This is one finely crafted instrument. The fretwork is great and holds tune forever. And I played my friend's Martin back to back and even my friend was surprised at the sound of the Fender.

I must frown at the whole using a guitar store to test their guitars just to buy them online. I personally like to support my local music stores, believe it or not, many will price match MF's prices.

_________________
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Don't kill me but I haven't played any Fender acoustic that I liked (and as a Fender fan they were the first I tried!).

I always ended up with other acoustics manufacturers.

To make good for that blasphemy: over 50% of my electrics are Fender!

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

As long as the other 50% is not Gibson LOL!

_________________
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I just bought a new acoustic
I went to guitar center hoping to buy one around 250 to 350 I played some Fenders, epiphones, Gibsons, martins then I played a Taylor. my wife said that ones sounds the best. it was not in my price range so I did not go home with a new guitar that day. i saved and went back for the Taylor, best acoustic guitar Ive played. mine is a 114ce pretty much an entry level for Taylor but wow thats all i can say