Guitar selection advice

I'm looking at buying a new (to me) acoustic. I have a few questions:

Importance of all solid wood? I have a soft spot for Alvarez and have been looking at those, but stumbled across an Epi Masterbilt dread, cutaway, electronic that is "all solid wood" in a GC and really liked it.

So I do some internetting to learn more and come across "factory seconds" on ebay. I'm very ok with a great guitar with a blemish if I can get more guitar for the money. There are some great deals on the Epi, but I also find some Guild GAD's that are blemished. The Guild isn't as fancy as the Epi nor the tricky electronics, but I'm thinking it's probably a much better guitar. I like to both flatpick/strum and fingerpick. I'm not a great player and can't go much higher than around $600.

I have some occasion to plug in, but mostly living room or small unplugged jams with my buddies. There is one Guild dealer I found that I could go try one, but it's clear across town, but could sneak out and get a peek.

So do I stretch for the blemished Guild, get a great deal on a blemished Masterbilt, or get a new not solid wood Alvarez?

Thanks in advance.

They're all three good choices. Don't worry about the 'solid' wood, in my opinion that's largely a selling point at that price range. If it sounds good, go for it. The laminated body guitars may even be a little more stable over time and less bothered by humidity changes. Acoustics are harder to modify than electrics, so it's important to find one that feels good and has the sound you want.

The Guilds are great guitars, but be sure to play one before you take the plunge. Personally, that would be my choice of the three you mention. However, my son has a realy nice Alvarez that I wouldn't pass up either.

I got a GAD 30 (mahogany) used from GC a while back. Great value (~1/2 new price) & a nice voice. Doesn't have the boom of a good dread, but still loud & well balanced. Also, like a lot of vintage-inspired acoustics out there, its very nicely appointed.

I'm not sure about the GAD dreadnaughts but the 30's have 1-3/4" nuts. If you don't know what that means, you should play some & compare to standard width nuts.

Everyone advises you to play before buying; I think that's good advice. I played GAD30's (& lots of other 000's) on numerous occasions prior to buying mine (never walk past a good guitar shop!). Also remember to trust your own impressions. If you like the neck on a guitar you try and 3 guys reviewing a different guitar online say it has a great neck, your opinion is more valuable.

Ya want an honest opinion. If you got $600 burning a hole in your pocket go pick up a Westerly-built Guild D-25. Earlier ones have a mahogany top and flat back and later ones have a cherry stained spruce top with an arched back. You will have a very nice made in the U.S. guitar and still have some of that $600 jingling in your pocket.

UPDATE - I just found a Breedlove AD25 SR Plus at a music-go-round for $570 with a HSC. I put a 24 hr hold on it. Seems like a good deal to me. Sounds great. Really good shape, normal swirly scratchs in the gloss and pick-guard. What say you TDPRI?

UPDATE - I just found a Breedlove AD25 SR Plus at a music-go-round for $570 with a HSC. I put a 24 hr hold on it. Seems like a good deal to me. Sounds great. Really good shape, normal swirly scratchs in the gloss and pick-guard. What say you TDPRI?

I had seen your post earlier, and meant to reply and suggest looking at Breedloves. Got back a while ago from a gig tonight, and just saw your update. Good that you put a hold on it. Pull the trigger on that deal, and quickly.

I have the AD25/SM (solid spruce top, solid mahogany back, laminate mahogany sides). Very nice guitar. Nice player, great projection, warm, sweet tones. I've had her for 4 years, and she's my go-to gigging acoustic/electric. Gigged her tonight, in fact, along with one of my Logan Custom Teles and my Wechter Nashville-tuned parlor.

If that Rosewood is in, as you say, "Really good shape," and comes with a HSC, $570 is a good price. My mahogany version was $800 when new, and came w/ a gig bag (albeit a nice one).

UPDATE - I just found a Breedlove AD25 SR Plus at a music-go-round for $570 with a HSC. I put a 24 hr hold on it. Seems like a good deal to me. Sounds great. Really good shape, normal swirly scratchs in the gloss and pick-guard. What say you TDPRI?

Breedloves are nice guitars. I'm not familiar with that model though I've seen a lot of Breedloves for sale in a $600 price range. Even with some laminate in it I'd keep it well humidified in this climate. The dryness can really play havoc with an acoustic out here.

I'd say try before you buy for sure. I've been looking at some myself lately and played at least 2 dozen acoustics last week most of which were Martins & Taylors. Some played and sounded great & others were absolute garbage. I buy gear online almost exclusively but I would not buy an acoustic without playing first.
Also, I played a Yamaha FGX730sc (??) and loved it. They go for $499 new! Solid top, laminate sides & back but this one had sparkle, projection, clarity, and plenty of low end.

Those are nice guitars. I almost bought one several years back. If you have played a bunch and like that one the best, go for it.

All 3 are great. I think it depends which sounds (both playing and listening when someone else plays) and feels the best to you. I happen to be partial to Guilds but have also owned and played wonderful Alvarez guitars and Epiphones as well. Also, the choice of body wood (mahogany, rosewood or maple), even if laminated, can yield very different tones, so use your ears. It's a subjective choice at the end of the day, and it's your $.

thanks for all the input. I went back this morning and played it for 45 minutes, and back and forth with some other guitars including a vintage Guild. Ended up walking away. Didn't love it. I think my quest will continue... that might be half the fun ;-)

So I had a chance to hit some guitar stores on the other side of town this afternoon. One is "moving" so they are liquidating and have a Larrivee L-03e for $799. The guy was pushing me pretty hard - "that's the best deal in the entire store" he says as I take it down off the wall. There was a Taylor 110 that has an amazing sound to me. I went down the street to another shop and they carry Guilds and had a few of the new Arcos guitars that I really liked.

I realize the Larrivee is the best guitar. It's way over what I wanted to spend, but I keep playing better guitars and my reasoning keeps changing.

How much do you all value the cut-away? I think that I want one - not that I play up that high much anyways, but it's what I have in my head. The Larrivee is not a cut-away.

Again - insight is appreciated!

I've played flattop for ages & don't own a cutaway. I do play up at the 12th fret & above a bit can do it well enough w/o the cutaway.

Don't worry about that part of ownership.