Right, decided it's about time to invest in a half decent electro acoustic guitar. I've previously been using an ancient Oscar Schmidt dreadnought (budget Washburn). Relatively speaking, my knowledge of electrics is ok but I'm not that up on what's good in electro-acoustics. I'm looking a 6 string and I "think" I'd be more comfortable with a traditional shaped body rather than a rounded "Ovation" style body (will be taking myself down my local music shop to check though as it's been a while since I've played one and I might like it now!). Got a budget of about £400. Anyone got any recommendations?

 

Cheers,

 

Leigh

Do you mean a semi acoustic like a martin acoustic with a pickup bar and controls on the acoustics chamber? Or a Les Paul Semi acoustic type thing.

Before I say anything else: avoid Deane. I have a Deane acoustic which I paid about £300 for six years ago and it's very toppy.

 

My current guitar is a L'Arrivee which I managed to get for £580 including the import duty (bought from the States) which is a bit more than you're looking to spend but if you know anyone going over there any time soon it's definitely worth asking them to get you something because it's so much cheaper and £400 would probably buy you something very nice. For my guitar over here you're looking at over £1000 new so like I say, worth thinking about.

 

You might want to consider a second-hand Taylor or something like that. Best thing to do is to get yourself down to a guitar shop and play as many different guitars as you can to see what you like. And definitely shop around a bit.

 

Takemine are very well regarded although I can't say I'm an enormous fan. I did play a Yamaha recently that was very good and didn't cost that much, £250 I seem to recall. Martin are also very well regarded but I doubt you'd pick up even a second-hand one for £400.

 

I'd suggest avoiding roundbacks because they just slide around all over the place, particularly if you try playing them sitting down. Plus I've never heard one that really impressed me, plus they look a bit daft IMO.

 

Best of luck with it.

 

 

Cheers,

Bart

Do a search for 'lamaq'.

 

He's got a few really nice electro acoustics on the go, I think they are the last of the older models, the new stuff is due in this later this year :cool:

 

There is a model called the 5190, it has a fishman eq, solid indian rosewood back & sides, solid cedar top, rosewood bridge and fingerboard, real abalone inlays and rosette etc etc

 

Think he has an ebay shop too called iguitars.

 

His email is marc@iguitars.biz

 

I think hes also known as marcz32 ;)

In Leigh price range there are some really nice Yamaha's

Of all the guitars to keep away from is the Avalons.

 

They've had a major failure in production from there far eastern factory. The last production run were made from poorly seasoned material. Its only after a few months that they start to shrink and fall apart. There has been a massive recall of there products so beware - dont take one for any price!!!

 

Other than that, just get out there and play a good mixture so you get a feel for whats really best for you.

 

Happy hunting

 

Marc

what about one of these? this is what pat metheny uses:

http://www.redferret.net/?p=7402

I'd agree with Mark. Yamaha have some amazing quality electro-acoustics in that price range. They are as good as many others that are several hundred pounds more. The other ones mentioned are normally more expensive (martin,etc, amazing guitars though). I've got a fender electro acoustic that was about £550 5yrs ago which is very nice as well. I played an ovation roundback jobby for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It was worth about 1500 squids though so not your average guitar! Just need to be able to play them better now :mac1:

Theres a lot of good stuff out there.

 

Try and make sure that the guitar is made from a solid top at least, some will advertise spruce or cedar but they may be laminated...double check.

 

Also if your gonna spend some decent money on a guitar, ask for it to be set-up and restrung for you at no charge. Almost all guitars are factory set up...which means the action will tend to err towards the high side and the strings will not be as bright.

 

another 2p worth lol.

Thanks for the input guys. Luckily one of my best mates has folks that run a really good music shop up in Scotland (where my SG came from!) so I'll definately be getting it from there. The good thing is they set-up everything before sending it on so hopefully that will be one less thing to worry about :) I'll be taking myself off to my local shop to try a few out beforehand to see what I take to which should help.

My bro bought one last year (and hes seriously picky about his guitars). It's a Takamine.

 

You want to try a few of these as the guy in the shop said they really do vary in quality, some are fantastic and others are truly terrible.

 

 

 

 

Theres a lot of good stuff out there.

 

Try and make sure that the guitar is made from a solid top at least, some will advertise spruce or cedar but they may be laminated...double check.

 

Also if your gonna spend some decent money on a guitar, ask for it to be set-up and restrung for you at no charge. Almost all guitars are factory set up...which means the action will tend to err towards the high side and the strings will not be as bright.

 

another 2p worth lol.

i was getting a guitar delivered, but i think it must be coming by carrier pidgen lol :p :rofl:

i was getting a guitar delivered, but i think it must be coming by carrier pidgen lol :p :rofl:

 

No mate.....snail mail :slap:

No mate.....snail mail :slap:

 

pmsl :slap: :rofl: :rofl:

Takemine.....is the one for me .....this is the millenem 2000 ..

 

 

this will set you back about £1800.....only 150 made ..

 

but you can get a Takemine( a good one ) for about £500......

 

 

hope this help's ..

 

wozza ..

 

..

Cheers for the input guys. Will hopefully be getting my skinny white ass down the music shop this week to have play of a few.

Fender do a couple of great electro acoustics for 450... I bought a tanglewood semi hollow electric guitar...plays like an acoustic, but with te benfits of an electric.... Line 6 do a nice range of variax 700 and 300 acoustics. Which are superb...

 

300 available at http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info%5fVARIAX300ACOUSTEEL%2ehtml?GCID=C16390x005&gclid=CPDFgIHOlIwCFSgEEAodLESTdg