best acoustic for ~$500?

[mtlin]

A friend of mine wants to buy an acoustic guitar for around $500. He's a pretty good musician, but more of a singer than a guitar player. He currently plays an old beater. I told him I'd help him shop for a new one, but I'm primarily an electric player. Any suggestions?

Best,

Martin

[onemind]

I think the Seagulls are a good value.

[dbx]

You might want to check the Taylor 100/200 series guitars, all wood, still made in the El Cajon, CA factory...here's one online, new, free shipping and price matching for $559 (as an example):

http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-TAY110.html

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/model.aspx?model=110

[enr1co]

Ive played and heard a few Epiphone Masterbilts OMs and Im now in
the hunt for one- spruce top , mahogany back/sides. All solidwoods
for ~$500.

e

[royd]

Blueridge... I'm not sure which models but go for one that is all solid wood. They are made in China at one of the better shops and are amazing guitars for the money. I've played a few and was blown away by the price/bang ratio. You see a lot of bluegrass players with pre-war Martins playing these when they're at festivals or traveling.

[THROBAK]

Blueridge.

[guitarlovero5]

anything by Godin, they make art & Lutherie, seagull and simon and patrick in that price range made in Canada!

[smiert spionam]

Good options here, but I'd seriously consider a used Martin 15 series. Solid woods, much more guitar than a Seagull (great guitasr for the price, themselves). I think all-mahogany guitars are especially good singer-songwriter boxes -- they sit well below a voice. The 000-15 and D-15 are both great.

[mtlin]

Thanks for the suggestions!

M

[bushmill]

I'd go with an Epiphone Masterbuilt....I owned a Martin D-15 and a Blueridge. Personally the Epi is just a much better guitar...Rosewood back and sides, Spruce top (all wood solid), nice bound neck/fretboard. I know, I know, Epiphone...but I would give one a shot...I primarily use mine for writing and the ocassional mellow late nights....

[bleumax]

you might also consider the guild gad-30 or 30r. i have both the epiphone masterbilt ef-500rce and guild gad-30r. both are very nice for the price.

[Jet Rink]

Ive played and heard a few Epiphone Masterbilts OMs and Im now in
the hunt for one- spruce top , mahogany back/sides. All solidwoods
for ~$500.

e

I second this. I've turned on two friends/family to the Epis - and (flame on!) if you go to the Musician's Friend clearance page you can really make hay on price - and not just Epis.

Good luck.

Jet

[urlkonig]

Ditto on the Epi Masterbuilts, and a big rec for the Chinese Guild GAD series... I don't think anything else comes close to these for the money.

[aquadog]

I'll also have to suggest seagull. Great guitars for the money, but try them out first if you can to see if you like the necks

[Jason_86_951]

I tried out about 60 different aucostics when I bought my last one. I play stuff in the style of Don Ross, hard strummed, beaten, finger picked, pretty violent stuff.

I had a budget of $1800 and tried Martins, Godin, Taylor, Takamine, Ovation, Seagull and a bunch of other odd named brands.

Out of 4 different stores I walked away with a $400 used Seagull. It was hands down the best one for my style, ears, hands and eyes. Still loving it!

[gnappi]

I don't think that ANY recommendation holds much water. I've played dull thud sounding Martins, and bright loud Fenders. I worked for over a year at a Martin dealers warehouse that stocked some 17 stores, and I got to play every Martin that came in and selected one that was so far and away better sounding than any other Martin I ever played, which was quite a considerable number. I say this to illustrate what unique personalaties acoustics have.

What I suggest is that you and your friend spend some time shopping and walk past the offerings and hit an open "A" and play the ones that sound good. If one with old ratty strings sounds good, ask the deasler if they would consider replacing them to see what it really sounds like.

If they won't, ask if you can buy a set and install them yourself, and deduct the price of the strings if you buy it. Believe me $8.00 or so
in strings is a real good investment, and very easy to walk away from if it doesn't please you.


Regards,

Gary

[Brion]

While I agree that playing budget guitars in person will yeild the best results, I have a Blueridge BR-140 that's really nice.

[dmagalhaes]

Try to find a Pre- Lawsuit Japanese made Takamine from the late 70's. These were perfect copies of a Martin D-18. I have yet to play ANY acoustic guitar including many actual D-18's and everything else, that plays or sounds like this Takamine. It is a Model F340. They can be found on eBay for 500 or less and are the ultimate sleeper. The one I have was bought new by a relative and was acquired by me about 15 years ago. I wouldn't trade it for any other acoustic.

[mtlin]

I don't think that ANY recommendation holds much water. I've played dull thud sounding Martins, and bright loud Fenders. I worked for over a year at a Martin dealers warehouse that stocked some 17 stores, and I got to play every Martin that came in and selected one that was so far and away better sounding than any other Martin I ever played, which was quite a considerable number. I say this to illustrate what unique personalaties acoustics have.

What I suggest is that you and your friend spend some time shopping and walk past the offerings and hit an open "A" and play the ones that sound good. If one with old ratty strings sounds good, ask the deasler if they would consider replacing them to see what it really sounds like.

If they won't, ask if you can buy a set and install them yourself, and deduct the price of the strings if you buy it. Believe me $8.00 or so
in strings is a real good investment, and very easy to walk away from if it doesn't please you.


Regards,

Gary
That's obviously very good advice, and I have every intention of following it. But I thought it would also be useful to get some sense of what budget guitars others had good experiences with, so I could keep my eyes peeled for likely candidates. But, as you say, there's no substitute for playing individual guitars. The suggestion about the strings is a really good one as well. I'm always shocked about the grungy strings I find on guitars in guitar shops (even good ones like the 12th fret in Toronto). How do they expect to sell any guitars when the strings on there make every guitar sound and play like sh!t?

Martin

[clothwiring]

I have an older (1994) Alvarez-Yairi DY-53 which I paid $600 (new) for and it is a beautiful instrument. Consider picking one up on Ebay? You could probably get it a bit cheaper.

A friend of mine who owned a store said that "for the money you can't beat some of the cheap Hofners". And honestly...for what they were, they sounded great..and they were like $250 to boot.

[Alister]

I second all of the general advice here.
I've spent some time in "singer-songwriter" world the past three years of so, and though I'm not an acoustic player primarily, here's my take

-Alvarez-Yaris, any one in your price ballpark.
-The 'entry' level mahagany Martins mentioned earlier in the thread
- Taks, Taks, and Taks. I sold an FD-360 (a really useful, well-balanced, solid top acoustic-electric with on-board tuner/reverb) for around $600. So you can find those deals, although I wouldn't buy any acoustic on ebay.

[59model]

Check out this Fender at a blowout price. I just bought one with an ebony back with spruce top and it`s a great bang for the buck with a Fishman bridge and full Dred size, and for $299 shipped?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=517897

[BradKM]

What I suggest is that you and your friend spend some time shopping and walk past the offerings and hit an open "A" and play the ones that sound good. If one with old ratty strings sounds good, ask the deasler if they would consider replacing them to see what it really sounds like.


Very good advice, indeed.

I'll second the Seagull/LaSiDo/Martin 15 series as a great starting point in your search. I've got a simple little Seagull S-6 Spruce that I've had for nearly 10 years now. I've thought about replacing it with something better, but the only guitars that have been substantiantly better in both sound and feel can't be had for less than a grand. I paid less than $300 for the Seagull, with a hardshell case, so I just can't bring myself to lay out the cash for one that's not going to be much, much better.

Someday I'll save up and get a really nice Martin, Gibson, Collings, Larrivee, or the like...but I'm extremely happy with the Seagull and only get happier with it every time I sample new acoustics in the shops.

[themusicboxstudios]

+ 1 on seagull

i have a ceder gt ... got it for like 450 out the door with a case. such a good buy.

[bluesaxe]

I think the Seagulls are a good value.

+1 on Seagull. I can't find anything for less than $1000 that I like better than my S6+ Spruce Top.

bluesaxe

[Aussie_Battler]

I don't have a lot of posts here, but I'll chip in my thoughts. Try a Maton if they're sold in your area. If you're familiar with Neil Finn and Tommy Emmanuel that's their guitar of choice. (not that that holds a lot of water). www.maton.com.au

[trumpus]

I recall once, when i used to live on LI, i played an Alvarez jumbo at a local major chain guitar store that sounded and felt incredible. It was cmparable, at least in my hands, to some of the higher end Martins and Taylors they had hanging in the acoustic room (which doesn't say much, considering how they treat their acoustics), but still....

...i've always wanted to find another one. I think the price back then was around $350-400!

Brian

[fugazi]

Epiphone Masterbilt. I have the AJ - 500RNS. All real wood. Rosewood back and sides. Binding all over, even the back. It is a J-45 at about 1/3 the bucks. The Guitar Center I frequent can't keep them in stock. The guy that works the acoustic dept. there sold his high end Martin because the Masterbilt was a better rig. Comes with a really cool case, too.

Really is not your typical Epi. They really put out a nice product with the masterbilts. I A/Bed mine with a couple J-45's and my Masterbilt was louder and clearer. It's a cannon. Mine was about $650.

[turtleheadblues]

Check out www.timberlineguitars.com (http://www.timberlineguitars.com) solid top and sides. Ive got a review Concert series here now and have gigged with a few times. Great guitar.

[thintele]

Guild GAD series :AOK

[guitarlix]

Epiphone Masterbuilt. Superb guitar regardless of price.

[utterhack]

Guild GAD series :AOK

And how. I was looking (and looking and looking) in the $500-$1500 range and came away with a GAD 40C. All solid wood, a hair under $600 with case. Really impressive, and even more so for the price.

[hitchcockblonde]

+1 on Seagulls or Arts & Lutherie. But I found a Johnson Summit Series used for $299 a while back and like it. Gold grovers, solid Engleman spruce top, solid mahogany sides and back, satin-finished neck, real abalone rosette, nice inlays. Chinese but plays nicely and has a balanced sound.

[Hendrix95]

I price matched Musician's Friend down to $500 to buy a Blueridge BR-160. All solid woods and sounds great.

[gtraddict]

I think that the Tacoma line is the way to go. They are priced good new and are bargains on the used market. I got my om-14 for 340 all US all solid wood. The thing has better action than a lot of cheaper electrics.

[utterhack]

I price matched Musician's Friend down to $500 to buy a Blueridge BR-160. All solid woods and sounds great.

:confused: MF lists the BR-160 at $499.00. Am I missing something?

(Either way, congrats! I haven't had a chance to play a Blueridge but I've heard nothing but good things.)

[KCWM]

I disagree about the Epiphone Masterbuilt. I was very disappointed by it, and that was before I found out how hyped they were.

I also +1 the lawsuit takamine. I have an F360S. If you look into one, make sure it has an S at the end. That indicates a solid top rather than a laminate.

[jhammons01]

Dude, you do realize that you just posted a reply to an 18 month old thread....just sayin'

I'm reading along and then I tried to view that Fender Blow out and of course it is discontinued......then I realized the guy that posted that He "just got it"........happened almost two years ago

[KCWM]

lol, no i didn't. I did a search for lawsuit takamine to see what people here thought about them. And I just wanted to throw that out there. Didn't realize I necro'd a thread.