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Post by PistolPete on Jun 17, 2018 8:51:19 GMT
Just a little thought experiment really - if you lost all of it in a fire tomorrow and needed an instrument to gig for as little money as possible whilst you wait the long months for the insurance cheque to arrive, how would you go about it? What's the cheapest you could get a usable acoustic stage sound for?
For the sake of this we'll say the aforementioned fire hasn't affected any tools or boxes of old wires you have kicking around.
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Post by PistolPete on Jun 17, 2018 8:56:35 GMT
This is what I've just put together as the house guitar for an open mic night I'll be running:
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Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,552
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on Jun 17, 2018 9:09:35 GMT
Oooo interesting, I shall look forward to the responses, especially if they include something short scale with a 45mm nut! I bought a secondhand Tanglewood all solid mahogany guitar last year for £50 and installed a cheap K&K copy so had a great guitar for about £75. I think secondhand would be the best solution to this situation but someone posted about a gear4music branded guitar that they thought was quite decent for the money. I did a search but couldn't find the post - maybe the author can chime in? From past experience I would recommend the Thomann house branded (usually Harley Benton) guitars, they are pretty amazing for the money and I'm fairly sure they come out of the same factories as some of the more well-known names.
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Post by PistolPete on Jun 17, 2018 15:37:52 GMT
Out of interest, what was the K&K copy Wild Violet? I've seen them around, but I'm never sure which ones are worth trusting.
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Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,552
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on Jun 17, 2018 15:41:07 GMT
I'm seriously considering one of these, it's supposed to be quite a good copy of a Taylor GS Mini. I keep taking my good guitars out busking and every time something happens that makes me think I shouldn't be taking out my good guitars busking! If only it had a 45mm nut... www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_gs_travel_e_mahogany.htm
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Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,552
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on Jun 17, 2018 15:45:48 GMT
Out of interest, what was the K&K copy Wild Violet ? I've seen them around, but I'm never sure which ones are worth trusting. It was a JJB Prestige-330 that I bought a few years back and found in my drawer of guitar bits. I've had them in other guitars haven't been able to distinguish any difference between them and a K&K. I don't think they are quite as cheap now, I bought that one back when there was a very good exchange rate. I'd like to find something as good but even cheaper. Apparently the parts the K&Ks are built from only cost a few pennies. jjb-electronics.com/prestige-330.html
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 17, 2018 16:35:43 GMT
I'm seriously considering one of these, it's supposed to be quite a good copy of a Taylor GS Mini. I keep taking my good guitars out busking and every time something happens that makes me think I shouldn't be taking out my good guitars busking! If only it had a 45mm nut... www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_gs_travel_e_mahogany.htmWould hefty strings tuned down eg 3 or 4 frets and a capo put on to restore standard pitch work for you Lynn? Then you'd have a wider "nut" (at the capo). Might depend on how much higher you would then want to capo? Keith
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Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,552
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on Jun 17, 2018 16:52:04 GMT
That's a good idea, Keith! I capo up to the 6th fret, so not sure if it would be awkward or not. It would probably be ok on something with a cutaway. I'll try it on one of the guitars I already have and see how I like it.
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Post by oustudent on Jun 17, 2018 18:33:19 GMT
QuickQuid and then give Michael a call at TNAG (;-)
J
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Post by PistolPete on Jun 18, 2018 18:19:43 GMT
QuickQuid and then give Michael a call at TNAG (;-) J That's cheating! I'm seriously considering one of these, it's supposed to be quite a good copy of a Taylor GS Mini. I keep taking my good guitars out busking and every time something happens that makes me think I shouldn't be taking out my good guitars busking! If only it had a 45mm nut... www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_gs_travel_e_mahogany.htmIf it's of any help I have a Gretsch Jim Dandy that I really love. 24" scale. All laminate. £139.99 worth of the finest Indonesian craftsmanship. It does also have a 43mm nut though I'm afraid.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jun 18, 2018 18:40:49 GMT
<snip> From past experience I would recommend the Thomann house branded (usually Harley Benton) guitars, they are pretty amazing for the money and I'm fairly sure they come out of the same factories as some of the more well-known names. That’s reassuring as I’ve just ordered one of their electric mandolins. The brand seems to get good reviews so fingers crossed.
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Post by oustudent on Jun 18, 2018 19:03:10 GMT
Are we talking new?
John
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Post by PistolPete on Jun 19, 2018 9:35:29 GMT
Not necessarily, unless that's what you think you would go for... With most of the 'budget' threads on here being focused on the needs of a beginner, I was curious as to what more experienced players, used to better guitars, with whatever set-up & lutherie skills they had picked up along the way, might do if suddenly forced to shop for themselves on a bare minimum budget.
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Post by jackorion on Jun 19, 2018 9:52:34 GMT
I'd probably look for a sh Yamaha of some sort - normally well made guitars with good hardware that you could rely on at a gig.
You can get the old L Series guitars for around the £250 mark second hand, and even the updated series (which I think are better) are about £300 - £400 second hand, and I think they're great guitars at that price!
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Post by lavaman on Jun 19, 2018 12:07:18 GMT
Just been into Dawsons in Chester They have a Tanglewood Crossroads TWCR-0 for £99. Its an OM body with a solid spruce top and laminate hog back and sides. Sounded really good for the money. No electrics and the neck is a little narrow for me but worth checking out for busking. Iain
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