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Post subject: Acoustic help
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:28 pm
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Hello folks!

A few months ago I placed a post for advice on acoustic guitars for beginners. Well . . . for Christmas I got 2 gift cards for Guitar Center. All together I have about $90. I was thinking of Spending at least $130 for an entry level acoustic guitar.

Here is the issue . .. it seems the price available for that price are pressed wood/laminate.

Are there any acoustic guitars you know of that I can get for around $130 that is real wood. I would settle for used. What advice do you have? What Brand would have genuine wood for the price I want?


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:41 pm
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reno2atlanta wrote:
Hello folks!

A few months ago I placed a post for advice on acoustic guitars for beginners. Well . . . for Christmas I got 2 gift cards for Guitar Center. All together I have about $90. I was thinking of Spending at least $130 for an entry level acoustic guitar.

Here is the issue . .. it seems the price available for that price are pressed wood/laminate.

Are there any acoustic guitars you know of that I can get for around $130 that is real wood. I would settle for used. What advice do you have? What Brand would have genuine wood for the price I want?


For an entry level price, you just cannot beat Yamaha. Their low-end guitars are better than a lot of mid-range offerings, and yes, most of them have a solid top. Don't worry so much about the back and sides; sure, they resonate too, but their job is more to reflect the sound from the top, and direct it.
I fully support requiring a solid wood top, though. That does a lot for the sound.
And as said, Yamaha knows that game better than most. Their experience in making violins, pianos and all sorts of acoustic wood instruments beats any other big company on the market. A solid-top Yamaha can be had for next to nothing, but it's not a next-to-nothing guitar. They sound good.

If you can add just a little money, I would say go with Seagull - it's the Godin brand for no-frills acoustics, made in Canada. For the price, they're just astonishing. It's all about sound, not about looks. Sometimes you can pick up good used Seagulls in your price range.
If you can't, well, skip hamburgers and rental videos for a couple of weeks, and there will likely be one in your price range.

For playability, you probably can't beat a Takamine in the low-to-mid price segment, but that might be above your purchase price right now. But look for them, all the same. If you can find one that's scratched up, but it's all finish problems, go for it. They're so playable, you'd swear they come with a little invisible gnome that adjusts your fingers to hit the right note.


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:57 pm
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Nuther vote for Seagull. Great sound. Great playability. Great value.

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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 9:28 pm
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Haven't personally ever played a Seagull but I second the sentiments re the Yamaha and the Takamine. Sigma also used to market some pretty nice "budget-conscious" guitars as well.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 9:47 pm
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+1 for Seagull! Great guitars for the price.


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 9:58 pm
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Ibanez and Epiphone has some decent offerings in Your price range. I also agree about Yamaha. I've had a Yamaha 12 string since the 70's.

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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:05 pm
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63supro wrote:
Ibanez and Epiphone has some decent offerings in Your price range. I also agree about Yamaha. I've had a Yamaha 12 string since the 70's.


+1

Absent abuse, misuse, or neglect, the old Yamahas were pretty durable instruments.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:41 am
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Everybody seems to be on the same page. I have a 12 string seagull and it's a beaut. I recently got an epiphone ej200 very nice guitar, and pretty cheap for an electro acoustic with built in tuner. Looks stunning. I was trying it next to a Yamaha in the same price range, cannot fault the Yamaha at all, but I couldn't stop looking at the epi, it's gorgeous to look at haha.


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:59 am
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I agree with all of the above. If you look around hard enough,
you might find a used Harmony #H-162 (I found one) which is
a great sounding acoustic. I found mine on craigslist for well within your budget. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:21 am
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Heres were I'm going to give a name not mention so far. If you go to GC for an acoustic at a low cost try a Washburn WD100 . Many of the brands mentioned are good but in most cases thats for there higher end stuff.

The Washburn has a pleasing sound and is made very well for the price.

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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:51 am
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moochy13 wrote:
Everybody seems to be on the same page. I have a 12 string seagull and it's a beaut.

I have a 12-string Seagull too (an S12+) - it's not what I would call beautiful, but the sound quality certainly is. I wouldn't trade it for anything less than a high end Taka or Martin.


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 4:31 pm
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Guess I must be the voice from the shadows on this, but I have never really been enamoured w/ Seagull guitars.

I mean, they're nice enough, but I just don't like their Tone. Admittedly, I've never owned one, but I have played at least half a dozen in the stores. Compared to Martins, Taylors, Yama's, even Blueridges (a LOT of guitar for the money), they don't have that Ah-Ha in the Tone Dept. (subjective I know).

Also, not a fan of cheap accoustics. I think that's a false economy. The action on most of these guitars isn't great and so you have to pay for resetting the action and now you're into a new price territory.

Also, I don't know anyone who fell in love w/ their cheap accoustic. Most pretty quickly tire of them and wish they's have gone more upscale, instead of saving and waiting to begin w/ a decent one. Either they sell it and take a loss (which could have gone into a better guitar) or the guitar sits unplayed.

I'd look for a good used guitar. Shopgoodwill.com is one source, CL another. In the end I think you'll be happier.

$90 of Giftcards isn't a lot of do-re-me in the guitar world. I'm sure you'll find enough misc. stuff to pretty easily use them up... straps, strings, picks, tuners, capos, cords, etc.

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 7:55 am
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cvilleira wrote:
Heres were I'm going to give a name not mention so far. If you go to GC for an acoustic at a low cost try a Washburn WD100 . Many of the brands mentioned are good but in most cases thats for there higher end stuff.

The Washburn has a pleasing sound and is made very well for the price.


Washburn, yes, I forgot about those and fits the OP's price range, but might have to buy pre-owned.

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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 7:13 pm
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Thanks Guitar friends

In fact I will be putting more money into the $90 I got. Although I am new to guitar. I do want solid wood. Again . . . thanks for your advice!

I will keep ya'll posted!


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic help
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:28 am
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Good luck - try many. :wink:

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