Asking here because I felt that my fellow Strat players would have the proper perspective for advice on getting an accoustic guitar.

I currently have a Yamaha that I bought for my son, but I play it more. It was a 200.00 starter type accoustic. I just doesn't "feel playable".

I would like to stay under 500 if that is possible. Blues, classic and southern rock are my thing.

Let the suggesting begin....

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2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

I have a Simon & Patrick mini jumbo acoustic. Has a Cedar top so has a reall beefy sound to it. The neck is every bit as playable as the neck on my Strat (that's what really appealed to me). They are Canadian made (by Godin) and sound awesome. Have many shapes and styles to choose from.

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MIM Std Tele, MIM HSS Strat, Homemade Mongrel Tele, Blues Jr, Champ600, coupla pedals...sweeeet!

Mate for a Blues fingerpicker, it's hard to go past the Recording King ROS-626 or 627 if you want bang for buck, and very nice quality/price ratio.

The 626 is Mahogany the 627 is Rosewood.

http://www.recordingking.com/guitars_ros627.html

If you have a look at the specs on the guitar you will find some very attractive features compared to most guitars will see offered same pricing bracket, about $750, but you get a lot of guitar for that money, make sure you carefully compare these specs:

-Bone Nut
-Bone Bridge
-Ebony fretboard
-Ebony bridge
-AA Grade Solid Wood top back and sides
-Wider string spacing, (better for blues fingerpicking)
-000 body size is smaller and comfy
-Lifetime Warranty
-Hand Rubbed Nitrocellulose finish

Here's the review of this guitar done by Acoustic Guitar Magazine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9800NuuHPhs


Hope that helps

Cheers,

Snowy.

I'm no expert by any means so this is advice from standard guy to guy
I reccomend getting a Tanglewood or Epiphone.
I was originally a snob so i wopuld touch it unless it was a big brand, but i grew a pair and re-thought my approach to guitars and played a few of each brand and surprisingly the epiphones are really nice to play and sound with a budget like yours you can get something pretty too
A Tanglewood is another good approach there electrics suck some but the acoustics are like playing butter from my experience not always the prettiest with bindings and such but its raw gorgeous sound you get instead

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A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski~

buy a Guild acoustic, the D25 model is a guitar you simply cannot go wrong with. Preferably a PRE-Fender model made in Westerly, RI but the Corona, CA made Guilds are solid as well. You won't be sorry. It'll serve you better than any other guitar in the price range and you can find one for $500 if you are patient and look around.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

I'd took a long break from playing but kept my old (very battered) Washburn acoustic and picked it up occasionally: really nice sound but in its condition worthless to others: Washburn make some good acousticss at an affordable price.
Due to the wear on the Washburn I've now got a Faith Saturn: not sure if anyone is aware of Faith acoustic guitars, nearest similarity I could compare it with I think might be a Seagull, but with a lower price tag. Sound and feel are the two big features for me with guitars the Faith is really resonant and feels well made with a nice action. As previously stated Washburns in the price you are looking at are also a good choice IMHO. Try them both if you get chance.
Good luck! Wayne

Get a Malibu. I got one and it is excellent.

http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0968400009

Just shy of 500 quid.

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No no and no

Here's a Martin under $500.00...
http://www.zzounds.com/item--MRTDX1

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and an object in motion tends to stay in motion

I'm not sure what kind of Yamaha you have, but I bought a FG700S last week. It's a great playing acoustic with a wonderful tone. I am still very much a beginner myself, but this guitar blew me away with the tone vs dollars spent. I know there are lots of better/and or fancier acoustics out there, but for $200, I don't know of any better choice. I debated between the FG700S and the FG730S, which is also a great choice. The 730 was $100 more, but I actually preferred the tone this particular 700 had. The 730 is a nicer instrument, looks wise. I also had a Washburn D10S, which was a nice acoustic too. I gave it to my nephew. The FG700S blew it completely out of the water, and the Washburn was a more expensive guitar. Just my opinions.

I've found the Ibanez series of guitars are very well built and sound much better in comparison to Fender, Epiphone, Dean, etc.... Very comparible to lower end Martin and Taylors. (Nothing beats a Gibson Acoustic, but I can buy a couple American Strats and a great amp for the price of a Gibson!)

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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Look on ebay for a used Takimine 360s from the late 70s or early 80s that is in great condition. These were also called law suite guitars because they bit off of a Martin D18 I believe but I have had this guitar 28 years and confiscated it from my sister in 82.lol When I owned 4 Acoustics this was the guitar 3 different friends borrowed to do a CD and each time it took me over a year to get it back. A great guitar you could probably get for $500.

Hi markara. Which Yamaha is that, please?

My suggestion therefore probably ain't much use to you, but I have a Yamaha Compass Series CPX 700 and it does just fine. It sure as heck ain't a top line Martin or Taylor but at the price (within the range you mention) I can't find anything to complain about.

It means absolutely nothing, because of course it's all about our individual hands and ears. But a couple of years back I did stand about 10 feet in front of Joe Bonamassa playing the exact same guitar. 'Cept his was apparently stuffed full of a cushion to prevent feedback on a loud stage...

Good luck - C

I play a Stratocoustic. Sounds great when plugged in, thin body to go with my not so thin one, neck has action and feel of a Strat and the price was under $500.00.