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Looking for an acoustic guitar...
So I am looking at getting a new acoustic guitar.
I have it narrowed down to only a few guitars and wanted others thoughts, comments, concerns, and criticism.
I am looking for a 000, 0000/OM, Grand Concert, or Grand Auditorium.
I would prefer a guitar from an American guitar manufacturer (but not crucial).
The guitar must be all solid wood and I prefer a short scale with wide-thin neck with a wide string spacing for finger style playing. I DO NOT want a cutaway body.
I am looking in the $1500 price range, used.
Here are the contenders:
Martin 000-18
Pluses: Solid wood, Classic Martin Americana sound, short scale
Minuses: No neck binding
Taylor GC 5, GC 7, or GC 8
Pluses: Solid wood, short scale, love the slotted headstock, neck binding
Minuses: While the Taylors sound great, I am not a huge fan of their treble response. The guitars a a bit trebley for me. I like the Cedar tops of the GC 5 and the GC 7 to tame the treble.
Martin 000-15M
Pluses: love the look and sound of the all mahogany guitar, great sound, just screams vintage
Minuses: No neck or body binding, the all mahogany look might have a short life span with me.
Guild GAD 30R
Pluses: I love the look and sound of this guitar. I am partial to the rosewood sides over mahogany sides.
Minuses: no neck binding, made in China
Larrivee OM-03
Pluses: great feels, great sound, neck binding, all around good guitar
Minuses: Not the biggest fan of Sapele on the back and sides.
I am also entertaining old models such as the Taylor 312, 314, 412, 414.
So what do ya'll think?
I have it narrowed down to only a few guitars and wanted others thoughts, comments, concerns, and criticism.
I am looking for a 000, 0000/OM, Grand Concert, or Grand Auditorium.
I would prefer a guitar from an American guitar manufacturer (but not crucial).
The guitar must be all solid wood and I prefer a short scale with wide-thin neck with a wide string spacing for finger style playing. I DO NOT want a cutaway body.
I am looking in the $1500 price range, used.
Here are the contenders:
Martin 000-18
Pluses: Solid wood, Classic Martin Americana sound, short scale
Minuses: No neck binding
Taylor GC 5, GC 7, or GC 8
Pluses: Solid wood, short scale, love the slotted headstock, neck binding
Minuses: While the Taylors sound great, I am not a huge fan of their treble response. The guitars a a bit trebley for me. I like the Cedar tops of the GC 5 and the GC 7 to tame the treble.
Martin 000-15M
Pluses: love the look and sound of the all mahogany guitar, great sound, just screams vintage
Minuses: No neck or body binding, the all mahogany look might have a short life span with me.
Guild GAD 30R
Pluses: I love the look and sound of this guitar. I am partial to the rosewood sides over mahogany sides.
Minuses: no neck binding, made in China
Larrivee OM-03
Pluses: great feels, great sound, neck binding, all around good guitar
Minuses: Not the biggest fan of Sapele on the back and sides.
I am also entertaining old models such as the Taylor 312, 314, 412, 414.
So what do ya'll think?
Tags: Guild, Larrivee, Martin, Taylor
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Greg on -
I have been doing some research and some playing, traveling hundreds of miles from my bumpkinville location to get my hands on some guitars and test drive them and I have come to some conclusions...
1. I love the Martin sound - but I resent their use of Micarta on the fingerboards and bridges of $1700+ guitars. Call me a snob if you will because it probably really doesn't make a difference, but I don't want to pay that kind of money for a guitar with plastic on it (even if it is only 40% plastic). But to my ears, the Martins sounded the best and seemed to offer greater identity differences throughout the line.
2. Taylors are very nice guitars, but their high end treble response and their apparent lack of identity throughout the line (until you get to the ultra high dollar models) was a bit of a turn off. They felt a bit, well, androgynous, to me.
3. I was sadly disappointed with the Gibson line. I have seen the J-45 "The Workhorse" everywhere, but I really did not feel it warranted its $2300 price tag. The response seemed very flat to me. It didn't accentuate any particular tone or frequency, which may be to the taste of some, but I like a guitar that has a character all its own. The J-45 seemed neutral. However, I did like the neck on the J-45, second only to the Martin Low Profile neck.
In general, I did not favor the Taylor neck to the extent of its rave reviews.
I was disappointed with Breedlove guitars. I thought their sound would be as unique as their aesthetics.
The Epiphone Masterbilt Series was quite surprising, but not quite surprising enough to buy.
What's with all the Satin finishes. I understand that Satin resonates better, but is there a comfortable medium here?
Still have yet to try the Larrivee line to its full extent. Also, I have yet to try a Martin OOO-15M... I have tried the Saepele models and enjoyed them but not sure if it was enough to buy one.
At Danny's urgings, I think I may stay away from the Guild GAD series unless I found evidence that contradicts Danny's findings.
HO HUM... here I sit, still without a guitar to call "MINE". I have several acoustics, but none that feel like an extension of ME like my PRS guitars feel like in the world of electric guitars. -
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