Silly $1000 Question

[Momotoro]

Well, after playing my acoustic this summer several times, I realized how much work you can get done on one. My old Seagull S6 is not holding up well though.

What are the recomendations out there for the $1k point?

[cacibi]

I love my Martin DM. Just a great sounding acoustic at a pretty reasonable price. Seen them between $699 and $899.

[studio1087]

Buy a D-15. I think the street price is $949 right now, new with case and life warantee.

I will never sell mine. Fantastic 100% wooden guitar.



http://www.maurysmusic.com/inc/sdetail/569

Go here and click on D-15 - Give it a listen.........

http://www.maurysmusic.com/martin_guitar_video_clips

[Stuco]

Why get a d-15 when you can get a d-16gt? Check www.trinityguitars.com and email or call jim for a great deal on the d-16gt.

Or, go for a Larrivee 03 series. All solid wood, ebony fretboard and bridge, solid mahogany necks, maple bindings, really nice sounding guitars. Contact www.notableguitars.com or www.trinityguitars.com or www.guitaradoptions.com for the best prices on larrivees. IMO these are THE best guitars for under a grand.

[Califiddler]

I would immediately get one of these before the sale ends:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tar?sku=515888

or

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...0&src=3SOSWXXB

The mahogany is $150 less than the regular D15, the rosewood is $50 less than the regular D15, and you get a spruce top instead of mahogany top.

I think that it would be tough to beat these two guitars for bang-for-the-buck in an acoustic.

[GeoCaster]

Any of the Martin 15 or 1 series would be a great guitar.

[buddywayne]

I have a mohogany D15 and will probably always have it. sweetest sound I
have heard on a flat top; although volume leaves something to be desired. I
just sold a Martin DR Rosewood that had volume and playability but just could
not compare to that pleasant mohogany sound. My D15 Mohogany has been
played enough that the shiny wear and body oil marks, to me, make it even
more desirable.

[Stubee]

The -15s are nice, I've seen a few D-16 GTs used on various sites for way less than yer budget. Maybe a hair nicer, esp. if you want a spruce top.

I've never owned either, but had quite a few Martins & played -15s & GTs, thought the GT was always a pretty good deal...as is the D-15. Depends on what you want, they sound a bit different, both good.

Haven't played the -15 custom but it looks pretty nice. Ya got lotsa choices.

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by Stuco

Why get a d-15 when you can get a d-16gt? Check www.trinityguitars.com and email or call jim for a great deal on the d-16gt.

Or, go for a Larrivee 03 series. All solid wood, ebony fretboard and bridge, solid mahogany necks, maple bindings, really nice sounding guitars. Contact www.notableguitars.com or www.trinityguitars.com or www.guitaradoptions.com for the best prices on larrivees. IMO these are THE best guitars for under a grand.

I have to agree here. I liked some of the D-16s more when I shopped. The best 15 series I tried was used and not in inventory at the time. I do see my local Larrivee dealer has a D-15 now.

I went with a Larrivee D-03 after shopping for a good while. It sounded, played, and looked better than guitars 3x the price. I would say it'd due to my dealer (see below), but so many say these are good guitars.

Note:
http://sprucetreemusic.com/settingup.html

I wonder if Larrivee has an advantage over others because they supply spruce to the major makers. No other guitar costing even more had a top as nice as mine, and I can't say if it's really an advantage, but I really like the way it has wood where other makers have a synthetic material.

Now, for all that said I have an irrational desire to get a used HD-28 for sale locally at a good price because I wanted a Martin for 30+ years but even at a good price that Larrivee makes me question spending the money. I will get serious about this next week and my Larrivee might be in the classified here if I get stupid.

The bottom line was everything I tried after several D and L Larrivees either didn't stack up or was a clear case of diminishing returns for any more money spent. Thus, why it's probably dumb for me to even visit that used HD-28, but we know what guitars can do to people.

[Tim Armstrong]

I had a Seagull that was quite nice, but one strum on the Larrivee D-03 that was hanging on the wall at my favorite mom and pop music store and that Seagull was for sale!

The best $800 acoustic guitar I've ever played.

Cheers, Tim

[Momotoro]

thanks fellers,

I have been looking at the Martins 16 and 15's now along with the Larivee 03 (I have a Larivee Parlor that is on loan, I forgot about it). I think I will go to the local dealers and play those three models and just pick the one that speaks most to me.

I really appreciate the replies, it is comforting to know you haven't picked the wrong price point. Lots of good company.

[tbp0701]

I spent quite a bit of time shopping for acoustics in the under-$1,000 range. I kept coming back to two: the Martin 000-15 and the Larrivee L-03.

I wound up gettering a Martin 000-15. (I bought it from Maury's Music for quite a bit less than the MAP).

The Taylor 214 was pretty nice, too, and played easily, but its tone wasn't my personal preference (after all, I wound up getting a much darker sounding, all-mahogany guitar). But I think Taylor changed its line-up, and those are no longer all-solid wood guitars.

[Califiddler]

I don't think you can get the D-15 Custom from a dealer, I think it's an MF thing only.

I don't understand why anyone would go for the D-16GT over the D-15 Custom Spruce & Mahogany. They're both Martins, they both have solid spruce tops, solid mahogany back and sides, they both come with a hard case, but: 1) the D-15 Custom has rosewood fretboard and bridge, whereas the D-16GT has micarta fretboard and bridge; and 2) the D-15 Custom is $200 less right now, at least using MF prices.

Am I missing something? Is the D-16GT worth $200 more than the D-15 Custom Spruce & Mahogany? Or is it just not being able to play the D-15 Custom in a store before buying?

[Stuco]

Originally Posted by Califiddler

Am I missing something? Is the D-16GT worth $200 more than the D-15 Custom Spruce & Mahogany? Or is it just not being able to play the D-15 Custom in a store before buying?

I've read some dodgy reviews about the quality of the d-15 custom. The D-16gt has a gloss top, bindings, better looking rosette and a better(imo) bracing pattern. The D-16GT is overpriced on MF friend and can be had for very close to the price of the D-15 custom.

[Stuco]

Try a Larrivee -03 series before you purchase any of these other guitars. With the larrivee you're getting the same guitar as their high end instruments, the only difference is the lack of gloss finish, abalone rossette, headstock border and archtop case.

[texasdave]

...and Larrivee D-05s can often be found used for under a grand...and sometimes D-09s right about a grand or just beyond...

Here's a D-05 that ends in 30 mins http://cgi.ebay.com/Larrivee-D-05-ac...QQcmdZViewItem

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

The best $800 acoustic guitar I've ever played.

I have to agree, so call the shrink to explain why I'm obsessed with a used HD-28 at a local shop. At least I can tell the shrink or therapy group that I've stayed away from it for a week+.

;)

[Califiddler]

Originally Posted by imwjl

I have to agree, so call the shrink to explain why I'm obsessed with a used HD-28 at a local shop. At least I can tell the shrink or therapy group that I've stayed away from it for a week+.

;)

It doesn't take a shrink to figure out why you're obsessed with a $2,500 guitar over an $800 guitar. The HD-28 is a fantastic guitar, if you can get it used for a decent price you will never regret buying it.

[Tim Armstrong]

I had a chance, about ten years ago, to buy an absolute cannon of an HD-28 for $900 from a pawn shop in Denver. Unfortunately, I had just about enough money for lunch.

Sigh....

Tim

[Momotoro]

at least permission. It's funny how significant others warm up to spending a little more when you actually play something they like. The acoustic spending limit has been bumped to $1200 due to learning a few new songs this weekend.

HuMMMmmm, playing brings positive responses and makes you a better player, never would have thought.

With all this in mind, I played a L 03 and a D16 gt?, I liked them both with a little lean to the Larrivee. The wood seemed nicer on the top to me. The sound a little more even, but could just be those two machines. Trying the D15 and anothe D16 on Wednesday.

Thanks a million, folks Absolutely the right direction