Acoustic Suggestions?

Ok so I've been out of the acoustic guitar loop for a few years now and I know there have been a few new companies out there producing good product. I'm looking for the best I can get in the $300-$500 range. Preferably acoustic/electric. Also if anyone can suggest a good acoustic amp that would be nice too. Thanks.

i'll suggest a couple of A-E's to try:

this Ibanez is in the middle of your price range and has solid spruce top, rosewood back & sides:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/hekawi/ibanezae.jpg

more details here:
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-AW35RECENT-ARTWOOD-SERIES-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=512315


this Seagull is at the top of your range ($499). cedar top, cherry back and sides. they sound real good:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/hekawi/seagullae.jpg

details:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Seagull-Entourage-Rustic-CW-QIT-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=583547

good luck in your search

I second the Seagull for your budget.

Yeah, Seagull. Or check out the Inspired by 1964 Texan from Epiphone. Solid top. Solid back. Lam sides. Shadow pickup system.

Seagull, Art & Lutherie. Those Canadiens know how to make great inexpensive guitars.

Another vote for the Seagull. My next new guitar is going to be the S12

In the budget category, the new Recording King stuff is really nice and an excellent value, IMO. -- CS

I was acoustic shopping a few months ago. I ended up with a Larrivee which may be a bit outside your budget, but I was actually pretty impressed with the inexpensive Epiphones. No solid wood in it, but I thought they sounded nice. They look great too!

I play with a buddy who has a Freshman. I don't know the model, but it is smaller than jumbo or dreadnought size and has a cutaway. He plays it through a Freshman amp and the combination is excellent - they are really made for each other.

It is something like this one I've found after a short websearch:
http://freshmanguitarsusa.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/fa500gac.jpg

Try one if you can. Also, a used Ovation might fall within your budget. If you can live with the shape, the electrified sound is one of the best and easiest ways to produce clear authentic-sounding amplified acoustic sound.

Wow, I never even heard of Seagull. I'm def going to look into them. Thanks a lot guys.

Seagull, Art & Lutherie. Those Canadiens know how to make great inexpensive guitars.

+1

Those Chinese too by the way ;)

Yamaha FGX730. Gotta try one before you buy something. Solid top, laminant sides and back and beautiful sound! I bought an FG730 and went back for a LJX6CA. Awesome guitars! My Taylor GC7 sits and watches us now. Seriously, that good an instrument!

I'll second a lot of the comments above. I have an Epiphone Hummingbird that I love and an old Takamine 12-string that I love more. But if I were buying a new acoustic today, I'd get a Seagull S6.

Try out some of the Alvarez models. I was in the same boat as you & ended up with a used Alvarez RF20sc used for around $200.

A Simon & Patrick Songsmith would fit your budget. I love mine.

Seagull & Yamaha are the best bets under $500.

http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/FX325HC.htm

http://elderly.com/images/new_instruments/20N/FX325HC_front.jpg

http://elderly.com/images/new_instruments/20N/FX325HC_side_sm_.jpghttp://elderly.com/images/new_instruments/20N/FX325HC_case_sm_.jpg

My brother just picked up a mint used Larivee D03 RE for $600.00 at a music store. If you can find one of those you would be moving up to all solid wood for just a few buck more.


www.myspace.com/dawiklund

In the budget category, the new Recording King stuff is really nice and an excellent value, IMO. -- CS

I agree with you Chris, was checking out a few of these recently. Some aren't that cheap though, a couple I picked up were a grand or more. But I guess the thinking is their $1k guitars would compete with $1500-$2000 level guits. They are very nice though!

I got a Stratacoustic back in June for $250. Not your ordinary acoustic, but I can't put it down. Since I got this I have only played my electric a couple of times. I thought that I might have to get an acoustic amp, but it sounds great through my electric rig. I recomend getting a good setup. It sounds OK unplugged, but low volume. Plays like a Strat & no feedback at high volume. I added a sound hole pickup, replaced the bridge saddle, pins & nut, & shimmed the neck. I love to play it.

double post please delete

The anything that is in the Godin family of products as has been mentioned. Seagull, Art and Lutherie, Simon and Patrick, Norman, La Patrie if you want nylon. The seagull headstock always kind of killed it for me, but just my opinion. the normans are great, and I love the cedar top ones....they open up and sound huge quick

In some 50 years, the best guitars I have ever seen for under $500 - hands down a 1960s Harmony Sovereign 1203 or 1260. Just a big banging, well balanced guitar made with better wood than you see on guitars today costing ten times as much (including a one piece sold mahogany back). The key is finding one with a good neck.

I can only recommend the Seagulls as thats what I own. From the reviews I've read the Yamaha's must be pretty decent. My S6 cedar is a beautiful sounding and playing instrument and they sell for under $400.00 most places.
Enjoy your search :-)

In some 50 years, the best guitars I have ever seen for under $500 - hands down a 1960s Harmony Sovereign 1203 or 1260. Just a big banging, well balanced guitar made with better wood than you see on guitars today costing ten times as much (including a one piece sold mahogany back). The key is finding one with a good neck.

Did they make those in a 12 string? It seems like I owned one whaaaaay back in the late sixties.

Call me crazy but I was delightfully surprised when I recently tried a Fender Sonoran SCE. I have never played a Fender acoustic that I've liked until now. $320 to $350

Did they make those in a 12 string? It seems like I owned one whaaaaay back in the late sixties.

Yup the 1270 - Pete Townsend and Rory Gallagher loved 'em.

I tried a Fender CD-60 a month ago, for 120$ it couldn't be beaten in any way.

Then i tried a Yamaha 720 and it sounded better but felt the same, though visually easier for the eye, i don't know if i am making any sense.

Just bought an S6 original (Seagull) today based on the way it played and also on the good feedback in this forum. I found the others in my range (and within a couple hundred above) just didn't sound as good to me and I didn't play them as well. Guess I gotta take another look at my neck preference. Added bonus, my wife likes the sound of it because it's "not as twangy as those electric ones".:confused:

Seagulls get a lot of love, but I've never connected with them. I just don't like the necks, and I don't love the cedar either.

Alvarez and Walden are both making some good affordable stuff with solid tops. I'd try them out.

Seagulls get a lot of love, but I've never connected with them. I just don't like the necks, and I don't love the cedar either.

+1 ... I wouldn't suggest buying a Seagull without trying one first. You may love it, but I couldn't get comfortable with the odd-shaped neck.

Has anyone here tried the onboard preamp that the Seagulls have? I have never heard one amplified, but I found the cedar made my acoustic-only S6+ warm to the point of boomy.

mud

Seagulls get a lot of love, but I've never connected with them. I just don't like the necks, and I don't love the cedar either.

Alvarez and Walden are both making some good affordable stuff with solid tops. I'd try them out.

Waldens are exceptionally nice in my experience, just dang hard to find around here. Seagulls (and the other LaSiDo models) are all over craigslist all the time, but Waldens I rarely if ever see.