Quote:
Originally posted by FAEbGBD:
Hey Bushice, what acoustics do you have and what do you like? I'm in the market for a very good acoustic. I'm just using my Dad's Ovation for now, but I don't like the rounded backs, and it sounds good plugged in but not just acoustic.
I've tried some of the expensive Taylors and honestly don't like them much. I think I've come to the opinion that I don't want a cutaway. That just robs too much sound. Do you have any thoughts as to a nice acoustic-electric that I might look into that has no cutaway? Or maybe I'll just need to buy a nice acoustic and put electronics in it myself. What think you? I know this is such a matter of opinion, but I'm just looking for ideas.


I have 3:

Ibanez Performance 6 string
Yamaha 12 string
Yamaha FG 345 6 string

My fave is the yamaha 6 string. I've never played a guitar with smoother action. Everyone who picks it up says the same thing - how easy it is on the fingers. It has a really nice, warm sound, too, and has aged well. I bought it new about 22 years ago (actually my parents got it for me when I was a young teen!), but I've taken great care of it. It was worth about $300 American dollars back then.

The Ibanez is about a $280-300 guitar. Very nice sound, different from the Yamaha. Not as smooth, but warm, and I bought it on sale for around 180 bucks 10 years ago from a music store that was going out of business.

The 12 String is also very nice, but the action is a little hard. It's about 18 years old, and has a nice full sound.

All 3 of them are full body wooden guitars. I had a thinline pickup installed in the Yamaha 6 string. It cost me $120 bucks to have it installed, but it was worth it. Very nice pick-up for live performance, it is volume sensitive, it's glued under the bridge and you plug into it at the lower strap holder with a standard 1/4 inch plug, so there are no wires visible or in the way. You are better off live-miking an acoustic in the studio, though, so you get that great ambient sound the guitar creates. Pick ups on acoustics in a studio recording setting don't usually deliver that full wooden sound you want.

I'm not a real collector or anything, I bought all my guitars based on how they felt to play, how they sounded, and opinions of others. Before you buy, go to shops and play a lot of them, and I suggest you spend a little more on a guitar rather than less, because the quality of the components used will be better, and the guitar will be more durable. I don't know how many times I've heard people who spend $100-140 bucks on a guitar, and 2-3 years later the neck is warping, or they can't keep it in tune anymore. I've never had those problems. Unless you are a real beginner and not sure if you really want to play, spend a little more cash, and get a good one. Check out use instruments, as sometimes people who inherit guitars from parents or relatives, or who just don't play anymore will sell them cheap. You can get good deals from that, but it takes time and effort.

I could have spent $600 to $1200 on a guitar if I had wanted to, but I found some affordable guitars that sound good, play well, and are road-durable. Can't ask for much more than that.

Bushice