Nice acoustic for around $1500-$2000?

[sonic1974]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking of getting a nice acoustic guitar. My price range is within the $1500-2000 range. I already have a nice parlour type guitar, sounds great for finger-picking, and awesome for light strumming, but if you dig in, it doesn't respond super well.

I want a nice guitar that I can really dig in to. I guess probably a dreadnought might be my best choice. I'm really leaning towards a Larrivee, I've tried some in the past and really liked them. Plus, they are available in Ottawa.

I know a lot of folks on the forum are big on Breedlove's, but I've never seen them in Canada so far. Any ideas of what to look for?

Thanks!

rob b.

p.s. Has anybody ever tried Sunrise Pickups and pre-amps for acoustic? I've heard they are really amazing. From what I understand, Jeff Tweedy from Wilco uses them on some of his acoustics.

[harry65]

an older taylor, 2002 and back, a 410ce or 710 ce for a nice dreadnought.........................................

[elduave]

I want a nice guitar that I can really dig in to.

My Martin treats me right.

[cmatthes]

In that price range, I'd recommend a Martin 000-16RGTE.

That's one "production" acoustic I've played that haunts me. They also make a Dread version.

[sonic1974]

I want a nice guitar that I can really dig in to.

My Martin treats me right.

I tried a really amazing 60s Martin once. It was great, but a little too mellow, and I ended up getting my present guitar, which to my ears was a little clearer.

Martins are kind of like Gibsons too me, so many variations, and "artist specials" that I don't know which ones are good value and which ones are marketing. I think if I were to get a Martin, it would be a used one.

Are there any years to avoid? Any years that are particularly a good buy?

[tomteriffic]

Just about any used spruce-topped Taylor dreadnought would get you there, but if you want to really dig into it, the ones I'd be looking for would be a 510 (mahogany) or 810 (rosewood). I had a plain-jane 510 that was a bleedin' cannon. I used to play weddings with it in large-ish churches unamplified. It never caved in under pressure (serious hard strumming) either. In your range, you should be able to get a gently used 810.

[elduave]

I want a nice guitar that I can really dig in to.

My Martin treats me right.

I tried a really amazing 60s Martin once. It was great, but a little too mellow, and I ended up getting my present guitar, which to my ears was a little clearer.

Martins are kind of like Gibsons too me, so many variations, and "artist specials" that I don't know which ones are good value and which ones are marketing. I think if I were to get a Martin, it would be a used one.

Are there any years to avoid? Any years that are particularly a good buy?

I got mine used at Atomic Music. DC16GTE. It's a 90 something I think. Traded a Gibson CL20 for it. Look for a used one and spend the rest on other stuff!

[tombo]

In that price range, AND LIVING IN CANADA, you have soooo many options. There are lots of custom builders that you can get in the $,1800 - $2,000 range. My favorite is Morgan. Do lots of research and play as many as you can. Talk to Jonothan on the board if you can. Don't limit yourself to dreads as there are other styles that have huge sounds, but are much more versatile. If you're set on a dread, by all means go for it. Edited to add, David at Morgan was an apprentice for Jean Larrivee. Great value. Even greater if you can find them used.

http://www.morganguitars.com

[sonic1974]

In that price range, AND LIVING IN CANADA, you have soooo many options. There are lots of custom builders that you can get in the $,1800 - $2,000 range. My favorite is Morgan. Do lots of research and play as many as you can. Talk to Jonothan on the board if you can. Don't limit yourself to dreads as there are other styles that have huge sounds, but are much more versatile. If you're set on a dread, by all means go for it. Edited to add, David at Morgan was an apprentice for Jean Larrivee. Great value. Even greater if you can find them used.

http://www.morganguitars.com

Looks pretty cool. I've never tried them. I think I may go with a smaller builder. You seem to get a lot of value that way.

I don't live in Toronto, but it's close enough to go check out. They have a great store, http://www.12fret.com/

They always seem to have a nice selection of well known and off the beaten path guitars. I think I may end up taking a trip out there to try a whole bunch within the same price range to see what's really for me.

The have a couple of vintage strats on their page too! Nice stuff, I'm not sure if those prices are good.....way out of my range. ha ha.

[tombo]

First, Jonathan, sorry to spell your name wrong.

sonic1974, Morgan IS A SMALL BUILDER, but there are just soooo many, especially in Vancouver. Take your time, and find what's right FOR YOU!

[unfun75]

Larrivee is a great choice. I chose Takamine over Larrivee only because of the superior electronics, but I would have been happy with the Larrivee. Speaking of Tak, they have a new line (T series) geared at flatpickers that's in your price range.

[jwhitcomb3]

I agree with tombo: there are some great Canadian builders.

Boucher is a wonderful Canadian builder. I tried several of these in Montreal last summer, including a very cool all-spruce guitar (the "Spruce Goose").

Archambault in Montreal used to carry Stonebridge guitars (Czech), which seemed a great bang for the buck.

Are you looking to buy new or used?

-Jonathan

[Jorge]

In that price range, I'd recommend a Martin 000-16RGTE.

I've had mine for a few months. Truly amazing guitar, sounds and plays great. I actually put an unwound 0.17 "G" String, and makes bending easier. Since then, I usually play it more than the electrics, at home.

[Frank]

Seagull - great sound for a lot less money than a Martin or a Taylor.

[jwhitcomb3]

If I had the scratch, I'd be all over this one. Profile of an OM, depth of a dreadnaught, plus the cutaway for upper fret access. Huss & Dalton are excellent USA made small shop guitars, and nowadays hard to find in this price range.

-Jonathan

[MWoody]

How about a nice Ovation 1537-4 from the same building as your Hamer?

http://ovationfanclub.ning.com/photo/albums/15374-1

[sonic1974]

Some cool suggestions. I'm going to have to wait about a month or two, getting some money for a work backpay thing. Here's one I've seen online that I like. I might get something like this when I do pull the trigger:

http://www.12fret.com/used/Rizsanyi010596.jpg

George Rizsanyi dreadnought, $1,500 Canadian, about $1,200 American right now I think.

[woodpile]

Check out a Yairi DY62C if you get a chance. Definitely a desert island guitar for me. Killer with or without the electronics.

[darc]

I don't really know what you're looking for, or what you value in terms of aesthetics and tradition, but I recently picked up a couple of Rainsongs and they truly blew me away. They're all carbon composite, so the look isn't going to appeal to everyone, but the projection and tonal balance were amazing for guitars that start at around $1K. If I were running out to buy a new acoustic right now, that's almost definitely what I'd be going for.

I made the discovery just a couple of weeks after picking up a Breedlove Pro C25/CR, so that aint happening. I love the Breedlove, but for some applications/ in some rooms, it can be a little quiet and a little bit dead-sounding (eg. cedar top.) Obviously I bought it after test-driving it in a room that flattered it, and there are still times and places where it will just amaze me, esp. for a $1400 guitar.

The Ovations are also incredible performers at any given price point, if you aren't held to a traditional look and construction. Everywhere I went there were used Legends hanging on the walls for $800 that sounded and played better (to me) than the $2500 guitars hanging next to them.

P.S.

but if you dig in, it doesn't respond super well.

I have the same issue w/ my Breedlove, which I understand is typical of cedar tops.

It was great, but a little too mellow, and I ended up getting my present guitar, which to my ears was a little clearer.

If you're looking for clarity over "mellow", you should at least try a Rainsong. The clarity and note separation struck me immediately. Loud and effortless (maybe too much so for some players.)

[puji]

In your range, you should be able to get a gently used 810.

+1

[hardheartedbill]

I love Taks for gigging guitars, they are well built, good values and the electronics rule

[JohnnyB]

As per jwiii's recommendation, 5 hours to go and still no bids @ $1500.

This is at least a $3,000 guitar. Jonathan sez his parlor-sized guitar by this maker is louder than most dreadnoughts. So if you want max volume in your price range...

[belgian]

I don't really know what you're looking for, or what you value in terms of aesthetics and tradition, but I recently picked up a couple of Rainsongs and they truly blew me away. They're all carbon composite, so the look isn't going to appeal to everyone, but the projection and tonal balance were amazing for guitars that start at around $1K. If I were running out to buy a new acoustic right now, that's almost definitely what I'd be going for.

I made the discovery just a couple of weeks after picking up a Breedlove Pro C25/CR, so that aint happening. I love the Breedlove, but for some applications/ in some rooms, it can be a little quiet and a little bit dead-sounding (eg. cedar top.) Obviously I bought it after test-driving it in a room that flattered it, and there are still times and places where it will just amaze me, esp. for a $1400 guitar.

The Ovations are also incredible performers at any given price point, if you aren't held to a traditional look and construction. Everywhere I went there were used Legends hanging on the walls for $800 that sounded and played better (to me) than the $2500 guitars hanging next to them.

P.S.

but if you dig in, it doesn't respond super well.

I have the same issue w/ my Breedlove, which I understand is typical of cedar tops.

It was great, but a little too mellow, and I ended up getting my present guitar, which to my ears was a little clearer.

If you're looking for clarity over "mellow", you should at least try a Rainsong. The clarity and note separation struck me immediately. Loud and effortless (maybe too much so for some players.)

I played a carbon composite guitar this weekend, and I was very, very impressed.

I tried one of this manufacturer : CA guitars, their website seems to be down now, but here's the link to some HC reviews.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...raditional/10/1

I am sure my next accoustic will be a carbon composite.

[lesterpaul]

for volume, its hard to beat a Martin..I have a d-18 for the bluegrass pulls I find myself in ,and it is bad little doggie...it barks!

[JohnnyB]

I played a carbon composite guitar this weekend, and I was very, very impressed.

I tried one of this manufacturer : CA guitars, their website seems to be down now, but here's the link to some HC reviews.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...raditional/10/1

I am sure my next accoustic will be a carbon composite.

The carbon fiber stringed instruments are improving quickly and gaining acceptance. Notice that the reviews in that link mention the Rainsong graphite guitars a lot as well, some of which are also in the desired price range.

There is a widely acclaimed graphite classical stringed instrument maker, Luis & Clark. Co-founder Luis is a cellist with the Atlanta Symphony and his instruments have gained wide acceptance from classical musicians, and it's not easy to gain widespread acceptance of differently shaped instruments based on new technology among classical musicians.

Cello soloist Yo Yo Ma has a Luis & Clark and endorses it.

Also, check out the sound quality on the demonstration videos. These are beautiful sounding instruments by anyone's standard.

My brother is thinking of getting one of their cellos. I really hope he does.

As I said before, I'd love these guys to make an archtop guitar and an acoustic bass guitar.

Oh, btw as long as we're talking graphite, how about Kaman's own Adamas graphite-topped guitars? Isn't that one of the selling points of the Adamas over the Ovation--there is more volume and less dynamic compression with the graphite top?