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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Guitars and accessories → new acoustic guitar
I'm looking to buy a new acoustic guitar but I'm not sure what to buy. I've been playing a few years now and been strumming a Fender (manufactured in China). I would love some input on which guitar to choose. I don't have a lot of money to spend (300-400 bucks) but would like to get a nice guitar for that price. Any suggestions? I mostly strum and do a little pickin, playing mostly oldies and classic rock..check out my songbook!
There are more Acoustic guitar options out there than you can shake a stick at..... & I wouldn't venture to list all of them here. If you look down the posts in this forum alone you are going to find preferences that come up again and again. Everybody had a favorite, and really there are no bad guitars out there by reputable "names" IF you stay with something better than cardboard for a top and body.
Your price range is going to dictate the field, although there are some really nice instruments out there in that range. Especially with the use of power tooling in manufacturing to keep the labour costs reasonable. I'd get on the Musician's Friend website and search everything within your budget, and then hit up the customer reviews on them to see if they have any inherent problems, both on MF and somebody like Harmony Central. Narrow your list and then find dealers to sit down and play the brands and models within your parameters. One of them will stand out as the guitar that "fits" you and your style and that (in the end) is what it is all about
Don't get too hung up on a brand or country of origin, and you'd be surprised what you might find.
Take Care & Good Hunting;
Doug
PS: See you've been a member awhile, nice to see you posting! Hope to hear more from you.
I don't what they cost where you are but I'd happily recommend an Ovation. I have a Ovation Celebrity CC44, which is one of their models made at the factory in China rather than the US. I honestly can't see any difference in quality between the US made models and the China made models but it does bring the price down. I paid around £300 for mine. Medium bowl back, beautiful tone, built in pick up and tuner, superb action, it's my reach for guitar every time.
Jerry
Only thing I'd recommend is go to a decent store and play as many as you can within your price range. I tend to feel quite intimidated in guitar shops, if you're the same please try and put this aside and concentrate on the guitar you're holding. Stuff everyone else in the shop and try as many as you can. Oh, and set aside a full day for this excercise 
Regardless of what you choose, don't buy a guitar you haven't played. Build quality can vary from instrument to instrument.
I'll third that. You have to try diff ones to see what fits you and what you like. Try the ones at the top end of your price range as well as ones lower than what you are thinking of spending. Hands on is for sure a good way to get one that fits.
You'll notice soyboy, that only once was an actual brand brought up. These guys are right on. Play a bunch of them in your price range. You may be surprised at the outcome. Trying them out will give you the actual feel and playability of the guitar. Each one is different. So, take your time, go to as many music stores as you can find and get the personal feel of each one. You will know when you have picked up the right one for you. What is right for me may not be for you. And good luck. Let us know what you end up getting and how you like it.
If you are buying a guitar, have it properly setup - even many high end guitar require a proper setup before they play well. For a beginner/intermediate player I would say that a proper setup will enhance playing enjoyment and make it easlier to create a nice sound. That being said, my first guitar was a yamaha and I still play it regularly after 25 years. It's a great guitar and very decent value for beginners and intermediates.
All the people above me said it before me,go out and get your hands on some guitars and see what you like and fits you,when you do find something you may want to come back and bring the guitar and model#,then more people can give you a better opinion on it. I do not like to buy aguitar online even if it is the same as the one at the store,as they may differ some.
I'll third that. You have to try diff ones to see what fits you and what you like. Try the ones at the top end of your price range as well as ones lower than what you are thinking of spending. Hands on is for sure a good way to get one that fits.
Absolutely! Everyone said it, and I'll say it again, try them out. DO try some out that are lower than what you are thinking of spending. Last time I went shopping, with about $300 price range, I tried guitars up to $400 and down to $100. I ended up choosing a guitar that cost under $200 because I liked the tone best. I passed over some guitars that are highly recommended by others here on Chordie. You never know what gem you will find that speaks to you!
Hello all new guy here but decided to weigh in on this one, Check out Seagull Guitars, I have one and love them and they are in your price range at Guitar center...
Welcome to chordie remoc.
Good to see you here,I can not say anything that all the other members have already posted here,all good advice. Have fun trying out the different ones,you will get to it sooner or later.
Seagull "Entourage" series
Art & Lutherie
Both from the same parent company: Godin
And be sure to peruse the "used"guitar sections in the local music stores. Someone elses depreciation can be your bonanza.
New guy here as well, I have only been thumbing around for a few years myself, but the best advice I can give you is go to your local music shop.
talk to the guys, play All guitars that you like and last of all make sure they set it up for you. if they can't do this for you gete out of there and go to a shop that can, smaller shops usually have better customer service an rely on your buisness so will look after you more.
example I went to go buy a Maton great guitars ended up walking out of the shop with a crafter 1/3 of the price and just a good a sound. but to me felt so much better to play. so don't get hung up in brand names because 90% of guitars these days are comming out of china anyway.
Try before you buy. See if you can find a solid top guitar in your range. If I was looking in that price range I'd look for Alvarez or Washburn. Note when you're at the guitar store the different sounds you hear from a guitar with maple or mahogany versus a rosewood back and sides. You should be aware the deeper darker sounds come from rosewood, brighter sounds from hard maple or koa. You won't find rosewood in that price unless it's used but whatever you buy it has to sound good UNPLUGGED. Also, learn which models have a skinny neck and which ones are wider. You may have a preference. It's a very personal choice so no matter what you choose pick base on your EARs.
New guy to post but been playing a long time. If you can find a guitar center somewhere near you. VISIT and play. They have a full range of lower priced and higher end guitars. Play them all. They usually have a lot of used guitars that sound great. Ask questions. You don't have to buy there but it will give you and idea of the feel. I play an Ovation but I also have a Martin Sigma that sounds great. I played a Tak. for a while and liked the feel but I went for the super shallow model and it didn't sound great unplugged. Some people don't like the feel of the round back on the Ovation. To each his own. That's why you need to play and get the feel of the guitar that fits you.
I have been playing acoustic electric for four years, I was in your same situation not knowing what to buy. I talked to a friend of mine who has been playing all his life 60 years I guess. he scounted around at a few music stores and called me one day and said he had found the ideal beginer guitar. I love it. I went to the store and bought it off the wall. It is a YAHAMA
FGX720SCA. It required no set up, sounds beautifully, excellent tone. The Mohogany back and sides gives a real soft acoustic sound. The workmanship and apperance is as good as it gets. For a beginner I highly recommend the Yamaha.
You can buy that yamaha for about $400.00
Visit guitar stores and play everything until they ask you to leave! I like the "price bracketing" procedure prescribed by MEKIDSMOM above. Keep in mind you may have to make several trip to the store because you never know when Sam the Shredder will be there. He/She will surely drown you out. When I see/hear this going on I turn right around and leave. Lunch time or Saturdays are the worst.
Make sure you look at the Washburns. The D10 series is advertised as the best selling dread shaped guitar and I can see why. I have had a D10 for 14 years and even though I have Martins and Gibsons and I love them , the Washburn is a high quality , relatively inexpensive guitar that is well worth the money. It takes about 8 years for the tone to optimize like all wood instruments but it is a great instrument for the money. Whatever guitar you look at make sure it has a solid spruce or cedar top. No plywood or laminates. Also if you live in a very dry or very wet climate do not go for the Ovations. The synthetic bodies do not expand and contract but the wood tops do so you can get separations and warpage.
Soyboy61,
Through a combination of Christmas windfall and spousal concurrence (if not approval) I am on the hunt again. Yesterday I looked at the Taylor GS Mini. I travel a lot so having (at least) one small guitar appeals to me. I liked the Mini but at $499 (no haggle room) this seems steep for the convenience of NOT having to send it through checked baggage on commerical airlines.
My wife tells me to take my time to find the one perfect guitar. This is analagous to looking for the Loch Ness Monster. But I am getting to the point that I am reluctant to buy anything for fear of missing the next perfect guitar. Also although I can probably afford (after a period of saving) an "expensive" (~$1,000) guitar I find it difficult to part with that much money when there is an unlimited suppply of grest-sounding, inexpensive guitars. My current favorite is a $200 Art & Lutherie all laminate guitar. I absolutely love this guitar, the sound and I find my self sneaking peaks at it just to admire the apprearance.
My A&L competes for attention with a 1984 Guild D-15M (all mahogany) and a 1979 cool Yamaha jumbo. The Guild is buy far the most expensive guitar I own but I can predict it is most likely the first to be sold. Not because it doesn't sound good or isn't cool to look at but because I have 2-3 inexpensive guitars worth of money tied up in it.
I suppose if I spent as much time practicing as I do researching and "hunting" I'd be on stage somewhere by now instead of wondering when I'll be bold enough to sing or when I'll be able to swiftly construct my first (evil) barre chord.
Good luck in your quest. I wish you happy hunting.
David
Guitar chord forum - chordie → Guitars and accessories → new acoustic guitar
