Inexpensive Acoustic Guitar

AsSiMiLaTeD

Hey guys, looking to pick up a cheap acoustic guitar and wonder if anyone has ay reccommendations. I used to play alot and had a great guitar, but it's long gone. I have an electric now that I play some, but am wanting to get back more into acoustic.

I have an acoustic now that's a cheapie, I think the brand is Mark II, whatever that is. The biggest issue that I have with it is what I believe people call the 'action'. towards the base of the guitar, the strings are almost a full inch off the fretboard and it makes this very difficult and painful to play, my fingers can only endure a few minutes before they come close to bleeding.

I'm not looking for high end, just something that sounds decent and is easy to play. I'd like to keep it under a couple hundred, and if I can't do that I'll just wait until I can buy something better.

I was looking at the Washburn D100DL at Music123 - here. Anyone know anything about it?

bobman1235

I don't know, the 32,000 dollar Martin on that site looks like a steal! And it has free shipping! Whew.

Ricardo

And it's $8,000 off!!!!! I would just ask if you can ride it to work before buying.

Systems

My son has several acuostic guitars and I think he likes his Martin the most. I would say he likes his Fender next.

Chuck

carpenter

Polkmaniac wrote: »

.... people call the 'action'. towards the base of the guitar, the strings are almost a full inch off the fretboard and it makes this very difficult and painful to play ....

If it's just an action question, you can go to a music store and ask them to do "setup". a skilled guy can tweak the neck, the bridge or possibly the strings type (how thick are they?) and take care of the action thing.
will cost way less then 200.

zingo

I have owned two Yamaha acoustics and they are really good for the price. You can get a pretty decent one for $150-200. I think they are the best for the price.

carpenter

Polkmaniac wrote: »

I was looking at the Washburn D100DL at Music123 - here. Anyone know anything about it?

Usually cheap guitars are less comfortable , harder to keep in tune, and harder to setup. all those problems are what you dislike in your current guitar. they deteriorate faster, even if they are comfortable at first.

There is a new line of Taylor mid price. the 2XX series. I've had some good experience with them.
they sound nice, and are built to last. a little out of your budget though.

ShinAce

Buy a blank bridgepiece and file it down to the profile you want. This will render the action as you want it. If you still don't like it, then get a new guitar.

carpenter

bobman1235 wrote: »

I don't know, the 32,000 dollar Martin on that site looks like a steal! And it has free shipping! Whew.

Ricardo wrote: »

And it's $8,000 off!!!!! I would just ask if you can ride it to work before buying.

LOL, just noticed the price tag has an extra '0'. it a 2,500$ guitar.

unc2701

ShinAce wrote: »

Buy a blank bridgepiece and file it down to the profile you want. This will render the action as you want it. If you still don't like it, then get a new guitar.

There's a lot more to the action than that... take it into a guitar shop, see what they can do.

AsSiMiLaTeD

If it were a more expensive guitar it may be worth it, but seeing that I only paid a hundred bucks for it it's not worth it probably. People seem to be giving the Washburn good reviews, but I think I'm just gonna stop by a music store on the way home and try some out for myself.

Thanks

bradm6406

Depending on how cheap his current guitar is, it may not have a truss rod in the neck. If that's the case I don't think anything can be done to adjust the action.

You can tell if there's a truss rod usually by looking inside the sound hole at the base of the neck of the guitar. You should be able to see the head of a bolt in there that takes an Allen Key. If you can see that then it should be possible to adjust the action on the guitar. That would definitely be cheaper than buying a new guitar.

If you can get the action adjusted I would recommend doing that and saving up for a nicer guitar in the future. I went from my $200 special to a $2,500 guitar and I've had the same guitar now for about 15 years and still love it. Spending a little more on a guitar will usually be worth it in the long run if you're planning on keeping it for a while.


Brad

jcaut

My son has this one: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alvarez-RD8-Regent-Series-Dreadnought-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=518715. Made in China, but I think it's a pretty decent guitar. Easy to play, stays in tune and has a real pleasing tone. His came strung with Elixirs.

unc2701

Take yamaha for a whirl, too. Solid, cheap guitars.

[Deleted User]

Polkmaniac,

I do not know if you are interested, but the acoustic/electric guitars are really great, built in tuners and little EQ works nice. I would recommend, Ibanez, Alvarez, or the Takamine. They do run relatively low in price, compared to the Fenders, Taylors and Martins. You could get a very nice solid body Takamine for 3-400 dollars, so no laminates! The Takamine I have is really nice, the EG 340 SC. Its not a Taylor sound, but again, its not the Taylor price either! If you have a guitar center nearby you, you could actually negotiate the prices!!! Hope this helps.

SBrown712

Not to steal the thread but I have a question for you guitar guys. Is there any interest in Guild guitars anymore? Way back in about '75 I wanted to learn and bought a Guild G37. I gave up too soon and put the thing in it's case. Except to take it out and look at it a couple of times that's where it's stayed for almost 32 years. I think I paid about $350 including the hardshell case.

Refefer

A lower end Taylor would serve you well, but for under $500 it's hard to beat a Seagull M6. Fantastic guitars, handmade, and get great reviews all around.

Oh, and I have one too

CAvolleyballguy

i know a guy that can get martin at 50% off retail..im sure there are plenty that do the same and just make a couple hundred profit...save your money till you can buy the best. a couple hundy on an accoustic is just throwing the cash away

I love my martin D28... This will all make you sick.. My father bought a brazillian rosewood d28 in 1964 for 100 dollars..still in pristine condition...its estimated value is sick 10's of thousands.. makes me wish he bought 100 of them.

There are lots of great electrics, but anything else accoustic just pales in comparison if you like that rich deep warm sound, and the action is phenominal again you just cant find it elsewhere in a straight up accoustic... someone mentioned the accoustic electric combos (like dave mathew played) has low action up the fret board but lacks that martin rich sound.

I think fender a had a cheapy accoustic for like 300 a couple years ago but it was so light, like balsa wood there was no rich sound..

Plus martins maintain value, why not hold off, keep saving and buy a lower end one for 1500. like i said my guy got me one for 1800 i think, and it was originally 3k plus..

psomers

I have had a Martin ,a Taylor , and still have an Ibanez.
You just can't beat a Martin.
I always enjoyed playing my buddies Takamine.
As stated above, I would probably look at a Yamaha., and I would definitely take a Ibanez over a Washburn.
Just my 2 cents.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I'll head up to Guitar Center tonight. A $1500 guitar isn't in the budget right now, and won't be for some time, and I don't really want to wait for a year before I start playing again.

Sound is obviously important, but this is mainly going to be something to practice on, so I'll sacrifice a bit of sound quality for ease of playing for now. I've heard several people reccomend yamaha, so will check those out - I'm sure I can't afford the martin stuff...

VR3

We sell a line of guitars called Johnson...

They sell for 100 - 120 dollars (standard and cutaway)

And they actually are very very nice guitars. We have customers who have had them for years and to this day will swear by them. Now obviously they are not the end all be all...

But they have low action, low price, good finish, and just an all around good guitar.

BrettT1

takamine makes a pretty decent guitar, too. they have some cheaper models.

jgido759

I haven't played in over 10 years and just picked this one up for a little over 2 bills.

Nice acoustic sound, decent action, & stays in tune.

reeltrouble1

my bro starchaser has a Washburn, I played it and it was nice. You could take the one you have to shop and have the set-up lowered, an inch is way too much.

I have an Ibanez Perfomance acoustic that sounds really nice, they make nice guitars as well, its just like audio, Taylor and Martin are near the top with Takamine and a host of others offering nice stuff.

RT1

[Deleted User]

music123.com has a sale going on right now.. thought i would let you know if you have not bought a guitar yet.....

AsSiMiLaTeD

I picked one up at Guitar Center on Tuesday. I played with quite a few, and found the Yamaha to have the best sound and ease of play in my price range, so I got the FG 700s:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-FS700S-Folk-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=518274&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=44478976

I got it at Guitar Center for $149. I also picked up an extra set of strings, a Capo and a case.

I've been playing for a couple days now. I'm still going to have to let my fingers toughen up some, but this guitar is WORLDS better than the other I had, better sound, lower action, and MUCH easier to play.

ShinAce

For classical, I love my Goya.

My sister wanted to get a nice acoustic for her man about a year ago. We ended up settling on a Yamaha acoustic/electric. For under $ 200, that Yamaha is amazing.