Used acoustic recommendations?

I just bought a used Seagull S12+ (cedar top) - A/B'd it against a bunch of other 12 strings in the store, and it sounded the best. Going to play it tonight with my church group.

Anyways - now my friend is looking for a 6 string acoustic to play around on, for about $150. He doesn't want junk though - so does anyone have any recommendations for a nice used acoustic, and secondly, where to find one? I'm trying to avoid evilbay if possible. Thanks!

I don't know how the pawn shops in your town are, but I've found some excellent buy's in the ones in my area. Just make sure you check it over good and ask if they have a return policy. They are usually willing to deal if you ask with respect. Be polite! $150 is not a lot to work with, but you should be able to find a good, sound guitar for that. Check out Music Yo on line. I found a nice solid top guitar for a buddy for about $100.00. With a bit of setup, it's a great guitar! Plays well, sounds good. Also, check out the classisifed adds in your area. Good luck!

For 150 bucks I don't think you can find much, but they're out there.
You've gotta try pawnshops and the like, otherwise I'm affraid that you'd have to go to "eBait"....I've posted tons of times how much I hate "eBait" but whether you like it or not, that's the way the game is played this day. Even pawnshops are on evilBay now....

Open your eyes for anyone of these:
Takamines - great guitars for the money. A nice used one would go between 250 and 300, but I've seen a few of those in pawnshops for about 150.
MIK Epiphones - I've got a PR-750 and it's my main acoustic. The PR-150 is a good instrument and I've seen them on "evilBay" quite cheap. Here's one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2567125209&category=621
http://i1.ebayimg.com/03/i/00/cb/d4/06_1_s.JPG
MIJ Ibanez - This is my other acoustic (R-3000) After a pro set up no one believes this is a 200-dollar guitar.
MIK Fenders - Not bad
MIJ Yamahas - Stay away from the ones made in China. These have always been fine instruments.
Wasburn - Not bad and I've seen a lot of these below 200.
Samick - I got one for a friend who was just learning at a Music-go-around in Columbus OH a couple of years for 100 bucks!!! I spent 60 bucks on set up and I almost kept the guitar for myself....

The way I see it is this: Make sure the neck is straight and that the frets are in place. The rest can be taken care with a good set up for 50 - 60 bucks. My two acoustics are cheapos and they sound like a 1000-dollar guitars.

Ashtray, you live in Maryland. Have you checked Atomic music or Atomic guitars, I don't remember, in College Park? It's near the University. They've got interesting stuff, but you've got to know what you're looking for because the store is quite disorganized and usually you don't get any help.

There's another shop nearby I can check too - they have a mixed bag of stuff, but lately I've noticed their prices have crept upwards past the point of being cheap right to overpriced. I got a good deal on my other acoustic there a few years back, but have gotten bad feelings about the place since. I must have spent $5,000 there in the past 4 years, and they 1.) don't know me, and 2.) treat me poorly. Why give them the business?

Atomic Music - I'd have to check it out. I'm north of Baltimore, so I don't get down to the college park area too often - but it might be worth a drive.

As for the models mentioned - thanks. I'll use that as a guide when looking at different models. I think my friend wants a mint Taylor for free, so I'll see what I can find I guess.

find the nearest Cort (which is probably the same factory as Samick anyway) dealer. They make a decent 000 And a D for that scratch. Stay away from the AE models: although the pickups are OK, you'll get a better guitar if it's fully acoustic. I'm 99.99% sure the Cort Earth series are what Carvin sells as the Cobolt (after a mark up).
Some folks have a bad reaction to them, I think they're pretty durn good (equal to or better new Epis IMHO).

Atomic Music - I'd have to check it out. I'm north of Baltimore, so I don't get down to the college park area too often - but it might be worth a drive.


Atomic music sells mostly used stuff and you won't find any "friendly customer representatives" there. The place is big, very disorganized and everyone is on his own, though they try to keep the fender stuff in one side, the G***son in other, and so on. You'd see the selling personnel standing behind the main counter and people everywhere using all the amps and taking every corner available to try stuff (hence, I wouldn't buy an amp there....) However, the prices aren't bad and if you're good at haggling you may get a break.
A couple of months ago, I picked up a very nice 94 MIM P-bass for 220 bucks. It took me like an hour to check every corner of the store because they have basses almost everywhere. They even gave me a gig-bag, some picks, and a strap. The bass was marked at 250, but it had a noise when plugged so I used that to negotiate. I knew that I could fix that easily. At home, I cleaned the body (beautiful red candy apple), and the noise problem was solved with a couple shots of "cleaning duster" under the pickguard....sweet deal.....I would say that if you've got few hours tomorrow, it'd be worthwhile to check out the place.

BTW, tell your friend that he must forget about getting a 150-dollar taylor or similar, unless you score some clueless backyard sale lady.....

BTW, tell your friend that he must forget about getting a 150-dollar taylor or similar, unless you score some clueless backyard sale lady.....

In which case I'm keeping it for myself!

Tomorrow's booked up, but maybe I'll get a chance to run down there on Sunday afternoon, if they're open. It's a bit of a drive for me (like a good hour), so I'll have to see what's going on that day. I like "bin diving" for guitars at places that have tons of used stuff for good prices, so that's tempting. Thanks for the heads up!

The other place I was referring to was Bill's Music - lots of used stuff, but tough to find a good bargain. :roll:

I've had several Kramer D-200S dreadnaughts and both were quite good.

http://www.musicyo.com/product_images/441_hero.jpg

These sport solid spruce tops and laminated mahogany sides. Well made, with gold Grover tuners, light, resonant, nothing at all to dislike. Plus, they're typically $150/delivered from MusicYo - http://www.musicyo.com

I've been researching X-Mass guitars for my nephew.
Epiphone has some pretty nice stuff from $99.00 to $179.00 new with lifetime warrantee. Of all the imported laminated boxes under $200.00, the Epi's are very nice. Musicians Freind and Elderly sell them, have a look. If I could buy an untouched Epi for $150.00, I'd think twice about the pawnshops.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=031028202548064012097012546329/g=home/search/detail/base_id/104810

Check this out - they play well for the money, you could get a backpack bag and be under $150.00

Play much wonderful music on fine Esteban steel string guitar. Maybe better than $4,000 Martin with included case & video. Get hat & sunglasses, pick up & strum and you can be big star too! Muy groovy.

I've had several Kramer D-200S dreadnaughts and both were quite good.

http://www.musicyo.com/product_images/441_hero.jpg

These sport solid spruce tops and laminated mahogany sides. Well made, with gold Grover tuners, light, resonant, nothing at all to dislike. Plus, they're typically $150/delivered from MusicYo - http://www.musicyo.com

Listen to Rob: He's a pro who knows tone and knows what he's talking about. These Music Yo guitars are killer for the money. unless you "luck" into a great deal, you will not find a better sounding or playing guitar than this one.

When I was at UM I practicaly lived at Atomic..(IF you think its a mess now you shoud have seen it back in the day before they moved in to the bank!) I was in the GC on Monday at that time they had a used Seagull for around 250..you could probably get it out the door for 200 with a bit of luck...I haven't been in Atomic for a few weeks but 150 is doable but awkard... most of the good stuff (older MIJ, Seagulls ect.) is above that, and you can buy new stuff so cheap that you do need a bit of luck to score someting nice...I did get a really nice solid top Epi, with Gotohs ect for $99..at the GC summer sale (they were a special deal with EPI..and were originaly some more expensive guitar...they made up new stickers with the PR-150 model number and stuck 'em over the old ones! which you can still see underneath....Have patience lots of specials around the holidays, and old guitars being traded on new...

Atomic is closed on Sundays, and dosen't open untill...um Noonish...other days.
Bills.."all right Mars is gone..lets jack up the prices" actualy I have scored some incredible deals there, other things are just laughable..like the "60s Vox amp" for 400+ dollars.it's a rough '70s 1X10 "Vox Sound" SS amp that is probably worth about $150 bucks..and they have had that Thomas Vox Bass amp for YEARS..what do they want ..like 1K!!! (they just keep roling it around from one building to the other)