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Post by slartibartfarst on Jun 23, 2020 17:35:59 GMT
I'm new to the forum and pretty new to acoustic guitars so I'd really appreciate some advice. My usual guitars are PRS Custom 24 models and my only acoustic is a Takamine with a NEX body. I can't recall the exact model but it wasn't too expensive. I like it because the neck was a fairly easy jump from a Custom 24 and the body wasn't too big. This information will help to give context to the sort of acoustic I'm after.
Due to frequent travel, my age and the likelihood of no more gigging, I'm thinking of seriously downsizing to just a single acoustic.
I'd like to spend no more than £1,000 and less would be ideal. So far, a preliminary look at possible guitars suggests these three would be excellent options:
Takamine Pro Series NEX PRS SE A60E Taylor 214CE
Any opinions on the relative merits of these three?
Thanks in advance.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jun 23, 2020 18:13:02 GMT
Hi slartibartfarst and to the forum! The Takamine guitars I have played have been excellent, and I'm a big fan of Taylor. The 214ce is a superb size and shape for comfort and versatility and their necks are very comfortable and playable. Other options to consider at that level would be Eastman, Furch and perhaps the new Gibson G-series. Of course, my other big recommendation is to check out the used market. You'll find your £1000 budget can buy you a lot more there. Check out Gumtree as there are some cracking buys just now.
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jun 23, 2020 19:05:32 GMT
The absolute *best* advice, as always, is: Try before you buy And try many - that's half the fun. Actually, it's more than half... And welcome to the forum, slartibartfarst
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Post by slartibartfarst on Jun 23, 2020 21:42:12 GMT
I agree that trying each model myself would be ideal. I normally use Rich Tone Music in Sheffield but they no longer do Takamine. I'm naturally drawn to the Takamine because it's the only acoustic I've had in the last 30 years and I like it. The PRS is there purely because of my love of their electrics. The Taylor has been recommended by a few people but my understanding is that a laminate body is inferior to a solid wood option.
When using this guitar, the strumming and lead is straightforward enough as I do that on electrics but I really want to also learn fingerstyle.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 23, 2020 22:18:21 GMT
Hi slartibartfarst and welcome to the Forum. If we need any advice on fjords I guess we know where to come now. Wouldn't dream of telling you what you should buy, but reading that you don't plan on gigging with the potential new instrument then do consider whether you really need built in pickup etc - you pay for it, and you'd get a similar purely acoustic guitar for a fair bit less money than the equivalent electroacoutic version. Or, for the same budget, a "better" acoustic only instrument. As for laminate v solid - laminate is not in itself inferior. provided you go for a solid top then the rest is down to the maker. many top class makers use laminated b/s for extra stiffness, though they usually steer clear of using the l.. word because of its (undeserved) connotations. Yes, maybe in general you could be better off sonically with solid b/s too, but a lot depends on the particular guitar. The try lots advice is spot on. Not always too easy at present, but things will improve. I think the crucial things are tpo know what you want to use the guitar for (which you do), the body sizes you find (un)comfortable, and the neck prfile and feel you prefer - from your post I guess you would prefer something slimish in profile and easy playing. Don't be too put off if a guitar you like the sound of has a less than accommodating action - that can easily be improved, and should be part of any sale deal in a decent shop. If you are keen to learn fingerstyle you may find a slightly wider neck to be preferable. Not everyone does, but many find, as I do, that the extra mm or two makes it easier to articulate the strings you want to play more cleanly. Elecetric necks tend to be 42ishmm wide at the nut. So are many acoustics, but 45 or 46mm (44 at a pinch)tends to be the prefence of many fingerstyle players. String spacing at the bridge is often down to 55mm or so, but 57mm makes a bit more breathing space for easier and cleaner string plucking. Any of the guitars you mention may well prove ideal for you (and the Taylor and Tak would probably have the best chance of selling on easily if didn't suit., but do give some (mostly) cheaper options a try - Faith, Sigma, Tanglewood etc - you may be surprised at how good they sound for not a huge amount of money. Sorry not to have addressed you questions head on, but feel free to ignore my ramblings if you prefer! Good hunting - and do keep us up with how you get on, what you try etc. Vicarious guitar buying is great fun! Keith
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Post by skyetripper on Jun 24, 2020 7:33:42 GMT
Keith beat me to it! - Faith and Sigma make some great sounding and easy playing guitars. I had a Faith Venus Eclipse for a few years and like you I had mostly been playing electrics. It really got me back into acoustics and I often regret selling it because it was so 'accessible'.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jun 24, 2020 9:41:49 GMT
I’d agree with the “play as many as you can” approach; it will prevent you from making an expensive mistake.
If you don’t want a body that’s too big then avoid Dreadnoughts and perhaps consider a Concert size.
I’d also suggest looking at the Faith range - I’m a fan as I have 2! - but I found they offered great value compared to others in the same price range.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2020 18:03:57 GMT
Apparently most people buying a Faith guitar online choose the Venus and most people buying a Faith guitar in the store (when they can try it and hear it) choose the Neptune. That's what this bloke says, anyway.
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Post by dreadnought28 on Jun 24, 2020 18:20:20 GMT
Buy used, you will get a better guitar. Go to all the online sources and have a look. Used 300 series Taylor’s are great in that range.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2020 18:23:56 GMT
This does seem a good time to buy used. I've seen a lot of great guitars at very favourable prices recently - particularly parlour size guitars. I wonder if they've suddenly become unfashionable or something.
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jun 25, 2020 3:24:01 GMT
... particularly parlour size guitars. I wonder if they've suddenly become unfashionable or something. Not on this 'ere forum! francis seems to be making noting BUT parlours at the moment!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2020 7:51:15 GMT
... particularly parlour size guitars. I wonder if they've suddenly become unfashionable or something. Not on this 'ere forum! francis seems to be making noting BUT parlours at the moment! Wow. His guitars look stunning. Sadly I think a handmade bespoke instrument is out of my price range at the moment. For the OP, if you get the chance, consider a Larrivee. You could probably find an very well cared for L size (L-02 or L-03) or dreadnought (D-02 or D-03) for under £1,000 and in my opinion you'll get a better guitar from Larrivee than you would for the same money from Taylor or Martin (in terms of wood and finish). There is very little difference in quality between the 02 and the 03 models. I believe (although you might need to check this elsewhere) that they are essentially the same except that the 03's wood is looks better in the grain and the matching. The 02 is essentially the same guitar made slightly more affordable. I love them because along with the wonderful sound for me the necks are the most comfortable I've ever played. My OM fits my hand just perfectly. The only reason I don't call the L perfect is that it is a bit longer so I have to reach a bit further but my hand fits around it and moves up and down it with ease. And the bonus of the larger size is in the sound. It's fuller and projects more. Don't neglect comfort as one of your criteria when picking your instrument. If it's awkward or uncomfortable then you won't enjoy it and you'll give up or have to sell it and start again, no matter how great it looks or sounds.
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Post by vikingblues on Jun 25, 2020 9:05:55 GMT
Try before you buy has been mentioned several times already, and it can be useful when you try to spread your net of possibilities quite wide. Sometimes you can be surprised at just how much better an acoustic guitar you never even considered is than the ones on your short list. The other aspect of try before you buy is that for a particular brand and model every acoustic guitar made is different because of the use of natural raw materials. Unless you buy bespoke it is likely that the guitar is made to a standard set of specifications. That does not make for consistent quality when natural woods involved. When wood density and other characteristics even within the same batch can vary hugely the tone and resonance and liveliness of the various guitars in the same batch can vary a lot. An acoustic that's nice and lively and responsive involves getting the soundboard to a fairly thin state - as manufacturers building to a standard spec don't want a load of returns they will tend to play safe with how thin they go. A normal distribution curve then arises where most of a particular model made are OK and reasonably fit for purpose, a few are really good, and some would have been better off not built and the wood used for a park bench. I have had the experience where I have tried in a shop as a comparison to a guitar I was trying the same model as one of my own guitars. That model in the shop was so far removed from what I had at home it was unrecognisable. The tone and resonance where poles apart - the one in the shop was a "park bench" job. This was a guitar in the £600+ region, so it wasn't a cheapo job. Bear in mind that an acoustic guitar often has a lower and upper end of what sounds good regarding how hard you hit the strings. Some are better suited to a heavier player, others a player with a lighter touch. You can try a guitar that sounds dead, and then find if you play a bit harder it sounds wonderful. But unless you are prepared to change your playing style that "wonderful" guitar will end up not being played. In passing I have also found that the acoustics that have survived longest in my collection have been ones where i quickly found myself creating improvised music - a sign that the guitar is talking to me and that we are communicating. When trying out I also play some set "standard" bits and pieces to check intonation and tone, etc., but that doesn't test for me the likelihood that I'll enjoy playing it. I agree with the above post that comfort is a huge, huge factor! Finally I'd say if you buy before you try make sure it's on a returns if you don't like it basis. I recall getting a well known brand (I'll not say what) of acoustic guitar on this basis and I knew I would be arranging a return after just 5 seconds of playing. A guitar can be really good and be highly recommended by many (and that one certainly was) but if it doesn't suit you as an individual it's a bad choice. All the best with your search , and at that price level you should be able to find something really good. Sorry about the length of this post - retirement is making me much less hurried in my posts here! Mark
PS - Good work with the fjords!
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Post by scorpiodog on Jun 25, 2020 9:44:07 GMT
I think, if you contact Francis, you might be surprised. slartibartfarst I fully agree that trying out a wide range of instruments is the way to go, though you need to remember (as has been alluded to before) that acoustic guitars differ in quality between examples of the same model. This can be true of expensive guitars (Gibson is a good example here) as well as less expensive ranges, so, if you're going to a shop to buy and you find one that speaks to you, buy that one. You won't necessarily find the same qualities in another guitar of the same model. But apart from finding THE guitar for you, it's also a fantastic way of establishing which type of instrument suits you best. Once you know that you can go to Francis and he will build you something within your budget that will suit you down to the ground. This may seem like a Francis Milsom fan post. And it is. I must have played 10 or 12 of his (and I've bought 3) and they are all damned brilliant.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2020 11:43:10 GMT
When I've sold the Lakewood and the AC I'll do that.
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