Best acoustic for $800 max? Used or new. Links welcomed! *Update - $1200 max!*

[Cgkindler]

The acoustic player in our band is ready to move up. $800 is his max. Gotta have electronics. Used or new, doesn't matter.

I'd love him to get into a Taylor, then Martin. I have an Alvarez and it's a gray guitar. I know Takaminnie is another good contender.
But definitely open to options.

We're a P&W group, not that it makes a big difference. In my head unless you're doing chicken pickin type stuff I think a good sounding/playing acoustic is what it is.

Thanks all!! I haven't been itn the acoustic scene for a long time!

 

[EricPeterson]

Epiphone masterbilt series is worth checking out.

 

[grunge782]

Find a used Tacoma (not the olympia line). Got my DR14ce for $615 locally.

Solid wood, made in USA sounds like a $2000 dollar guitar. Sent my Martin packing. Absolutely stellar sounding instruments.

 

[schoe1]

Try the Yamaha AC3R which you should be able to get for your target price.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...g&matchtype=&gclid=COOV4qDmkLwCFczm7AodXnkA0A

 

[luv]

I like Yamaha in that price range.

 

[mystixboi]

I sold a taylor 314ce and bought an alvarez to take its place. I cousins be happier. I spent less than $400 on it. It's awesome sounding and plays great

 

[gulliver]

Stay on craigslist ... you want to test drive locally. Yamaha, Tacoma, Avarez, etc... they all have great models, but there are duds in there too. Go for a solid top, but not too thick, for the best tone. Play a few high end guitars to see what it's all about. If you find an ol' skool jem, you can always add electronics later.

Mine:

> Late '80s Taylor 710, killer, bought NOS, under a grand, but this was 15 years ago. Added electronics. Sounds way better than current "bolt on" Taylors IMHO.
> Yamaha FG411S, $225 used, bought 10 years ago. Just killer. S is for solid top, important! Better than a lot of low end Martins, but not as good as the above Taylor.
>Old Alvarez Yari, concert size, $150 CL steal, lifted bridge but just sounds killer. Kind of distorts when you play it. These go for $500 in good condition.
>Olympia (by Tacoma) garage sale steal, $35 - like new, full electronics and cut away, really nice but the thick solid top doesn't sustain like the better gits. Doesn't matter when amplified. These go for $150.

 

[deadletteroffice]

http://www.premierguitar.com/articl...d_Martin_Recording_King_Seagull_and_Blueridge

Highly recommend the Guild D-150

 

[joemiracle220]

you cant go wrong with eastman walden or the epi masterbuilt stuff. those are alll great for the price

 

[Jarizzle]

Love the high end older Alvarez Yari's. I purchased a DY84W with walnut back and sides that is one of the nicest acoustics I've ever played

 

[Cgkindler]

Right on for the Yari's - I wish I had one, but just don't have much need to acoustics these days.

He called me last night and said his budget got bumped to $1200 assuming this check clears he got from a job!! lol

Awesome!

 

[AParrotLooksAt4O]

For $1200, find a used Taylor 300 or 400 series. Those are QUALITY workhorses.

Seagull also makes a solid guitar in a budget friendly price, as well as Breedlove. Breedlove's lower models are VERY nice sounding/playing instruments.

If he could find a Taylor 410 or 414ce used, he'd be a happy man for life. Well-balanced, fine playing models.

 

[bgio]

When I moved to college 7 years ago, I wanted to get an acoustic that I could bring with me so that I could leave my Gibson J-185. I bought a used Larrivee LV-03 for around $900.

http://www.larrivee.com/instruments/acoustics/LV3E.php

It has become my favorite guitar that I own (including electrics). Totally recommend a used Larrivee.

 

[monty]

Another vote for the Epi Masterbuilt. I went to the store looking to drop alot more for a nice acoustic. The one I got is fantastic.

 

[73Fender]

I see old Guilds, Yamahas and Alvarez Yaris pop up on CL. If he's in a hurry though CL may not be the quickest source. As said play a bunch if possible, dogs and jems in every bunch. I recently played a recent year Martin that was a reasonable price..forget the model.

 

[ondadl]

Larrivee have crept up in price over the last few years, but the ones made in Canada are the best value you'll find used for under $1000.

In the $1200 range, I'd recommend an old D50 or D60.

This looks like an incredible deal as well. LARRIVEE

 

[windwalke9649]

I own a Martin 000-28 & 0000-28, and a newly aquired (new to me, the guitar is 20+) Collins dreadnaught. I repaired almost every type of attire you can think of. Believe it or not the good times come over recently that impressed me the most ; are the Epi Mastetbilts. They use materials in building techniques that I haven't seen in any other acoustic guitars at that price range. Most acoustic guitar today, even the very expensive one actuallybolt the neks to the body(all Taylors built after a date, from the $500-4000) as opposed to using a dovetail neck joint.
Another thing that you find lower price guitars is the adhesive they used to put it together. Most of these guitar you find for under a grand are put together using an epoxy, as opposed to glue. While its a stronger bond an easier to use, guitars built in this fashion referred to as " non serviceable" instruments. If you need a neck reset, or any other work that requires the adhesive bond to be broken, then the guitar will not be able to be repaired, there's no way to separate the epoxy without breaking the wood.

The masterbilt are constructed using dovetails neck joints, and hot hide glue. Plus they come from the factory with bone nut/saddles, so there's no need to drop money at a shop getting those put on. .

 

[EricPeterson]

If you can go 1200 look for a taylor, since you said this is PW there is a reason they are used a lot in that context, and it is no just that Bob was an early supporter of the genre, Taylors have a brighter tone that pops out of the mix better.

 

[mjcyates]

I am a big fan of Breedlove guitars. I have one of their Atlas series guitars and it is great. They don't seem to have the Atlas series any more but mine is similar to this.

http://breedlovemusic.com/guitars/solo-series/concert

 

[Alister]

I have an Alvarez and it's a gray guitar.

I assume you mean 'great' guitar.

Anyway, I would put Alvarez-Yairi in comparable (used) models up against any other guitar or brand mentioned in this thread.
Seriously.