TelePaul
J to the R O C
uhmm...buy a Martin?marshall409 said:
muttley600
Banned
Late on parade sorry guys. Been offline all weekend as my laptop packed up and its been in bits for a day or two. 
A few questions asked so I'll help if I can.
Spruce is considered to age in tonal quality where as many believe the tone of cedar is fairly constant. I haven't built enough with cedar to confirm this.
Bridges come it two main types, pinned and pinless some swear by the benifits of one or the other I have not noticed a great deal of difference when building. I prefer to build pinned bridges.
Fishman are the best what??
As far as what is best for you. Only you can answer that. You need to get out and play as many guitars as you can until you find one that suits your playing and the style you like to play. It really is that simple and that hard all at the same time. In your price range you have a lot of choice. After you play one you think you like go away and come back to it a day later and see if you still like it. Don't be hussled by over attentative sales guys. The best will leave you alone to audition what you want. Dont worry about the name on the headstock or label if you want to make music. The name on the label will only help you make money if you want to trade it in or sell it later....It won't make you sound better now. Choosing the best sounding instrument for your playing style will.
A few questions asked so I'll help if I can.
Ther is no best when it comes to selecting wood for your top. There are general differences between the two. There are also further differences between species of spruce, European, Sitka, Engelmann etc. In VERY general terms spruce is brighter with more seperation. Cedar will give a darker mellower and sweeter tone. However you will hear as much difference in tone among the spruces as you do against cedar. European is my favorite and mostly what I use, focused bright and rich clear tones very well balanced. Sitka compared to European is flatter and somewhat brighter still with good sepreation. Engelmann I find to have a more bell like tone and is closer to sitka. All will make excellent sounding guitars. Only your ears can agree or disagree with me here...You have to listen to a lot of guitars to really get an idea of the tone of each. No two pieces of wood are the same so no two will ever sound the same. This is a VERY loose description of how I percieve the sound of each.
Spruce is considered to age in tonal quality where as many believe the tone of cedar is fairly constant. I haven't built enough with cedar to confirm this.
Bridges come it two main types, pinned and pinless some swear by the benifits of one or the other I have not noticed a great deal of difference when building. I prefer to build pinned bridges.
Fishman are the best what??
As far as what is best for you. Only you can answer that. You need to get out and play as many guitars as you can until you find one that suits your playing and the style you like to play. It really is that simple and that hard all at the same time. In your price range you have a lot of choice. After you play one you think you like go away and come back to it a day later and see if you still like it. Don't be hussled by over attentative sales guys. The best will leave you alone to audition what you want. Dont worry about the name on the headstock or label if you want to make music. The name on the label will only help you make money if you want to trade it in or sell it later....It won't make you sound better now. Choosing the best sounding instrument for your playing style will.
TelePaul
J to the R O C
muttley600 said:Late on parade sorry guys. Been offline all weekend as my laptop packed up and its been in bits for a day or two.
A few questions asked so I'll help if I can. Ther is no best when it comes to selecting wood for your top. There are general differences between the two. There are also further differences between species of spruce, European, Sitka, Engelmann etc. In VERY general terms spruce is brighter with more seperation. Cedar will give a darker mellower and sweeter tone. However you will hear as much difference in tone among the spruces as you do against cedar. European is my favorite and mostly what I use, focused bright and rich clear tones very well balanced. Sitka compared to European is flatter and somewhat brighter still with good sepreation. Engelmann I find to have a more bell like tone and is closer to sitka. All will make excellent sounding guitars. Only your ears can agree or disagree with me here...You have to listen to a lot of guitars to really get an idea of the tone of each. No two pieces of wood are the same so no two will ever sound the same. This is a VERY loose description of how I percieve the sound of each.
Spruce is considered to age in tonal quality where as many believe the tone of cedar is fairly constant. I haven't built enough with cedar to confirm this.
Bridges come it two main types, pinned and pinless some swear by the benifits of one or the other I have not noticed a great deal of difference when building. I prefer to build pinned bridges.
Fishman are the best what??
As far as what is best for you. Only you can answer that. You need to get out and play as many guitars as you can until you find one that suits your playing and the style you like to play. It really is that simple and that hard all at the same time. In your price range you have a lot of choice. After you play one you think you like go away and come back to it a day later and see if you still like it. Don't be hussled by over attentative sales guys. The best will leave you alone to audition what you want. Dont worry about the name on the headstock or label if you want to make music. The name on the label will only help you make money if you want to trade it in or sell it later....It won't make you sound better now. Choosing the best sounding instrument for your playing style will.
sure, or just buy a Martin
Muttleys advice is awesome as usual. Though Muttley, what have you to say about Lowdens?? What'd one of those set me back?
M
marshall409
Active member
muttley600 said:Late on parade sorry guys. Been offline all weekend as my laptop packed up and its been in bits for a day or two.
A few questions asked so I'll help if I can. Ther is no best when it comes to selecting wood for your top. There are general differences between the two. There are also further differences between species of spruce, European, Sitka, Engelmann etc. In VERY general terms spruce is brighter with more seperation. Cedar will give a darker mellower and sweeter tone. However you will hear as much difference in tone among the spruces as you do against cedar. European is my favorite and mostly what I use, focused bright and rich clear tones very well balanced. Sitka compared to European is flatter and somewhat brighter still with good sepreation. Engelmann I find to have a more bell like tone and is closer to sitka. All will make excellent sounding guitars. Only your ears can agree or disagree with me here...You have to listen to a lot of guitars to really get an idea of the tone of each. No two pieces of wood are the same so no two will ever sound the same. This is a VERY loose description of how I percieve the sound of each.
Spruce is considered to age in tonal quality where as many believe the tone of cedar is fairly constant. I haven't built enough with cedar to confirm this.
Bridges come it two main types, pinned and pinless some swear by the benifits of one or the other I have not noticed a great deal of difference when building. I prefer to build pinned bridges.
Fishman are the best what??
As far as what is best for you. Only you can answer that. You need to get out and play as many guitars as you can until you find one that suits your playing and the style you like to play. It really is that simple and that hard all at the same time. In your price range you have a lot of choice. After you play one you think you like go away and come back to it a day later and see if you still like it. Don't be hussled by over attentative sales guys. The best will leave you alone to audition what you want. Dont worry about the name on the headstock or label if you want to make music. The name on the label will only help you make money if you want to trade it in or sell it later....It won't make you sound better now. Choosing the best sounding instrument for your playing style will.
Thanks a ton. i was waiting for someone to tell me to go play more guitars. i know i know.....its the only way to find whats best for me. thank you very much for all the information about woods too. the guys in one store hate me because i tell em off all the time when im browsing around and they wont leave me alone. lol. oh ya and fishman are supposed to be the best electric pick up/piezo systems on the market from what ive heard.
Adam
muttley600
Banned
Great guitars. George is a great guy. They ain't as good as they used to be. No idea what they cost these days. I would guess they are still around the Martin mark...Get one a support your local economy
TelePaul
J to the R O C
muttley600 said:Great guitars. George is a great guy. They ain't as good as they used to be. No idea what they cost these days. I would guess they are still around the Martin mark...Get one a support your local economy
they're Northern Ireland though if memory serves? I hear amazing things and will soon be looking for another acoustic. Might go Lowden over Taylor. If they're good enough for Richard Thompson...
muttley600
Banned
Yes they are. County Down but note Georges own claim "Handcrafted in Ireland". I think we can guess where he's coming from.
M
marshall409
Active member
thanks guys.
played a martin today. my friend said it was 1200 bucks so i guess it was not their lowest end models but not quite the "legendary Martin" level. i think it said "DR" inside.
i was unimpressed. the quality seemed alright, but the sound just wasnt their.
ive heard many seagulls that sounded better. also i think the design wasnt right for me. the neck felt like it was leaning away from me, but it wasnt a truss rod bowing problem. it was just where the neck is in that design. i didnt like it.
also the finish was nothing to post pictures over .
but thats just one guitar.
Adam
played a martin today. my friend said it was 1200 bucks so i guess it was not their lowest end models but not quite the "legendary Martin" level. i think it said "DR" inside.
i was unimpressed. the quality seemed alright, but the sound just wasnt their.
ive heard many seagulls that sounded better. also i think the design wasnt right for me. the neck felt like it was leaning away from me, but it wasnt a truss rod bowing problem. it was just where the neck is in that design. i didnt like it.
also the finish was nothing to post pictures over .
but thats just one guitar.
Adam
TelePaul
J to the R O C
marshall409 said:thanks guys.
played a martin today. my friend said it was 1200 bucks so i guess it was not their lowest end models but not quite the "legendary Martin" level. i think it said "DR" inside.
i was unimpressed. the quality seemed alright, but the sound just wasnt their.
ive heard many seagulls that sounded better. also i think the design wasnt right for me. the neck felt like it was leaning away from me, but it wasnt a truss rod bowing problem. it was just where the neck is in that design. i didnt like it.
also the finish was nothing to post pictures over .
but thats just one guitar.
Adam
That's cool that you know what you want in a guitar..one thing I would say is try not worry about the finish unless it REALLY bothers you.
Treeline
New member
You're in a pretty competitive price range - make sure you play a low end Larrivee and a low end Taylor. Skip the electronics for now, unless you have to live on a stage; you can add them later. With each of these, you'll get into a pretty kicker solid wood guitar. Look for spruce and mahogany and lack of decoration. You'll end up with more instrument for the money. And keep trying Godins and Seagulls - nice stuff there.
LI_Slim
voice in the wilderness
About Breedloves: in your price range they will have solid tops but ply backs and sides. For about $1000 they have solid tops and backs and ply sides. The really nice ones are over $2k http://elderly.com/brand/BREEDLOVE.html
Not that the $500 Breedloves don't sound good; they do.
I also like the Martins in that price range. (same deal re woods) Grab a fifty buck soundhole pickup for a guitar like that.
I like the Seagull best in your price range. The Takamines in that range sound pretty good plugged in but weak acoustically.
Not that the $500 Breedloves don't sound good; they do.
I also like the Martins in that price range. (same deal re woods) Grab a fifty buck soundhole pickup for a guitar like that.
I like the Seagull best in your price range. The Takamines in that range sound pretty good plugged in but weak acoustically.
stetto
Left Unattended
I'm biased towards the Seagulls as well. I've played quite a few, and every damm one of 'em sat well in my lap, accomodated my fat bass-player fingertips without muting adjoining strings (nice and wide at the nut), and sounded sweet right off the rack...Mine is an S-6 Cedar (the label inside says "Seagull (6)", not "S-6"), and just gets sweeter every time I pick it up...
I've played some middle ground Taylors, Alvarez, Takamines and Martins, and though some of 'em were nice, picking up the Seagull was like goin' home...
Eric
I've played some middle ground Taylors, Alvarez, Takamines and Martins, and though some of 'em were nice, picking up the Seagull was like goin' home...
Eric