What resources for shopping?

[Aegaris]

Hi guys, first post! I'm in the research phase of shopping for an acoustic guitar upgrade and I'm wondering where I should start. How do you find out what guitars are best? I can get into specifics on what I'm looking for if anybody is interested.

Thanks!

[arthur rotfeld]

Yes, let us know what you like.

A trip to the local store to hear/play Martin/Taylor/Gibson etc. will give you a clear idea of what these guitars are like—that's the first step. The better/most popular guitars from these companies are at most well stocked shops. Then you might be able to discuss details about body types, size, makers, woods, etc. and maybe get into talking about boutique makers and custom builds, if your budget permits.

IMO most acoustic shopping is fairly simple. It's usually not a mystery of what sounds the best, at least to the player. How it projects, records, sits in a mix—well that's another matter.

[Aegaris]

I'm looking for a non acoustic-electric, full body (no cutaway), probably naturally colored guitar. Right now I have an Alvarez ad60s which is a black guitar with a cutaway and built in tuner + mic in the 350$ price range. I'm looking for a significant upgrade, essentially the last acoustic I'll ever want/need to buy. Martin and Taylor are all I know to go to at this point but I'm wondering what the other options may be.

[mrpinter]

Welcome to TGP! Arthur is right - get out there to good music stores, or friends who play, and play as many instruments as you can. After a while you'll develop likes and dislikes and know about what you're looking for. I got a great deal on a fantastic custom acoustic from Craigslist, but if you haven't played enough other guitars to know what you're dealing with, such a transaction can be very risky. Play as many guitars as you can!

[arthur rotfeld]

Any acoustic can have an added pickup/mic system, so no need to buy one installed, though it seems so many have them already, especially Taylor.

Martin and Taylor have very different sounds, any preference so far?
Do hear what Gibsons are like, very different than Martin and Taylor, and check out Guild, too.

Of course they've got their varieties, especially Martin, who makes at least a dozen body types (D, OOO, Jumbo, etc). These are all distinct in their sound.

Can you go to a good store and hear boutiques? Many are just finely made versions of Martins, but some are much more individual and distinct. I image there are some truly remarkable custom instruments in the high-end used shops. Frankly all the "names" in acoustic lutherie are doing great work and if you buy used there's no worry in the guitar not coming out as you liked.


BTW, just a bit of background on my own shopping. When I was a teen I went to Sam Ash and played every nice acoustic they had. My favorite two were very different…a Guild D-55 and a Martin M-38 (which I loved, but was out of my range). I still have the Guild and it's a glorious guitar. I got a custom made guitar a few years ago from Running Dog, after trying a number of shapes from the maker, I decided that OOO in a 12fret design was the way to go, again it was easy—a number of shapes didn't sound like what I had in mind. Great sound and nothing like my Guild. Now to find a vintage M-38. LOL

[Aegaris]

Thanks for all of your input you two, it's so valuable to me. I live somewhat near the city of Chicago so I think I'll go there and play every acoustic I can find, like you said. I'm sure they have some really unique stuff along with the whole Taylor/Martin lineup in those shops.

I think you may have misread me earlier, I'm not looking for an acoustic with the electric aspect to it. I feel that the electronic insert box/wires along with the cutaway detract from some aspects of the tone. I'm looking for a full bodied sound preferably with a good basey low-end. I've heard that sound is what the Martin guitars are known for. Not sure what Taylor is known for, do you know?

[JSeth]

You would do yourself a great dis-service were you to limit yourself to Martin, Taylor and Gibson acoustic guitars, ESPECIALLY if you're looking for "one to last a lifetime"...

There are so many wonderful guitars out there, made in smaller shops with an incredibly high degree of consistency... I'm quite partial to Goodall guitars; James is a friend from my stint in Fort Bragg, CA. After playing a bunch of his guitars over a two year period, I finally ordered a Grand Concert from him; curly mahogany with a redwood top, it is a stunning instrument and a joy to play and hear!

I have 2 acoustics made by Mark Angus (The Guitar Shoppe, Laguna Beach, Ca.), a 6 string and a 12 string; both are over 30 ears old now, and still sound and play great!

Point being, there is a vast vista of "other" brands to check out! Huss and Dalton, Collings, Bourgeois, Santa Cruz Guitars... not to mention a plethora of other builders.

I'd recommend a visit to the Acoustic Guitar Forum, if you haven't been there already... 90+% about acoustic instruments, and many very knowledgeable folks frequent the site...

Agree about playing as many as you can, certainly if you're buying one of the big factory-built ones, as they vary hugely from one guitar to the next. Trust your hands and ears, you will know when you find that truly special guitar!

Good luck! And,

play on........................................>

John

[mrpinter]

I agree that one shouldn't necessarily limit oneself to the "factory" brands. I have a custom acoustic from a one man shop luthier and I really have bonded with it (a John David Scott guitar, if you want to look it up, David Amirault is the luthier and his prices have been VERY reasonable for what you get, but are starting the inevitable climb up lately). And I couldn't agree more about Goodall guitars. One of the best acoustics I've ever played was a Goodall - at McCabe's Guitars in Santa Monica. If the OP has a budget to handle guitars like Goodall's he has a wonderful selection of instruments indeed.

But the advice still holds: play as many instruments as you can before taking the leap.

[AcousticDude]

I think you have to ask first how you are going to play it and what role will it fill. Fingerstyle, flatpicking, solo work, part of a band - acoustic or electric, travel or studio? So many questions, but you have to define that part first. I'm assuming this is not your first guitar. I have guitars for specific purposes and each one was sought with that goal in mind. None have disappointed in their area of specialization. Although my OM would fall short of the power I need from a dread. And the dread wouldn't give me the feel of a small bodied OM. You get what I'm saying. So list out what you are looking for and rate those features for each guitar you try. Also, the places you shop will be determined by the type of guitar you seek.

[mikef1331]

As the others have said, since you're not exactly sure what you want in an acoustic you really need to go out & play as many different guitars in your price range that you can.

Since you live in Chicagoland you have several great guitar stores to go shopping at.

IMHO, out of all of the guitar shops in the Chicago area (and I have been to most of them) Tobias Music in Downers Grove is THE BEST store for acoustics around. The people at Tobias are some of the nicest you will find and they will take the time to help you pick out the guitar that is best suited for you.

Other stores to check out in the Chicago area are: Make'n Music, Chicago Music Exchange, Old Town School Music Store & The Music Gallery.

Good luck on your search!

[royd]

Start by listening to some players who specialize in acoustic guitar and discovering what they play and seeing whether any of them have a tone that works for you. That will give you some brands to begin with. Realize though that some - Leo Kottke, Dave Matthews, etc. may play Taylors or whatever brand not because they prefer them but because they build a guitar that can be easily replaced if one is lost/stolen/damaged on the road.

You would do yourself a great dis-service were you to limit yourself to Martin, Taylor and Gibson acoustic guitars, ESPECIALLY if you're looking for "one to last a lifetime"...

There are so many wonderful guitars out there, made in smaller shops with an incredibly high degree of consistency...

I that you should not limit your selection to Taylor/Martin?Gibson if you are looking for a lifetime guitar. You very well may find one there that thrills you... or two years later you may play something else that makes you go... "I wish I had..." The brands mentioned are all great guitars and there are lots of others both from individual builders and from small shops at a wide range of prices.

As the others have said, since you're not exactly sure what you want in an acoustic you really need to go out & play as many different guitars in your price range that you can.

I would disagree at one detail... do not limit yourself to your price range. Play some guitars that are out of your reach by a lot, some that are close, and some that are lower. You may find a lower priced guitar that really thrills you or you may discover that you really need/want to save a bit more and spend a little or even a lot more for something above your expectations that just knocks your socks off. Or you may spend less this time with a long term goal of saving to really get "the one" that is just beyond your ability at this time.

Stay away from GC. They tend to take poor care of their guitars and likely won't have anything beyond the big three. You won't get a good read of what is available even from the big three. I don't know Chicago shops but I would trust the recommendations above and check them all out before you buy anything. Many of the small shop companies have very limited distribution.

Enjoy the search

[frquent flyer]

I have had good dealings with Willcutt music ,and recently Music Emporium in Mass. Both of these stores I heard about on this forum..What a great resource of information.