Affordable acoustic guitar suggestions...

Hello acoustic forum!

I am a seasoned electric player and I have just taken on a gig for which I will have to borrow an acoustic guitar.
The other option is to give the credit card a workout and buy one, so I can have one on call.

I am after an entry-level instrument I think, but I would like a pickup and a reasonable action.

I would be hoping to get away with spending $400-500.

The local shop has lots of Legend and Legacy branded things. There are lots of Fender branded things too. I have seen takamine played by people. I tried a Yamaha about 20 years ago and I vaguely remember that the action made it hard to play.

What do you guys think?

BTW, I have no idea what to look for in an acoustic guitar pickup, but I think that I need one so I can plug it into a PA....I will only being doing gigs with what I get.

It's easy to lower the action on an acoustic.....

1. Make sure the neck is straight; if not adjsut the truss rod.
2. Once the neck is straight, loosen the strings and lift or gently pull the saddle out the bridge. Lay a sheet of sandpaper flat on a table and sand the bottom of the bridge. Shorter bridge height = lower action.

What brands of Guitars are available in your Neighborhood?

My budget favorite is Yamaha. I lke them better than Seagulls. Yamaha guitars are great.

John

Hey Neill....check out the Tanglewoods at that price. (Smithy's used to stock them) of the other brands you mentioned...Yamaha is probably the only one I'd take on stage and a "safe" option....also check out Art & Lutherie (cheaper range made by the makers of Seagull & Godin guitars)

I would strongly suggest you play a few before you buy because at that price anything loaded with a pickup with also be loaded with compromise.

Also at that price range there can be quite substantial inconsistencies between the same model ie 2 Guitars - same price & same model can sound totally different.

Blueridge' for the imports - great guitars & very ' Martin' like....' Seagull" is a nice guitar for the money & also the import ' Breedloves".

Try a Fender Ga43 or Ga 45 can"t beat them for the price,For a solid wood guitar that you can pick up for around 5 to 600 dollars you just can"t find a better guitar..But no matter what you end up with please make sure you get a solid wood acoustic!!! not ply wood(laminated)

Seagull S6 .... Love mine, and was very affordable ...wonderful tone and I personally love the feel of the neck...solid Cedar topped...Made in Canada..and around 350 I think......

I would see if you can try a "Taylor Big Baby", not so keen on the Taylor Baby, but I am always blown away by the Big Baby's I have played.

the action on them is really good, I don't think you would have any issues.

I also like Takamines, i have two, but off the shelf the action is higher than the Big Baby's I have played.

Cheers

BMF

I've got a Breedlove with the deluxe case on E-Bay for $400. This is a great sounding guitar that I just don't get to play. I had a Yamaha when I started out, but this guitar seems to project that much better.:grin:

+1 on Blueridge. they have some pricy models but some affordable ones too. Seagull's are great but i hate how most of them look.

I would see if you can try a "Taylor Big Baby", I am always blown away by the Big Baby's I have played.
I also like Takamines, i have two, but off the shelf the action is higher than the Big Baby's I have played.
BMF

+1 on these two. All the big babies i have played are sooo easy to play, and they project volume loud and clear. You should also be able to have a pickup installed or buy an external pickup for around $500 maybe more depending on the pickup.

I have a Takamine and like it a lot, but most of the Takamines I like are out of the price range. :sad: but there are a few that might fit your needs.

Good luck on your search.:lol:

Seagull S6 .... Love mine, and was very affordable ...wonderful tone and I personally love the feel of the neck...solid Cedar topped...Made in Canada..and around 350 I think......

+1 on S6. I just got one last week and it sounds great and plays great. Very well made too. Not flashy, but if you want great tone for the buck, it's worth a look.

I really like my Crafter. It's got a great tone for a budget guitar and a solid top - can't remember about the back and sides! Certainly one to consider. It's got a nice slim neck and low action which, if you're an electric player, won't seem to strange to you.

I also hear good things about the Blueridge range but haven't tried them myself.

Dont forget Cort, amazing value and there may be Tanglewoods that came from the same factory.
Otherwise Seagull etc etc

+1 on the Seagulls, the Blueridge.

A used Westerly Guild.

Epiphone Masterbilts which are really nice instruments or a Guild GAD D-25 I love those mohagony monsters.

I have two Canadian-made acoustics that are superb and they were dirt cheap:

one's a La Petrie classical and the other's a Simon & Patrick steel string.. I think these are both from the same company?

Go to a music store and play a bunch of stuff. You never know what's gonna grab you. Lots of great guitars from obscure brands on the used market. I have a TAMA acoustic from the seventies I bought for $25. Hands down my favorite guitar.

Thanks for all of the suggestions everybody, it certainly has supplied some food for thought.

I'm afraid it's all a bit academic now; a mate of mine came through with an Ibanez acoustic that I can use for the gig.

I must admit I was a bit uneasy compromising. I am happier to wait. I think that when I do get one, it will be a custom job from a local luthier.

Thanks again!

I bought a Taylor "Big Baby"[not the baby] and installed a Dean Markly Tahoe soundhole pup..Excellent player with a bright ringing tone..I love the more compact size..It's very comfortable to play when sitting..It sounds good through a PA or a regular guitar amp..Don't need an acoustic amp..In my opinion,it's the best bang for the buck..I've played many guitars costing much more that were no better sounding or playing than my Big Baby..

Seagull S6 .... Love mine, and was very affordable ...wonderful tone and I personally love the feel of the neck...solid Cedar topped...Made in Canada..and around 350 I think......

+1, mine is spruce top, stays in tune. Plus they are made in Quebec

takimine g series great guitars

Well, it may be immaterial now, but I wanted to jump on the Big Baby team. I don't know if Taylors are available in your corner of the globe, but they're about the best guitar for the $400-$500 (that's US$ of course...) range that I've ever played.

So I bought one and installed a K&K Pure Western Mini. It's one of the best sounding acoustic pickups I've heard - and I'm gonna wave my "audio engineer" flag here to indicate that I've heard a lot of 'em.

Epiphone masterbilt's are great guitars.

Save some more bucks, and then a little more.
It will give you the opportunity to buy this one of a kind guitar you really like.

Simon & Patrick, made by the same folks at Seagull, Godin, etc., are generally very fine guitars offered at very reasonable prices.

+ another one on Blueridge. I have a BR-343 that's great.

For a real bargain, you often see the discontinued Washburn F10S on Ebay for around $230. Mahogany lam sides/back, solid spruce top with OOO body. Mine came with Grovers, some have Grover copies. Very nice tone and volume, and I love the neck. That's my everyday acoustic. String it light, and it's good for blues or whatever strikes you at the moment, and you won't die if someone trips over it, or walks off with it while you're passed out :grin:

takamine :)