Favorite dreadnoughts under about $1000

[markal]

Went up to Jensen in Longmont, CO yesterday and tried a couple of Blue Ridge dreadnaughts and an Eastman E10D. The Blue Ridges sounded good. I think a Br-60 and BR-160 (used). The Br-60 had some weird finish problems so I wouldn’t buy it.

The Eastman sounded really good but not sure how I felt about the neck. It seemed a little glossy and sticky to me. And at $1300+ I’d want it to be perfect.

Also tried an Alvarez but not a dread. It was OK.

 

[RomanS]

Try to find an Eastman E1D - those have an open pore finish on the back & neck, not sticky at all.

 

[Colo Springs E]

Another vote for Eastman. Not a Dread (grand auditorium) but here's a pic of my recent all solid acquisition--$740 out the door.

 

[markal]

Another vote for Eastman. Not a Dread (grand auditorium) but here View attachment 1092558 s a pic of my recent all solid acquisition--$740 out the door.

A beauty!

 

[Rick Lanahan]

Recording King makes a solid Adi spruce top with solid Rosewood back and sides for $799. Have heard good things.

 

[chris m.]

Went up to Jensen in Longmont, CO yesterday and tried a couple of Blue Ridge dreadnaughts and an Eastman E10D. The Blue Ridges sounded good. I think a Br-60 and BR-160 (used). The Br-60 had some weird finish problems so I wouldn’t buy it.

The Eastman sounded really good but not sure how I felt about the neck. It seemed a little glossy and sticky to me. And at $1300+ I’d want it to be perfect.

Also tried an Alvarez but not a dread. It was OK.

A light buffing with a Scotchbrite pad will solve stickiness for any guitar neck.

 

[Dufffy1111]

I’ve never had a dreadnought. I went looking for one a few years ago but fell in love with a Taylor 214e and that’s what I bought. Not sure I “need” one but I’m pondering.

What dreadnoughts would you all recommended for under $1000? I’m open to just about any brand and have some local shops where I can try a wide range of brands.

You might like the stage ready Yamaha A3M. Small jumbo body, solid mahogany, solid spruce top, great active onboard preamp. Gloss finish, satin neck. Premium guitar.

This is a great great guitar that you might like.

 

[Jef]

+1 for a used Guild D25
My other dread is a Vega from the 70's, built for Martin in the Netherlands. The gigantic rosewood bridgeplate was changed to a small Gibson style plate. It is loud!

You can't go wrong with a used Larrivee, or Eastman.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

This one was $425 when I bought it... Of course that was 50 years ago! Today, just a little bit more.


1939 D18 Martin View attachment 1088445

Oh. Wow.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Thanks all. Seagull was already on my radar and there are a couple used ones up the road. I am not at all familiar with Larrivee so I’ll look into those.

I think I have played an Eastman acoustic and, at least that one, was not comfortable due to a very glossy finish on the neck. But I’ll certainly give one a look if I can find one around here.

I realize many think guitars under $1000 are going to have too many compromises. But I just can’t justify spending much more than that. My Taylor was about $1400 and I love it but not sure I’ll do that again. To each their own.

Hey, Mark -

Any decisions yet? For under $1,000, there are lots of great used guitars and a nice selection of new.

New thought: I've been thinking about lately Art & Lutherie's Tennessee Red. I've joined a band that doesn't really accommodate all four of my instruments, so I want a cutaway guitar that lets me do more on a single instrument (to be exact, hit a few of the highs my mandolin usually covers).

Since we always plug in, I don't have to care about tone or volume. Plugged, acoustics all sound the same. And like you, I don't think I can justify a comma on a price tag.

They have other colors, but Red sings to me.

 

[markal]

Resurrecting my own thread. Went to GC yesterday (and, as an aside, whatever issues they were having with keeping sufficient inventory in stock is clearly over, they chock full of electrics and acoustics, which was nice).

I tried 1) Martin D10-E, 2) Yamaha FGX, 3) Seagull S6, 4) Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J45.

My favorite by far was the Yamaha and I’m really considering grabbing one. Specific reactions…

The Martin was just OK to my ear. I guess it was coming close to the “martin sound” but I found it uninspiring. Hard to say why.

Seagull S6 was totally blah to me. I know people love these things, but I thought the sound was flat and dull. I guess a little more mid-heavy than a typical dreadnought, but also less full than my Taylor (which is quite mid heavy). I put it down after about 90 seconds.

Epi J45 sounded really good. I’ve never played a real Gibson, so can’t comment how it compares, but I liked the sound. The problem for me was that thin neck. Way to crowded in the lower frets. Sounds was good, but not considering it due to the neck.

The Yamaha FGX3 really impressed me. The neck wasn’t prefect for (otherwise I would have bought it), but the sound was lovely. Very much dreadnought with that ka-boom on big strums. But it also a really nice chime on the upper strings and overall well balanced.

The only reason I didn’t buy the Yamaha is now I have GAS bad and am undecided between a new electric vs acoustic.

 

[northernguitar]

Resurrecting my own thread. Went to GC yesterday (and, as an aside, whatever issues they were having with keeping sufficient inventory in stock is clearly over, they chock full of electrics and acoustics, which was nice).

I tried 1) Martin D10-E, 2) Yamaha FGX, 3) Seagull S6, 4) Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J45.

My favorite by far was the Yamaha and I’m really considering grabbing one. Specific reactions…

The Martin was just OK to my ear. I guess it was coming close to the “martin sound” but I found it uninspiring. Hard to say why.

Seagull S6 was totally blah to me. I know people love these things, but I thought the sound was flat and dull. I guess a little more mid-heavy than a typical dreadnought, but also less full than my Taylor (which is quite mid heavy). I put it down after about 90 seconds.

Epi J45 sounded really good. I’ve never played a real Gibson, so can’t comment how it compares, but I liked the sound. The problem for me was that thin neck. Way to crowded in the lower frets. Sounds was good, but not considering it due to the neck.

The Yamaha FGX3 really impressed me. The neck wasn’t prefect for (otherwise I would have bought it), but the sound was lovely. Very much dreadnought with that ka-boom on big strums. But it also a really nice chime on the upper strings and overall well balanced.

The only reason I didn’t buy the Yamaha is now I have GAS bad and am undecided between a new electric vs acoustic.

How fresh were the strings on these guitars you tried?

 

[markal]

How fresh were the strings on these guitars you tried?

The Yamaha strings were very fresh. I think the Martin strings were in good shape too. The Seagull’s strings were old and grimy, so that may have been the issue.