Best Acoustic Guitar for $500?

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davidguevara80

davidguevara80

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I own a Variax 700 Acoustic and i like the results but i want to buy a "Real" Acoustic Guitar (steel) to record with Mics to capture the Body and keep the Variax for the live performances.

I record a lot of praise and worshp music,and i would buy a Guitar without piezo pickups,or onboard pres,that would help to keep the Price Low and is unnecessary for me because i will use it with mircophones.$500 is the Limit.

Thanks for the Help Guys!
 
The Revival OM series got a very nice write-up in Guitar Player a couple of months back, and an Editor's Pick. I believe they have a street price right around $500.

They're made in China, I think, but are apparently well made, of all solid woods - no laminates - and the frets are dressed nicely and the action is good.

There are several others in the price range that you might consider. Check out Guitar Player's article on line on budget acoustics.

Good luck!
 
Alvarez has always REALLY impressed me for the money, and Seagulls are also quite nice in that pricerange.
 
DrewPeterson7 said:
Alvarez has always REALLY impressed me for the money, and Seagulls are also quite nice in that pricerange.
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Thanks!! I remeber that i had 2 Alvarez a few years ago and yes, they spunds very nice.Any model in particular for you?
 
davidguevara80 said:
Thanks!! I remeber that i had 2 Alvarez a few years ago and yes, they spunds very nice.Any model in particular for you?
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Not really, just a general impression of the product line. My brother has one in the sub-$300 range that feels like it cost about twice that, and generally when I pick up an Alvarez I end up being surprised at how affordable it is. I've got a Martin MC series, but if I had to buy another acoustic on the cheap, they'd be the first things I'd look at.
 
I've got a nice Fender acoustic I'd like to get $500 for.
 
Alvarez would be my first choice in that price range as well. I've had an Alvarez Regent for about 20 years now and I've always liked how it sounds. It's a dreadnaught and even though its a laminate top (plywood, not high-pressure laminate), it still has nice deep lows and good projection for a guitar in its price range. In the bang-for-the-buck column, Alvarez will always rank very highly for me.

Washburn's budget acoustics are some of the best-selling on the planet. They offer a few different models in the sub-$500 range.

I played a friend's Ibanez acoustic (no idea on the model) that surprised me with its volume. It was most likely in that same price range, below $500.

Martin has a few of their high-pressure laminate guitars in the sub-$500 range (anything with an 'X' in the model name), but I have a hard time recommending those because their tone just doesn't do justice to what a Martin can sound like. They sound boxy to me, like they just don't resonate freely or something. But a bad-sounding Martin is still pretty good compared to a lot of guitars in this price range.

What is often suggested, and with good reason, is to get your hands on as many guitars in this price range as possible. You'll be surprised at what might jump out at you. It'll be worth your time and energy to go to every music store you can and play everything in your price range. Quality assurance is a little sketchy in a lot of these guitars, so two of the same make and model might play very differently. My Alvarez Regent may be a shining example while the next one off of the assembly line might have been a total lemon. Definitely play everything you can while you're deciding on what to purchase. If you buy online, make sure that they have a lenient return policy because you might have to audition a few before you find the one that suits you.

Good luck!
 
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mikemorgan said:
I've got a nice Fender acoustic I'd like to get $500 for.
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Blue Ridge makes some pretty awesome gitttttters in that price range.
 
You might not want to hear this but here is the bottomline anyway.

I spent months researching brand new guitars in the $500 range.
I will say up front that I wasn't interested in laminate guitars...it had to have a solid wood top, sides, and back...solid wood guitars only need apply.

The best values on brand new solid wood guitars are:
Parkwood, Recording King, and Blueridge....everything else worth a damn is way over $500.
I'm not sure about Eastman guitars price range off the cuff but I think they were in the $500 to $700 ballpark

You don't get squat for $500 in a name brand acoustic guitar (Taylor, Gibson, Martin,) for $500. They only offer cheesy laminate crap in that range.

I ended up raising my stake to $1000 and bought used...I got a REAL nice guitar.

If I was limited to only $500 with no if and's or buts I would buy used...no doubt about it.

I would look for a guild D-25, D-35, or DV-6 (guild is IMO the best bang for the buck on used guitars)
Also, old red label Yamahas are real good buys.
 
I would save another $200 and buy a Larrivee 03 model. You will never be sorry.
 
davidguevara80 said:
I own a Variax 700 Acoustic and i like the results but i want to buy a "Real" Acoustic Guitar (steel) to record with Mics to capture the Body and keep the Variax for the live performances.

I record a lot of praise and worshp music,and i would buy a Guitar without piezo pickups,or onboard pres,that would help to keep the Price Low and is unnecessary for me because i will use it with mircophones.$500 is the Limit.

Thanks for the Help Guys!
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Want to trade?...Ive got a nice steel string...or three.

Id say the Yamaha A series has the title for playability and tone...and the Compass series is the overall champ...but its priced alot higher.
 
Well, actually i want to sell My Variax to buy a brand new Variax (in different Color).That will be my Live performance Guitar but i want a Inexpensive but good guitar for recording.

How about the Alvarez AJ60s ?? I could get it for cheap.I used to own tbe 12 String Version and sounds pretty cool.
 
If its a 12 string...I have a 1969 Ovation Pacemaker 12 string...I saw one on ebay for $4999 once...nobody bought it BTW...Ive seen the same guitar used by Brian May of Queen...John Paul Jones of Led Zep...Dewey Bunnel of America...etc.

Id like another Variax...Im curious...my 600 electric has the tones of a # 1959 Martin® D-28 [info]
# 1970 Martin® D 12-28 [info]
# 1967 Martin® O-18 [info]
# 1966 Guild® F212 [info]
# 1995 Gibson® J-200 [info]
# 1935 Dobro® Alumilite [info] ...what all do you get with that acoustic one?
 
darrin_h2000 said:
If its a 12 string...I have a 1969 Ovation Pacemaker 12 string...I saw one on ebay for $4999 once...nobody bought it BTW...Ive seen the same guitar used by Brian May of Queen...John Paul Jones of Led Zep...Dewey Bunnel of America...etc.

Id like another Variax...Im curious...my 600 electric has the tones of a # 1959 Martin® D-28 [info]
# 1970 Martin® D 12-28 [info]
# 1967 Martin® O-18 [info]
# 1966 Guild® F212 [info]
# 1995 Gibson® J-200 [info]
# 1935 Dobro® Alumilite [info] ...what all do you get with that acoustic one?
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i Also have the 600 Electric and the Sounds on the 700 Electric are Waay Better,More detailed.You will love the Jumbo,and the 12 String Sounds.The Feeling of the fretboard is better too, is a quality Instrument.
 
Yeah...the Seagulls are nice, I have a 12-string...but you should really check out the Carvin Cobalt line...I have two of those.

The Cobalt C250S looks kinda' plain/simple, but it has a great tone!
The cedar top and mahogany body and neck are sweet.
I just saw that they are on sale for ONLY $269!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And they will do a hard case at 1/2 price when ordering with the guitar.

Man...that's a great buy.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=C250S&cid=75

I also have a Cobalt C350....which is all mahogany. A bit darker sounding, but still very nice, though I really love the C250S much more.

I've been wanting to get one of the Cobalt cutaway models, or even the Jumbos. Some nice sale prices on those too.
 
You must try out a few Seagulls before you buy anything. A few years ago, I got my son a parlor sized cherry wood "Art & Lutherie" (the low-end brand from that company) 6 string, and today we're both playing it all the time and are sort of in a perpetual state of surprise at how good it sounds and plays. I haven't had a Seagull, but I've liked the ones I played in stores, and based on my experience with this lower end ($160 new) unit, seems like a shoe-in.

I haven't played an Alvarez for about 20 years, but I remember liking the ones I played.


BTW, when you're trying acoustic guitars out, you should take another player with you so that you can a) play them yourself and b) hear what they sound like when you're standing back about 6-10 feet (and, as a bonus, get a second opinion on playableness).
 
Here's a recommendation for the Alvarez line. I've had an AJ60SC - Jumbo Cutaway for about 7 years. Sounds great and get's better with age.
 
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