I need acoustic opinions

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frist44

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

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.
 
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
 
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...7074193105/search/g=home/detail/base_id/73116

Takamine:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...177074193105/search/g=guitar?q=takamine+en-10

Check 'em out...
 
Maybe check out Breedlove, Bourgouise, Lowden, Collins, or some of the other high-end non-mass produced instruments. Very high quality.
 
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
 
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.
 
JR#97 said:
Maybe check out Breedlove, Bourgouise, Lowden, Collins, or some of the other high-end non-mass produced instruments. Very high quality.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
frist44 said:
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...
Click to expand...

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...
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
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!
 
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
 
Frist,

For something a little different have a look at; http://www.americanmusicimporters.com/......................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.

:cool:
 
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.

:cool:
 
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.
 
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