Opinions Please , Buying new Guitar

If you have $1500, you will have many choices in getting a pretty good guitar.  Yes, Taylor has created quite a following.  But, although I like it, I still prefer a nice Takamine over a Taylor.  Other brands to consider are: Guild, Gibson, Yamaha, Ovation, Washburn, Alvarez, Ibanez, and Epiphone!  Like others have mentioned in this post, go to a Guitar Center/store and try playing a few.  Just remember that most of their guitars are not set-up.  Thus, can give you a bad impression if the action is not just right.  Good luck!

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>Kahuna wrote on Tue, 10 April 2007 05&#58;35</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
If you have $1500, you will have many choices in getting a pretty good guitar.  Yes, Taylor has created quite a following.  But, although I like it, I still prefer a nice Takamine over a Taylor.  Other brands to consider are: Guild, Gibson, Yamaha, Ovation, Washburn, Alvarez, Ibanez, and Epiphone!  Like others have mentioned in this post, go to a Guitar Center/store and try playing a few.  Just remember that most of their guitars are not set-up.  Thus, can give you a bad impression if the action is not just right.  Good luck! 

</td></tr></table>

I live relatively near to one of the best acoustic music shops there is. The Music Room at Cleckheaton. When i was first buying guitars their advice to me was, buy one you like the sound of and don't worry about the action. If they sell you a guitar they will set it up to your taste, therefore they are not set up any particular way when on display.

I did not eventually buy my guitar from there as I ended up plumping for a Yamaha, and they don't sell those. I bought the Yamaha from Sound Control in Leeds and that came with the offer of free guitar set up clinic on Wednesdays, "Take it home, play it and if you want it altered bring it in on a Wednesday." I never used that as I am very happy with the instrument as is.

So, if all that's putting you off is the action being too high, don't neccessarily let that put you off.

Cheers,

Denzil.

I went into guitar center and played some Ibanez ( They did not have the AEL50 in stock ) I also played some taylors, Martins, Gibsons, etc. I tried many.

I played this one Breed love , made in Korea , AD/25 SR I think,  about $795.00 dollars. Very nice , but it had some Buzz issues at the upper frets on a few strings, which needed to be fixed , but this was really a nice guitar and I probably would buy it . I do want to try out the AEL50 first though. Ibanez gives you allot for your money.

I also liked a few taylor's ( I played the 814 ?, 314, and 414 CE and a few more, and I liked the 414 CE the best for sound, but I think they had brand new elixer strings on it ). The other two I thought were nice, but the 414 had the nicest sound , and was about $1500 dollars as opposed to the $2900 dollars for the 814 .

Tomorrow I am going to another store where they have some Taylors , Breedloves, and Ibanez guitars and see how they have them set up, etc.

Thanks again

Jerry

No, it is not just you !

It's funny though, when I told the sales guy that it was buzzing, he said to me " oh, our tech is here today and can fix that" ... I don't think so !!!! There is no way I would pay that kind of money for something that needs more than a normal set up, I am not sure if this was a Buzz from set up issues or fret issues.

I would never buy "that one" either.. What I should of said in my post is that I would of bought the Breedlove  model I played , if there was another in the box and I played it ..Because I was really impressed with the feel and sound ( Until the upper fret Buzz  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy"> ) But I would of tried it out just like I did with the one they had hanging there first. I did not want to rush into anything until I tried a few others on my list anyway.

When I bought my last guitar, ( Ibanez PF ) I played the one hanging, but asked for a brand new one , there was nothing wrong with the hanging model, just wanted untouched by others.

I totally agree, no reason to have to start fixing something you are paying all that money for

..But I do not think the Breedlove brand generally has these issues out of the box, from what I am reading on the web, etc.

Thanks,

Jerry

I was posting this in different places, and it should of been here.

I did Purchase a Taylor 410 CE .

I sat and strummed a bunch of brands and there were some tough choices, My second pick would of been the Breedlove. Felt great and sounded good , but in the end, my ears went for the Taylor.

Thanks for all of your input .

Jerry

Thanks Boot !

I am enjoying the tone !

I am not familiar with the expression system yet, played around a little, but Taylor does not let you alter the sound that much ( unlike a fishman ) they want only an acoustic sound , but again, did not really mess to much with that...

But unplugged , I love the sound. It came with Elixers Medium ( for some reason on the 410 CE, the medium gauge is what is recommended ) ?? Not really sure why, since the 414 Ce has Lights . I know the 410 is a dreadnought and the 414 is Grand Auditorium 

Anyway, unplugged this is really a nice sounding guitar

Thanks,

Jerry

If I had $1500 I'd probably buy a Gibson Hummingbird....never played one but it's like my dream guitar :E