Shopping around for an older acoustic...

  • Thread starter Thread starter zed32
  • Start date Start date
zed32

zed32

Re-Attached Member
Well, for Christmas this year, i'd like to get myself an acoustic guitar. i was looking around at new ones, but then i considered that i would probably be better off getting a used one. as in well used. i would like to think that maybe an older guitar would have a better sound than a brand new one, right? or at least a sound with more character. most of the newer ones i've tried in my price range (around $500) i wasn't really blown away by, nor did i expect to be. but i thought back to this one guy i heard play who had an old Yamaha 'red label' from the early 70's or something like that, and it was one of the most beautiful sounding guitars i had ever heard. then i thought to myself, hey, maybe i can get lucky and find a guitar like that in my price range that still sounds good. so i'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what kind of used guitars to keep an eye out for that might be found for around $500 or less. i really liked that old Yamaha, but what are some other brands that "don't make em' like they used to"?


thanks.
 
I think Sigma (martin's "squire") makes wonderful guitars for the money. I couldn't be happier with the way mine sounds. It's not your jangley sound like a taylor, but for what it is (a cheap martin) it's wonderful.

Just my 2 cents. :D
 
hey, i played a Sigma at this guitar shop in Fremont when i used to live out there a couple years ago. i really liked it too, considering the price. i think it was only $250 or something like that? it was dark blue with gold tuners, nice looking guitar too. but i didnt have any money at the time or i woulda bought it.
 
Mine was only 200 brand new. I've about played the frets off of it. 90% of the songs I've written were written on that guitar. I couldn't be happier with it. It's no Martin, but I think it's wonderful.
 
I've never bought a new acoustic guitar. Guitars really don't open up until they're played for a while, so you can't fully tell what a new one is going to sound like after it's broken in.

There are so many variables in the construction and materials of an acoustic guitar that it's possible to get a GREAT guitar or a dud or anything in between, for little money or lots of money. Only advice I have is to go somewhere with lots of guitars and try them all.
 
I'd look for a used Martin 15 series. All solid wood (mahogany), great sound and should be available for right around what you have to spend. There are several D-15's up on e-bay right now. The OOO and OO sizes are nice too.
 
You're an hour and a half from Gryphon Stringed Instruments - among the very finest shops of its type in the entire world. Get in your car or get on a bus and go there. Give yourself at least a day there. Even if you don't buy an instrument you will learn more in that day about guitars than in a month of browsing the net and then you'll know what you need. Gryphon trades in used instruments all the time, has consignments and so forth. It's on my list of places to see before I die; kind of like the Grand Canyon.
 
Treeline said:
You're an hour and a half from Gryphon Stringed Instruments - among the very finest shops of its type in the entire world. Get in your car or get on a bus and go there. Give yourself at least a day there. Even if you don't buy an instrument you will learn more in that day about guitars than in a month of browsing the net and then you'll know what you need. Gryphon trades in used instruments all the time, has consignments and so forth. It's on my list of places to see before I die; kind of like the Grand Canyon.
Click to expand...


hey that looks like a cool place. looks like it might be a bit expensive for my needs, but i'd like to check it out one day since its not so far away. thanks for the tip. :cool:
 
i found an '82 Yamaha FG-345II for $300. i can probably knock a bit off the price. any thoughts on this guitar? kinda cool since it's my birth year and all haha. i think it's a Made In Taiwan Yamaha, how are the quality on those? i'm not sure of the years that they transitioned from building the guitars in Japan, then Taiwan, then Japan again. anyway i think i might just give it a try and see how it sounds.
 
Of the used guitars I've played, the Gibsons always sounded the best to me. But you're not gonna find one in that price range. I know you're looking for a used one, but as for new guitars I think Takamine makes a nice guitar for the money.
 
yeah, Takamine is actually one of my favorite brands, but i like the Natural series ones, which are a bit above my price range at the moment. but that's definitely a guitar that i'll be shooting for in the next couple years. for now i just want a nice souding used one. i'm going to check out that FG-345 tomorrow night after work and see if i like it.
 
Lots of good Japanese suspects out there with solid tops. Takamine 12's from the early seventies were amazing.

I'd say besides condition and tone, scale length, neck radius and width have a lot to do with the guitar being a comfortable one to play.

All that said, I listed my '71 Ovation 1111-4 (dot inlay) Balladeer today with the Recycler ads for $325. Too bad Ovations have such a stigma, it's clean, very loud, and gone over by my set up guy Jim Foote at Music Works. Plays like butter as they say...pm me if ya want photos.
 
heh, well i picked up an ovation at Guitar Center once, and them promptly put it back down. i absolutely hated the sound and feel of that guitar. but i'm sure that your '71 probably sounds much better than the junk that's out today.

i've had a hard time locating any old Takamines. i've had better luck finding various Yamaha FG's. either way, those are two of my favorite acoustics. i dunno, maybe i have some type of 'thing' for Japanese guitars. :eek: :p
 
zed32 said:
heh, well i picked up an ovation at Guitar Center once, and them promptly put it back down. i absolutely hated the sound and feel of that guitar. but i'm sure that your '71 probably sounds much better than the junk that's out today.

i've had a hard time locating any old Takamines. i've had better luck finding various Yamaha FG's. either way, those are two of my favorite acoustics. i dunno, maybe i have some type of 'thing' for Japanese guitars. :eek: :p
Click to expand...

No, it doesn't have much in common with what they put out today.

You might also look at Alvarez-Yairi if you can find one. Any of these guys may require some neck adjustment and/or set up but once it's done it'll make for a great player.... sometimes good for recording too.
 
zed32 said:
i found an '82 Yamaha FG-345II for $300. i can probably knock a bit off the price. any thoughts on this guitar? kinda cool since it's my birth year and all haha. i think it's a Made In Taiwan Yamaha, how are the quality on those? i'm not sure of the years that they transitioned from building the guitars in Japan, then Taiwan, then Japan again. anyway i think i might just give it a try and see how it sounds.
Click to expand...

Well I don't know what the II stands for but in my Vintage Guitar Magazine has a FG-345 1983-1994 priced from $300 to $350. I hope this helps.
 
sajs said:
Well I don't know what the II stands for but in my Vintage Guitar Magazine has a FG-345 1983-1994 priced from $300 to $350. I hope this helps.
Click to expand...


it might have to do with the size? i'm not sure, but i'm pretty sure this guitar is an '82 model. according to Yamaha's website, they retailed new for around $305. i know there is both the FG-345II and FG-345. from what i understood, the FG-345 was built in 81, and the II was built from '82 on up to whenever they stopped (i forget). actually, i think i read somewhere that the difference between the two models has something to do with the neck. i'm gonna go check it out in a little while, and maybe chisel away at the price a bit. that is of course if i see some potential in it. if not, then i'm still on the lookout. :cool:
 
The shop I used to work out sold "Seagull" guitars. Most sold new for under 500. They seemed kind of narrow at the nut, but other than that I think they were great guitars.

They might be a canidate on your search. :) (Especially if you prefer a narrower nut).

Just as personal information that doesn't really pertain to this post..... I've always wanted some type of cheap (around 300 used) "jumbo" guitar. I've loved almost every single jumbo I've ever played. :)
 
zed32 said:
hey, i played a Sigma at this guitar shop in Fremont when i used to live out there a couple years ago. i really liked it too, considering the price. i think it was only $250 or something like that? it was dark blue with gold tuners, nice looking guitar too. but i didnt have any money at the time or i woulda bought it.
Click to expand...
I second that. I have a sigma from the 70's. I'm sure the age has something to do with it, but it sounds better than anything Martin makes NOW for under $1300. You have to like the Martin sound, it doesn't sound anything like a Taylor. I would love to have a concert Taylor, and with my Sigma- I would be set.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top