acoustic recommendation
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3'scompany
New member
Re: acoustic recommendation
I don't know if that post was supposed to insinuate that you aren't interested in either of those brands but, while I can't give much insight to Martin models, I'd urge you to think long and hard about trying a Taylor 214G.
Full disclosure, I'm a Taylor owner (I used to own a 614 and currently own a GS). The GS is the best playing/sounding acoustic I've laid hands on. The 214G has a pretty similar shape and materials - a sapele neck (vs. mahogany on the GS) appears to be the main difference in materials.
At $799 MAP (w/o electronics, $899 w/ them), it seems to be a pretty good deal. I've never played one, but I can't imagine the workmanship on them would be shoddy - even my buddy's 110 is well put together and sounds damn good for the price.
I don't know if that post was supposed to insinuate that you aren't interested in either of those brands but, while I can't give much insight to Martin models, I'd urge you to think long and hard about trying a Taylor 214G.
Full disclosure, I'm a Taylor owner (I used to own a 614 and currently own a GS). The GS is the best playing/sounding acoustic I've laid hands on. The 214G has a pretty similar shape and materials - a sapele neck (vs. mahogany on the GS) appears to be the main difference in materials.
At $799 MAP (w/o electronics, $899 w/ them), it seems to be a pretty good deal. I've never played one, but I can't imagine the workmanship on them would be shoddy - even my buddy's 110 is well put together and sounds damn good for the price.
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You should check one out. You can get a used one for around $700-800.
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: acoustic recommendation
MARTIN D15M
. . . and that's it !
MARTIN D15M
. . . and that's it !
Re: acoustic recommendation
Taylors are great. I love my 414 but it's way over 1000$.
Honestly, I just bought a Yamaha LJ16 and it's easily comparable to the taylor and I got it for 750$ new.
Is it every bit as rich sounding as the taylor? Probably not but very close. Furthermore, the difference in tone is also probably due to the differences in dimensions.
If you want more info my thread about it is here.
If it were me, I'd buy a high-end Yamaha before buying a low-end Taylor/Martin, I'd that impressed with my new axe.
Taylors are great. I love my 414 but it's way over 1000$.
Honestly, I just bought a Yamaha LJ16 and it's easily comparable to the taylor and I got it for 750$ new.
Is it every bit as rich sounding as the taylor? Probably not but very close. Furthermore, the difference in tone is also probably due to the differences in dimensions.
If you want more info my thread about it is here.
If it were me, I'd buy a high-end Yamaha before buying a low-end Taylor/Martin, I'd that impressed with my new axe.
Bludave
New member
Re: acoustic recommendation
There are many Taylor lovers here. Great guitars but to me they are way to bright. I own a D15 & it's great. Not my favorite acoustic but it is a very solid guitar. All Mahogany(top sides, neck) sounds great especially with a slide(Mahogany has a nice bite for this).
When it comes to selecting a acoustic guitar there are many things to consider. Body size, wood materials, scale length, etc. Another thing to consider is do you play with your fingers or do you tend to strum more? Are playing to accompany your own voice or are you going to play more detailed stuff?
I am using Martin models as a base of explaining things
A Martin D 18 (highly underrated) is a Dreadnaught size... A big guitar, the neck is narrower then smaller guitars. This is a great strumming guitar. It has plenty of power & projection but isn't necessarily the best guitar for fingerpicking. The nut is 1 11/16th and this makes the string spacing a touch to tight to finger pick. The 00018 or OM18 IMHO would give you more versatility. The body is smaller, the scale length is a touch shorter and this makes the strings feel less stiff, so fingerpicking is easier. It also has a wider nut so string spacing is more suited for fingerpicking. The primary difference between the 000 & OM is scale length. The 000 also does not have scalloped braces but the OM does. Not a big deal but some feel it is. I like the smaller body size. It enables me to play very softly & get a great tone yet you can still play pretty hard without the guitar over-driving and distorting.
The Martin line is pretty simple the 28 series are Rosewood, the 18 series is Mahogany, and the 15 is Mahogany topped as well as back & sides. The "D" size is a big guitar with some depth and this makes them a bit boomy in Rosewood the Mahogany in a bigger guitar IMHO would give you more balance.
The best thing for you to do is go to a good music store & sit & play. Don't pay too much attention to the name on the headstock listen to how the guitar responds to your touch & make your decision with your ears and your hands!
There are many Taylor lovers here. Great guitars but to me they are way to bright. I own a D15 & it's great. Not my favorite acoustic but it is a very solid guitar. All Mahogany(top sides, neck) sounds great especially with a slide(Mahogany has a nice bite for this).
When it comes to selecting a acoustic guitar there are many things to consider. Body size, wood materials, scale length, etc. Another thing to consider is do you play with your fingers or do you tend to strum more? Are playing to accompany your own voice or are you going to play more detailed stuff?
I am using Martin models as a base of explaining things
A Martin D 18 (highly underrated) is a Dreadnaught size... A big guitar, the neck is narrower then smaller guitars. This is a great strumming guitar. It has plenty of power & projection but isn't necessarily the best guitar for fingerpicking. The nut is 1 11/16th and this makes the string spacing a touch to tight to finger pick. The 00018 or OM18 IMHO would give you more versatility. The body is smaller, the scale length is a touch shorter and this makes the strings feel less stiff, so fingerpicking is easier. It also has a wider nut so string spacing is more suited for fingerpicking. The primary difference between the 000 & OM is scale length. The 000 also does not have scalloped braces but the OM does. Not a big deal but some feel it is. I like the smaller body size. It enables me to play very softly & get a great tone yet you can still play pretty hard without the guitar over-driving and distorting.
The Martin line is pretty simple the 28 series are Rosewood, the 18 series is Mahogany, and the 15 is Mahogany topped as well as back & sides. The "D" size is a big guitar with some depth and this makes them a bit boomy in Rosewood the Mahogany in a bigger guitar IMHO would give you more balance.
The best thing for you to do is go to a good music store & sit & play. Don't pay too much attention to the name on the headstock listen to how the guitar responds to your touch & make your decision with your ears and your hands!
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: acoustic recommendation
Personally, i am not a big Taylor and Tak fan.
I do like some of their solid Cedar top guitars though.
But over all, i am a Martin man !
Personally, i am not a big Taylor and Tak fan.
I do like some of their solid Cedar top guitars though.
But over all, i am a Martin man !
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: acoustic recommendation
The bloke calling himself Guitarsaddle does great demos of all brands :
Deff my 'go-to' site for acoustic demos - hope this helps.
http://www.youtube.com/user/guitarsaddle?feature=uploademail_ch
The bloke calling himself Guitarsaddle does great demos of all brands :
Deff my 'go-to' site for acoustic demos - hope this helps.
http://www.youtube.com/user/guitarsaddle?feature=uploademail_ch
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: acoustic recommendation
What makes an acoustic to overdrive and distort when you get heavy handed ?
. . . as i actually like that quality in an acoustic, believe it or not !
What makes an acoustic to overdrive and distort when you get heavy handed ?
. . . as i actually like that quality in an acoustic, believe it or not !
ItsaBass
New member
Re: acoustic recommendation
Used Guilds are a very good value. My favorite is the F50, but that might be out of your price range. Still a good value for a high trim level jumbo, though. I have a '70's F50, and it is second only to my Thomas Norwood D-35 copy in the greatness category.
Used Guilds are a very good value. My favorite is the F50, but that might be out of your price range. Still a good value for a high trim level jumbo, though. I have a '70's F50, and it is second only to my Thomas Norwood D-35 copy in the greatness category.
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Bludave
New member
Re: acoustic recommendation
On smaller body instruments the tops are generally thinner & the braces are a touch lighter. When you play very hard it can cause some distorting to happen. Now this does depend on the guitar. I have a Santa Cruz OM & hands down it is one of the best acoustics I have ever owned. It responds to my fingerpicking very very well yet if I play hard it holds up well. Some smaller body guitars are basically one trick ponies. If you fingerpick exclusively then a small body, lightly built guitar may suit your needs more effectively, but if you play soft with your fingers yet still like to strum hard you need to be somewhat concerned about how the guitar responds to your touch. Fortunately for me I have several acoustics & can pick the appropriate guitar for the job at hand.
Cedar is such a beautiful wood for the tops of classical guitars but on steel strings I don't find it to be as rewarding as spruce is. It works well for fingerpicking but it is a very soft wood so the top gets beat up pretty easily. I have also played some cedar tops the distort with just a very moderate strumming attack. Now this doesn't mean that all cedar tops are bad, but some that I have played were obviously setup for fingerstyle playing. I usually look for versatility in a flattop!
On smaller body instruments the tops are generally thinner & the braces are a touch lighter. When you play very hard it can cause some distorting to happen. Now this does depend on the guitar. I have a Santa Cruz OM & hands down it is one of the best acoustics I have ever owned. It responds to my fingerpicking very very well yet if I play hard it holds up well. Some smaller body guitars are basically one trick ponies. If you fingerpick exclusively then a small body, lightly built guitar may suit your needs more effectively, but if you play soft with your fingers yet still like to strum hard you need to be somewhat concerned about how the guitar responds to your touch. Fortunately for me I have several acoustics & can pick the appropriate guitar for the job at hand.
Cedar is such a beautiful wood for the tops of classical guitars but on steel strings I don't find it to be as rewarding as spruce is. It works well for fingerpicking but it is a very soft wood so the top gets beat up pretty easily. I have also played some cedar tops the distort with just a very moderate strumming attack. Now this doesn't mean that all cedar tops are bad, but some that I have played were obviously setup for fingerstyle playing. I usually look for versatility in a flattop!
Re: acoustic recommendation
Honestly, the Yamaha L series are killer for the price they command new. Used they're a steal. Handmade and all solid woods starting at the 16 for 750$ with a tone that hasn't anything to envy of my 414...
I have to disagree. I love taylors but their lower-line never impressed me.
Honestly, the Yamaha L series are killer for the price they command new. Used they're a steal. Handmade and all solid woods starting at the 16 for 750$ with a tone that hasn't anything to envy of my 414...
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: acoustic recommendation
Thanx for the great info Bludave !
Very helpfull - much appreciated.
Thanx for the great info Bludave !
Very helpfull - much appreciated.
Hoss
Joyfulnoiseologist
Re: acoustic recommendation
i have a nephew who has a 200 or 300 series Taylor and he was saying he was wanting a new guitar and blah, blah, blah...anyways he picked up my Takamine and was like..."WoW man this thing sounds incredible...i bet this cost a fortune though right?!" I said yeah...i bought it new for $375. :cool2:
Takamine guitars are really tough to beat for their price point.
All that being said, acoustics have sooooo many different flavors, it would be hard to recommend something without knowing exactly what tones you are wanting.
Do you want something crisp and clean? Do you want something deep and mellow? And then there's everything in between.
i have a nephew who has a 200 or 300 series Taylor and he was saying he was wanting a new guitar and blah, blah, blah...anyways he picked up my Takamine and was like..."WoW man this thing sounds incredible...i bet this cost a fortune though right?!" I said yeah...i bought it new for $375. :cool2:
Takamine guitars are really tough to beat for their price point.
All that being said, acoustics have sooooo many different flavors, it would be hard to recommend something without knowing exactly what tones you are wanting.
Do you want something crisp and clean? Do you want something deep and mellow? And then there's everything in between.
