Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

[papersoul]

Hello guys,

My brother's family is struggling. His son is sick with a rare disease and he has been very stressed and having to spend a lot of time and money for their son.

My brother plays acoustic but not very often and he hasn't progressed too much.
He has a $100 Samick he bought years ago.

I want to get him a better acoustic, better than the beginner style Sammick.
I want to surprise him. Something I can get used for around $200?
Something with an leverage size neck, good action and better tone than a $100 Sammick.

Maybe a used Ibanez Artwood? I used a $500 Artwood for years and loved it before I bought my Takamine.

He is left handed.

Any Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

I'm afraid the words "decent", "inexpensive", and "lefty" don't fit in the same sentence. The options available to left-handed players are limited, and one must pay a bit of a premium (sometimes about 50% more) for an instrument designed for a lefty.

That being said, if you get an acoustic without a cutout or pick guard, it can probably be reversed fairly easily. You would want to replace the nut, and you would need to do something about the bridge in order to get proper intonation, but it can be done.

There are a lot of left-handed players here, so someone else may have a better suggestion for you.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

I don't have time to do all that. I am sure I can find left hand acoustic that is better than his Sammick. Decent to us us not the same for my brother. He hardly plays and thinks the $100 Sammick is a great acoustic. It is the only one he has ever played.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

If he and his family are struggling, and he thinks the $100 Samick is a good guitar that he enjoys, why not just give him the $200 cash to help him out? I think he'd appreciate that much more than the guitar. It sounds like he could use the money instead.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

Here are a few places that have left-handed models in your price range. You may find some of these to be good enough quality for what you are looking for:

Sam Ash
Adirondack Guitars
Rondo Music

It's a very thoughtful thing that you are doing.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

Thanks, we do give a lot of money.

Probably do an Ibanez Artwood.

 

[verbotenco]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

If he and his family are struggling, and he thinks the $100 Samick is a good guitar that he enjoys, why not just give him the $200 cash to help him out? I think he'd appreciate that much more than the guitar. It sounds like he could use the money instead.

I was gonna say that. Besides he doesn't play the guitar much, so why buy him another guitar?

 

[AlexR]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

Washburn or Yamaha are good budget brands, not sure on their lefty offerings though

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

If he and his family are struggling, and he thinks the $100 Samick is a good guitar that he enjoys, why not just give him the $200 cash to help him out? I think he'd appreciate that much more than the guitar. It sounds like he could use the money instead.

a mighty +1 from me...

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

If he and his family are struggling, and he thinks the $100 Samick is a good guitar that he enjoys, why not just give him the $200 cash to help him out? I think he'd appreciate that much more than the guitar. It sounds like he could use the money instead.

Good advice, but...

Thanks, we do give a lot of money.

... it sounds like he's doing that already. Also, sometimes it is tricky to help out with money (hurts some people's pride) but a nice, inspired gift can really lift the spirits. When folks are hard up for money, the first things that gets sacrificed are the luxury items. His brother would probably never buy himself a new guitar, but might really appreciate having a nice instrument to get him through the hard times.

:friday:

Probably do an Ibanez Artwood.

That sounds really nice. (Anything Ibanez is Ok in my book!)

I guess to take a note from some of the other comments here, I would suggest that you make sure you are getting him something that will truly be a step up from the Samick. His may not have been expensive, but if he likes it a lot it is probably a perfectly good instrument. Just be sure that what you're getting him will be enough of an improvement/difference to be worthwhile.

I'm just thinking out loud here, and I don't want to feed into your indecision, but have you considered getting him an electric? For the same money you would have more options for getting a quality instrument, and it could take his playing in a whole new direction. It might also be something that would round out his gear better than a second acoustic. Of course, then you'd probably need to lend him an amp too.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

He hasn't expressed much interest in an electric, hence why I have not gone that route. His Sammick is pretty bad in my opinion.

Thank you Dr. Veggie!

 

[Psykel]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

This one looks pretty great to me:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hagstrom-G-...y-/360310745554?pt=Guitar&hash=item53e431a9d2
Hagstöm acoustics are really nice, tho I haven't played them more than in guitar stores.
I own a Hagström Viking (electric) 12-string tho, which is a silly awesome guitar.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

Thanks everyone. Looks like I am just getting him an Ibanez Acoustic electric.
Thanks.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Decent, inexpensive lefty acoustic?

I don't know offhand what Seagull has in your price range, in terms of a lefty, but I know they do some decent guitars for a good price. I had one several years ago, was fantastic for the price, which, IIRC, was around $300. I have not checked them out lately.