Good Acoustic Guitar in the $500 range

[GuitarKidd]

American Musical Supply has this Ibanez on clearance.

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-IBA-A300E-LIST


It has some great options and features at $289.00 I am so wanting to pull the trigger on this, but I opted for a new Ovation CC24 Koa from AMS as they are very comfortable to play for me and I love their necks and they have a tendency to stand out in a mix IMO.

Features of the Ibanez

• Ambiance Body with Cutaway
• Quilted Maple Top
• Large, resonant arched backs for tremendous acoustic sound
• Fishman Sonicore Pickup
• Fishman Aero Blend Preamp with built in Mic
• Onboard tuner
• Gold Grover Tuners
• Balanced 1/4 inch and XLR Outputs

[rogerramjett]

Even if you have to buy it online, NO ONE is making better guitars in that price range than Seagull. See if you can play one somewhere - it'll explain itself.

[clydes001]

I love my Seagull S6. It has a great sound. You can get one without electronics (or with in some cases) for under 500. Having written that, I will tell you that I really enjoy my Epiphone Masterbilt. Brand new it may be closer to that 500 mark, but they can be really nice instruments. The Masterbilts are all solid wood, too.

You'll probably find it easier to get a solid Seagull (due to quality control, etc), but if you try them out, the Epiphones may really be a great catch.

[fred_]

My daughter and I test played Epiphone Masterbilt, Fender, Breedlove (a $1400 model, just for grins and to compare) and a couple of other brands i can't remember (Art and Lutherie was one...) and walked out of our local music store with a Seagull s-6. $379 new.

By FAR the best sounding of the bunch. Yes, even better than the expensive Breedlove. She loves it.

Went to her guitar lesson the next week, and it turned out her guitar teacher plays the same model at his house.

[royd]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Taylor Big Baby. I have recommended them to a number of beginners as a serious guitar that sounds good, plays well, and will hold up as a good knock-a-round guitar when your student moves on to a better instrument.

Also the Silver Creek instruments available via Musicians Friend. They aren't the most consistent, but the good ones are very, very nice for the price and the bad ones are still a reasonable buy.

A few folk have mentioned acoustic/electrics. In this price range, I would not go that direction. Adding electronics only takes resources away from an already challenged budget.

[Cream]

Originally Posted by royd

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Taylor Big Baby. I have recommended them to a number of beginners as a serious guitar that sounds good, plays well, and will hold up as a good knock-a-round guitar when your student moves on to a better instrument.

IMO, these are in serious need of a setup (which beginners often know nothing about). I'm playing one right now and it's virtually unplayable for beginners. It's un-setup. I use it to build finger strength because it's long scale length and the action is very high.

[royd]

Originally Posted by Twin-Amp

IMO, these are in serious need of a setup (which beginners often know nothing about). I'm playing one right now and it's virtually unplayable for beginners. It's un-setup. I use it to build finger strength because it's long scale length and the action is very high.

I've never run into a Big Baby that had that problem... a couple of my students have had them.

and isn't the scale a normal 25.5 inches?

[thirsty one]

Originally Posted by Pearl-o

I saw a used Taylor 210 in the emporium the other day for $500. Also, in my neck of the woods, I've been seeing pre-Fender all solid wood Tacomas going for 500. If your student doesn't want to buy used, then I'm another supporting voice for Seagull. I consistently find them in pawn shops for between 200 and 250, and snatch them up.

I've got my eye on that one. That may be about as much guitar as you could get for that much $. However, I have heard nothing but good things about the Epiphone Masterbuilds. I'm gonna have to check those out as well.

Originally Posted by Twin-Amp

IMO, these are in serious need of a setup (which beginners often know nothing about). I'm playing one right now and it's virtually unplayable for beginners. It's un-setup. I use it to build finger strength because it's long scale length and the action is very high.

I got one for my daughter and it isn't playable for her as a beginner, but what a great sounding instrument. I plan on getting it set up, but I really need to learn to do that myself to save some $. I'm thinking about getting her a lighter gauge set of strings.

Originally Posted by royd

I've never run into a Big Baby that had that problem... a couple of my students have had them.

and isn't the scale a normal 25.5 inches?

That is what I thought as well.



I would like to know what one could get in the $500-$700 range, but that should be a separate thread.