instrument. looking to upgrade my acoustic guitar?

j

hey guys, i have a cheap acoustic (quality wise) which id like to replace with a cheap acoustic (money wise) my budget is up to 350. currently im considering the martin lx1 based on all the good reviews plus i like the sound. can you tell me some drawbacks/cons of this guitar? or offer a better option that will fit the budget? thnx in advance :}

Answer
If you currently have a very poor quality acoustic that doesn't even have a solid top, then upgrading to a solid top guitar will make a big difference for you. However, I think you'll find that you'll soon be looking for a guitar that doesn't just have a solid top, but has solid wood back and sides as well. The difference between the two is just as big (if not bigger) than the difference between an all plywood guitar and one with a solid top (but laminate back and sides). There's just no comparison. An all solid wood guitar is something that's going to open up more and more as you play it and will only get better with age. It's something you're going to be happy with for years to come, whereas a guitar that only has a solid top is one that you'll enjoy for sure, but you'll quickly be wishing you've got something even better.

Your budget is high enough right now where, for just a little bit more, you'll be able to find some deals on all-solid wood guitars. I just checked Amazon and this one is an amazing deal. I would jump on it without hesitation:
-(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7C17Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=choos02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001G7C17Q) Blueridge makes some great guitars for the money and this is a fantastic deal for one of these.

If you absolutely can't go above $350, the LX1 isn't a bad choice. It is a small guitar though, and it's not going to provide with you with some of the depth and volume that a bigger guitar might offer. It does have a solid top, though, and laminate back and sides so, for the money, it's a pretty good option. I would definitely check out a few other solid-top guitars while you're looking, though. In that price range, ones worth checking out are:
Seagull
Takamine
Epiphone
Ibanez
Blueridge
Durango
Recording King
(I'd avoid Dean and Washburn. Their quality control can be very inconsistent and, unless you know exactly what to watch out for, you could end up with a lemon on your hands).

Some specific instruments that are on Amazon worth checking out:
- (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IC1DE0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=choos02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002IC1DE0) Recording King is a lesser known brand that is making surprisingly good guitars for the money. This is a smaller-bodied guitar, as well, if that's what you're looking for

-(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OMI3UC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=choos02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001OMI3UC) Blueridge - Another 000 body size, which is the same size as the Recording King above. You wouldn't be disappointed with this one.

- (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BTJQYG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=choos02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000BTJQYG) The Seagull S6. It's popular for a reason. Just a great guitar for the money. Sounds amazing for a guitar in its price range. The cedar top delivers a nice, warm tone. I still have mine despite owning many far more expensive guitars, and pick it from time to time just because it's a cool, unique guitar. It is a dreadnought, so it's going to be significantly larger than the Martin LX1 or the Recording King.

Hopefully that helps. If you can afford that all-solid Blueridge, I would absolutely buy it.

The best quality cheap (cheap) mics for acoustic guitar and vocal recording?

J

Right now, I'm using a Starpower SP-9 which seems to work O.K. But I wonder if there are specific mics I could using individually for vocals and acoustic (and sometimes elec.) guitar. 5 stars for an educated, experienced musician/recorder. Note: I'm in a pretty small studio apartment and plan on using FL studio with it. I also play a Privia Piano...which I believe can be directly recorded via USB to my computer. I'm using an 8-track as well...Tascam DP-01. Note only will you get 5 stars but my blessings. Thank you.

Answer
the best quality mics are not cheap at all. the electronics within good studio quality mics are better than the crappy cheap mics people will buy for home studios. however, at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the sound. if it sounds good, it is good.

i've heard good things about the AT 2020. it has been released now with a USB connection so its easier to connect to a computer for a home recording session. i haven't used many USB mics, so i can't speak for the quality.

for vocals and acoustic i would recommend the Rode NT1a. i've heard it on a lot of sessions and it has never let me down. it sells for about $240, but i would lump the sound in with that of a mic costing over $1000.

afor electric guitar i would recommend the Shure SM57. that mic has been around forever in studios and live shows. it sells for around $100 i believe. it pretty much sounds good on anything except vocals. if you are mostly doing vocals and acoustic, this might not be the right choice but if you plan on recording more instruments at some point, this is a great mic.

the Shure SM58 is a good vocals mic that like the SM57 has been around for a long time. i haven't used it a lot, but i've always heard good things. it sells for around $100 as well i believe. obviously this mix isn't going to sound like a C12 or a Blue Bottle (both very good but expensive mics) but will get you a good recording for the price. i'm sure it will also sound good on acoustics not just vocals.

what i would recommend is that you get on some sites like guitarcenter.com sweetwater.com or musiciansfriend.com and check out their mics and read reviews on them. the reviews will give you a little more insite into consumer opinions after trying them. reading reviews will help save you money and time when purchasing something like this. the mics i mentioned are all industry staples but there are hundreds of mics out there.

just remember, at the end of the day, the sound is the only thing that matters. if you buy an old ugly trashy looking mic, and it sounds amazing, then use it.

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Buying a new acoustic guitar and need advice?

cheap quality acoustic guitars image

jamestar89

I got a 3/4 size guitar at a yard sale real cheap about a year ago, but I've been practicing and would like to get a better quality acoustic guitar now, but I have no clue what type I should get. If anyone is into guitars and knows anything about them, can you give me any good make/models of guitars and basic price ranges for them? Thank you!

Answer
It kinda depends on how much you wanna spend and how much stuff you want with it. I would look on the musicians friend or guitar center. I got one from Costco actually. It was a Yamaha FD01 and I really like it. You can browse through stuff by price range on websites to look for yourself, but on Musicans Friend they have a yamaha EDF01 for 200, an Ibanez SGT120NT for 180. When you get in the more expensive price ranges, an Taylor is gonna be nice, Martins are nice, Alvarez, Ibanez, Fender, Epiphone. Really it's a preference of sound and feel. The best thing to do would be to go to a local music store and see what feels and sounds best to you. If you have a guitar center nearby go there. You can wheel and deal the workers like at a yard sale, compare prices and what not. When I was shopping for an acoustic I told them about the one at Costco and the sales rep said she'd throw in a gig bag, strings, pics, and a tuner for free. It might be a little awkward doing it but the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Also, if you're looking to go Acoustic Electric look at the same brands.

How big should a guitar be for an adult?

Q. I'm buying a cheap acoustic guitar for my boyfriend and I've looked online and all the ones that are 36 inches say they are "Children's" guitars. How big should a guitar for an adult be?
I know nothing about guitars so any help is welcome.

Answer
I don't know what stores you are looking at, but real guitars for adults are never sold in "inches".

They are sold with no labeling at all referring to size OR they may be "3/4 size" for children.

Do NOT buy a cheap guitar from a place like Wal-Mart or Target for like, $100. They will be awful to play. They are hard to play because of the cheap construction of the neck and bridge, and they cannot be tuned.
I'm not joking. They are made so imprecisely (the location and spacing of the frets on the neck), that they will always sound out of tune.

Having played guitar as a serious hobby and in a few bands for the past 30 years, let me give you some honest advice. Expect to pay about $300, for an acoustic guitar that is at least playable, meaning the strings won't be absolute agony to hold down, it will stay in tune, and will have a pleasant sound. Anything cheaper is total frustration.

If you are looking on-line, you can look at Musicians Friend or American Musical Supply (google them, they are easy to find), and look for something in the $250to $350 price range.
I have bought from both of those on-line places before, and they have always been reliable, even buying instruments through the mail. If he is serious about playing, it is much MUCH better to go to a local music store where you can try out the guitars, because there is a lot of variation in what you'll get for your 300 bucks.

(Of course, if your budget is bigger, you'll get a BIG jump in quality if you can get into the $700 guitars, and still other big jumps at the $1200, $1600, and so on, level. Yes, good guitars really do cost that much, and with good reason).

If you have a choice, TRY to get ones with a SOLID top (not laminated). Unless the description SAYS it has a solid top, it doesn't, believe me. Next up, you want solid back and sides (again, it will say if it has this). But now you are getting up into the $700 and up range.

Brands in $300 price range that make decent instruments, that I have actually tested out, are Guild, Yamaha, Ibanez, Takamine, and Epiphone (there are others). I have NOT been pleased with Fender's acoustic guitars, so I'd stay away from them, despite their well-respected name in amplifiers and electric guitars.

The really good stuff, like Martin, Taylor, Seagull (cheaper than the other two!) are $800 - $3000.

Oh, and for historical information, my first guitar was an Ovation (I don't care for them anymore, but they do still make fine guitars). It cost $200 in 1978, so today, it would be
$750. Next was a Seagull around year 2000 that cost $600, and just recently, a BEAUTIFUL Taylor that cost about $1700.

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