Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

ImmortalSix

ImmortalSix

John Mayer's Mankini
I think I want a porchin' guitar. I have a full dreadnought that is a Rhode Island Guild and too nice to take camping and leave around where it can get knocked over.

I'm looking for a daily beater. For the porch, backyard, fire pit, etc.

What are y'all using? 000? Parlor?

I like the idea of a thinner body, too, so it's easy for anyone to hold. Plus it'll be quieter. My Guild is damn near too loud to play in the house (deep and has an arched back that projects like a cannon).

I want it to be small. I'm open to Taylor Big Baby / GS Mini type things (3/4 or 7/8 scale), but I'm not spending hardly any dough on this so it won't be either of those. But the idea is good.


So, hit me up with beater ideas.
 
Re: Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

I have a Harmony Stella H933 that fits the bill . . .

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Not sure exactly what body size it's like, but it's quite tiny . . . about electric guitar sized. They can't be too expensive to pick up used.
 
Re: Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

Fender CF100CE Folk.

I bought one as a campfire guitar. Small body, folk size, with a built in tuner. Stays in tune, even with crazy humidity and temperature changes. I paid 200 even for mine.

For what it is, I like it.
 
Re: Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

One of the Godin-made small-bodied guitars would be a good choice. Look at the Art & Lutherie AMI line. I own the nylon stringed version, and it has been a great guitar for the money.
 
Re: Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

Here's my SX resonator, for which I paid $175 + shipping. Awesome 'porch' guitar, although it took some major work to get it in playable condition, brand-new out of the box. It's about the size of student classical, although heavier. You could probably use it to bludgeon someone without it going out of tune.


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Re: Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

My small beater is a Martin Backpacker. It's quiet but effective. It sounds very small though. No tone. Just the ability to work through chord changes and not disturb anyone.

Mini-Martins are reasonably quiet and sound great.

By far, the best sounding small player I've ever had in my hands was a Washburn Parlor guitar. (The R321SWRK is THE one - has a spruce top. I can't vouch for the others - there's like 4-5 different tops; Mahogany, Trembesi, laminated Trembesi on Spruce, etc.)
 
Re: Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gretsch-guitars-jim-dandy-flat-top-acoustic-guitar - $150.00



 
I've found the baby Taylor's/Martin's for <$200 at pawn shops before. Like $150 and less. Happy hunter-ing!
 
Re: Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

If you want a good playing guitar go for one of the lower end Martins or Taylors. I would avoid the Baby Taylor. Its got 2 dry wall screws holding the neck on & the scale length makes it almost impossible to keep in tune. Samee thing with a Martin Backpacker. Get a full size guitar that is small enough. If your on a budget look at the Chinese Guilds. Very nice for the $ & you can also go with a good Yamaha.

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The Guild above is $679 @ Musiciansfriend, The Guild is $199. They are both full size guitars with 24.75" scale for the Guild & 25" scale for the Yamaha
 
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Re: Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

So many great options to check out - thanks a million guys!
 
Re: Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

OP Delivers! Got one.

It's an old Harmony that belonged to my late grandfather. It had been smashed, and he put it back together. Looks like he shellac'd the top, anchored the bridge to the braces with wood screws, and spray painted the back and sides a green-gold color after he glued it back together. He even cut his name out of a credit card and put it inside as the label :laughing:

I'm not all that superstitious about mojo, but a smashed and rebuilt Harmony that you can see daylight through the back of, which belonged to your now-dead grandfather...that's gotta move the mojo needle a bit.



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edit: uploading now, more coming
 
Re: Good small bodied acoustic for knocking around

Hunter - this is such a Bourgeois post I don't even know where to start!

Just out there on the porch sippin' your now only luke warm 1/2 caff non-fat mocha latte with flat whip cream, sitting on the hard seat of that Ikea chair, in your year old somewhat thin Eddie Bauer dockers, jivin' about the hard times eh?

The way this post should be going is:

NGD: Porchin' axe

Hey guys, check out this new awesome beater I found in a pawn shop. Kind of small, but she had a straight neck and the construction felt good. I gave her some lemon oil and a new set of Martin strings (the high end ones) and tweeked the truss just a hair.


BAby TAylor....OMG
 
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