Advice on acoustic guitar ~€500

Burning Eclipse

Ok, I know there are a few similar threads about, but nothing really matching what I'm after. And the search is borked...

Background: I've played guitar for ~8 years. I played all the time for the first 4 years, a lot less in the last 4. Only ever owned electrics, but now I want to buy an acoustic for the convenience/sound!!

So, I'm in the market for a nice acoustic, will spend up to about €500, but the problem lies in the fact that I'm entirely clueless about acoustics! I spent about half an hour in my local music shop and all I can tell is I like Jumbos more than Dreadnaughts (mainly the shape, as opposed to sound) and I'd rather a guitar that doesn't have a cut-away. Oh, and I hear that solid back and sides is preferable! Obviously a solid top is essential. As for play styles, some bluegrass, fingerstyle... actually, and all-rounder ideally.

Does anyone have recommendations for me? I'd consider anything... the nicest guitar I played in the shop was a Cort dreadnaught... All solid wood for €500, so brand isn't important, just a nice player and a nice sound! Would greatly appreciate any advice!

Ash.J.Williams

I am Really enjoying my new Cort acoustic. Sounds brilliant and is a joy to play, and you will pick one up for 200 euros upwards. I got mine in Perfect pitch wicklow st, area but i believe X-music also sells them. I bought a Cheap one, and it more than beats the similar priced rivals. Yamaha have a great name too.
Heard many bad things about Fender, and not so good stories about tanglewood.
I also had a look in Waltons and they had a huge selection but didn't see anything i liked for my price range.

fitz

Pop into music maker and see if they've any silver series Avalon's left. The used to sell for €900. I picked one up in there a few months back for €465. Worth a look. Punches well above it's price.

Burning Eclipse

Ah yes, thanks for the advice guys, but I'm not from Dublin, or anywhere near Dublin for that matter, so going to these shops ain't a runner I'm afraid.

Kenny_D

Taylor 110
Taylor Big Baby
Takamine G-Series

Have a look on gak.co.uk

Good prices with the sterling at the minute

Dropkick

Try http://www.thomann.de/gb/guitars_and_basses.html

Really good prices and they deliver aswell...

Blackhorse Slim

If you play bluegrass and fingerstyle, would a resonator suit you? They are fantastic guitars, although a little 'specialist' in sound

http://www.xmusic.ie/product.php?productid=17994&cat=312&page=1

Worth considering



Edit; this is probably a better guitar in the same price range
http://www.thomann.de/ie/johnson_jm999_tricone_antik_finish.htm

Just make sure if you're ordering one online that you get a round neck, not a square neck!

Burning Eclipse

Thanks for all the advice guys! Didn't know that a Taylor would be within my price range! GAK seem to have the best prices at the moment, and at the moment I'm looking at that Taylor 110 (£399) or the Guild GAD 30 (£429). Reviews of the Taylor are better, but the Guild is all solid wood for an extra £30! Oh, the Guild had an "Orchestra" style body, but from the pictures it looks like a dreadnought? Now to track them down and try to play them, or something similar??

Nozebleed

id buy a yamaha LL6. beautiful guitar...made to a high standard. i wouldn't buy a cheap martin or taylor. stay clear of cheap takamine's.

Burning Eclipse

Nice find there, the LJ6 looks great too. 4 in the running now I reckon. What to do? Would solid back and sides make a huge difference?

Tomas911

+ 1 Avalon Silvers
Also Freshman & Taylor 110's

Burning Eclipse

Ok, I'm gonna be in Dublin soon, can anybody recommend a shop/shops, where I could try the following guitars:

Seagull S6
Yamaha LL6 or LJ6
Taylor 110
Guild GAD30

Thanks again for the advice so far.

Tomas911

Sound Shop in Drogheda do the Seagull Guitars

Music Maker, Exchequer St do the Taylor guitars, so do XMusic, Red Cow, they have them on the website for 650 but I can't remember if they had them instore.
I like Music Maker though, since the new guys have taken over it has improved rapidly. Alot better value than it was a year ago and they are much better value for money now.

I dont know any shops that are stocking much of the Yamahas or Guilds
I've seen the odd beginner Yamaha but not much else.
Also try get a play of the Freshmans, they are savage.

Burning Eclipse

Thanks Tomas. There is a Freshman dealer here in Limerick, might pop in on Saturday and play a few.

fguihen

Cant go wrong with a Tanglewood.

I had a budget of about 700 quid a 2-3 years ago for an acousitc. I played a bunch of guitars and quite liked a taylor for 900 bucks. I was going to reserve it for myself but then just decided to try a tanglewood haning on the back wall (exact model: TW155 CT). It felt awesome, to me. On bringing it to the register i was told it was less than 400 bucks!

A quality guitar for a good price. I think they have gone up a small bit ( closer to 500 euros now) but still worth it.

Kenny_D

Xmusic have the LL6 I'm pretty sure. They have a few Yamaha guitars and they are excellent starter guitars. I'd recommend them above the entry level taylors tbh

Burning Eclipse

Thanks again for the help. I played a great selection of Freshman guitars today and a Taylor 110, all in Steamboat Quay in Limerick.

So, the 110 is out of the running now. I did not like the feel of it at all compared to the Freshman. It seemed cheap, the fretboard felt horrible. Action was impeccable I must say, but I'd put that down to Marcus, their tech, as opposed to anything else. The FA350 was very nice, and I'd say is currently the top of the bunch! But is was a grand auditorium, and felt lacking in the bass and mid-range, so I'm gonna try out the 350D.

Tomas911

Cool, told you the Freshman were savage:D

Nulty

OP's probably long got his/her guitar by now but reference to some posts:

Tanglewood used to be pretty foolproof but I've been told their lowerend models have lost their quality in recent years. Due to outsourcing or something. Dunno, I got one about four years ago and it was really nice for only €250.

I was gonna ge a Taylor 114 but the price -v- budget means its just not worth it unless you got money to burn.

I was turned on to Cort guitars recently and must say they are pretty reliable. Apparantly, many bigger brand name guitars are made by cort (or at least at the same factory). You may just be playing a cort by another name. My feeling is that if other brands source cort's engineering then their price tag looks all the more inviting.

Erren Music

Buy yourself a Garrison acoustic.

Stick a set of Elixirs on it, and you will have a guitar that rivals a 1,500 euro martin or taki.

Fingers Mcginty

Erren Music wrote: »

Buy yourself a Garrison acoustic.

Stick a set of Elixirs on it, and you will have a guitar that rivals a 1,500 euro martin or taki.