I need acoustic opinions

[frist44]

I'm looking to get a new acoustic and I've played around with a bunch of names for the past couples months, but i seem to keep coming back to the taylors. I think i'm going for the D size without cuyaway or anything. I'm mainly just looking for a good guitar to record with. I can get the 410 for $1000. I was wondering if you guys think that's a good price or not.

I'm also looking for suggestions on other guitars or body styles. I wouldn't mind getting the blender system for live situations however you have to step up the 500 series for that and i don't know if i'm ready to do that.

Thanks,
Brandon

[Track Rat]

I own two vintage Martins and have played a few Taylors. The Taylors are better recording guitars, IMHO. Don't get me wrong, I love my Martins but the Taylors just record better.

[FZmontanaDF]

check out larrivees also, I own a taylor 12 string..but I am in love with some of the L's

[Shinobi]

Taylors are great, a $1000 for one? Hmmm. Some cool guy gave me some advice a few years back that rings real true. Compare how the guitar sounds when you Mic it, hook it up to a amp thru it's built in pick up(if it has one) and then straight with out any amp. I have 8 acoustic guitars and some sound better one way then another. So if guess what I'm trying to say is if the Taylor, or whatever guitar, sounds good all around, buy it. You are going to try other makes and models, right? You never know whats around the corner.
Fare You Well.

[muzeman]

I have a Guild curly maple,records really well.

The best sounding guitar I ever played was a Martin D-28,don't know how it will record though.
A really versitile guitar,sounds great no matter what style you play on it.

If your just using it for recording,don't discount the Yamahas,great sounding and recording guitars,and probably half the price of the big names.

Good luck

Best to you,
Pete

[sonnylarsen]

I use a takamine EN-10 cutaway or an Alvarez Yaari DY74 to record acoustic. The DY74 is no longer made, not sure about the Tak, but both would fit your price range. Also, the guitar player in my current band has an incredible sounding Tacoma that he has recorded with, and it sounds incredible.

Tacoma:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/.../base_id/73116

Takamine:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...takamine+en-10

Check 'em out...

[battleminnow]

I did a lot of searching for good prices on Taylors, and the best seemed to be at www.buffalobros.com and www.wildwoodguitars.com

Pete

[JR#97]

Maybe check out Breedlove, Bourgouise, Lowden, Collins, or some of the other high-end non-mass produced instruments. Very high quality.

[Tom Hicks]

When I was a Charvel/Jackson tech we picked up Dana Bourgouise's line.Expect to pay $3000 for a dreadnaught.
Tom

p.s. beautiful stuff though

[CDT-sHaG]

it's not in your range..it's actually way lower..i have a seagull s6+ spruce dread that records extremely well...I use a clipon condensor and a marshall vg7m...sometimes i blend in an emg acs soundhole pu also..

http://www.seagullguitars.com/products6+spruce.htm


solid spruce top and cherry back and sides (laminated cherry wood not hpl or plywood).

I looked at taylors and martins in the <$1000 range and nothing compared...IMHO....untill you went up over $1200...


$349 + tax or shipping.

[tdukex]

Originally posted by JR#97
Maybe check out Breedlove, Bourgouise, Lowden, Collins, or some of the other high-end non-mass produced instruments. Very high quality.

Those are all fabulous guitars, JR. But you won't ever find one for $1,000--not even used--unless it's in poor condition.

[frist44]

I don't think i have the funds to dip into some of those brands.

I have yet to play a larrivee. I'm definitely going to hold off buying anything until i check one of those out.

I've heard people mention good things about certain yamahas and guilds, but the overall reaction doesn't seem as consistent as with taylors and martins and those brands. I guess i just don't feel confident enough in my ability to tell how a guitar will sound recorded to be able to pick out a certain yamaha our of a crowd of them.

thanks for all the good advice,
Brandon

[tdukex]

Originally posted by frist44
I'm looking to get a new...I think i'm going for the D size without cuyaway or anything. I'm mainly just looking for a good guitar to record with...

In general, dreadnaughts are difficult to mic. Mics, especially cardioids, pick up a low-mid range boom, and that makes mic placement a pain in the ass.

I'm also looking for suggestions on other guitars or body styles...I wouldn't mind getting the blender system for live situations...

An OM "Orchestra" model is ideal for recording. Most have a D or near D scale, produce plenty of projection and volume, and the OM body offers a clarity and balance not found in many dreadnaughts. I don't eq mine at all. In addition, OMs are versatile and can be used in many styles.

Grand Concerts are also nice to record--slightly smaller scale.

I'm not a fan of blenders, but I'm a songwriter, not a stage performer. I always spend my money on the best guitar I can afford. On-board blenders junk up a guitar IMO.

Larrivees (I've owned two) and Taylors (played many) are hard to beat in the $1,000 range.

I try to buy used when I can. You can get great value for your money.

Also, Buffalo Brothers is a great shop--huge inventory of only the finest guitars, new and used. They also have a 100% trade-up policy. I've exercised it twice. I normally don't recommend buying a guitar without playing it, but if you find something used on the BBros website that interests you, I live about 5 miles from the store. I'll even offer to run over there and try out a few guitars for you.

BTW, I am not affiliated with BBros in any way. They sell great guitars at great prices; I like great guitars at great prices.

[frist44]

tdukex-
I might just have to take you up on that offer once I get play some of the larrivee and decided which guitar i'm most interested in.

I understand the thing about the D size maybe being a little boomy. I don't know...you always see the big names guys in the studio or on stage miced with a dreadnaught. I know that's a bad reason to choose that size, but there's gotta be some reason for that.

Would the larrivee L body style be more balanced for recording. I think it's slightly smaller than the dreadnaughts.

Thanks again for the information.

Brandon

[tdukex]

first44

I'm not saying you can't record with a dreadnaught, I'm just saying it's a pain. Stage performers like dreadnaughts because they are known for projection and volume and a strong bass. These are not the qualities of an ideal studio guitar. However, each guitar is different. I had a larrivee D-05 that, although it was boomy if close miced, sounded great with an omni mic around 24" away and a little bass rolloff.

The L body Larrivees are excellent, versatile guitars. Check out the used larrivees at www.buffalobrosguitars.com

Actually, I must eat my earlier words, they have a 1999 J-OM Bourgeois for $1,199!

[Treeline]

Try this one..

http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthr...light=acoustic

[frist44]

I think i would like to have a guitar slightly larger in body than a typical OM size. In terms of taylor's line, what do you think the most naturally balanced body style would be for recording?

Does a cutaway have a profound impact on these chracteristics, if so, is it worth it for recording?

Brandon

[ausrock]

Frist,

For something a little different have a look at; http://www.americanmusicimporters.co.............they are the US importers of Aust., made Maton guitars and definitely worth consideration.
There are different models available as plain dreadnaught body, with or without cutaway or built-in pickup/pre-amp and also have some slimline models which some people prefer for constant live use.
For recording, I usually run a direct from the guitar as well as using a LD condenser, then blend the two tracks as required.

[ausrock]

OK, let's try that link again.........www.americanmusicimporters.com


The impact of a cutaway will vary from guitar to guitar, but I would imagine any quality instrument will have satisfactory sound whether it is cutaway or not.

[TexRoadkill]

I got a Larivee D03E for around $900 and I love it. It has great clarity and low end. Sounds great live and recorded and the pickups are great although I havent used it for any live gigs yet. I like it much better than my sister's similarly priced Martin.

One thing to check out is the Taylor Big Baby. A friend of mine got one for less than $300 and it has a really clear tone. It is borderline tinny but I think it would record very well. I havent had a chance to record it yet but probably will soon.

[frist44]

Tex-

What kind of electronics did it have in it? I'm just wondering if they put fishman blender systems in the lower end of their line. I played on a guitar with a blender today and loved the sound for an electronics system. I think it would be a great addition to mix with a couple miced tracks.

I need to play on a larrivee. No one has them around here.

Brandon

[battleminnow]

First44,

Regarding balance in your earlier post...
I spent a lot of time trying to find that perfect guitar. I absolutely love the Taylor 12 series, and they sound beautiful. However, I am not a fan, cosmetically, of the 14 series, and it astounded me. It fit perfectly sitting, standing, picking or strumming. It also projected the bass just enough more to be my pick for the best around. I would rather have the look of a 12, but the 14 can't be beat for comfort and sound.

My $.02
Pete

[TexRoadkill]

The stock D03E has the Fishman Plus, not the blender. You could buy a regular version and have a blender installed probably.

You will definately want to try them out. I played a bunch of Larivee's and bought mine because I fell in love with it. But I have played other Larivee's that I didnt like anywhere near as much.

[crawdad]

This might sound nuts, but check out the Taylor Big Baby. Its around 329 and its the sweetest sounding inexpensive guitar I have ever heard. My guess is that it would record great. Mars has 'em. You don't like it, return it! At least give one a listen.

[JohnWaynesTeeth]

Hello, I have gained great knowledge on recording by lurking in these forums so perhaps I can return the favor on something I know about.

If you are looking to spend in the $1000 range on a guitar I would advise you to play alot of guitars to find out what you like. I bought a Takamine in the $750 range while in college and I can't stand it now that I own my Taylor 714 (bought used for $1200). Unfortunately Tak flooded the market after the whole Hootie thing so I can't give it away now.

I would also suggest that wood choice and combination is as important to you as body shape and size. A maple body sounds completely different from rosewood which sounds completely different from mahogany. A spruce top is different than cedar, etc. If you don't here the differences in color and tone between the woods hold off on the $1000 guitar until you really know what sound you want.

Pete