Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

astrozombie

astrozombie

KatyPerryologist
I'm in the market for an acoustic electric guitar for this kind of use:



So far I've looked at a few takamine guitars, some taylors and gibson (which is way too expensive.)

the epiphone EJ-200CE has caught my eye.

561437.jpg


$449.00

Epiphone EJ-200CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Features:
Gold hardware

25-1/2" scale

1.6" nut width

Set maple neck

Body, neck, and headstock binding

eSonic preamp with built-in tuner and NanoFlex pickup

Rosewood fingerboard with crown inlays

Maple jumbo body with select spruce top

=======================================================

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

i like those Fender Sonoran acoustics. They have strat headstocks :smokin:
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

Take a look at Breedlove, GC should carry them. Great sounding and playing, and they have several models in your price range.
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

I'm a Taylor man so naturally I'm going to say get a Taylor.

But you could also find a nice used acoustic guitar of any brand (one that speaks to you) and then put a quality pickup and preamp in it.

I'm no longer a fan of soundhole pickups although I used a Sunrise for many years in my Taylor 814C.

These days I like the K&K line. Three little sensors glue to the bridge plate right under the saddle inside the guitar. Sounds really good to me.

I just sent one to Beandip.

Maybe he has installed it by now and will chime in.

I would also suggest joining the Acoustic Guitar Forum and asking for suggestions there.
 
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Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

I'd say for a grand shoot for at least a solid top and back. That Epi sure doesn't have a solid top (there's a reason they say "select").

You can find Epi Masterbilts with onboard gizmos for less than a grand. There's also laminate B/S Taylor acoustic electrics (114e or ce and its 214 equivalents).

For that price you could also look into Larrivé....or if you want to have some spare change there's other Canadian brands like Norman, S&P and Seagull.

Those are the ones I've played on occasion, but you could also try and get some input about other guitars around that price range that have been talked about like the import Guilds, the Blueridge stuff, the new Martin 1 Series.

Anyways a regular acoustic is just a pickup/piezo/whatever and some doodads away from being an acoustic electric so I wouldn't count that out. For that price I think you can get one of those Martin Custom Ds or however they're called and they're basically a nice Martin Dread and you might have enough left to slap on a pickup and all else that you need.
 
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Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

Takemine for me, although don't forget to check out Yamaha's, they make some great acoustics to suit many a budget.
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

I'm gonna have to second Yamaha, I personally love their acoustics. My wie was looking for a decent acoustic and we picked her up an APX5000 for a little under $350 with onboard electronics. This acoustic played better then most of the other acoustics in the room, barring the +$1000 range. I also found that Seagull guitars are really great for under $1000
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

nalo1022 said:
I'm gonna have to second Yamaha, I personally love their acoustics. My wie was looking for a decent acoustic and we picked her up an APX5000 for a little under $350 with onboard electronics. This acoustic played better then most of the other acoustics in the room, barring the +$1000 range. I also found that Seagull guitars are really great for under $1000
Click to expand...

I'm looking for a jumbo or super jumbo guitar.

kinda like this: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...500-Jumbo-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar?sku=518507

but that says "select" spruce. (bad right?)
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

this seems nice http://guit
615515.jpg
ars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-FJX730SC-Solid-Spruce-Top-Rosewood-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=620226


Yamaha FJX730SC Solid Spruce Top Rosewood Acoustic-Electric Guitar Features:
A.R.T. 1-way Pickup System (System56CB)
Top: solid spruce
Back: rosewood
Side/rib: rosewood
Neck: nato
Finger board: rosewood
Bridge: rosewood

what do those woods sound like?
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

Well that seems to be the jumbo version of what my wife has. The APX is a really well rounded guitar and great bass considering the face that its a thinner acoustic. I would imagine that that guitar would be fairly similar but with a deep bass sound. For the money I don't think you can go wrong with it. I play her acoustic all the time because I love the sound that come out of it. The neck on my wife's guitar is great to play on. I generally prefer thicker necks, but the Yamaha has a neck almost like an electric. Honestly if there is a Guitar Center nearby go check them out.
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

I have the older version of Nalo's Yamaha, the APX5a. I have to concur with his description, especially the neck.

The CPX is only described as select on MF's site. Most likely an error and no online reviews state it's plywood or anything less than spruce. The CPX line might be a bit louder and fuller sounding than the APX given the full body shape and the fact the wood is equal between both lines.

The FG/FJ line is what you seem to want. A jumbo. They specifically say both FJ's have solid spruce tops, whether or not that means the others aren't solid I don't know.

As for their sound... I can't tell you as I can't wrap my arms around a Jumbo body. I will say I believe the FJ20 will be more similar to an APX as they have more similar woods. The 30 I can only imagine will be deeper/warmer due to the rosewood back and sides but I've never found mine lacking in that field.

My advice? Try to check out some Yamaha's regardless of your preferred body shape. At least you'll get to know how they feel and IMHO they feel great for an inexpensive durable guitar.
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

astrozombie said:
I'm looking for a jumbo or super jumbo guitar.

kinda like this: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...500-Jumbo-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar?sku=518507

but that says "select" spruce. (bad right?)
Click to expand...

Oh ok I didn't get the Jumbo part because you showed one but didn't really say that was ALL you were looking at.

Seagull makes a mini-jumbo and the cheapest one (Rustic series) runs about $300-ish. Solid cedar top, laminate cherry B/S.
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

hermetico said:
The Korean brand Crafter offers quality instruments under that price. The SA series are Taylor V clones...
Click to expand...
Forgot about Crafter. Don't personally like their feel but they sound good.

Lucid_Lunatic said:
Mid-Grade Martin & Taylors are pretty nice around a grand.
Click to expand...
Last I checked for that price wouldn't a Martin come with HPL or some other stuff like that? I think Astro wants solid wood.
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

Luís said:
Forgot about Crafter. Don't personally like their feel but they sound good.


Last I checked for that price wouldn't a Martin come with HPL or some other stuff like that? I think Astro wants solid wood.
Click to expand...

It's not that I NEED solid wood, but i read somewhere that the best option is solid wood. if the guitar has a nice tone, i dont care about how its constructed. The Yamahas look nice. they seem like a ton of guitar for the price.

I still have my eye on the epiphone EJ 200ce.

its jumbo, its cheap, and its pretty. as long as i can do an acoustic song or 2 at a gig, im good. i have no doubt that I will eventually get another guitar in a few years, so this acoustic doesnt have to be top notch.

right now its epiphone vs yamaha.
 
Re: Best Acoustic-Electric guitar for under $1,000?

Go to a big music store and play a ton of acoustics. I think you'll find one that'll sound good even on a low budget. Heck, the acoustic I record with now was less than $100 and it's a blem model Alvarez.
 
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