Wanting an acoustic.

[noah330]

I would try a Martin OO size as well. Look for an older (pre 70s) Martin or a recent one. The new guitars they're building are great. Avoid the 70s - early 80s ones and if you get a new one prepare to wait a while for it to open up.

I have a newer D-41 and it took a year of heavy playing to really start to sound good.

[electricity17]

Check out the Gibson Songwriter, great guitar that sounds a little more open than most of the Gibson line, I preferred it to all of the newer Martins that I tried out.

[hello people]

Get a brand spanking new D28

[euphoria89]

Originally Posted by hello people

Get a brand spanking new D28

I've got a 2011 D28 and although its nice, it hasn't opened up in the 6 months i've had it. Sounds very bright and not nearly as mellow as i know it can sound. I've got a 4 year old Taylor that sounded the same at first, but has now started to really sound good.(816ce)

I'd go second hand if you want that 'played in' sound.

One of my favorite guitars is the Martin D16GT. It's a lot cheaper than a D28, but sounds great. I also really like the Guild GAD series, although they don't really sound like older Guilds, but still sound great. They are all solid wood, but made in China. If i could afford another guitar, this is what i would be looking at.

My advice for all round guitar for the studio is always a dread/grand auditorium. You can pretty much cover all ground with them.

000/GC are nice for finger style and helping avoid the recording 'boom', but really aren't suited for a good thrashing. You can strum a Taylor/Guild hard and it won't break up.

It really depends on what kind of style you play. What era do you want to try and sound like? My advice though (whenever possible) is to go and try some at a store, even if it means a good drive out. You will be able to identify what you like and what you dont, which is more influential than anyone can say on a forum post.

[hlemke]

Originally Posted by euphoria89

You will be able to identify what you like and what you dont, which is more influential than anyone can say on a forum post.

honestly, with instruments more than anything else (but with anything else too), this is what it comes down to. Think about guitars you've played that made you want to keep playing them, try to pick out the characteristics that made you feel that way, and then look for a guitar with those characteristics. Also, it can be difficult (i'm terrible at this), but try not to let prices color your opinions of things too much. It's good to have a strong sense of what you're looking for, as you may find it where you don't expect it.

If you're feeling spoiled for choice, Taylors and Martins kind of epitomize the two extremes in fancy shmancy acoustic guitar sound in my opinion (shimmery with pristine note definition, especially in the high end, vs. more subdued with a lovely strummed sound and really clear low-end), so start with those. But being spoiled for choice is sort of part of the fun, isn't it?

also, if electronics are not a necessity, don't bother with them unless you find a nice deal. I have a very nice Taylor and i avoid using the electronics in it whenever possible. An in-hole pickup sounds better for my money.

[hello people]

Originally Posted by euphoria89

I've got a 2011 D28 and although its nice, it hasn't opened up in the 6 months i've had it. Sounds very bright and not nearly as mellow as i know it can sound. I've got a 4 year old Taylor that sounded the same at first, but has now started to really sound good.(816ce)

I'd go second hand if you want that 'played in' sound.

One of my favorite guitars is the Martin D16GT. It's a lot cheaper than a D28, but sounds great. I also really like the Guild GAD series, although they don't really sound like older Guilds, but still sound great. They are all solid wood, but made in China. If i could afford another guitar, this is what i would be looking at.

My advice for all round guitar for the studio is always a dread/grand auditorium. You can pretty much cover all ground with them.

000/GC are nice for finger style and helping avoid the recording 'boom', but really aren't suited for a good thrashing. You can strum a Taylor/Guild hard and it won't break up.

It really depends on what kind of style you play. What era do you want to try and sound like? My advice though (whenever possible) is to go and try some at a store, even if it means a good drive out. You will be able to identify what you like and what you dont, which is more influential than anyone can say on a forum post.

It hasn't opened up? Well it's only a 2011...give it more time.

I've had mine since 2010 and it's only just started to open and mellow and get buttery. I've only played it a total of about 12 months since I got it due to various reasons

[kafka]

Originally Posted by Zslayton

Ready to spend some money on a good acoustic guitar. I love the low end of a jumbo and love the sweetness of the Martin 000 series. Electronic not a necessity.
Any opinions?

Take a look at Dana Bourgeois' guitars. Pantheon Guitars, Inc. builds fine acoustic guitars by Dana Bourgeois. I have a Brazilian OMC that I'm just absolutely in love with. It's a fingerpicker guitar, so contact Dana to see what he can do to make a guitar that exactly meets your needs. I think my next flattop will probably be one of his mahogany backed Slope D's.

[theblue1]

Dreadnoughts were the rage when I was a kid. And they can have a great sound for strumming and even flat picking, depending. But the boominess can get in the way for some styles (and recording). And then there's the right shoulder issues (presuming a right-handed player). After hitching my arm up over those big bodies for a couple decades, my shoulder was crying out for something a little smaller. (I'm not a huge guy, about average at 5'10".) When I played a friend's Martin 000-12, I fell in love.

But, money being what it is in the 21st century, I ended up with a far more affordable Silver Creek, a Musician's Friend house brand with a 4 guitar line [dreads and concerts in rosewood and mahogany, all solid], getting myself a concert with 'hog sides and back. It's got 14 frets to the body (they don't make a 12-to) and some mill marks in the otherwise nicely finished body, but it's got a distinctive, woody sound combined with some of the longest resonance you'd ever want (maybe more than for some, but I do a lot of DADGAD these days and that's a tuning that comes alive with longer resonance).

[hello people]

Originally Posted by theblue1

Dreadnaughts were the rage when I was a kid. And they can have a great sound for strumming and even flat picking, depending.

Even flatpicking?

Dreads are a staple flatpicker guitar I thought...??

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by hello people

Even flatpicking?

Dreads are a staple flatpicker guitar I thought...??

Yeah... I can't quite put my finger on why I included even in there. I was maybe thinking of a lot of pickers I saw in bluegrass bands playing 000's over the years. But, clearly, there have been a lot of dreads in bluegrass contexts as well.

I guess I was thinking of the often tighter sound, better defined sound of some 000's.

I dunno. When we get the time machine fixed, I'll go back and ask what the heck I was thinking about...


PS... not sure how/when I started spelling dreadnought (putatively) incorrectly as dreadnaught. Naught is the spelling I grew up with for that antiquated word here in the States, but I see that the British mega-battleship, the HMS Dreadnought, that gave the original Martin-made dreadnought guitar line their name (they were actually originally made and branded for Ditson's Music store in 1912 -- making this the centenary of the 'dread, I guess) uses the old British spelling. FWIW, dictionary.com lists both spellings as correct for the battleship class. Merriam Webster's M-W.com only lists dreadnought.

[guitarmax_99]

Originally Posted by Zslayton

Ready to spend some money on a good acoustic guitar. I love the low end of a jumbo and love the sweetness of the Martin 000 series. Electronic not a necessity.
Any opinions?

Go to a high end guitar store and spend a day playing 'em. Then buy the one that you connect with.

BTW, what is your price range?

[at4033]

If possible, seek out Gibson 5 star dealers. I spent the better part of a day at a store in Albany some time back, and played a J-45 and a J-200 that were stunning. Comparing the 5-star guitars to off the shelf at other stores was eye-opening. Two of the finest guitars I have ever played. Superlative.

[Tinderwet]

Hard to make a good sounding jumbo, in my opinion (and I mean production guitars, with most custom builders it shouldn't be a problem). The large, wide soundboard and its bracing require a certain thickness, but if one overshoots just to be on the safe side, it will dull down the response to a great extent. I've heard great sounding production dreadnoughts, but not many great jumbos (except some Guild ones).

Unless you are only after the dry, hard strummed "pinball wizard" tone, of course.

[Zslayton]

In case anyone cares I ended up FINALLY deciding on a Martin 000-16. Price was right and sounded amazing. Went with new because something about a previously owned guitar makes me feel like I'm cheating. It may take a while to settle but I want a guitar from birth to (my) death. Like I raised it. Thanks for the help and advice. Took probably 100 hours in the last few months of sitting in guitar rooms at music stores playing everything I could strum.