What's a good acoustic guitar to buy?

best acoustic guitar 800 dollars image

Sam

I have around 500-800 dollars to spend on a new acoustic guitar. I was looking at some of Carvins guitars and also browsed around guitar center and saw a few I liked. But as far as quality and sound is there anything that sounds amazing and is nicely crafted. The lower the price usually the better. Thanks guys!

Answer
Well you have a good budget , to start with as you'll be able to get a pretty decent one. Taylor guitars are probably some of the best out there, and you make be able to buy one of their cheaper guitars with that sort of budget, the good part is you know it will be made to a high standard. Fender guitars are also really good and these start from a much lower price range. Takamine guitars are aslo pretty good and I know they start fairly low. Yamaha are alright, but they're not the best, but then out does come down to what you feel like is the best.

Those are the brands I can think of off my head but I'm sure there are more. As I said though the best guitar for you is the one that feels and sounds the best to you, so you will be comfortable playing it. Just go to other shops in your area to see what they have and play on those guitars too. I went to four shops looking for a guitar before I found one I even remotely liked... (I have a fender electro acoustic now :) )

What should i look for in an acoustic guitar?

LoG

I want to get an acoustic guitar and i dont know anything about them. I dont know what to look for or what makes one good. I want a decent one around 300-600 dollars. What are some brands and what are some things i should ask about at the store?

Answer
I have been playing acoustic guitar for 40 years and have played a lot of the different brands. My favorite I have had for 36 of those years and is a Guild. It gets better with time and I get many compliments on it's sound. That said, I have some other favorites that are in your price range but first you should know what you are getting into.
1. It is a wonderful thing to play guitar but you will experience some pain as you develop the callouses on your finger tips. It takes about 2 months of playing everyday for 30 minutes but it is well worth it.
2. You want the strings to be as close to the fretboard (neck) as possible. To test the guitar for quality, press the string to the fretboard just to the left (if you are right handed) of the fret(metal strip on the neck) for each string and each fret. Make sure it does not buzz and gives a clear sound. Most will be okay but check anyway. I have found some top quality instruments have a buzz on one fret and of course it will always be the fret you need to play your favorite song.
3. Listen to the sound and find one that you like. Same manufacturers, same models, do not sound alike. Ask me how I know.
4. Some good brands I like are Taylor, Alvarez, Takamine, Martin. If you are willing to spend $500 - $800 you should be able to find an excellent guitar. The tones range from bassey to bright tones. The nylon stringed guitars do not work well unless you are playing classical, blues type music.
5. The type of strings also will give different sounds. I like the D'Addario strings for my Guild. Use a light gauge as they are easiest to play. They also break easier. I once played at an October hayride and forgot I had light gauges on. As it was pretty cool weather I broke everyone of the six strings and replaced them with a medium gauge.
6. Acoustic is harder to play than an electric. Different stings, doesn't require as much pressure. Often times one cannot play the electric if he has played an acoustic because techniques are totally different. If you play by yourself acoustic is definitely the way to go. Of course my opinion is biased.
7. Find a good teacher and it will make life easier on you. Nuff said. I don't read music. I hear it and I play it. It just takes me longer sometimes. I wish I had had a good teacher.
8. Be committed and disciplined and the rewards will be great.

Enjoy.
ILoveMyGuitar

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What is the difference between the mid-priced and super-expensive guitars?

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B.J.

Would a $1,999 Gibson acoustic guitar sound a lot better than a $199 Ibanez acoustic guitar and $699 Taylor acoustic guitar, or are you just paying for the design and nice finish? If you can be specific, please do.

Answer
A guitar under 200 bucks is, well, no damn good.

200-500 is a GOOD amateur-class guitar.

700-1000 is generally entry-level pro quality.

1000 dollars and up is 'custom' quality. That is, best of everything put together. The highest end guitars can run around 3K. More, and your paying for vintage, usually.

Making that spread a little more complex, some brands are known for having strengths and weaknesses. For example, in the upper end, an Epiphone Les Paul is the real deal, a serious musicians guitar. At the lower end, Epiphone makes junk. Ibanez guitars are famous cost/value guitars... they make cheap guitars of notable quality for the price. Some guitar makers are famous for one model and everything else they do is junk. Some make great acoustics, lousy electrics. Some the other way.

The differences are in woods (although, in guitar woods, it is usually good vs cheap) hardware (chrome is cheap and wears fast, plastic loses finish and eventually breaks, while graphite and steel last forever) electronics (cheap components and wiring over quality) and craftsmanship (a guitar made by human hands will cost more than a manufactured one... usually any guitar under 500 bucks is mass-produced). Finish depends in intended material/look. Some finishes are soooo deep that scratches don't make it far and never show, and are easily filled and buffed.

Rounding out the price factor will be options: passive vs active pickups, locking bridges and tuners, one way or two way trem bars...

So yes... there is a real quality difference between a 199 guitar and a 1999 guitar.

It is generally accepted that NO ONE should buy the cheapest guitars. Novices should start in the 200-300 range. After a year or three, move up to the best guitar you can afford, especially if you intend to play in front of people for money. If you never intend to leave your room no matter how good you get, you can get buy with guitars between 300 and 800 bucks, depending. A novice usually can't appreciate a GREAT guitar. As soon as you play well enough to know the difference, one should start to seriously begin trying as many guitars as possible, to learn your preferences.

As far as cost, you are paying for a guitar that will sound better, physically play better, and require less fanatical care (although you really should be a fanatic anyway) to remain in good condition. TO keep a cheap guitar going, you have to replace some of the hardware every five or so years, depending on use. A 1000 dollar and up guitar is usually configured JUST as you want it, and will never require repairs if you care for it well.

EDIT: Kab's analogy is very good... most of us have 700 dollar guitars that will 'get us there.' And Mikey's right about Gibson acoustics. They are an example of a manufacturer that has a few pet beauties, and their acoustics ride on that reputation without living up to it.

I want to learn to play the Guitar. Which is the best guitar for beginners?

A.S.K

I like the sound of the acoustic guitar.

Answer
Of course its all about how much you can spend. Yamaha dose have nice solid top guitars for 200-300. I think the Washburns give more for the money. When starting out ease of playability is very important. Shop with someone knowledgeable about acoustic guitars.
If your price range is 500-800 range Martin makes some very nice low end guitars such as models DX-1 and DM. Also for that price Blueridge offers the BR160 and BR140 that are all solid woods and will last a lifetime if taken care of. Guild also has nice solid guitars in the 600 range.
Don't go out and buy a 100 dollar cheapo if you are serious. But don't rule out getting a nice used guitar for a great price. Guitar Center and Sam Ash carry used gear as well.
Good luck.

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What's the best acoustic guitar for under 800 dollars?

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Zach

I'm a beginner but I'm looking for a good quality acoustic guitar for under $800. I really prefer a Martin or Taylor but am open for other suggestions. I'll be playing and singing country music mostly if that helps.

Answer
A yamaha fg700s would be perfect for you at youre stage and youll have 600 to go towards a martin or taylor for when youve got more experience and are more serious about playing. You wont get a decent martin or taylor with 800. If you want something a bit better than the fg700 then try a seagull s6 or a yamaha fg730s.simon and patrick and takamine are good quality too. For me,these are the best guitar brands under $800 to try out at a few stores. Dont buy a guitar for the name,buy one for the sound and feel.ive had most of the above until i needed better.all i play now is martins as i prefer them to everything else ive played,and ive played a lot and wasted money on a lot.the cheapest quality martin
You can get is a d1gt,everything cheaper is laminate mexico models.

What's a good acoustic guitar to buy?

Sam

I have around 500-800 dollars to spend on a new acoustic guitar. I was looking at some of Carvins guitars and also browsed around guitar center and saw a few I liked. But as far as quality and sound is there anything that sounds amazing and is nicely crafted. The lower the price usually the better. Thanks guys!

Answer
Well you have a good budget , to start with as you'll be able to get a pretty decent one. Taylor guitars are probably some of the best out there, and you make be able to buy one of their cheaper guitars with that sort of budget, the good part is you know it will be made to a high standard. Fender guitars are also really good and these start from a much lower price range. Takamine guitars are aslo pretty good and I know they start fairly low. Yamaha are alright, but they're not the best, but then out does come down to what you feel like is the best.

Those are the brands I can think of off my head but I'm sure there are more. As I said though the best guitar for you is the one that feels and sounds the best to you, so you will be comfortable playing it. Just go to other shops in your area to see what they have and play on those guitars too. I went to four shops looking for a guitar before I found one I even remotely liked... (I have a fender electro acoustic now :) )

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What's the best acoustic guitar for under 800 dollars?

best acoustic guitar 800 dollars image

Zach

I'm a beginner but I'm looking for a good quality acoustic guitar for under $800. I really prefer a Martin or Taylor but am open for other suggestions. I'll be playing and singing country music mostly if that helps.

Answer
A yamaha fg700s would be perfect for you at youre stage and youll have 600 to go towards a martin or taylor for when youve got more experience and are more serious about playing. You wont get a decent martin or taylor with 800. If you want something a bit better than the fg700 then try a seagull s6 or a yamaha fg730s.simon and patrick and takamine are good quality too. For me,these are the best guitar brands under $800 to try out at a few stores. Dont buy a guitar for the name,buy one for the sound and feel.ive had most of the above until i needed better.all i play now is martins as i prefer them to everything else ive played,and ive played a lot and wasted money on a lot.the cheapest quality martin
You can get is a d1gt,everything cheaper is laminate mexico models.

What's a good acoustic guitar to buy?

Sam

I have around 500-800 dollars to spend on a new acoustic guitar. I was looking at some of Carvins guitars and also browsed around guitar center and saw a few I liked. But as far as quality and sound is there anything that sounds amazing and is nicely crafted. The lower the price usually the better. Thanks guys!

Answer
Well you have a good budget , to start with as you'll be able to get a pretty decent one. Taylor guitars are probably some of the best out there, and you make be able to buy one of their cheaper guitars with that sort of budget, the good part is you know it will be made to a high standard. Fender guitars are also really good and these start from a much lower price range. Takamine guitars are aslo pretty good and I know they start fairly low. Yamaha are alright, but they're not the best, but then out does come down to what you feel like is the best.

Those are the brands I can think of off my head but I'm sure there are more. As I said though the best guitar for you is the one that feels and sounds the best to you, so you will be comfortable playing it. Just go to other shops in your area to see what they have and play on those guitars too. I went to four shops looking for a guitar before I found one I even remotely liked... (I have a fender electro acoustic now :) )

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