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Post by NikGnashers on Mar 30, 2017 11:17:41 GMT
Had chance to play a couple of nice acoustic guitars in my local Musicroom branch yesterday.
First I had a play on a Tanglewood TW 47 B sundance - www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/01005798/details.html I own a lower model in the same range, identical body shape, a TSF CE FM, so immediately it felt 'right' in my hands. What I wasn't expecting was such a difference in tone, it oozed warmth and sounded very balanced, detailed, and just oozed the full rich frequency range I wanted. At £899 it's the top of the range for the shop, but something within budget for my next guitar. It is all solid wood (top, back, sides), and has so many nice touches, inlays etc, it just felt and looked superb. The string action was much better than my own guitar, which I was not expecting. I assumed all Tanglewoods would be built to the same standards, but no, the action is very low even farther up the neck on the high frets, and yet it played beautifully, no buzz nothing, just amazed me to be perfectly honest, how a guitar that was only £450 more than my own, from the same company, could be so much better.
Next up I had a go on a Taylor 110ce - www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/01051119/details.html - It felt similar to the Tanglewood, but slightly deeper body, similar neck profile, and similar nut width. It played very nicely too, but I noticed the action was higher especially up the fretboard than the Tanglewood. It did not sound anywhere near as nice as the Tanglewood, which I put down to laminate back & sides, and it looked very basic compared to the beautiful details of the previous guitar. It was nice to play, sounded 'ok', but to be honest, I didn't think it was any better than my own personal guitar (which only cost me £138 !!! - although RRP should have been £429). This Taylor was priced at £729.
Last up, I had a play on a Taylor 414ce - www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/0703097/details.html which was a definite step up from the 110. It sounded significantly different, and in my opinion better. It was up for £1,625 although RRP is 2k, no idea why it was reduced. So, tone wise, very nice, plenty of detail, slightly crisper than the Tanglewood, but lacking in balance and overall range of frequencies in comparison. Dissapointingly, it also looked very plain. Now, I'm no bling fanatic, but if I'm paying 2 grand for a guitar, I don't want it to look identical to a £500 model. Playing this I also noticed the action again was similar to the other Taylor, and not as low or 'nice' to play as the Tanglewood.
So, this has really opened my eyes. I am looking to buy a new guitar, and would not mind spending £1000 on one. But, this short experience has made me realise that more expensive does not automatically mean better for my own playing style. I appreciate other players may love the Taylor's sound, action, and looks, but for me, the Tanglwood was better in every way at half the price.
So, I'd like to ask members, are there any other similar shaped electro-acoustic's I should consider in this price range. Bearing in mind, I am looking for a nice low action, full balanced but warm tone, and maybe just a little bit of bling to make it look like it isn't a basic cheapo  |
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Post by earthbalm on Mar 30, 2017 11:34:07 GMT
I have a couple of Tanglewoods (a TW66 and a TW100SR) and while they are not a patch on either the Brook or Avalon I own, they are great sounding and great playing instruments. I'm no guitar snob though I would say 'yes' to another Brook without thinking.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Mar 30, 2017 12:26:45 GMT
Tanglewoods are just really nice, great value guitars. Taylors are very nice too, but as you've found, much more expensive. Having had a Taylor 210 for a while, I really liked it. A very tidily made, polite instrument, with a nice, airy sound. I just didn't play it enough. It didn't 'wow' me, so I ended up selling it (at a loss  ). I'm sure the higher end models are much more characterful. As far as alternatives in the Tanglewood price bracket go, I'd suggest three makes. First of all, my new found best value guitar in the world....Furch  You can get a Millenium Series 20 guitar for less than £800, then add your own pickup system (or get the shop to do it). The OM 20 CM and G 20 CM look fantastic, but they also do a dreadnought and jumbo model - same price. It's a cedar soundboard over mahogany back and sides, made in Czech Republic. Fab sounding guitars, with an understated matt open-grain finish. Next, and stocked by Guitar Parlour, are Faith guitars. I've really liked most Faith guitars I've tried. They're all solid woods, made in a range of styles and materials, and many carry built-in electrics. My favourite shape is the Neptune baby jumbo, but the Venus is cool too, and they do a dread (Saturn) as well. Made in Indonesia (I think), they're really nice quality, and always seem to come with a cool hard case. Finally, Freshman guitars are great value too. I've only tried a couple, but I thought they sounded very good. The higher end models are about £800, have electrics, hard case and solid woods. China made I believe, but to a very high standard. Thanks for your shop visit review, and good luck if you do decide to add to your 'guitar armoury'  |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 30, 2017 13:58:44 GMT
What Martin said, excellent recommendations, plus if you are able to, check out Larrivee 02 series in both OM and L shapes if you can (around £800)- very nice guitars - you might even find an electro-ready one, but adding your own pickup is easy enough. Keep us up to speed on your search - enjoyed your post above! Keith |
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Mar 30, 2017 17:30:25 GMT
I would also recommend Larrivee. Have you tried any of the upper range Faith guitars? I've heard that the guitar shop in Sincil Street has some upstairs - I've not seen them yet as I didn't know there even was an upstairs until a few days ago when a friend told me...  |
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Post by mandovark on Mar 30, 2017 20:17:33 GMT
I'd second Martin's recommendations for Furch/Stonebridge, Faith and Freshman. I'd also suggest checking out some of Breedlove's more affordable models: they have some nice electro-acoustics in the £700-1k range.
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Post by NikGnashers on Mar 31, 2017 7:02:03 GMT
Thank you all for the replies.
@ Martin - We have a GuitarParlour here, and that was my next port of call, I have looked at the Faith range and it looks great, so I definitely intend to have a play on a few.
@ Mandovark - Freshman is another name I have been looking at, I can't find anyone locally that stocks them so I can try one out though.
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Post by NikGnashers on Mar 31, 2017 12:38:25 GMT
OK, So just got back from Lincoln's 'GuitarParlour' branch, and had a play on a Faith - www.guitarparlour.co.uk/guitars/acoustic-guitars/faith-natural-venus-electro-cutaway.htmlSolid top, back & sides. This felt very 'solid' when I picked it up. It was slightly plain, but had one or two touches, inlays, gold tuning pegs, and a really nice 'feel' overall. I think the fretboard was slightly shorter than the Tanglewood or Taylor, no big issue, it's cutaway so I can still reach high enough up. Playing the guitar, I felt the action was great, not quite as low as the Tanglewood at the higher frets, but as good if not better than the Taylors. Playing the first 5 or 6 frets, wow, it actually played amazing, I was really impressed. In fact, it flattered me, and I sounded better on it than I do on my own guitar. The only slight downside, was the tone. It was balanced, but lacked a little bit of bottom end oomph (technical term there), and overall it just didn't blow me away and just sounded very ordinary. In contrast, the Tanglewood TW 47 B sounded significantly better to my ears. Still, it's a fair bit cheaper at £649, and is definitely a VERY good guitar for the price, easily as good as the £2000 Taylor, and actually played better for me. Next up, I really need to try a Freshman, as I hear lots of good things about them. |
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Riverman
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Post by Riverman on Mar 31, 2017 12:52:36 GMT
immediately it felt 'right' in my hands
it oozed warmth and sounded very balanced, detailed, and just oozed the full rich frequency range I wanted.
it just felt and looked superb.
it played beautifully, no buzz nothing, just amazed me to be perfectly honest
the Tanglwood was better in every way at half the price.
, I have several guitars but if I found another one that met all the above criteria straight from the shop, I'd buy it without hesitation - especially at £899. The other recommendations you've had are all good prospects but, apart from the endless fun of guitar window shopping, I can't imagine why you'd even want to look at alternatives. Obviously action can be adjusted, if everything else about a guitar is OK, but they're all different; you may just have found the one perfect example of this model, and you could spend a long time a) looking at other instruments and comparing them unfavourably to it, and b) regretting that you did so because, when you finally decided to buy it, someone else had beaten you to it. And a new example of the exact same model, ordered by the same shop just for you, might be nothing like as good. When I was first in the market for a really good guitar (mid 70s), I saved up for ages until I dared visit a decent guitar shop in Manchester (A1, for anyone who remembers it!). I was in there for ages, comparing a Gibson LGO and a little Guild F20. It was a long time ago, and my memory may be playing tricks...but I think, while I preferred the feel and sound of the Guild, I was swayed by the Gibson name. I never really bonded with that LGO, and after a couple of years moved it on. That was the start of my endless search for the "perfect" guitar - but I've never forgotten that Guild, and have a sneaking feeling that, if I'd bought it, it would still be here. And I would have saved an awful lot of money in the intervening years! Just buy that Tanglewood. It sounds like you'd be very happy together!  |
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Post by NikGnashers on Mar 31, 2017 13:08:58 GMT
Thank you riverman, You do make some good points there. The thing that I think may have made that Tanglewood seem so perfect, is simply because I have one already, and as such, the neck profile, nut width, and fretboard length is identical to my own guitar. This obviously made it feel 'right' immediately. But, the Faith I tried today, although it felt slightly different in it's neck profile, was not significantly different, and after 10 mins or so I had adjusted and it felt very good indeed, and I was literally playing better on it than my own Tanglewood. It is great fun guitar shopping, and I am in no rush to buy something straight away, so I'm enjoying the experience of trying different brands and comparing them. When all is said & done though, I think deep in my heart, I will probably end up with that Tanglewood, even if it's not the exact same guitar (it may be sold by then). I will keep on trying other brands however, because you don't know unless you try do you  |
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Riverman
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Post by Riverman on Mar 31, 2017 13:16:30 GMT
Well I tried, but you've clearly already embarked on the same slippery slope as many of us here...welcome to the club!  |
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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 Mar 31, 2017 14:29:01 GMT
Richtone in Sheffield is just under 1.5 hrs away from Lincoln, PMT in Nottingham may be a bit closer. Both are good shops to try out lots of different guitars. I was impressed with a Sigma Gibson copy in Sheffield - an L-00 I think? I haven't been to Roadhouse Music in Boston since moving further away but Andy usually has a decent selection of acoustic guitars crammed into his little shop and he was carrying a good selection of Faiths a while back, it might be worth calling to see what he has in stock. It looks like he has some of the new Fenders too, some of them have had pretty nice reviews.
I played a lovely Yamaha L series at the music shop in Grantham a couple of months ago, solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides - it was a real step up from any Yamahas I have played in the past (except for Iain's vintage Yamaha, which is wonderful) so they might be something to look for as well.
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Post by vikingblues on Apr 1, 2017 6:56:35 GMT
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Post by NikGnashers on Apr 1, 2017 7:20:33 GMT
Thank you for the replies everyone.
My next 'step', is ... I am going to have my current guitar properly 'set-up'. I just have to decide where to take it.
It is a great guitar, and I think if I could get it set-up so it is performing at it's best, it may just be as good (for me anyway) as any new guitar I could buy.
If I find it is still not quite what I want, then I certainly won't lose out, as I managed to pick it up very cheaply anyway.
If that happens, I will splash out on something else. Saying that, I have not got the room for dozens of guitars here lol, so I certainly won't be collecting them........
As for setting my guitar up, I have seen a few youtube clips of a guy in Nottingham, called Victor. His youtube channel is 'NG One Seven' .... has anyone had any experience of his work ? He certainly looks like he has all the right tools, and plenty of experience.
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Apr 1, 2017 9:00:40 GMT
My next 'step', is ... I am going to have my current guitar properly 'set-up'. I just have to decide where to take it.
It is a great guitar, and I think if I could get it set-up so it is performing at it's best, it may just be as good (for me anyway) as any new guitar I could buy.
Adrian Lucas would be my recommendation - his workshop is in uphill Lincoln, he's a forum member too and a really nice guy. www.lucasguitars.co.uk |
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). I'm sure the higher end models are much more characterful.
Jo whoever he is.
