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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Acoustic-electric Guitars
Posted by: JVM Nov 12 2008, 09:55 PM
Hi guys. I was wondering what everyone's take on acoustic-electric guitars, such as Ovations, or any of the models that the major brands put out (takamine, martin, gibson, taylor). It seems hard to find a fully acoustic guitar for a reasonable price these days, but maybe that's not a bad thing. I'm quite interested in these guitars, and I'm interested in purchasing one... but there are many considerations!
I have a taylor 'baby taylor mahogany' guitar that was actually my very first guitar which I received over 9 years ago. Its great, the small scale makes it easily transportable and easy to pull out at any situation (especially great for pulling out around the campfire, which I did last weekend 
), but I'm looking to upgrade. That said, I really like Taylor guitars, but I'm not adverse to other companies. My father plays Collings guitars, which are very nice, but also very expensive.
What I'm looking for:
-Preferably something costing no more than ~$1200 or so dollars. There seems to be a good market for acoustics in that range.
-With that price range, obviously I'm looking for the best quality.. and though I don't mind guitars made in other countries, I do tend to be wary of them... Guild has some nice looking but chinese built models, for example. Kind of wary of that, but if I get some strong reccomendations I'll check them out. American or maybe Japanese built, or equivalent to, preferred.
-A nice amplification system. I plan to run it through a fender deluxe reverb when I get that amp. I'm not necessarily looking for the most pristine acoustic amplification, as I would want to be able to run effects through it, overdrive it, and generally do bad things to it's sound signal 
However, the option for a nice acoustic sound is of course welcome and wanted. A lot of these acoustic-electrics seem to have built in tuning electronics as well, which is a nice feature as most acoustics don't seem to have locking tuners (but I don't really know how well they stay in tune).
-Preferably a single cutaway, grand concert (thinner, more comfortable for me) style body. I'm really not looking for a big dreadnought, as acoustically if my baby taylor can cut it volume wise around a campfire, I'm sure I'll have no problems with acoustic volume whatever I get.
Last on the list is looks, though all of the above is not necessarily in order of importance. I think looks is self explanitory.
Some guitars I'm looking at:
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Parker-P8E-Acoustic-Event-Series-?sku=518890 http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Parker-P7EQS-Electric-Acoustic-Event-Series?sku=513697, I like the looks well enough, have good experience with Parker guitars, and they seem to be pretty fully-featured.
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Songmaker-Series-CSMCE-Grand-Concert-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar?sku=542106
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Takamine-EF508KC-NEX-All-Koa-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=512195
Let me know what you guys think.
Posted by: audiopaal Nov 12 2008, 10:04 PM
I'd definately go for the Takamine or Gibson!
I can honestly say I have never tried a Takamine I didn't like 
They've got great playability and the best preamps (in my opinion)..
Gibson on the other hand also sounds great, a bit darker in tone usually which is good for a lot of stuff 
And they're preamp system is pretty great too!
There's, of course, other great guitars in that price rnge as well but these two will without a doubt make you happy
Posted by: Gus Nov 12 2008, 10:06 PM
I always advertise this guitar in acoustic-electric guitar threads
But the reason is I really love it.
It is really comfortable to play. Thin neck, cutaway. Sounds great both plugged and unplugged. I play it unplugged on the church and it is just enough loud and bright.
It is easy to carry ( actually I carry it on my bike every week)
Washburn EA20 SDL
http://www.music123.com/Washburn-EA20SDL-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-515329-i1148645.Music123?cm_mmc=$(channel)$-_-Washburn-_-Acoustic-Electric%20Guitars-_-Washburn%20EA20SDL%20Acoustic-Electric%20Guitar&source=ZWFRWXX&mr:trackingCode=59D15F8E-0FB0-DD11-AE27-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA
I tried a few other more expensive models and this was the one I liked the most.
Posted by: JVM Nov 12 2008, 10:11 PM
Would that Takamine be japanese made? Just curious
But the reason is I really love it.
It is really comfortable to play. Thin neck, cutaway. Sounds great both plugged and unplugged. I play it unplugged on the church and it is just enough loud and bright.
It is easy to carry ( actually I carry it on my bike every week)
Washburn EA20 SDL
http://www.music123.com/Washburn-EA20SDL-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-515329-i1148645.Music123?cm_mmc=$(channel)$-_-Washburn-_-Acoustic-Electric%20Guitars-_-Washburn%20EA20SDL%20Acoustic-Electric%20Guitar&source=ZWFRWXX&mr:trackingCode=59D15F8E-0FB0-DD11-AE27-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA
I tried a few other more expensive models and this was the one I liked the most.
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out if they have it at my store
Posted by: audiopaal Nov 12 2008, 10:24 PM
Yeah, that should be a Japanese made (Takamine is Japanese after all..)
The Japanese sure make some of the best guitars there is (Fender Japan, Takamine, Esp etc.)
Posted by: JVM Nov 12 2008, 10:27 PM
The Japanese sure make some of the best guitars there is (Fender Japan, Takamine, Esp etc.)
Agreed, japanese guitars tend to be really good value for the money.
Posted by: Jakub Luptovec Nov 12 2008, 10:31 PM
2 audiopaal: and also Caparisons are Japanese I guess... and they are made of pure win
Btw. +1 (i know its forbidden:) ) on that Washburn electroacoustic - our bandmember has it and it has really beautiful sound and is easy to play (the cutaway for higher frets access)
Posted by: audiopaal Nov 12 2008, 10:48 PM
Btw. +1 (i know its forbidden:) ) on that Washburn electroacoustic - our bandmember has it and it has really beautiful sound and is easy to play (the cutaway for higher frets access)
Yeah, I forgot about those
Posted by: JVM Nov 13 2008, 01:27 AM
I must say, just from specs, at the moment I'm leaning towards this koa Takamine
Posted by: JVM Nov 14 2008, 06:59 PM
..bump Still hoping to hone in a little closer to my specifications if you guys can help The takamine is pretty cool, but it is big like a dreadnought. I know it's a small consideration but for me dreadnoughts are pretty uncomfortable unless standing. Also I was reading on taylor's website, where they were talking about different body shapes. They mentioned that making the guitar deeper doesn't actually add either much bass OR volume, or at least not in really significant amounts. If thats true, what is the purpose of making them bigger?
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Nov 14 2008, 07:36 PM
I have Parker acoustic and it kicks arse. That is all
Posted by: JVM Nov 14 2008, 08:29 PM
Which one do you have? I must admit, they're tempting.
[edit] I see, the p10e. Can you elabourate a bit on it?
[edit edit] they changed the price on that first parker I linked to
Little expensive...
Posted by: JVM Nov 14 2008, 09:17 PM
Hmmm... this http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alvarez-Masterworks-Series-MF80C-Cutaway-Grand-Concert-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=518833 is really nice looking. My dad had an alvarez grand concert before he started playing collings, and i always wished he hadn't sold the alvarez because I loved it I wonder where this is made? It's interesting for sure.
[edit] then again, http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alvarez-Yairi-Virtuoso-Rosewood-WY1-Acoustic-Electric-Cutaway?sku=518868 is almost perfect for me.. very similar to my dad's as well, except his wasn't a yairi. I'm tempted to spend more
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