Folk sized guitars

[deSilhouette]

I want to get a new acoustic (well, preferably electro-acoustic) but I hate jumbos and dreadnoughts. Does anyones have any recommendations for companies who make small guitars. My budget if probably around $600 tops.

[pikingrin]

I got a Takamine EG561C a little while back... It's small and thin, but it sounds like poo if you want to play it with a pick. Fingerpicking is not too bad, but it's still disappointing to my ears. It was only a little over $400 though, so it's not that big of a loss.

And yes, it's an acoustic-electric... (almost forgot!)

[tdukex]

Larrivee makes a great Parlor guit.

The Taylor Big Baby is very nice.

I think I recently played a Garrison Parlor/Folk size guitar at a small shop in Temucula.

These are all solid wood guits of very high quality, except I think the Garrison may have a composite inner frame.

[gordone]

If you can stretch to about $800 (or go used), Larrivee OM03 (or OM03R). Nothing else in that price range compares, both in construction, tone, quality of the wood, features, and (arguably) playability. I've played the Epiphone Masterbilts, the new Guild GAD, and other brands, but the Larrivee smokes them all (in the under $1000 range)
All solid wood, beautiful spruce tops, nice mahogany or rosewood back and sides, dovetail neck joint, beautiful ebony bridges and fingerboards, mahogany neck, great customer service from Larrivee. The mahogany is a bit bright for me, but would probably mellow out. I've owned the OM03R (the rosewood B&S) for almost four years, and it sounds killer. Good luck!

[RandyW]

Originally Posted by deSilhouette

I want to get a new acoustic (well, preferably electro-acoustic) but I hate jumbos and dreadnoughts. Does anyones have any recommendations for companies who make small guitars. My budget if probably around $600 tops.

If you want something decent, I would say forget the electrics and try to find a
used beaten up Martin 00016 it the pefect size perfect tone. Hey it has to be a great guitar it's close to what Eric uses just a cople grand cheaper.

I've got a 00016GTR along with another Martin, and Taylor and it is by far the best of the lot. I think I payed a little over 900 for it like new.

[notCardio]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tar?sku=514817

I can't say I recommend it since I've never played one or heard it, but it's in your price range and it's a Martin. There's another Martin that's about $850 that would probably be better, but you said $600 tops, so that's out.

Personally, I would like the 000-28 (the plain one, not the EC model), but it doesn't sound like either one of us are going to get one of those.

Good luck.

[Dani Pace]

Fender has a model which looks kind of like an oversized hollow body strat (looks a lot like the old Kramer Farrington.) They sound a little thin and tinny without amplification, but with an undersaddle pickup they sound decent through a good acoustic amp.

[RandyW]

Originally Posted by notCardio

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tar?sku=514817

I can't say I recommend it since I've never played one or heard it, but it's in your price range and it's a Martin. There's another Martin that's about $850 that would probably be better, but you said $600 tops, so that's out.

Personally, I would like the 000-28 (the plain one, not the EC model), but it doesn't sound like either one of us are going to get one of those.

Good luck.

This particular Martin is actually made in Mexico. When they say laminate they are not referring to wood. It is actually more like a plastic formica.
There are some advantages to this guitar though, it can handle moisture
better than a regular guitar. I have a baby Martin made out of this material.
The guitar has a very full sound compared to say a baby Taylor.
But for a main guitar I would go with a real wood guitar.

[notCardio]

Well, like I said, I've never heard it, but it does have a solid spruce top, and it can't possibly sound as bad acoustically as the Stratacoustic someone already mentioned. If you want plastic guitar that sounds like a plastic guitar, get one of those, or a Telecoustic. Through the right amp, maybe, but not unplugged.

[notCardio]

Well, like I said, I've never heard it, but it does have a solid spruce top, and it can't possibly sound as bad acoustically as the Stratacoustic someone already mentioned. If you want plastic guitar that sounds like a plastic guitar, get one of those, or a Telecoustic. Through the right amp, maybe, but not unplugged.

[deSilhouette]

Thanks a lot for everyones suggestions. I'd honestly never heard the term "parlour guitar" before. It sounds exactly like what I'm looking for in a guitar.

They seem to go for a lot less than dreads or larger guitars on ebay. Does anyone have any recommedations for brands that make parlour guitars? (Or model numbers?)
I've heard good things about the A+L and Larrivee parlours.

[cstockdale]

I have an Art and Lutherie parlour guitar (the Ami steel string in antique burst). Awesome guitar. Bright tone, but with considerable depth (ie not "tinny" as everyone who picks it up expects it to be for its size). Short scale length: I love to practice tricky leads and scales on this guitar first before I move up to a larger scale neck.

It is one of 7 guitars I own (3 acoustics, 4 electrics), and it gets its equal share of playing time. Also fantastic for being on the go as it is considerably smaller than the rest.

http://www.artandlutherieguitars.com/amis.htm

[guitar junkie]

Seagull has just what you are looking at made in Canada and priced in all sorts of ways, any one of them should have the sound you want.

now if you are just wanting to go to guitar center and pick something up then....

some of the Ibanez guitars rock!

also Washburn has some nice small body guitars..

[deSilhouette]

Just thought I'd add a little epilogue to this thread.

I just got the Art and Lutherie Ami Parlour and it is, as cstockdale pointed out, quite lovely. It has an exceptionally full sound for such a small guitar.
Everyone who's seen mine and played it so far agrees that it's a great little guitar (and not just for the price.)

Plus, since it worked out so cheaply I'm shipping in a vintage parlour guitar (late 60's/early 70's). A solid wood japanese made martin-replica essentially. I'll post pics when it arrives later in the week.

Thanks for everyones input on this.

[zacanger]

whoever mentioned the Ami, that's an AMAZING guitar. i love it.

[cstockdale]

glad you liked it. It is a great little axe