How's the Epi AJ-100 as a starter guitar?

[KokoTele]

A friend wants me to help her find her first acoustic to learn on and has a budget of about $150. Actually, $150 is stretching it. The Epi AJ-100 falls into that range. Has anyone picked one up to check it out?

I figured I'd dress the frets and touch up the nut and bridge, if necessary.

[outbreak]

a friend of mine bought one as a cheap accoustic it's surprisingly good although it has abit of fret buzz and the pickguard began peeling off the body after afew weeks

[KokoTele]

The specs on this are a little vague. They describe the top as "select spruce." Is that their way of saying that it's a laminate, or what?

[aunchaki]

Originally Posted by eryque

They describe the top as "select spruce." Is that their way of saying that it's a laminate, or what?

It's laminate -- if it were solid, they'd say so. You have to jump to the Dove/Hummingbird level to get the solid top.

That said, they can be very nice if properly set up. I've played them in the stores and recommended them to other beginners. I have an Epi Hummingbird, myself.

[helknf]

I just bought an epi dr200s. only 200 dollars, solid top. I think it sounds great.

[mudbean]

I'm just gonna assume here (and I know what that implies!), but she'll probably want something shiny and new, which will severely limit your options in terms of obtaining the most quality for her $$$. You know where I'm going with this ... if it were for me, I'd get a Yamaha F-310 off of CraigsList - I see them all the time for around $100. IMHO, one of the best starter gits out there.

mud

[studio1087]

They always specify SOLID WOOD wgen the top is solid.

Select Spruce = laminated.

Some of the Epi's are very nice. The great thing about the AJ-100 is that the average Guitar Center has 8 of them in stock. Play them all. Pick a winner. I had a solid top Epi 12 string that I bought for $199 before I bought my Martin 12 string. The Epi 12 was nice; I could play fingerstyle with ease on it.

Play a bunch of them and pick a winner.

If you can stretch it to $199, the Yamaha FG700S is a great solid top starter guitar and Guitar center will also have 7 or 8 FG700S's. Three of my students have bought the FG700S and I used to own one for camping. I have yet to play a dud. At $199. I like the FG700S better than the Seagull S6.

Yamaha FG700S Link

Epi AJ-100 Link

John

[KokoTele]

In reality, she doesn't have nearly enough time to learn to play, so maybe I'll strongly suggest that she stretch it to $200, which will make her think twice about whether or not she really wants to spend the money.

[zooyuka]

I have one. Its ok. You get what you pay for. I wish I would of waited and put the money towards a better guitar.

[RickG501]

I played one in Guit ctr. one day. Action and playability were pretty good for a cheapy. But the sound quality was pretty weak. For a starter, maybe ok, considering they might not follow through with the learning to play project.