Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

PushedCrayon

PushedCrayon

New member
hey guys!

I'm currently looking into a nice used acoustic electric guitar. I'm really struggling to decide between a Breedlove AC25/SR plus, and a Martin DCX1E, both are going used for 500$ with a hardshell case (my budget ends at 600) and i just wanted to get some input on which guitar you think is a better play. I've played both, and they sound amazing. The Martin is slightly more beat up (posted on CL) and the Breedlove is on Guitar Center's site. Any input at all, even other guitars to look at, would be great. Thanks!
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

Acoustic guitars are a very personal, very subjective thing. You basically have to buy the one that plays and sounds best to you. I can't really say either way other than I've never heard of a Breedlove but of course Martin is well, a Martin.
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

PushedCrayon said:
hey guys!

I'm currently looking into a nice used acoustic electric guitar. I'm really struggling to decide between a Breedlove AC25/SR plus, and a Martin DCX1E, both are going used for 500$ with a hardshell case (my budget ends at 600) and i just wanted to get some input on which guitar you think is a better play. I've played both, and they sound amazing. The Martin is slightly more beat up (posted on CL) and the Breedlove is on Guitar Center's site. Any input at all, even other guitars to look at, would be great. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Just my $0.02, the Martins under about $1300 new are complete garbage. Plywood necks, Formica back and sides, they neck dive like crazy due to the weight of the "Stratabond", and they still want up to $1000 for this tier of guitars. It's insulting, especially when you look at the comparables. You don't even get MIA labor for all the other stuff you give up; these X series are MIM. If you want a Martin and don't want to pay the $2000-$3000 price tag of a D-18 or better, start at the Performing Artist series, like the DCPA4. They're $1300, and they're all-solid wood construction except for the fretboard.

That Breedlove, OTOH, is on paper a hell of a buy for $500. All wood, everything but the sides is solid, decent electronic system. The cost-cutting comes mainly from the Korean labor.

All that said, you really won't know which one is best for you without putting them in your hands and playing them. The Martin could be a real hit while the Breedlove could fall flat. Or neither of them could tickle your fancy and you'll start looking for an entry-level Taylor, or a mid-level Yammie or Tak, or a Seagull, or... the possibilities at $500 are endless.
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

Liko said:
Just my $0.02, the Martins under about $1300 new are complete garbage. Plywood necks, Formica back and sides, they neck dive like crazy due to the weight of the "Stratabond", and they still want up to $1000 for this tier of guitars. It's insulting, especially when you look at the comparables. You don't even get MIA labor for all the other stuff you give up; these X series are MIM. If you want a Martin and don't want to pay the $2000-$3000 price tag of a D-18 or better, start at the Performing Artist series, like the DCPA4. They're $1300, and they're all-solid wood construction except for the fretboard.

That Breedlove, OTOH, is on paper a hell of a buy for $500. All wood, everything but the sides is solid, decent electronic system. The cost-cutting comes mainly from the Korean labor.

All that said, you really won't know which one is best for you without putting them in your hands and playing them. The Martin could be a real hit while the Breedlove could fall flat. Or neither of them could tickle your fancy and you'll start looking for an entry-level Taylor, or a mid-level Yammie or Tak, or a Seagull, or... the possibilities at $500 are endless.
Click to expand...

good advice, for sure. Personally, if I were to choose between the two and have to buy unplayed, it'd be the Breedlove. They're good people...especially if you like hippies. It's true that the bottom level Martins are a lot of laminate/non solid wood, but I've had some experience with the solid top/plasticized back and neck one and it sounds really nice.

If you really want to make your money stretch for quality, find a Seagull, Art and Lutherie, Simon Patrick, or any of the other acoustics under the umbrella Larivee/Godin company. They are simply amazing for the price. One of the reasons is they can source wood that isn't accessible to American builders due to trade limitations and it makes for some very clear tones. The cedar guitars are very neat sounding too, and something you don't run into much.
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

Thanks for all the input guys! It's helped a lot. I went and played both, but now i'm in a slightly different predicament. I've found a taylor 214ce for 550, so barely more than the Breedlove and I'm stuck between these two. I've heard both good and bad things about them both, and they both sound equally as good. I just dont know about the laminate on the taylor. any thoughts/ideas?
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

You have to play them. There is no predicament here. The wood MATTERS! These things can't be adjusted that much. You need to pick the combination of sound and feel that is best for you.

I will say though, I agree that a budget Martin, or TAylor is less guitar for the doallar than many other brands. They can do less and charge WAY more just because they are Martin or Taylor.

As I said, sound and feel trump name in this area period.
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

Not that I know of. Godin does make Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Art & Lutherie, (and of course, Godin), but Larrivee is a separate company.

And I would not hesitate to buy any of one of 'em, if it had the features and sound I wanted.

The Martin formica? You couldn't pay me to take.

The Breedlove? I have a Passport model, and love it. Plays great. Even if the Atlas (or the Taylor) are laminate bodies, they'll still develop the more you play 'em. Can't say the same for the HPL used by Martin.
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

The LGS I hang out on is a Breedlove dealer. +1 on Breedloves.
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

PushedCrayon said:
Thanks for all the input guys! It's helped a lot. I went and played both, but now i'm in a slightly different predicament. I've found a taylor 214ce for 550, so barely more than the Breedlove and I'm stuck between these two. I've heard both good and bad things about them both, and they both sound equally as good. I just dont know about the laminate on the taylor. any thoughts/ideas?
Click to expand...

I personally have a bias towards Taylors; I own a 114ce, and I regularly put it up against guitars costing twice or three times as much and don't feel like I sold myself short. That 214ce, new, would be right at $1000, so if it's in good to excellent used condition I would be all over it.

Whatever you get, if it's a solid top, make sure you get a hardshell case for it and a humidifier/hygrometer. Taylor's gig bags are OK, but they will allow the guitar to breathe, which you don't want when you're trying to maintain 45% humidity inside the bag when it's 75%, or 25%, outside.
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

That they do.

I would give bodyparts (not necessarily mine) for a Larrivee OM-3R...
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

Thanks for all the help guys! You've mad it so much easier for me to mark it down to two. I've gotten the Martin out, and now its just between the Taylor and the Breedlove, but is there much of a difference between the 25/sr pro, and a 350/cr?
 
Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

PushedCrayon said:
Thanks for all the help guys! You've mad it so much easier for me to mark it down to two. I've gotten the Martin out, and now its just between the Taylor and the Breedlove, but is there much of a difference between the 25/sr pro, and a 350/cr?
Click to expand...

The biggest noticeable difference on the Atlas Solo versus the Atlas series will be a second soundhole on the side of the guitar, projecting some of the sound up at you so you can hear the instrument a little better. There may also be a difference in the pickup/preamp system; the AC25/SR+ is listed as having the Fishman Classic IV electronics package, while the newer Atlas Solo C350/CRe has an L.R. Baggs Stage Pro Element system. Both of them are going to be MIK, and will be Breedlove's Concert shape, not unlike a Taylor Grand Auditorium (x14 models like the 214). Breedloves tend to have a slightly rounder lower bout than either Taylor or Martin, which will have an effect on the low-end response of the guitar.
 
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Re: Looking for advice on an acoustic guitar

I also prefer the necks on the Breedlove... not so thin as the Taylors, but still very playable.

Obviously, YMMV.
 
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