markb
Sore Fingers
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Post by markb on Aug 25, 2013 8:33:37 GMT
Hi, mark from London I have been playing electric and found myself drawn to the acoustic sound I am looking for a small bodied acoustic for practice/couch playing at £1000 max and looking to buy for long term hence the price I have tried a tanglewood tw 73 vs which I really liked but I think I would prefer 14 frets . Read a lot of good reviews on Martin 00015m and would like to hear your advise and recomondations
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Wild Violet
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My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on Aug 25, 2013 9:29:44 GMT
I absolutely love the Martin 000-15M. Every one I've played has been fantastic, they have a certain mojo that is very compelling. It would be worth your while going to Denmark Street (or wherever else in London has a whole bunch of guitars) and deciding if the all mahogany sound is for you, as you may prefer a spruce top. If that is the case, the OM-1GT or 000-16GT may be a better choice. Doubtless there will be other people here who recommend trying brands other than Martin, but they are just plain wrong.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 25, 2013 9:43:20 GMT
I agree the 000-15M is a great guitar. I tried one last year and couldn't believe how light and responsive it was, and it played beautifully. There are loads of small bodied guitars in your price range however, so have fun choosing!
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Post by earwighoney on Aug 25, 2013 9:54:02 GMT
Markb
If you've been playing electric guitar for a long time, I would recommend trying a few Taylor/Stonebridges's if you can. They have neck profiles which are supposedly (a assumption/generalisation which applies to some but like all doesn't apply to all) which are easier for those who've been playing electric guitar for a long time.
Personally though, even though you have a £1000 budget I myself would recommend buying something at the lower end of the budget eg £300 or so as with that you can start your journey with the acoustic guitar (I presume it's your first acoustic?) and once you have a better idea for what you are looking for the decision to decide your next purchase will make a lot more sense.
If you like the Martin 000-15m, I would recommend looking at the the Sigma versions (which in essence is the MIC version of it) either which has laminate back and sides or for a little more the all solid version, which is still a good price of under £500. It has a Mahogany top, which isn't for everyone. I would recommend trying as many guitars as you can to find which will suit you the most. If you reply to where you are located I'm sure others will suggest good guitar shops where you will be able to try a few guitars and work out what suits you the most.
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markb
Sore Fingers
Posts: 13
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Post by markb on Aug 25, 2013 10:15:41 GMT
Thanks for your help I feel like I want to find the right acoustic and learn and grow with it rather then buying for now and regretting it after I did try a taylor 314 and was impressed with it but there was something about that small tanglewood 73 vs but not sure what
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gwmpy
Strummer
Posts: 42
My main instrument is: 12 string guitar, B bender tele's c'hammer banjo
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Post by gwmpy on Aug 25, 2013 11:34:39 GMT
Hi markb, I have a Fylde Caliban for sale here. Based in South Wales. If you want pics and history etc, send me an e-mail. If you are down this way, you can drop in for a test. Gwmpy
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Post by redpick on Aug 25, 2013 14:23:33 GMT
Hi Mark, I thought Earwighoney's suggestion re trying Sigma is a good one. The 000 is easy to find with the new Sigmas, although older versions from the '70/80's are available, they are harder to find. I think there is a 2001 Martin D28 available on Ebay at the moment, but this is perhaps larger than you are thinking. Other options to consider: Recording King, Blueridge, PRS SE, Taylor 214, Seagull, Eastman, Moondog amongst others. You may want to try 'em out though as nut width could be an issue. Recording King was previously Johnson and sometimes you can find one NOS or used for £2-300, I'm thinking RO 227 from memory, all solid wood, great guitar for the money too. I also thought that Taylor was a good suggestion given that you are moving from electric. Hope that helps.
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gwmpy
Strummer
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My main instrument is: 12 string guitar, B bender tele's c'hammer banjo
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Post by gwmpy on Aug 25, 2013 14:46:53 GMT
Hi Mark Probably out of your price range but the Fylde Caliban will be going for under £1000 and will include a early Calton case(1976). The action is set low, very low like an electric. If you need a cheap couch guitar, I would buy a Sigma Mahogany, and spend a little money getting it set up by luthier. Whatever guitar you do buy, it is worth the money getting it set up. Gwmpy
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 25, 2013 14:48:09 GMT
Some good suggestions so far Mark. Here's a couple more - there are some surprisingly good sounding small-bodied guitars in the Vintage range nowadays, and plenty more in the Tanglewood range in addition to the one you've tried - the new "Java" series look lovely, though I haven't played one yet. Slightly higher priced, would be the OM-02 from Larrivee, a great guitar. Faith, Norman plus Simon and Patrick all have smaller sized guitars worth a listen/play too.
If you've been used to electric, then do play LOADS of acoustics - there's a fair variety of neck profiles and (especially) fingerboard widths/string spacings at the nut - these make a huge difference to ease of playing, and most people have particular preferences after a while. I suspect this is the major factor that might be hardest to get right first time - worth trying to, but no real problem if you decide to change after a while.
Living in London you're not short of places to look, and Denmark Street is the obvious one (especially Wunjos), but have a look also in Ivor Mairants and Hobgoblin while you're in the area.
Have a lot of fun looking - and please do let us know what you've tried and what you thought - and, hoppefully, what you end up buying! Good hunting!
Keith
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Post by grayn on Aug 25, 2013 15:06:31 GMT
Hard to find, but Eastman do some lovely small bodied guitars, at top value.
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leoroberts
C.O.G.
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Aug 25, 2013 22:22:50 GMT
Something to throw into the mix.... The Paul Brett signature (6 string) by Vintage or, possibly, even his new Viator... They're reasonably priced, well set up...
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Post by sigmadel on Aug 25, 2013 23:42:41 GMT
Sorry , another vote for Sigma simply stunning. Try the 00028vr if you like a comfy body . Rosewood and spruce .
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markb
Sore Fingers
Posts: 13
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Post by markb on Aug 26, 2013 10:42:58 GMT
Thanks for all your help I had a tanglewood 170 as for awhile lovely guitar but wanted something smaller, then I picked up a baby taylor but now find it cramped and thin sounding. So I want to find something in between with a fuller sound if possible. I did like the v profile on the tw 73
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 26, 2013 12:26:47 GMT
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stringdriventhing
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Post by stringdriventhing on Aug 26, 2013 15:07:36 GMT
Dunno if anyone else has mentioned this, but a lot of electric players seem to like Taylors because the neck profile is pretty slim. Martin 000-15 is lovely (I have a 000-15s 12 fretter), but I always think you get more for your money these days if you go oriental. Dunno what the prices are like now, but certainly a few months back £1000 would have got you a very nice all solid Eastman 000. I really like the Faith guitars I've played and again your budget would get you a high end one - these also tend to have slender necks. Basically just play every guitar you can get your hands on until you find one that feels, sounds and looks right to you.
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