Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

[extendedping]

Help me out folks...its time I got one as I'm tired of lugging my 11 pound agile to jam with my buds....I really know very little of acoustics (want acoustic electric) and I'd like to get the best deal with $500 as my upper limit. Crap I just noticed I'm a lefty too.......must sound sweet plugged and unplugged and have decent action.

 

[nahfuten]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

are you opposed to putting a pickup onto a regular acoustic? i really believe that the Taylor Big Baby is ONE HELL of a deal at $400
get a martin pickup, and you've got some sweet sound

 

[Hoss]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

i love my Takamine!

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

I like my Epi AJ18SCE. It is a J45 type body with a cutaway and a solid spruce top. It also comes with Shadow electronics. Its a bit bright, but sounds gorgeous thru my SWR Strawberry blonde.

 

[RW James]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

i love my Takamine!

I agree... and the onboard electronics is good

 

[extendedping]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

which takamine?

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

If you don't know about it yet, you gotta check out Mama Bear by our sister company, D-TAR. It'll take even a crappy acoustic guitar with an under-saddle pickup and make it sound really, really good.

There's even discussion on the Acoustic Guitar Magazine Forum that Mama Bear might even start to replace microphones in the studio. It's that good.

So to answer your question, if you want great amplified acoustic sound for around five bills, spend $125 to $150 on the best playing, used, cheap acoustic guitar with a pickup installed. Then, spend $375 on Mama.

You'll be your sound man's best friend.

 

[extendedping]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

thank evan the problem is im looking at it for like 75% acoustic 25% plugged so the sound with no electronics is very important to me...

 

[extendedping]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

Need....more....feedback....help....please...........

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

If it's me, I check out a Walden. It's a Chinese-made guitar, and that bugged me. Right up until I played a bunch of them, that is. They're dirt cheap and the middle and upper line guitars are great. Not just good- great, IMO.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

Go play some Yamaha's and Takamine's. There's loads of options in each line.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

They were a better deal back when they were $300. In the $400 range, there's a lot of competition.

are you opposed to putting a pickup onto a regular acoustic? i really believe that the Taylor Big Baby is ONE HELL of a deal at $400
get a martin pickup, and you've got some sweet sound

 

[strat_master]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

i agree with the yamaha as well. For your price i would say the best bang for the buck is a yamaha, and tons of people have them. They offer tons of models to chekc out. if your willing to double your cash, i would say go with a taylor 214 mine only costed me a grand canadian and it plays amazing.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

I paid $650 NEW for a Taylor 110E.

 

[Woodcutter]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

I love my Yamaha acoustis and I paid $450 for it new. I also have some friends that have or have had Takamines that I thought had really great tone.

 

[extendedping]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

hmm seeming like yamaha and takamine are in the lead, too bad im not seeing a lot of lefties on ebay...

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

My Yamaha APX-5A has been serving me well at gigs so far this year, but I want to upgrade to a Norman. Incredible value handmade acoustics from Quebec. Part of the Godin company.

 

[extendedping]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

what do you folks think bout the ovation guitars in the 400-500 range vrs the yamaha or takamine? reason I'm asking is I am seeing more of those available for left handers...

 

[ErikH]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

what do you folks think bout the ovation guitars in the 400-500 range vrs the yamaha or takamine? reason I'm asking is I am seeing more of those available for left handers...

The Ovations are OK but in my opinion, they have to be plugged in to sound good. Their natural acoustic properties are kinda flat. They were made for being plugged in to the PA or acoustic amp. It has to do with that plastic bowl.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Best Acoustic Electric Under $500

acoustics have their own voice...you gotta get out an play some to know which one is for you...i literally played almost every mfr when i picked out my tak...everytime i picked up a tak it just had the "sound" and feel i was looking for...the electronics where an added bonus...i don't think you'll get anyone to argue how great they sound plugged in...but they sound equally as good unplugged to my ears as well.