Q:The BEST Acoustic/Electric for $1000 ??????

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bradley Tanogna
  • Start date Start date
Tacoma....several models under a grand...some are big and boomy others balanced and sweet.All are solid wood.Used Seagull....these are hard to find but quite the bargain when you do.Another solid wood excellent guitar. My HD-28 was a great live guitar and sucked badly in the studio. Too much boom....My Taylor, on the other hand, isnt really very good live but its so even that it records better than any Guitar I've owned.....except that OOO-16 1939 Martin.....but thats another story.Back to the under a grand gits.....

Alverez Yarii's....used...Mr.Yarii got sued by Martin and Co, in the late 70's for perfect reproductions down to the bracing and the inlays.And these sound great...PLUS they're also solid wood guitars and have had a chance to age....makes em sound better.

Cheap Plywood stuff sometimes sounds much better than you thought possible...Yamaha....Ibanez....Rumour has it that J.Page used a cheap plywood Yamaha in the studio on several Zep tracks....
 
I'm sure that Fishman item works very well.Around here all the Fishman stuff(there was a ton of it)has been gradually replaced with L.R.Baggs.I gotta say that this stuff is the real shizzits.I'm also into older Countryman for acoustic instruments.Unfortunately the HD-28 became a different piece of gear.But it went to good home and I miss it every now and then.The Taylor,however, was handpicked from 30 different models and guitars.It was specifically chosen for its recording ability.Works like a charm.I had the cash and was looking at the 812's 614 and 814's....The best of all was the 414 I chose.Ya know how acoustics can be......A friend of mine has a pre-war Martin D18 that I like to record on.And it plays like an electric.Best action I've evr seen on an acoustic guitar.Strings it with Heavy's too.....I also dont use the pickups on any acoustic guitar in the studio.I prefer the room and mics and the naked guitar ......
 
Man, I have a Takamine FD360SC with the upgraded DSP electronics and it sounds killer unplugged AND plugged in.

If I were going to get rid of it I would definately go for a CA Guitars (www.caguitars.com) Legacy AE.

I had the chance to play one at the local music shop and compare it to several Martins and Taylors.

In my opinion the Legacy sounded WAY better (both plugged/unplugged) than any of the others and it also played much better.
 
Adam B said:
Man, I have a Takamine FD360SC with the upgraded DSP electronics and it sounds killer unplugged AND plugged in.

If I were going to get rid of it I would definately go for a CA Guitars (www.caguitars.com) Legacy AE.

I had the chance to play one at the local music shop and compare it to several Martins and Taylors.

In my opinion the Legacy sounded WAY better (both plugged/unplugged) than any of the others and it also played much better.
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Adam,

We've got the same sweet, sweet guitar (I think we've talked about it before somewhere). God, I love that thing. I'm thinking for what I paid for it ($1100) I could have got something that might be a tad better, but maybe not - it sings, doesn't it? Plus I don't know how I would live without that on-board tuner, though it never ever goes out of tune. I always get pissed when I tune electric guitars, haha.

Bradley - maybe you could score a Tak FD-360sc on Ebay or something used for around $6-800 or less (never looked them up). Now that would be a score. I just did a search for it and didn't find anything - open or finished auctions. Maybe they aren't sold often for a reason??

For me, it would probably be between a takamine like I've got or a larivee'. I'd try and go used, but I have a thing about acoustics that you've gotta play it before you buy it. I do remember when I was buying my takamine (many years ago) that I played an EAN 10C model. I think it's the TAN-10C now or something like that. It was a natural finish, which is pretty cool, and it had a pretty mellow tone. Might have had a cedar top, which gives a cool tone, in my opinion.
 
Hey Adam-

Who in Cincy is carrying those CA guitars? I'll be there recording in 2 weeks for a week and I'm curious about them myself.

H2H
 
Hard2Hear,

Willis Music in Florence KY has a couple of the CA guitars in their store, or at least they did a few months ago when I was there last.

Actually I was there because I emailed CA about their newest acoustic (the x-factor) and they asked where I lived and who the closest CA dealer was to me. I gave them the info for Willis Music and they shipped an X-Factor out to them (took a couple months to get there).

I stopped in to play it and while it was definately a cool guitar, I didn't buy it for a couple of reasons.

1. Willis marked up the $2000 guitar to $3300, but once I told them I had it ordered and that I knew the direct list price was $1800 they suddenly wanted to drop their price.

2. The X-Factor sounded thin unplugged, which didn't suprise me given that it is only 3in deep, but I was hoping for a miracle.

They did still have the Leacy AE I had played, and which I considered buying, hanging on the wall in the acoustic room. It desperately needed new strings though and wasn't playing nearly as amazingly as when I first picked it up over a year ago.

If you think of buying it ask for a discount since it has been played in the showroom so much. :)

I have gotten the guys at Willis to bargain with me in the past.

Oh, and by the way, Willis also has a recording studio at the Florence store.. I think.

Willis Music Co.
(859) 525-6050
7567 Mall Rd
Florence, KY
41042

http://www.willismusic.com/
 
BJW said:
Adam,

We've got the same sweet, sweet guitar (I think we've talked about it before somewhere). God, I love that thing. I'm thinking for what I paid for it ($1100) I could have got something that might be a tad better, but maybe not - it sings, doesn't it? Plus I don't know how I would live without that on-board tuner, though it never ever goes out of tune. I always get pissed when I tune electric guitars, haha.

Bradley - maybe you could score a Tak FD-360sc on Ebay or something used for around $6-800 or less (never looked them up). Now that would be a score. I just did a search for it and didn't find anything - open or finished auctions. Maybe they aren't sold often for a reason??

For me, it would probably be between a takamine like I've got or a larivee'. I'd try and go used, but I have a thing about acoustics that you've gotta play it before you buy it. I do remember when I was buying my takamine (many years ago) that I played an EAN 10C model. I think it's the TAN-10C now or something like that. It was a natural finish, which is pretty cool, and it had a pretty mellow tone. Might have had a cedar top, which gives a cool tone, in my opinion.
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We should get together and have an FD-360 jamfest or something! I have the plain FD-360 without electronics...it was my first acoustic guitar, which my parents bought for me on my 16th birthday....oh it brings a tear to my eye!
 
You know, I have a question about the DSP electronics in mine.

Whenever I plug in the volume by default goes to 5. Any way to set it so it goes to 1 or 2 instead? :confused:
 
Some brands that might be worth trying:

Yamaha

Carvin

Seagull

Simon and Patrick

A QUESTION for you acoustic players:

If you buy a 1000 dollar yamaha you're getting a "No-Compromise" guitar according to them. But for the same cash your getting a compromise Taylor...
So soundwise shouldn't the yamaha be superior? Err...I mean it is a slab of wood made by people, but...Well you get the thought.
 
Reviving this thread with a question.

Been looking at the Taylor, Larivee, Lowden etc websites at models but plan on going with a used one.

At which model number (price point) do you get a "compromised" Taylor or Larivee in tone, contruction and playability wise?

I like the small to medium sized cut aways like the 714CE, 814 CE in the Taylors but am trying to come in at around $1,000. The 400 and 600 series have less ornementation which is fine by be...I prefer no inlays at all but nice wood and finish.

Approximate list for 6 strings 300's $1300-$2100
400's $1600-$2600
500's $2400-$3200
600's $3500-$3900
700's $2700-$3600
800's $3000-$4000



The Larivee's come in;
-03 Recording Series $1000-$2000
-05 Mahogany Series $1800-$2500
-09 Rosewood Artist Series $2400-$3000

I am sure there are some little details beside the ornamentation in the more expensive models that affect tone and playbility but at which point does the sound quality plateau and you just start paying for luxerious looks etc?

I have not heard as much praise for Taylors under the 700 series for instance....
 
FWIW

I picked up a Larrivee LV-03 cutaway without the factory installed electronics. Rosewood sides and back, spruce top and man this thing projects a beautiful tone.

The owner of the local Larrivee dealer recomended not getting one with an extra hole cut into the side and adding the B-band A-2 wich combines a Piezo under the saddle and a sound board transducer.

A blend and volume control are mounted in the sound hole and the output is stereo TRS.

Very sweet and fantastic sound for under $1200 with electronics installed and traded in a Takamine EG-350.

Best sounding acoustic guitar I have played outside a Lowden.
 
I used to play on an Ovation roundback and loveloveloveloved the sound (until someone sat on the headstock). Very warm tone while maintaining a nice acoustic brightness.
 
xtjdx said:
I used to play on an Ovation roundback and loveloveloveloved the sound (until someone sat on the headstock). Very warm tone while maintaining a nice acoustic brightness.
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Ovation roundback?.... "warm?"

The only way that could happen is if there was some gasoline and a lighter involved! :p:p
 
Scooter B said:
I have not heard as much praise for Taylors under the 700 series for instance....
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thats because taylor blows. the facts are, they arent what they used to be. they cant be. there is too much demand. it used to be that taylors were all hand made. now that means hand assembled. older taylors are still good guitars. you will be better going with a smaller guitar maker, you'll get better overall quality. look at some morgan guitars, those are incredible. probably out of your price range, but its always fun to lust :p
 
Well if we are going out of my price range I would go straight to an Olsen or a Lowden.

I believe I will be quite content with my Larrivee (unless I win the lotto).
 
If you're going to use this guitar strictly for live playing and not in the studio, nothing beats a Godin Acousticaster... NOTHING!
 
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