• From: Scotland.
  • Registered: 2006-07-13
  • Posts: 218

Topic: A possible new purchase

I've been looking around the shops with a view to getting my first acoustic and finally plucked up the courage to pick one up and strum a little bit on it....the shop was empty! lol

What I'm looking for is a guitar that isn't too loud(as I live in an appartment with the noise pollution nazis beside and below me!) but gives a pleasant enough sound for strumming away in my living room. So Dreadnoughts are out!

My budget will be around the £500 mark, knowing this is a very competitive arena to be shopping in I'm hoping to get one that will serve me for many years to come. Any upgrade from this will be a venture into the major leagues, once my playing justifys such a purchase....a good few years to go there I reckon.

Anyway, what I came across was a Tanglewood TW45 Heritage.
<a href="http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/products/stockDetails.asp?cID=555&sID=1890" target="_blank"> http://www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/products/stockDetails.asp ?cID=555&sID=1890</a>
Solid mahogany back and sides, Cedar top.
It played well, the action seemed pretty good, barre chords were ringing through nicely without too much difficulty, decent pick up built into it...in short, I liked it a lot.


The RRP is £599, the shop will sell for £530 with a decent stand thrown in but no case.

My questions are;

MY only gripe was the fretboard seemed a bit slow compared to my Mexican Strat...Is that to be expected from an acoustic?
Does anyone have any experience of this or other Tanglewood guitars?
Does it seem a good deal?
Is there any other acoustics around this price I should be making a point of checking out?
Should this guitar with due TLC last me a good few years?

Any advice at all would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Craig.

Blind acceptance is a sign, of stupid fools who stand in line.  John Lydon.

'Mod' is a shorter word for 'young, beautiful and stupid' - we've all been there." - Pete Townshend.
  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: A possible new purchase

Hey Moddish,

I know exactly what you are going through. I spent ages mulling over what to get. Played a Tanglewood in McCormacks in Glasgow and wasn't impressed one bit.
As I've said on another thread, I was horrified at the difference between individual guitars. Played three identical Yamahas in GuitarGuitar and they all sounded completely different. Thay all sounded terrible. However, just round the corner in Merchant City Music I played 2 identical Yamahas and they both sounded fantastic.
I guess what I'm saying is go to a shop you know you can trust for selling quality, properly set up guitars - where the staff know what they are on about. I found the three big stores in Glasgow were very poor on service and knowledge and more expensive.
I ended up buying a Yamaha APX500 Electro-acoustic. Cost me £199. Because it is electro-acoustic the body is smaller than what I was used to and therefore a bit quieter. Also a nice easy action.
Sorry if I've gone on a bit but as I say I was shocked at how the bigger stores sell badly set up guitars to unsuspecting buyers(mainly parents who are not fully clued up).
I also realise that this hasn't helped you one little bit. Try as many guitars in your price range as possible, in as many shops as possible. If you have that little voice in the back of your head saying, "I'm no really happy wi that but it's lovely guitar aw the same", don't buy it! If it has the slightest buzz or the action is not exactly what you want then don't buy it. £500 is a lot of money. Get your £500 worth.
Good luck.

Al

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

alvee33's Website

  • From: Scotland.
  • Registered: 2006-07-13
  • Posts: 218

Re: A possible new purchase

Thanks Al.


I know what you mean about the big shops in Glasgow. Where did you end up buying your Yamaha, if ye dont mind me asking?



Craig.

Blind acceptance is a sign, of stupid fools who stand in line.  John Lydon.

'Mod' is a shorter word for 'young, beautiful and stupid' - we've all been there." - Pete Townshend.
  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: A possible new purchase

Nae bother, Craig,

I got it in Merchant City Music in Garth Street in Glasgow. After the huge disapointment of the big stores this shop was a treat. All the guys were very helpful and seemed to know every guitar on the wall personally. I asked who's job it was to tune them and clean them and was told it was down to them all. They all know what they're doing and every guitar was spotless and well set up.

As you can see I liked this wee shop a lot. Their website is at <a href="http://www.guitar.co.uk" target="_blank">http://www.guitar.co.uk</a>

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

alvee33's Website

  • From: Powder Springs, Ga., USA
  • Registered: 2007-04-08
  • Posts: 54

Re: A possible new purchase

It my be hard to find.. but check out the Martin 'Alternative X'. It has a tight neck that will work well for someone who is used to a strat... and it has near perfect electronics. It has a sweet accustic sound without being too loud

  • Registered: 2007-01-16
  • Posts: 9

Re: A possible new purchase

I've been playing an Alzarez accoustic I brought in from the states and it was fine but I wanted a bigger sound so I tried them all and most I couldn't afford.
For £260 on the internet I got an Epiphone EJ 200 Nat
had it set up by my local guy with Matin SP's and it's the 'Maple Dream' now. Sounds great easy, easy action and Grover's and even 2 Gold finish strap buttons.
WE can't always afford the very best but there are lots of guitars out there that will give a lot of enjoyment for a fraction of the cost!

Enjoy whatever you buy!

  • From: Scotland.
  • Registered: 2006-07-13
  • Posts: 218

Re: A possible new purchase

Thanks for the advice. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">


I'm quite surprised that the same makes of guitar can sound so different. That's definetely something to look out for when I get round to taking the plunge.

A martin might be a wee bit out of budget, though it can't hurt too take a look. Alzarez is a make I aint come across before so, again it's one I'll keep in mind.


Thanks again, I appreciate it. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

Blind acceptance is a sign, of stupid fools who stand in line.  John Lydon.

'Mod' is a shorter word for 'young, beautiful and stupid' - we've all been there." - Pete Townshend.
  • From: Paisley, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-07-09
  • Posts: 337

Re: A possible new purchase

What did you end up going for Craig? Have you chosen yet?? Consider me envious regardless of what you get...  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_razz.gif" border=0 alt="Razz">

All I got, is a red guitar, three chords and the truth

bud_wiser's Website

  • Registered: 2007-04-15
  • Posts: 4

Re: A possible new purchase

I have an Ibanez Performance acoustic with a red wood veneer face.  I bought it when I got frustrated with the rather large action on a classical that I was learning on.  I choose this when I went to a local store and tried out many of their available axes.  The point is, make sure that you go to a store and actually try out the guitar to make sure that the feel and sound agrees with what you're looking for.  As with a previous posting, don't just buy it because it looks good.  While you're there, try out a 12-string...SWEET!!


Good luck and let us know what you ended up with.