Off Topic acoustic guitars

[JoeDogInKC]

I have to say, I wasn't expecting much out of the Rainsong's just based on the materials. But I had the opportunity to play one and "WOW!" was all I could say. I have to say that Alvarez makes some really nice playing/sounding acoustics as well. Even their cheapies are very good.

 

[Slingy]

I've had Martins and Guilds, both great. But even with different companies you need to determine the size and style you need. Some are louder than others of course which is a big deal if you are playing without an amp and with other people.

Just like electrics, east indian rosewood back and sides are more sweet, and mahogany back and sides are more mid-honkey sounding.

 

[steveh]

I play steel-string acoustic 90% of the time. This is a whole different world and a lot will depend on your budget - it's very easy to blow 25k on a Traugott, Somogyi or Henderson for example. Try Dream Guitars: Acoustic Guitars from Albert & Mueller Acoustic Guitars, Applegate Acoustic Guitars, Beardsell Acoustic Guitars, Beneteau Acoustic Guitars, Benetau Acoustic Guitars, Beauregard Acoustic Guitars, Bogdanovich Classical Guitars, Bourgeois to see what's out there in the handbuilt arena and to hear some examples.

IMHO, perhaps the best VFM is at the upper end of the factory built guitars. I'm talking small factory here. If I were walking into a shop and wanted a guitar off the wall, I would buy a Lowden if I was playing celtic type stuff, fingerpicking and not strumming. If I wanted something to pick (with a pick!) or strum, and which was more fundamental in tone (ie less overtones) I'd probably plump for a Collings. I mention these two makers because they are both incredibly consistent. I've had a few of each but play sole-luthier guitars these days.

For less expensive guitars, I've been pretty impressed by Lakewood. If you head off to The Acoustic Guitar Forum you'll find loads of advice about which acoustic to try and buy.


No offence to the Maton lovers here but I played a TE signature model last year that was one of the worst sounding and most unplayable acoustics it's ever been my misfortune to try. I'm sure they're not all like that but I was very surprised. The guy who owned it was a total Tommy nut and having a guitar like Tommy's was more important to him than having one that sounded or felt good. It also sounded nothing like TE's guitar.
I will say one thing - a really great acoustic guitar can change your life. Just you, the guitar and your music. You need nothing else. No amps, no band etc. It ruined mine however - financially! Far more costly than EBMMs!

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Spudmurphy]

I've got a Larrivee Ovangkol D3 - great sounding guitar.
Smaller company, family run, made in the US (The 3 series is still made in Canada where they started) Lesser known but well crafted and great value for the money. (sound familiar )

They also have a good forum, friendly, knowledgeable, with a lot of good info. You think the electric guys are picky about their tone woods and pick-ups, go read a bit about tone woods, body shapes, string spacing, etc on an acoustic forum

My other recommendation for a good value is the Seagull. I had their base S6 model for 12 or so years before the Larrivee

+1 on the Larrivee.
I don't have a Larrivee but a good friend has one - great guitars (up in the gibson /Martin price range)

 

[slukather]

Thanks for all the replies, please keep them coming, l've never been a very big acoustic player, l do have a midrange one here at home, but with nearly all acoustics l've played l feel l am hunched over the guitar, and the corner digs into my right arm, l guess l'm a electric player. But l want to get one for recording and live work, l was looking at the Maton EBG808CL, but l need to find the time to go try some out, l'm unsure about ovation, l want an acoustic to sound great unplugged as well as plug, and without breaking the bank.

I wish EBMM would make an acoustic, haha.

Thanks,

Scott.

 

[robelinda2]

Cant beat the 808's, I've been using them for almost 15 years. Currently i use a BG808, EBG808, EBG808 Artist, EBG808 Tommy Emmanuel- they rule!!!!!!!!! All of them sound incredible unplugged and acoustic. Good enough for the master Tommy, good enough for anyone in the entire universe, and other universes too.

 

[jamminjim]

I had a Larrivee L-05 in KOA and it was a very nice guitar. Wide neck (1 3/4) and really nice voicing, nice action. Couldn't replace it for what I sold it for now. I like the L series Larrivee's alot.

 

[marduke]

No offence to the Maton lovers here but I played a TE signature model last year that was one of the worst sounding and most unplayable acoustics it's ever been my misfortune to try. I'm sure they're not all like that but I was very surprised. The guy who owned it was a total Tommy nut and having a guitar like Tommy's was more important to him than having one that sounded or felt good. It also sounded nothing like TE's guitar.

no offence taken at all. I have to agree about the TE model (not the 808TE), i played it not too long ago and i could only play it for afew minutes as it sounded terrible, sounded dead. and felt very uncomfortable...
but 95% of all the other matons i have tried were amazing! even the mini matons sounded great!

 

[candid_x]

My personal fav was a Tak Garth Brooks. In spite of the funky dreadnought shaped sound hole, it sounded and played stunningly. Not very expensive either.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I once owned a fantastic acoustic it was a japanese Ibanez copy of the Gibson Everly Brothers you know the one with the double moustache pickguard (as pictured below) it had a huge deep body and a concert type of sound big as a house. I was only 17 and to this day I regret selling it.

 

[Big Poppa]

Want to see real acoustic guitars? Go to my friend Michael Joyce's site www.luthierscollection.com

I have tons of old martins both brazilian and mostly 00 and 000 mahoghany ones

I love BIll Collings work and probably have about 19 of em and 3 mandos and even one of his new ukes

I keep trying to buy a new Martin but cannot find one that really sounds good and matches the price. I think Taylor is a great operation and really respect those guys but they just arent for my tastes.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Boy....the advise is all over the place in this thread.

Ok....so I am ALWAYS looking at budget. I'm always going into the local Guitar Center and just spending 3 hours playing everything. Taylors, Martins, Gibsons, Ovations. Something that I have found that's sort of the king of Captain Obvious...... The strings on acoustics make a HUGE difference. I found this on my own Ovation. I left the strings on for a year. I finally got around to changing them and the guitar came to life. I do notice that in any guitar shop, the strings get old because they don't tend to change out whatever came from the factory. Come to think of it, the Luke I played last night (which I really liked and am a bit surprised how much I liked it) had strings that were clearly corroded. I gotta think the guitar had been hanging there for a good year or more. With an acoustic.....you can take the absolute best sounding box around and if the strings are a year old, it'll sound like a $90 Samick. I have been known to be on the fence about a guitar at a shop and spring for a set of strings and restring "their" guitar.

 

[brownpants69]

Hey brownpants, what model Martin is it? Is it a DX1? I play a DX1 every day, have it hanging in the living room, and noodle on it as often as I can. I love it. I call it my trailer trash guitar because of the countertop type laminate back and sides. They should have made it in Avacado, Harvest Gold or Almond. I compared it to D16's on up to D45's and it holds it's own. Sounds great. I'd like to someday install a pup like yours has. Mine also has the Micarta fretboard and bridge, looks like ebony, but nope! it's plastic. Wears like iron and looks and feels like black ebony. Also has the one piece mahog neck, and is made in USA, not Mex. Weird. The Martin DX1 is really a super value for a super good playing and sounding acoustic dreadnought.

I have a 000M (they are about £700 in UK). Nice small body- which i think is a result of playing EBMM- I like even acoustics to be small and functional. It's great miced up and plugged in. On the day I bought it, I compared it to the Eric Clapton sig model, which I thought sounded dull and lifeless. Very strange.

I tried the x-series guitars. I was really impressed with them for the money. If I had the funds I would get one to keep at work and to take to jams and stuff. It goes to show that a well made guitar will sound good irespective of fancy wood. In fact, I think Taylor did a series of guitar made out of "Pallet grade wood" in order to prove that.

(Funnily enough my only non-EBMM solidbody is a £120 Peavey tele copy. Very nice sounding guitar- but it doesnt get a look in with the EBMMs in the house!)

I think most of all, and even more so than on electric guitar, tone really is all down to technique and "the fingers". I can't wait 'til I get to a standard of playing that I'm happy with!!

 

[JoeDogInKC]

BP, since you're in the industry, have you tried one of the Rainsong's? Like I said previously in the thread, I picked one up at Musician's Friend warehouse and thought it was amazing. Really had bad expectations due to it being made from graphite/carbon fiber, but it sounded great and won't suffer from any warping like a spruce top can.

 

[Sticky1973]

Last time I had to play an acoustic live......I hit "acoustic" on my RP250 and played my modified sub.

Awesome.

I am still threatening to fit piezo saddles to my Motrucci Sub!

My personal fav was a Tak Garth Brooks....

I remember seeing Garth play a Takamine EN40C on a TV show. Being used to seeing him with the larger EN10C shape, this looked really different. The simplicity of the guitar, and the gentle sweet tone from it, I just had to try one.

I tried maybe six models in the range at the time, and I just clicked with that EN40C immediately. It suited my own body shape, and the unplugged sound was exactly the sound in my head I remembered hearing, and wanted to hear from my own playing.

I've owned it 15+ years now; it was always a keeper.

 

[colinboy]

I bought a Guild semi acoustic last year and its an absolute fantastic guitar with a lovely tone and neck.i would highly recommend them.

 

[skerwo]

....I think Taylor is a great operation and really respect those guys but they just arent for my tastes.

BP,

that´s the typical thing with Taylor. People love them or hate them for the sound, there´s nothing in between. I love the sound , as you can see in my signature, although my Silo is my No.1 axe.


Rainer

 

[DavidOfOz]

I have to agree with Rob...Maton 808 series!! (I plan to get one soon.) I much prefer the 808s over the TE and Messiah models, but it is a very subjective thing. If you prefer a dreadnought shape, try the the "Australian".

Maton seem to have a passion for quality and consistency that reminds me of the passion, commitment and dedication BP and crew have.

PS If you feel like spending a lot of money , go Maton Custom Shop, and have them build you a guitar to your specs! You even get to pick the timber. (I can send you some photos of my Custom Shop if you want.)

 

[slukather]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the responses, it's so appreciated, even BP put in his 2 cents.

I went out and just tried out so many acoustics, i had them lined up in front of me, just trying each one, sometimes just strumming one chord and quickly switch to hear the difference, comparing, sustain, tonal difference, comfort, warmth etc etc, it's a hard decision, but l ended up with a Maton EBG 808L, not the most expensive one, but the sound and comfort just appealed to me, l tried out a Maton that was about double the price, but l still prefered this one, l tried some Martins, Ovations, etc etc, but they just must of put some extra mojo in this guitar, now l just have to get some EB strings, and it'll be complete, thanks for everyones help, you guys and girls made a tough decision easier.

Cheers,

Scott.

 

[robelinda2]

Cant beat the 808's!