Acoustic Guitars ...Am I crazy???

[ryannorth]

I was at GC here in Minneapolis last week (only go there when i absolutely must) I was waiting for a salesguy to dig something out of the stock room, I told him that I would be in the acoustic room and to come find me there when and if he finds what I sent him looking for, ...anyways I've been thinking about upgrading in the acoustic guitar department I started pulling down all the higher end stuff Martin's, Taylor's and Gibson's ranging from $1000 to about $3000, so I pulled down this Gibson Songwriter (non acoustic electric version) and started playing some loud fast chord stuff and was immediately taken back by the sheer volume and projection, along with a really great sounding top end and "bite" and a very even tight bass response. So I then started pulling down some of the martins and taylors and thought they sounded good but I kept going back to this songwriter to compare. And although the Songwriter could definetely not be called cheap I guess I was expecting that I would like one of the others more. I even liked it better then the higher priced Dove and Hummingbird in the Gibson line. Just wondering if anybody has one or what they think???

[billgennaro]

the acoustic guitar world is a crazy place to linger in. i have many acoustics, ranging in price from $500 to $5500. Maple, mahogany, rosewood, you name it. anyway, i just picked up a $500 guild guitar that blows my mind. very disconcerting. typically, i don't like guilds all that much but this one is great. i also don't have an affinity for gibsons built in the last 30 years or so. but if the gibson you played suits you, buy it. you may play the same model at a different store and be disappointed. acoustics are a bit like women. you have to find one that turns you on, no matter what part of town she came from!

bill

[darkwater]

I wholeheartedly agree. EVERY guitar is different. If you find one that really speaks, don't let it get away. Also, I always ask a salesman to play the guitar so I can stand in front of it and get some perspective on the sound.

[FFTT]

After weeks of looking and listening, I did not find one single Martin or Taylor under $3000.00 that sounded any better than the Larrivees.

If you can afford more than $2,500.00 I'd have to say either a special production Larrivee, Santa Cruz or Collings is a much better guitar for your money.

You also have to keep in mind that the room makes a difference and I agree that it's best to have someone who can actually play well allowing you to hear the guitar at distance.

[Pasta4lnch]

when I got my acoustic I was tossing up the songwriter and a martin hd-28. i went w/ the martin and I deeply regret it. i've played several gibsons since that I love! not to mention the martin doesn't really blow my skirt up in the studio . . .

[FFTT]

I played a Martin D28 and D16 and both sounded like shoe boxes compared to the Larrivee 09 and 10 series.

For those interested in electronic acoustics, I did like the new small 3 knob controls
on the newest Taylors, but anything at all special was well over $3000.00

That is the one thing I did not care for in the Larrivees.

The older Fishman design square box cutout in last years models just looked terrible
and you could see daylight through the control box trim into the guitar. Ugh!

For someone on a tight budget looking at D style guitars, I'd have to go for
the Larrivee D-03-R or the standard D-03 in Mahogany

[slaves666]

Originally Posted by billgennaro

the acoustic guitar world is a crazy place to linger in. i have many acoustics, ranging in price from $500 to $5500. Maple, mahogany, rosewood, you name it. anyway, i just picked up a $500 guild guitar that blows my mind. very disconcerting. typically, i don't like guilds all that much but this one is great. i also don't have an affinity for gibsons built in the last 30 years or so. but if the gibson you played suits you, buy it. you may play the same model at a different store and be disappointed. acoustics are a bit like women. you have to find one that turns you on, no matter what part of town she came from!

bill

Was it the Guild GAD-50? I loved the one I tried a few months ago....but still undecided.

[billgennaro]

Originally Posted by slaves666

Was it the Guild GAD-50? I loved the one I tried a few months ago....but still undecided.

off the top of my head i'd say "yes, i bought the gad-50". rings a bell in my cluttered scull.

[woomanmoomin]

I say go for it, iff you 'can afford it' (does not compute) and haven't got a starving family to feed (or ignore), and iff you're not just going to let it hang, neglected, from some bracket on the wall.

I know a guy who would really like to buy something like a Hummingbird, because so many of his big-shot rock star idols used to have them (before they all died). The only thing stopping him is the knowledge that he's cr@p at guitar and wouldn't actually play the thing.

[jspartz]

An acoustic guitar that sounds good in my hands does not sound quite the same when my friend plays it. This was the lesson I learned a couple years back hanging out at Gruhn's in Nashville. I fell in love with a limited addition Gibson and my friend found a cheap acoustic that sang for him. We switched and neither of us liked the others guitar choice. At the time it was a big wake up call. Since then I have been a lot happier with my instrument purchases!

If it works for you, then it is right for you. Plus the price tag is not always the best indicator of performance or quality.

Jason

[billgennaro]

Originally Posted by jspartz

An acoustic guitar that sounds good in my hands does not sound quite the same when my friend plays it. This was the lesson I learned a couple years back hanging out at Gruhn's in Nashville. I fell in love with a limited addition Gibson and my friend found a cheap acoustic that sang for him. We switched and neither of us liked the others guitar choice. At the time it was a big wake up call. Since then I have been a lot happier with my instrument purchases!

If it works for you, then it is right for you. Plus the price tag is not always the best indicator of performance or quality.

Jason

truer words were never spoken. my brother gets a lot more volume out of his guitar playing than i do. guitars sound way different in his hands than in mine.

[FossilTooth]

Last time I bought an acoustic, it was Martin D15. Less than $800 if I remember right.

The only new Martin in the store I liked better was a D35 for well over $2k. I liked the D35 MUCH better but still love my D15. (incidentally, they sound completely different)

The D28 was too boxy, the Taylors too bright, the Larrivie's just a little too honky.

I loved the Gibson Jumbos, but they're a different animal altogether, and not as versatile for my tastes.

Years later, whenever I have an acoustic session, I still pull out the D15, and players pick it over their own ("higher-end") guitar about 30% of the time.

I think that's a pretty good track record.

[mrface2112]

Originally Posted by FossilTooth

I think that's a pretty good track record.

plus the D15 is a very easy guitar to record--it seems to have been built with recording in mind.

and of course, i agree--when a guitar speaks to you, it's trying to tell you something. buy it.


cheers,
wade

[chrispick]

Originally Posted by ryannorth

so I pulled down this Gibson Songwriter (non acoustic electric version) and started playing some loud fast chord stuff and was immediately taken back by the sheer volume and projection, along with a really great sounding top end and "bite" and a very even tight bass response. So I then started pulling down some of the martins and taylors and thought they sounded good but I kept going back to this songwriter to compare. And although the Songwriter could definetely not be called cheap I guess I was expecting that I would like one of the others more. I even liked it better then the higher priced Dove and Hummingbird in the Gibson line.

My experience was the same. I was acoustic shopping a few months ago. Test drove some Martins and Taylors. Ended up buying the Gibson Songwriter. Still dig it.

[Jamz]

Originally Posted by billgennaro

the acoustic guitar world is a crazy place to linger in....you may play the same model at a different store and be disappointed. acoustics are a bit like women. you have to find one that turns you on, no matter what part of town she came from!

bill

LMAO! Damn Bill! How true. That's a great analogy. I promise to credit you if ever I use that quote.

[rkopald]

"Hell, you're easily amused... I can say wimpy....wompy....wambly...."


"What are you thinking about when you're playing the bass?"
"Well, basically I'm mostly thinking about my financial situation. I try to think of every note as a dollar"

[jdtrbn]

In my experience, expensive guitars are more consistently easy to play. My next purchase will hopefully be a 550€ Alvarez guitar that I expected to cost at least twice that after trying it.
Completely blown away by the sound.

[popvulture]

I don't think price is an issue at all when it comes to good sound - it's great to have a few options to choose from for different tones and textures, and whatever works is the bottom line.

I haven't played a Songwriter, but I'd say that I'm not a big fan of Gibson's new acoustics in general. They sound dull to me. That said, I haven't heard the Songwriter, so I don't really know. I've got a '65 Country Western that I picked up for about $2200, and it's by far my favorite guitar I own, acoustic or electric. It's got a really dark, woody tone and records REALLY well.

On the other end of the spectrum, I've got a crappy base model Seagull that I got when I was 15. It sounds great for certain things. The Gibson always sounds dark - I swear that after restringing it, the strings sound old within a day. It's just what it does. Exactly opposite, I can leave the Seagull in its case for a year and the strings will still sound super bright and new. I have absolutely no idea why that happens, but I don't really care.

So yeah, different guitars, different sounds, each with an appropriate use. Spend whatever you want - just buy what you like.

[Robert Alger]

The Gibson Songwriter is one of the few modern Gibsons I have tried that I thought was impressive.

[SkunkWorks]

Originally Posted by Robert Alger

The Gibson Songwriter is one of the few modern Gibsons I have tried that I thought was impressive.

yup

[ArnieInTheSky]

I vouch the tone of the standard Gibson acoustics. Songwriter, J45, but its their craftsmanship that bothers me. At every nut looks like the finish is crackling off of the headstock, same with the neck at the sound hole. Looks like they did some work too early or too late. The pickguards always look like they've been slapped on by the new guy. Looks is never my deciding factor but if they over look these details, what else are they overlooking?

At that price point, sound for sound those two Gibsons in my experience match up. Also check out the L Series Yamaha's, the 26 for volume but tone is the 36. I really like the workmanship on the Yamahas. Astheticaly a work of art and finer details attained to. They use mahogany bracing on their tops and if you feel the inside of them, they took the time to sand them. Always feels like those instruments were cared for in production. Anyway...

Long story short, I like the new Gibson Songwriter and J45 as much as any Larivee/Taylor/Martin/Whatever in the same price range.

jl

[socalstyleonline]

takamine!
takamine!
takamine!!!!

I LOVE my takamine. I have played a $5000 martin I believe it was, and tried recording something with it, and it didnt sound right. Picked my tak up, A/B'd it, and fell back in love with it. I got it for $400 on craigslist too.

Has alot to do with playstyle too I would assume. Like someone who is amazing at spanish fingerpicking guitar, probably would have liked the martin more I figure because it was a bit brighter. But you try to drop the martin down to D and play some good rythym guitar, and you realize the martin was not meant to do such things.

[SkunkWorks]

I had 2 Takamines I had to return due to neck issues that either were there right from the start or developed over the first winter. I recently found out I had what's refered to as the "Alberta Hump" in the fret board at the 12th fret where the neck meets the body. I didn't know enough about the proper care of an acoustic at the time, especially in a low humidity climate like where I live (Alberta, obviously). I realize now I probably could have reversed the issue by re-humidifying the guitar. I just bought a Seagull last week and will be taking proper care of this one.

What pissed me off is that I bought those Takamines at one of our 3 major local retailers and they are the only ones that are keeping their stock out on the main floor area and not in a climate controlled room... so they are selling acoustics with the "Alberta Hump" right out of the store like that... no excuse for that, unlike myself, these people are in a business where they should know better.

Really watch the humidity with these imports... Alvarez and Tanglewood are bad for it too.