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Post by countcatula on Jul 24, 2020 12:58:41 GMT
Good afternoon everyone I am in the market for a solid electro acoustic guitar and have a budget of circa £350-£700 to spend. Can anyone give me some brands and models etc. to consider, thanks in advance. I am a complete beginner and currently have a Crafter Lite-T CD/N. I am currently struggling not to pick the guitar up when I'm in the house as I am loving my progression. I also want to buy an acoustic amp and I'm looking at the loudbox mini Bluetooth, plus I am definitely going to buy the helicon play acoustic pedal with built in looper to aid my performance, anybody got either of these and can vouch for their quality.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 24, 2020 13:45:40 GMT
...put a pickup in the Crafter - they are nice guitars.
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Post by bobcarter on Jul 24, 2020 13:46:06 GMT
Hi. I have a Loudbox Mini (not the new Bluetooth enabled one though) and it's superb. Great value, lovely warm sound, as loud as you're ever likely to need and relatively portable. They also do a Charge version now with a battery if you're planning some busking! The only downside is the cover that is available for it is overpriced and rubbish (there is a padded carry bag too I think but that's pricey). But can't fault the amp at the price.
Guitar wise, I'll leave others to recommendations at that price point. I have a Stonebridge (Furch) GS20CM/C which was around £700 when I bought it, which is fantastic, but that particular model is no longer made, I think. Faith will probably be a good brand to look at in that range.
Good luck and enjoy your new gear!
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Post by bobcarter on Jul 24, 2020 13:49:13 GMT
Keith makes a good point - spending money on a pick up for your Crafter may be a great solution. Something non-intrusive like a Fishman Rare Earth/Rare Earth Blend maybe - there'll be plenty of recommendations from others on pick up choice too I'm sure!
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mandovark
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Post by mandovark on Jul 24, 2020 13:49:59 GMT
Companies like Tanglewood and Freshman make some nice electro-acoustics in that price range. You also might find a Breedlove at the upper end of your budget. Keep in mind though that it's fairly easy to get a pickup fitted to an acoustic, so if you find a non-electro guitar that you like, the lack of a pickup shouldn't necessarily put you off. A decent guitar shop will probably be able to either fit a pickup for you or point you in the direction of someone who can do it.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jul 24, 2020 14:34:00 GMT
The general advice would be to get out and play as many as you can but that’s not easy in these times. But that way you’d get an idea of what body size/shape you prefer.
What exactly do you mean by solid? Solid wood as opposed to laminate? Assuming that I’d add another vote for Faith; great value for money all solid wood and well made.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2020 15:31:27 GMT
This might do you quite well. Or if you like smaller guitars have a look at the CSF3M - comes with a passive pickup so you won't need batteries. Also this one is new while the link above is on ebay. If you're prepared to go second hand there are quite a few nice possibilities on ebay but I appreciate that not everyone wants to chance it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2020 16:47:12 GMT
Also, unless you intend to play to an audience you might find you don't use an amp or pick up much. If you're not planning to do that or you won't be doing it for a while you might be better off buying a better quality acoustic and adding a pickup (or playing to a mic) and amp later.
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Post by jubbo on Jul 24, 2020 17:17:47 GMT
Faith, Faith, Faith and Faith. That's if you want all solid. If you don't, the Martin X series are good. On balance I would go for a Faith. You budget fits the low to mid/high range. If I had £700 would go for this. www.pmtonline.co.uk/faith-venus-blood-moon-burst-acoustic-guitarOr I would go for one of the Martin X2 series. Jubbo
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2020 17:44:53 GMT
If you're not too bothered about the pickup or if you're prepared to fit one yourself I have an Ibanez AC3000 for sale which I haven't got around to advertising. It's all solid spruce top and hog back and sides. You can hear some examples of it being played here. You can have it for £250 so a pick up and amp shouldn't be an issue. Message me if you want to talk about it, see some pictures, come and try it etc.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2020 17:46:13 GMT
I heard a guitar shop owner say that when people bought online they tended to buy the Venus but when they went in the shop and tried before buying they tended to buy the Neptune. It's a bit bigger and has a fuller sound.
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Post by bobcarter on Jul 24, 2020 18:36:43 GMT
I heard a guitar shop owner say that when people bought online they tended to buy the Venus but when they went in the shop and tried before buying they tended to buy the Neptune. It's a bit bigger and has a fuller sound. I agree. Of the Faiths I've tried, the Neptune High Gloss is my favourite.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jul 24, 2020 19:56:42 GMT
I heard a guitar shop owner say that when people bought online they tended to buy the Venus but when they went in the shop and tried before buying they tended to buy the Neptune. It's a bit bigger and has a fuller sound. I agree. Of the Faiths I've tried, the Neptune High Gloss is my favourite. Horses for courses; I preferred the Venus over the Neptune.
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Post by countcatula on Jul 24, 2020 21:14:25 GMT
...put a pickup in the Crafter - they are nice guitars. I did look at this option and it works out about £50-60 for the fitting and anywhere upto £100-150 for a decent pick up... Thought that this was pushing it on a £300 guitar that is at least 8 years old...
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Post by countcatula on Jul 24, 2020 21:17:15 GMT
Hi. I have a Loudbox Mini (not the new Bluetooth enabled one though) and it's superb. Great value, lovely warm sound, as loud as you're ever likely to need and relatively portable. They also do a Charge version now with a battery if you're planning some busking! The only downside is the cover that is available for it is overpriced and rubbish (there is a padded carry bag too I think but that's pricey). But can't fault the amp at the price. Guitar wise, I'll leave others to recommendations at that price point. I have a Stonebridge (Furch) GS20CM/C which was around £700 when I bought it, which is fantastic, but that particular model is no longer made, I think. Faith will probably be a good brand to look at in that range. Good luck and enjoy your new gear! Cheers, love your honest review on the loudbox mini can get a new one for £269. But also have seen the spark amp... Looks an amazing bit of kit but hard to get!!! I have been looking at faith higloss Venus cutaway... So will go and play it.
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