Recommend me an acoustic under $1000!

  • Thread starter Thread starter schismatic
  • Start date Start date
S

schismatic

New member
Hi guys, I'm looking to get a really decent acoustic. I am keen on a nice full tone..........would not necessarily be plugging it into an amp (may do but infrequently - so electro-acoustic is not essential). I do a lot of recording and I would prefer to mic the acoustic up close if recording, rather than recording an amp. My budget is £500 GBP or about $1000. As an electric player, a cutaway may be favourable. I want quality build, solid top, neck with probably on the thinner side as I don't have the biggest hands in the world and I like to get my thumb around to play bass notes. I'm very keen to ensure the build quality is second to none for the price. I have read some good things about Yamaha in this price range and I'm aware that there are some budget Taylor's that fit the price range too. Can anybody recommend anything to me?

Cheers,

Tom
 
I don't know about a cutaway, I personally don't care for them. But the Martin D-15 is a great sounding guitar for right under $1000.
 
+1 on the Martin style 15 But don't limit yourself to the "D" size.

My best advice is to avoid giving too much emphasis to the logo on the headstock and just go with what your ears and hands tell you. There are quite a few fine sounding and playing acoustics out there in your price range, but you may have to test drive a bunch of guitars to find a gem.

Smaller body types are often better suited for recording than dreads. A lot depends on your playing style.

Best of luck and keep us updated.
 
Might be a little cheaper than you want but I'll throw in my two cents for my Epiphone Masterbuilt DR500ME. Electro accoustic LR Baggs, satin finish, dread. Sounds awesome and plays even better. I actually like it better than my Hummingbird.
 
I love small bodied guitars for in studio, unless I am gonna do some blistering blue grass flat picking or something, in which case I use a D model there....

Check out Walden guitars out where you are, also see if you can find Larivee guitars, they make some great guitars for under a grand, and no more than $1200 in their budget lines, that are awesome instruments!

My guitar of choice turned out to be and Eastman AC71O but that may be a couple hundred more than you wanna spend, still a sweet axe!

IMG_2980.jpg
 
Hi,
Kind of following up on one of the recommendations by Guitar Junkie - Several months ago, I purchased a used Larrivee L-03, and have just grown to love this guitar ($650 beans). I haven't tried the OM and D versions of the Larrivee '03' series, but I'm sure they are terrific as well.. There's something about the 'L' body that strikes me as unique - dimensionally, it's about the same size as a dred. But it has less body depth, and a narrower waist, so it's exceptionally comfortable to play. This guitar holds up in every way to my two other (higher priced) guitars.

Give 'em a try - And I'm pretty sure you could find a new one pretty close to your price..
Take care,
Jim
 

Attachments

  • Larrivee L03 B.webp
    Larrivee L03 B.webp
    11.3 KB · Views: 144
On a budget, you may want to go used - I grabbed a Martin MC16-GTE for about $800 secondhand, and it's probably the best $800 I've ever spent. The added perk is that acoustic guitars seem to sound more vibrant with age, so you'll find yourself a few steps ahead of the curve right off the bat.

On the really affordable side of things, Alvarez consistantly impresses me with what you get for the price. A Taylor it isn't, but good luck finding one of those for less than a grand.
 
I understand Larivees are tough to find across the drink. Good guitars though. Ive never tried an Eastman flattop but the archtops I've seen were first class at their price point. I've picked up Seagulls and Takamines that were surprisingly sweet. They don't all sound that way though.

If you're really lucky you'll luck up and find an old Gibson LG-2 below $1k. Those are really under appreciated.

Just get out there and try out a bunch of guitars. How bad can that be?
 
In that price range I usually prefer the Larrivees, but there are many other good guits out there: Martin, Taylor, Larrivee, Guild, Breedlove, etc.

Go out and play as many as you can.
 
tdukex said:
In that price range I usually prefer the Larrivees, but there are many other good guits out there: Martin, Taylor, Larrivee, Guild, Breedlove, etc.

Go out and play as many as you can.
Click to expand...

Yup on the Larrivee and yup on the go and play some , nobody here can predict which guitar will sound good. I had a Martin D12-45 that played crappy and sounded like sh&$, I sold it to Petty who had it completely rebuilt and it sounded great (cost him about $2000)
I have a 72 D28 that I found that just needed new strings to sound like a cannon.
You have to play 'em.
 
My guitar player bought an Epiphone Masterbilt last year. It is a very fine guitar. Check them out
 
i recently picked up a taylor 210-e ($800). LOVE IT. its bright sounding guitar... the only bad thing i have to say is that the lows arent the best but nothing to hate on the guitar.
 
Go out there, play them all. Don't look at the name on the label, instead listen for the sound you want. Take someone along who can play them for you so you can hear them out front both close up and a few yards away. Get him or her to play them hard and soft. Take your time don't be hassled and enjoy.
 
muttley600 said:
Go out there, play them all. Don't look at the name on the label, instead listen for the sound you want. Take someone along who can play them for you so you can hear them out front both close up and a few yards away. Get him or her to play them hard and soft. Take your time don't be hassled and enjoy.
Click to expand...

Yeah, very good advice.

What are you still doing up?
 
32-20-Blues said:
Yeah, very good advice.

What are you still doing up?
Click to expand...
Was gigging tonight can never sleep after a gig, good or bad. Need to drink beer, watch crap tv and post rubbish here. :D

Plus the youngest sprog has chicken pox so I have some company...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top