Recommendations for Acoustic Guitar

[MikeHil]

Hello All,

It's been awhile.

Can anybody recommend - who's making the better sounding Acoustics these days. If it's reasonably priced... all the better :)

Have been wanting to get another acoustic for some time but not even sure what brands to start looking at.

Thanks!!!

[tom]

that's a loaded question. you're using that "better" word. to me there are so many styles of acoustic and i like lots of them. what are you playing and is it for personal pleasure or recording?

[olectric]

I can say with total objectivity and total authority that Bill Collings makes the best acoustic guitars ever. They're the best at everything; doesn't matter what you're going for. Anyone who disagrees needs medication.

j/k :D

(ahem) Seriously though...

I'd second Tom's question: What are you looking for in an acoustic? What is your price range?

My real opinion: If you are looking for something to play live and plugged in, the Crowdster is freaking cool, sounds great, and plays effortlessly (which is cool if you're used to how an electric guitar feels). Also, I have a smaller-bodied Collings C-10 Deluxe that has completely obliterated my GAS for another acoustic guitar. It has a very sweet high end with tight bass/low-mids that sound great for what I use it for: fingerstyle solo music and lead stuff in a band setting. I swear it has a built-in harmonizer; I could just play one note, and four or five jump back out at me. On the negative side, I think it projects a little too much and could maybe be seen as too bright for lotsa strumming with a pick.

[irish blues]

I have to agree with the Collings - I have had a D-3 since 93 and it still blows me away every time I pick it up, which is unfortunantely not very often.

[MikeHil]

that's a loaded question. ... what are you playing and is it for personal pleasure or recording?

Agreed :) It would be for personal use, not necessarily for recording or playing live. So electronics would be nice, but a good old fashioned acoustic is what I'm thinking.

In the early 90's, I had a Takamine Santa Fe with Koa (can't remember all the specs)- and it sounded great. Whether you like Takamine or not, the thing sang.

Thanks Olectric, I'll look into those.

I'm thinking my price range is under $1500. If I had a larger budget, I would be looking at another Anderson :D

[guitarzan]

I borrowed a Taylor GS for a session this week and it repalced the other two Taylors at the studio. It's just a totally different animal than any other Taylor out there.

[tom]

with that budget i'd be looking at larivee also.

[MikeHil]

Bill Collings makes the best acoustic guitars ever...

That may be the case... but unfortunatley not in my range right now. :(

I'll look into the Larivee though

[crash]

If you're fond of the small body vibe, Breedlove's stuff is good.

I have a C25 with a cedar top and it's huge sounding with all kinds of low end clarity. Great for strumming and amazing for fingerstyle, especially after yanking out the bridge truss.

I have yet to play one of their dreadnoughts that I liked, but the small body stuff is really good.

[ctoddrun]

In that range you could pick up a used Taylor.

Great for electric players, since the action is typically great on the Taylor. The acoustic tone leaves something to be desired, but like everything else, there are pros and cons and you cant have it all...



I'm with the other guys on Collings.

There is a store here in Houston that has three on hand at any time. I dont think I've ever picked up a better acoustic guitar. You strike a note and all your left with is, "THIS is how an acoustic is supposed to sound".

Damn pricey though.

If I played more, I'd have one for sure.

As it is, my Taylor 810 (bought new for 1700) sits in a case as the strings go dead after one use...

[Stys]

Can't go wrong with a Larrivee. Their attention to detail is great and the guitars sound fantastic. I paid much $$$ for a Breedlove "S" series and became increasingly dissapointed with the guitar. The tone was subjective with the JDL bridge but in all honesty, my Larrivee's go to tape so much better.

[crash]

... the tone was subjective with the JDL bridge...

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I took mine out. The guitar is twice as loud and MUCH better sounding without it. According to the luthier I use (who is very well regarded), he takes them out for all of his Breedlove clients with great results.

[olectric]

That may be the case... but unfortunatley not in my range right now. :(

I'll look into the Larivee though

That's cool. I have heard some great things about Breedlove's Atlas series. Most (if not all) of them are under $1k, and for the money, they're supposed to be really nice guitars. I haven't had the chance to check one out myself, but I know this guy....

...Ok ok ok, well he has a friend, and *he* has played one...and man, it was AWESOME. :D

[shadco]

+1 on Larrivee

I wish I hadn't let go of the one on the right.

http://www.pbase.com/shadco/image/40615430.jpg

with that said I really like my Collings and my Taylor GS.

http://www.pbase.com/shadco/image/60517417.jpg

[mtucker]

i have a 'froggy bottom' that i really like .. that said, there are many great acoustic builders out there .. collings is good .... and i assume you know that standard shapes, resulting tone and (playing) style differs ..

if i were shopping in your price range i'd try to buy a used handbuilt in great shape ... you ought to be able to get a nice one in that range .. test drive before buying .. and have a luthier look it over for things you won't know to look for ... but .. i think you'll find the quality and consistency is mucho better than a 'production' manufactured box. :D

[mbrown3]

I can say with total objectivity and total authority that Bill Collings makes the best acoustic guitars ever. They're the best at everything; doesn't matter what you're going for. Anyone who disagrees needs medication.


Hmm...I'd think this honor goes to James Olson, but you can buy a car for what his guitars cost.

[tom]

i left jim out of the discussion for obvious reasons, but i have to admit that he's my hero and my olson is my prize possession. what bill is doing on the scale he's doing it is also remarkable.

[Casper]

I want to chime in for my trusty Ovation Elite Special. I love the soft V neck and with phosphor bronze strings and the basic active preamp, it can sound delicious straight into a board. That said, It doesn't do so well standing up for a fat guy like me...its bowl against my own :p I have to wear it like a necktie :rolleyes:
I like the looks too, Adamas "grapes" without the price. It has gotten better tone with age.
I paid 800 for mine about 5 years ago..
PS. I just tried the Dean Markley "Alchemy" strings....WOW!
Shaun

[mbrown3]

i left jim out of the discussion for obvious reasons, but i have to admit that he's my hero and my olson is my prize possession. what bill is doing on the scale he's doing it is also remarkable.


SOME day I might invest in an SJ. Of course, this decision might also simultaneously result in divorce. ;)

[tom]

i got mine through a trade with jim who graciously did me a great deal long ago.

[olectric]

Hmm...I'd think this honor goes to James Olson, but you can buy a car for what his guitars cost.

Seriously, those are expensive! Supply and demand, I guess...

I first heard an Olson on Phil Keaggy's "Beyond Nature," which is my favorite solo acoustic album. Great writing, playing, and tone.

Here's a question for you Olson owners (er...owner) out there: does that guitar sound like $10-15k? When played against a Collings, Goodall, Huss and Dalton, ect, is it completely obvious that you're dealing with something that is on a whole other level? I'm only asking because I've never even been in the same room as an Olson let alone played one, and I just wonder what it's like. (sigh)

[mbrown3]

I'll totally 2nd that on Beyond Nature. He's got some other great acoustic albums like Acoustic Sketches, etc., but for my money nothing is more beautiful than Beyond Nature. As Warm as Tears does bring tears to my eyes.

[mbrown3]

i got mine through a trade with jim who graciously did me a great deal long ago.

Man, the two best guitar makers in the world. That must have been some meeting! And both Christians (as is Phil Keaggy). Keep up the great work!

[tom]

i have some really nice guitars, and the olson is my fav. i have others that i really enjoy playing too. if i had to pick only one, it would have to be the olson.
when you start justifying prices, i'm out of the loop. i would not pay 15k for any guitar. it all comes down to supply and demand i guess, but if money were no object, i'd spring for the olson in a second. there do seem to be plenty people for whom money is no object, look at the vintage market.
as for why i like it so much, it just sounds so sweet, and plays so great. i can sit for hours and just listen to it play itself.
jim is my hero because he is an awesome craftsman, but more than that he is humility personified. if you've ever spoken to him you know what i mean. there's not a guy around who deserves to be getting big bucks for his guitars more than jim.
gush fest over.

[guitarzan]

The $10-$15k price range seems crazy to me, too. But it's all perspective, I guess. If a guy gets totally inspired by a guitar in that price range, then I understand.

Also, I realize that once the prices get up that high, you're paying a lot lot lot more money to get each percentage point closer to perfect. If a Taylor GS is 85% perfect, you're gonna pay another $500-$1k to get to 90 percent and then another $10k to get to 95 percent. What makes this theory dangerous is the fact that "perfect" is a moving target.

I wish there was a way to determine value based on what it's worth to ME. I wish I didn't know that some of these guitars cost so much. Then I could just play them and plot them along a scale of what they're really worth to me. If I played an Anderson with NO previous knowledge of what they retailed for, I'd think it was worth more than they actually charge. I can't say the same about the O acoustic I played. Probably because I knew I was playing a $10-$15k guitar and didn't feel the magic. (and I say that with full due respect to the builder and with full understanding that great guitars succumb to disrepair just like crappy ones.)

[dannopelli]

Agreed :) It would be for personal use, not necessarily for recording or playing live. So electronics would be nice, but a good old fashioned acoustic is what I'm thinking.

In the early 90's, I had a Takamine Santa Fe with Koa (can't remember all the specs)- and it sounded great. Whether you like Takamine or not, the thing sang.

Thanks Olectric, I'll look into those.

I'm thinking my price range is under $1500. If I had a larger budget, I would be looking at another Anderson :D

PM me about a Martin, virtually unplayed, I may be willing to part with.

[Janine Doubly]

I am a big fan of Collings as well. I stepped up to one after playing the crud out of my old Taylor 512. I loved that Taylor, and THEN I played a Collings and I started plotting how to get the extra jack to own one. It took me longer, but I don't regret any extra $$$'s I spent to get the Collings. It truly inspires me each time I play it.

But if you absolutely, cannot afford a Collings, I would stick with the Taylors or a Larrivee. But don't throw out the possibility of a good used OM1 Collings, it may not be completely out of your price range.

I've played two Olsons in my lifetime and they are beautiful instruments. However, IMHO, Goodall and some of the new R. Taylors (especially a cedar topped, madagascar rosewood) I have played get pretty darn close to the sweetness of the Olsons.

[Barry]

Try to put yourself in a place that has lots to choose from . Have an idea in your head of what sort of sound your are after . Take your time and above all trust your own ears . Theres lots of great guitars around .

[Guitarded]

sometimes you almost trip over an incredible instrument that really surprises you... a good friend I play with often has what looks like an old beater of a Takamine classical that is the sweetest nylon string I have heard, with remarkable intonation! - (good luthier's are worth their weight in gold!)
I was not a big fan of Lowden guitars until I picked up a used small body (SP-32) and that little sucker just glued itself to me! I would put it against any acoustic I have ever played, including a Collings and a Ryan that I just couldn't afford at the time... again, Lowden is out of your price range probably but there is my 2 cents.

[MikeHil]

Sorry I had not responed... for some reason I stopped receiving the thread via e-mail. :confused:

I've since tried the Larivee, Breedlove and Taylor.

Can't honestly rate the Larivee yet because everybody and their girlfriend was jammin in the Acoustinc room at the time... will give another shot off hours.

Liked the Breedlove - in fact will likely try all the models I can but that's a strong possibility.

Owned a Taylor in the past and was not satisfied - tried a couple in the shops too with no wow factor. However, but just played a friends this past weekend and it was REALLY nice... will need to look a little harder.

Thanks a lot for all the feedback - sorry I hadn't responded.

[HiG]

While you are deciding on what to spend your money on concerning a high end acoustic, may I suggest trying out a Blueridge guitar (Made in China). They have several models and can be bought either on ebay for about $250-1400. I have what amounts to a replica of a Martin OM-18 (BR-73), and I've got to tell you after having played it beside a Martin, I don't hear the $2000.00 difference. I paid $225.00 with a hardcase for it on ebay, and after a quick setup (nut slots, trussrod) it is a phenomenal guitar. The inlay is beautiful as well. If you got one of these and played it while you were shopping for a high end instrument, you might have a better idea of what you like or don't like about a particular instrument. It would be a relatively small investment to help you make the right decision the first time. Just my .02. Good luck.

[ryman150]

I would try and get your hands on as many unique guitars as you can. Try Goodall, Huss & Dalton, Collings, Santa Cruz, Bourgeois, McPherson... Everybody's ear and hands are different. Same with anything... Why does one guy like a strat vs. tele? When you find the one for you, you'll know. I

I've owned a few different Taylors, and all of them sounded different. I love my Breedlove too, but I've played a few that I really didn't care for at all. Anyways, just my 2 cents... :)

[Mr.Hanky]

That is an immensely personal decision. You have to play them and decide.

When I was shopping for one 10 years ago I played everything, and Mandolin Bros has damn near everything, a really nice selection of acoustics in every price range. At that time I wanted a rosewood dreadnought, I was also anti-Martin for some strange reason. After playing the Lowden's, Collings, Santa Cruz, ect.. I finally tried a D-45 and was floored. Wound up buying a D-41 and still love it to this day, a truly consistently amazing guitar.

These days I like smaller bodied guitars and the Santa Cruz OM's are simply astounding guitars. The collings C-10 deluxe is also a very cool axe as well, very comfortable to play.

[bear79]

with that budget i'd be looking at larivee also.

I bought a used D-05 and I love it! Incredible tone, fit and finish. thanks for the recommendation.

[dplight]

I saw that someone has mentioned Breedlove. I played several back in 2003. One in particular that I still regret not taking home. My wife has suggested recently that I should get an acoustic guitar. Who am I to suggest otherwise? So I am kinda looking, but have little hope of replicating the "one that got away".

[pneil]

For the money, it's hard to beat Alvarez Yairi. The generic Alvarez line is "meh" at best, but I'm still looking for a betters sounding acoustic ( under $4k) than the Yairi I bought 15 yrs ago.

[kirkham13]

I found a bourgeois on ebay being sold by artisan guitars... It was a dred with adirondack over tasmanean blackwood. I had sold a bourgeois omc the year before and missed it. So I started googling tasmanean blackwood, and ended up reading a post on the Collings forum where a gentleman and performing player had just got back from artisan and hadn't he just played the coolest bourgeois. He said they typically were tight sounding but this one felt wide open and was as good as his collings dred he had played for years. The bourgeois outplayed all the collings that day as well. So, We traded a bunch of emails and I ended up taking a chance on it. Killer! Sounds a little peculiar like koa but very even up the fretboard and nice and bright and snappy. Could be a jypsy jazz guitar. Dana b tells me it's one of two ever built. Happy camper, still on a honeymoon after a few months but I plan to marry it.