best acoustic guitars over 1000
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VS_P!NK
I know Taylor makes amazing koa wood guitars but they're majorly expensive. I didn't know if I could base whether or not a guitar is superb just based on the fact it's made of koa. I'm looking for a koa acoustic electric guitar for under $1000 [thus the question] thanks!
Answer
Using beautiful wood doesn't guarantee that a guitar will be great, since there are more factors than materials that matter in determining an instrument's sound and playability. I'd recommend going to a well-stocked guitar store and trying the koa guitars that interest you, since hands-on experience will provide you with more information than manufacturer blurbs. But if you buy one online without ever having played it, there's a good chance the guitar will have issues that make it challenging to play. Lots of sub-par guitar companies have begun making instruments with gorgeous woods to lend an air of respectability to their products, but the guitars are still plagued with tuning and intonation problems, as well as high action that makes them nearly unplayable.
Dean has a koa guitar that's very nicely priced and has great reviews. I've never played one, so I can't give an opinion, but it's worth a trip to Guitar Center if there's one close to you. Here's a link:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Dean-Exotica-Koa-Acoustic-Guitar-516013-i1276285.gc?source=4AGGWXX2
And Ibanez makes a guitar from zebrawood, which is similar to koa. It's an acoustic-electric and has one of the thinnest, most comfortable necks of any acoustic guitar. I own the figured ash guitar from the same series and am consistently blown away both by the way the guitar sounds and the way it feels in my hands (I've got small hands, so lots of guitar necks are challenging for me). If you're not familiar with Ibanez guitars, they're built like rocks, sound incredible and are often nicer than guitars costing twice as much. I've had one of mine (purchased second hand) for more than 25 years and it's still my primary guitar for both recording and playing live. Here are a couple links to Ibanez guitars that are similar to koa ones:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-Exotic-Wood-Series-EW50MPSE-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-520146-i1460856.gc
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-Exotic-Wood-Series-EW20SGE-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-520145-i1442086.gc
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-EW20ZWE-EXOTIC-WOOD-SERIES-Zebrawood-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-104302476-i1172985.gc
Can someone help me find a good acoustic guitar?
Max
I'm looking for a 6-stringed steel-string acoustic guitar. I'm looking to play a styles similar to artists like Jason Mraz, Jerry Reed, but I also want the guitar to be able to play other styles when need be. I'm not asking for a specific model or anything like that, but I would just like to know some brands that have good acoustics for a reasonable price (under $1000). Thanks in advance!
Answer
You haven't mentioned your playing level. Are you a beginner looking for a guitar to learn on? Playing different styles is not just a matter of buying the right guitar, but of learning how. You can play pretty much any style within reason on almost any guitar. Selecting a guitar that is beyond the entry level ($150-300) is largely a matter of personal preference and experience gained from trying out many guitars. You will probably go through several guitars as your skills improve and your tastes change. What you like now may not be what you like in a few years.
For this reason, if you're just starting out, I'd suggest going to a guitar store and trying some entry level instruments. Yamaha has some excellent models in the entry level price range, especially their 700-series solid spruce-topped models. (Most guitars in this price range are all plywood. If the product description doesn't say SOLID spruce, it isn't).
If you've been playing a few years and are looking for a better instrument, definitely look for one with a solid spruce, cedar, or even mahogany top. Seagull and the other Godin lines are quite good in the midrange (a few hundred to a thousand). If you have enough experience to identify common repair issues, also look at used instruments - perhaps you could find a high-end guitar, for example a Martin or Taylor, made of all solid wood. There are many good brands in the higher price ranges and you just have to get out there and play them to know what suits you.
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