Cali Dude
Friend of Leo's
I've been thinking about a new acoustic guitar lately. I don't really need one. However, it got me wondering, "Who is making the best acoustic guitars now?" What do you all think?
The Best Acoustic Guitars These Days
- Thread starter Cali Dude
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TheDavis
Tele-Meister
There’s probably more people making great guitars of all kinds than at any point in the history of humanity.
You got a budget, a type, a sound to help narrow it down a bit?
You got a budget, a type, a sound to help narrow it down a bit?
Cali Dude
Friend of Leo's
Thanks, I have been thinking J-45 vs. D-18 lately. I have rosewood covered with my Larrivee.
A very subjected topic, but as far as commercial products go, I think Taylor has passed Martin and is the standard. I always preferred the low end on the Martins, but Taylor has shifted their bracing to increase the low end blurring the lines between the 2 rivals. When played side by side, I thought the Taylor came out on top each time.
As for best...look to "Pre-War Guitars". Right now, I am really wanting to pull the trigger on their d18 variant, but my wallet still holds me back. From what my ears tell me, those are the best out there....but you pay for that level as well.
I do like the looks of the J45 and really liked the old Hummingbirds, but I have yet to pick one up that blew me away and they seem very inconsistent compared to Martin or Taylor. I suppose if you find a great example of the Gibson, then grab it, but I have not found it yet.
As for best...look to "Pre-War Guitars". Right now, I am really wanting to pull the trigger on their d18 variant, but my wallet still holds me back. From what my ears tell me, those are the best out there....but you pay for that level as well.
I do like the looks of the J45 and really liked the old Hummingbirds, but I have yet to pick one up that blew me away and they seem very inconsistent compared to Martin or Taylor. I suppose if you find a great example of the Gibson, then grab it, but I have not found it yet.
Mark617
Tele-Holic
I love my Taylor
DavidP
Friend of Leo's
Can folks hold off posting for a few minutes while I get some popcorn???
These "best" threads are always quite entertaining!!
These "best" threads are always quite entertaining!!
I agree and they always turned me away from them until the recent change to the bracing on some models. The added low end really improved the tone on what was already a very good sounding guitar.
matrix
Tele-Holic
I have never played a Taylor I liked. They are well-made, excellent guitars, but I have very specific ideas about what I want in an acoustic sound, and Taylors miss on just about every count.
I usually like or love Martins. The "best" widely available acoustic guitar (imo) is Collings. I have never played one that was less than awesome.
I usually like or love Martins. The "best" widely available acoustic guitar (imo) is Collings. I have never played one that was less than awesome.
Yep .... popcorn it is.
Best bang for buck ........ Breedlove and Larrivee are in for a shot, and Yamaha, and ...................
'Best acoustic' ..... popcorn please. Some come to mind that I can't afford.
Someone's bound to mention guitar size and shapes, best woods for back/sides and soundboard, and ..........
Jimclarke100
Friend of Leo's
It been a couple of years so things may have changed now, but I spent a fair time trying a lot of different acoustics in the £2k to £3k range before I plumped for my 000-18.
The Taylors I tried to my ears while undeniably good just didn’t have the balance of the Martin - they all had the “Taylor brightness” which personally I’m not that fond of.
The Taylors I tried to my ears while undeniably good just didn’t have the balance of the Martin - they all had the “Taylor brightness” which personally I’m not that fond of.
CapnCrunch
Friend of Leo's
You mentioned J-45. I've been seriously considering picking up one of these:
Slope D - Bourgeois Guitars
Slope D - Bourgeois Guitars
Norris Vulcan
Tele-Afflicted
Lowden
howardlo
Friend of Leo's
Collings, Larivee or Martin. Never have liked the sound of Taylors. Too much high end for me. I prefer warmer. Don’t care for anything larger than a OOO or Concert size. Better balanced tone string to string and not so boomy and as uncomfortable as dreads. I do have three dreads among my 17 acoustics (one is a 12 string), but other than the 12 string they get very little play time.
I really like all mahogany guitars.
I really like all mahogany guitars.
TheDavis
Tele-Meister
I like Taylor’s a lot, I think they make some great guitars. I prefer their lower end guitars to Martin’s but my preference is Martin on the higher end stuff. I did a lot of playing of a lot of martin, Taylor, Gibson and a few other brands before buying my Martin so for me personally that’s how I landed but it’s total preference they both make killer guitars.
buster poser
Doctor of Teleocity
Ours are all budget models, but I'm happy with the Taylor GS Mini (spruce) and Breedlove (mahog). If I were to buy something a little nicer, I'd give Seagulls a long look. Played a few in the $800-$2k range a couple years ago and really liked them.
Linda Manzer
ping-ping-clicka
Doctor of Teleocity
Entertaining: Ever the diplomate.
jamesepowell
Tele-Holic
You say that like it's a bad thing! LOL, all taste is taste.
Choosing an acoustic is very much a particular individual decision. I bought my Taylor 410 because I liked the brightness. Other people avoided it for the same reason.
If I had a pile of money, I'd get a Martin and a Gibson, just to have the choices. But I would have to play a bunch of them to decide which model. And with acoustics, two of the same model can sound & feel different. At the price point we're talking, I'd take my time.
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