I need a new acoustic

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therage!

therage!

Wicked Machine
I’m getting close to making a decision on getting a new acoustic. I have an Ovation legend and an Ibanez AW series but I need a good quality-recording instrument. Budget is $1,300 to maybe 1,700.

I’ve got a friend with a –5 series Larrivee and I think it’s an incredible guitar. When he bought it we compared it to a number of Taylor’s and all the Taylor’s in the –3,4 series sounded thin compared to the Larrivee. I have a buddy with a 614 Taylor and that is a sweet guitar but out of my range. Also I just can’t come to grips spending $1500 on a guitar with a satin finish. I have a mental block with that because they look really cheap to me with that finish.

Sam Ash is now carrying Larrivee and I’m pretty tempted to pick one up. Anyone have a recommendation of something else in my price range? I hate to order one but I don’t live where there is a lot of selection. Maybe I need to get down to Vegas and visit Ed Roman’s guitars but I think I would be happy with the Larrivee since I’ve played one and recorded on it.
 
Are you only looking at new?

If so, the Larrivees are probably the best deal for you. Especialy if you already like what you have heard. That counts for alot right there. Try out some of the Martin dreds, too. All the guitars I have owned or borrowed for recording....I'm beginning to feel the Martin dred is my favorite recorded sound of all of them.

There are huge deals on used Taylors out there, too, though. Especially the jumbos...seems no one wants them and you can get them for 30% of their value right now if you look hard. the x-14 size Taylors go for good money, but the other sized are alot cheaper...even in higher trim models.

H2H
 
for $1700 you can get a sweet-sounding Larivee. I've been playing them at my local guitar shop, and they just blow me away.
 
The best all around recording steel string acoustic I own (out of a dozen or so) is my Guild DV-52. I think I paid something like $600 for it and have got about $250 in set up. You can find them now and then on ebay and may be one of the best bargins around.
 
Hard2Hear said:
Are you only looking at new?

If so, the Larrivees are probably the best deal for you. Especialy if you already like what you have heard. That counts for alot right there. Try out some of the Martin dreds, too. All the guitars I have owned or borrowed for recording....I'm beginning to feel the Martin dred is my favorite recorded sound of all of them.

There are huge deals on used Taylors out there, too, though. Especially the jumbos...seems no one wants them and you can get them for 30% of their value right now if you look hard. the x-14 size Taylors go for good money, but the other sized are alot cheaper...even in higher trim models.

H2H
Click to expand...

Unless I can find something used locally I’m pretty set on new. I’m probably going to pick up a Guild (model J-something…) 12 string from a buddy for $500. I’ve actually had this instrument on loan to me before and did a little recording with it. It’s a jumbo size and sounds great. I’ve just got to get away from this Ovation….I need wood!! LOL
 
I really like guild jumbos, too. They sound great to me, but some people don't like them so I never add them as a recommendation although they're one of my favorite guitars. Especially the maple 12 strings...love 'em.

H2H
 
I think even my Taylor 710 sounded thin for what it was, but I believe it was out of its element with me. Taylor IMO is a lead guitar for a complex musical enviroment. Martin is what I play now becuase its just so full sounding. I did some great recordings imo with that Taylor, but I just like to play acoustic on my own now, and the Taylor just wasn't coving all the freqency ground that I wanted.

I didn't play that many of the Larrivee...only one or two in the $1000-1500 area, and they just didn't impress me. Granted, moneywise, those were not in the ballpark of the D41 that won me. Breedlove just sounds like a treehugger name...and SantaCruz and other were just not readily available for adaquate hands-on playtime. Which kind of sucked because I hear Cruz is top notch. But so are $3k Taylors, and they still don't suit everyones needs, so there is no way in hell I am buying a $3k guitar I can't play first.

But don't count out Martin. The D18 and D28 can be had for that price you stated, and even the HD28 (which is the real deal) can sometimes be had for under $2k. Used of course.

I wouldn't have minded driving to another surroundin state to get (or at least demo) a guitar if I had the chace to atleast play the same model in a store. These are not cheap POS's with extreme duds for the most part at this point ($1500+/-)
 
man, look seriously into old GRETSCH Clipper 's ... those still can be had cheaply (500-1000) and really fill a room with sound ... google, ebay and harmony-central them!!!

I got 2 (a '59 and a '71) of them and ANYBODY who played them so far left with the mouth wide open!!! --- cant beat the sound of 45yr old wood!
 
I've got my 2003 410-RCE for sale over in the Ads forum right now, and it's in your price range. You mentioned the 3xx and 4xx series taylors sounding thin, and that is because the Ovangkol in the 4xx and the African Mahogany they use in the 3xx, combined with the satin finish does not provide a very deep resonance and causes tinny sounding rather than clear and projecting highs. The 410-RCE was a limited edition Taylor that was upgraded to Indian Rosewood back and sides, and it has a very deep sound. And the finish is gloss, not satin :D

I found a song I recorded with it a while back, and I'll post some clips of it tonight. I can give you full information about the recording setup and whatnot (basically, it sounded amazing with a flat EQ).

The listing in the Ads forum is here:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=160776
It also has quite a few photos of the guitar from all angles. If you're interested, reply or shoot me a PM or something. If not, then I hope your search brings you exactly what you're looking for!
 
I would recomend the Larrivee.

Just went through the same process this spring.....

I actually prefer the satin finish and went with the 03 series but it has sollid rosewood sides and back with no wood cut out for the EQ preamp.

Like this without the factory installed system.
http://www.larrivee.com/data/products/guitars/LV-03RE/LV-03RE.htm

He installed this http://www.b-band.com/guitar-systems/a2.2.php

This has two flat dials just protruding out the sound hole that adjust gain and the blend of the under saddle and sound board transducers and the dealer is a player/ tech who spent an hour or two finding the sweet spot for hte sound board tranducer.


B-Band uses non piezo tranducers that sound less harsh than piezo's but for recording I will be micing of course and this thing projects!

IMHO this Larrivee's sound twice as good for half the price of your production Taylors.
 
Thanks guys for all the good suggestions.

I appreciate it..
 
apl said:
Check out these, scroll down.
Click to expand...

I'm sure these are fine instruments, but you can't equate these with Taylor or Larrivee. It doesn't compute.

You might also shop around for a used Santa Cruz. I bought a used OM-PW for right about what you have budgeted. It's a stunning instrument, and records beautifully.

Another good place on the web to look is Buffalo Brothers.
 
And don't forget the other brothers, Mandolin Brothers:

http://www.mandoweb.com/

The name is somewhat deceiving since they stock lots of vintage and used guitars. And it's great if you've got 40K to blow on a guitar!
 
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