Higher end acoustics?
February 24, 2012 7:41 PM
I've been thinking about upgrading my acoustic guitar for a while now. What do you folks like?
Right now I'm playing a Simon & Patrick Songsmith, which is a cheapish guitar but was the nicest sub-$600 guitar I could find in Long & McQuade's fancy acoustic room, and I like it a lot. However, it's a pretty 1-dimensional sound and I find myself playing so much acoustic these days I've started to jones for something a bit better. I could care less about aesthetics. It's mostly for self-accompaniment and recording, fingerpicking and flatpicking and strumming, sometimes fingerstyle and sometimes with fingerpicks or flatpicks.
I have a Baggs pickup which I can fit in it so pickup is not really relevant.
I guess I'm looking for something with more projection than the songsmith. I found the last time that I gravitated towards the brighter guitars, FWIW.
It's gonna be a stack of bills, so I'm also keen to buy something that doesn't lose a ton of value.
Stuff I've been thinking about includes the Martin D28 and D18, and the Guild D40/D50. I think I"m pretty much sold on a non-cutaway dreadnought. Used works just as well as new.
I'm not totally sold on this purchase and I don't have the cash to do it right now anyway but I'd be interested to know what I should go and idly play next time I'm in the store.
posted by unSane (18 comments total)
Right now I'm playing a Simon & Patrick Songsmith, which is a cheapish guitar but was the nicest sub-$600 guitar I could find in Long & McQuade's fancy acoustic room, and I like it a lot. However, it's a pretty 1-dimensional sound and I find myself playing so much acoustic these days I've started to jones for something a bit better. I could care less about aesthetics. It's mostly for self-accompaniment and recording, fingerpicking and flatpicking and strumming, sometimes fingerstyle and sometimes with fingerpicks or flatpicks.
I have a Baggs pickup which I can fit in it so pickup is not really relevant.
I guess I'm looking for something with more projection than the songsmith. I found the last time that I gravitated towards the brighter guitars, FWIW.
It's gonna be a stack of bills, so I'm also keen to buy something that doesn't lose a ton of value.
Stuff I've been thinking about includes the Martin D28 and D18, and the Guild D40/D50. I think I"m pretty much sold on a non-cutaway dreadnought. Used works just as well as new.
I'm not totally sold on this purchase and I don't have the cash to do it right now anyway but I'd be interested to know what I should go and idly play next time I'm in the store.
For fingerpicking &c, you might want to consider a smaller body than a dreadnought, especially for recording purposes. Look into Martin's OM and OOO models. They've got much better tonal balance than the dreadnoughts. My beater guitar is an Oscar Schmidt OM and I'm constantly surprised by how loud it is for its size. That said, if you're looking for projection above all else, you can't go wrong with a tricone.
posted by The White Hat at 8:42 PM on February 24, 2012
posted by The White Hat at 8:42 PM on February 24, 2012
I have a cheap Chinese resonator which I like a lot but what I'm looking for is something with a combination of tone and projection. The songsmith is reasonably loud but it doesn't have that tone that makes you go 'squeee'.
With my Jazzmaster, I can plug it in and play it all day just because I love the sound of it. I'm really looking for something like that in an acoustic I guess. My current one is totally workmanlike but it's not something where you play a chord and just go 'oooh - that's lovely'.
posted by unSane at 8:58 PM on February 24, 2012
With my Jazzmaster, I can plug it in and play it all day just because I love the sound of it. I'm really looking for something like that in an acoustic I guess. My current one is totally workmanlike but it's not something where you play a chord and just go 'oooh - that's lovely'.
posted by unSane at 8:58 PM on February 24, 2012
I'm totally in agreement with The White Hat about trying smaller guitars. The projection of a dreadnought is great when you're playing live acoustic sets, but isn't exactly helpful for the recording or creative process. All of that boom and broadcast is wasted in a studio or livingroom and you're just sacrificing tone and playability for the loudness.
I've never fallen in love with any acoustic guitar until I, somewhat recently, played this little odd-duck Taylor. It looks a bit odd with the slotted head, but it's amazingly versatile. It booms, has great tone and is very easy to play.
posted by snsranch at 6:40 PM on February 25, 2012
I've never fallen in love with any acoustic guitar until I, somewhat recently, played this little odd-duck Taylor. It looks a bit odd with the slotted head, but it's amazingly versatile. It booms, has great tone and is very easy to play.
posted by snsranch at 6:40 PM on February 25, 2012
I would second The White Hat's recommendation for the Martin models.
posted by Silvertree at 9:48 PM on February 25, 2012
posted by Silvertree at 9:48 PM on February 25, 2012
I love smaller guitars also! current favorite acoustic is a 3/4 size classical I got super-cheap in a scratch and dent sale.
If you want brighter, I would say check out a Taylor.
posted by dubold at 6:07 AM on February 26, 2012
If you want brighter, I would say check out a Taylor.
posted by dubold at 6:07 AM on February 26, 2012
Obviously you need to go and play them, but you know that already.
I have a Yamaha that was modeled on a 000-size Martin, and that was my one acoustic from the Christmas I got it when I was 10 until just a few years ago. I always drooled over Martins but they were completely out of my reach, financially-speaking. A few summers ago I played an HD-28 at the store, after reading a bit about them, and it felt like a freaking orchestra in my hands or something. Compared to what I'd been playing. It was like an epiphany, "you mean it can sound like this?" I went home and counted my pennies and rationalized about the bit of money I'd saved and how my birthday was coming up but still we couldn't really afford it. Right after my birthday my wife got tired of me moping around and sighing about it and said, "just go get the fucking guitar already."
Doesn't feel boomy to me, just powerful. I love it. I restrung it with lights instead of mediums, which I prefer anyway. When I play my brother's Gibson J45 and it feels lifeless and flaccid to me in comparison. And for balance I use the parlor guitar that I also love and which cost about 1/12th of the price.
Different tools for different jobs.
posted by chococat at 1:11 PM on February 26, 2012
I have a Yamaha that was modeled on a 000-size Martin, and that was my one acoustic from the Christmas I got it when I was 10 until just a few years ago. I always drooled over Martins but they were completely out of my reach, financially-speaking. A few summers ago I played an HD-28 at the store, after reading a bit about them, and it felt like a freaking orchestra in my hands or something. Compared to what I'd been playing. It was like an epiphany, "you mean it can sound like this?" I went home and counted my pennies and rationalized about the bit of money I'd saved and how my birthday was coming up but still we couldn't really afford it. Right after my birthday my wife got tired of me moping around and sighing about it and said, "just go get the fucking guitar already."
Doesn't feel boomy to me, just powerful. I love it. I restrung it with lights instead of mediums, which I prefer anyway. When I play my brother's Gibson J45 and it feels lifeless and flaccid to me in comparison. And for balance I use the parlor guitar that I also love and which cost about 1/12th of the price.
Different tools for different jobs.
posted by chococat at 1:11 PM on February 26, 2012
When you say lights, are those 12s, Chococat? That's what I used on my current dread.
One of the attractions of buying a used Martin to me is that it's not really a big financial risk as they're easy to sell again. Although the Larrivees seem to have equivalent quality at around half the price.
posted by unSane at 5:14 AM on February 27, 2012
One of the attractions of buying a used Martin to me is that it's not really a big financial risk as they're easy to sell again. Although the Larrivees seem to have equivalent quality at around half the price.
posted by unSane at 5:14 AM on February 27, 2012
I have a custom D-28 that I got a few years back for rather less money than might be imagined. Let's just say that if my house was on fire it's the guitar that I'd fight my way through flames and smoke to rescue - everything else could burn so long as I got my princess out. I don't know where to start with the superlatives, so I won't bother - it's just a beautiful, classy instrument that makes all my electrics seem like crude planks of wood. It's very light, almost delicate - it sort of invites gentle treatment and respect (shut up Dundee you pretentious twat).
I have Martin 12-string too and a lovely little Yamaha LA-8. The latter was, i think, the entry-level of Yamaha's handmade range but I think it's long discontinued. It's lovely with an ebony fretboard and nice abalone inlays etc, but a mere courtier compared with my regal D-28. The Martin 12-string is really good, but it's not one of their top-line models. I don't use 12-strings much so it's a bit of an indulgence really.
I'd sell the LA-8 but it has a dink in the laquer on the front (another guitar fell on it) that is entirely superficial and cosmetic but means that people will try to beat the asking price down. It's too good a guitar to go for a song (pun intended).
Almost all the acoustic stuff I've uploaded to this site features the D-28. If it doesn't sound great it's down to my inept engineering skills rather than the guitar itself.
posted by MajorDundee at 7:38 AM on February 27, 2012
I have Martin 12-string too and a lovely little Yamaha LA-8. The latter was, i think, the entry-level of Yamaha's handmade range but I think it's long discontinued. It's lovely with an ebony fretboard and nice abalone inlays etc, but a mere courtier compared with my regal D-28. The Martin 12-string is really good, but it's not one of their top-line models. I don't use 12-strings much so it's a bit of an indulgence really.
I'd sell the LA-8 but it has a dink in the laquer on the front (another guitar fell on it) that is entirely superficial and cosmetic but means that people will try to beat the asking price down. It's too good a guitar to go for a song (pun intended).
Almost all the acoustic stuff I've uploaded to this site features the D-28. If it doesn't sound great it's down to my inept engineering skills rather than the guitar itself.
posted by MajorDundee at 7:38 AM on February 27, 2012
When you say lights, are those 12s, Chococat? That's what I used on my current dread.
Yeah. John Pearse.
posted by chococat at 8:44 PM on February 27, 2012
Yeah. John Pearse.
posted by chococat at 8:44 PM on February 27, 2012
Well, I drove down to Long & McQuade in Mississauga today to try out some geetars...
I'm still fuming.
They had pretty much everything I wanted to try -- D-28, HD35 (close enough to HD28 I figured), Larrivees, all the Gibsons.
But as soon as I pulled the first guitar off the wall, the HD-35, I had a sinking feeling. It obviously hadn't been tuned in a week. Not only that, but the set-up was so terrible that the strings rattled with the lightest strum, and the top E didn't sound at all above the 12th fret.
I pointed this out to the drone who was attempting to serve me (but who had no idea which guitar was which). He strummed the E, went 'huh', and put the guitar back on the wall.
Eventually I just walked out, couldn't take it any more. Drove to the next L&M (in Burlington, usually a nice place to shop actually). Was a bit better -- guitars were in tune and mostly set up OK - but the guitar dude still had no idea of his stock, and the HD-28V they showed me had the end pin missing.
Anyway, played the HD-28V, couple of used D-28s, the Larrivee L-03 and a dread, a Larrivee parlour, and a Gibson J45 and Songbird.
I wasn't really blown away by any of them, to be honest. The Gibsons were beatiful, and fine for strumming but did nothing for fingerpicking or flatpicking. The D-28s were very good and felt like they'd work in pretty much any environment, but it wasn't love love. The Larrivee parlour was uber-cute but definitely a second guitar and a bit small for my hands. The HD28V did sound amazing, crazy top and bottom, but I wasn't really sure about the balance, especially if it was accompanying a voice. A great solo guitar I imagine.
If you'd put a gun to my head I'd probably have walked out with the Larrivee L-03. It was about half the price of everything else and at least the equal of the D-28s in sound and finish with a slightly more balanced sound. The form, slightly smaller than a Dread, is really nice.
But I was basically feeling too cheesed off to even consider buying something. I actually meant to buy a music stand and some other stuff but I couldn't bring myself to. Grar.
posted by unSane at 6:32 PM on March 10, 2012
I'm still fuming.
They had pretty much everything I wanted to try -- D-28, HD35 (close enough to HD28 I figured), Larrivees, all the Gibsons.
But as soon as I pulled the first guitar off the wall, the HD-35, I had a sinking feeling. It obviously hadn't been tuned in a week. Not only that, but the set-up was so terrible that the strings rattled with the lightest strum, and the top E didn't sound at all above the 12th fret.
I pointed this out to the drone who was attempting to serve me (but who had no idea which guitar was which). He strummed the E, went 'huh', and put the guitar back on the wall.
Eventually I just walked out, couldn't take it any more. Drove to the next L&M (in Burlington, usually a nice place to shop actually). Was a bit better -- guitars were in tune and mostly set up OK - but the guitar dude still had no idea of his stock, and the HD-28V they showed me had the end pin missing.
Anyway, played the HD-28V, couple of used D-28s, the Larrivee L-03 and a dread, a Larrivee parlour, and a Gibson J45 and Songbird.
I wasn't really blown away by any of them, to be honest. The Gibsons were beatiful, and fine for strumming but did nothing for fingerpicking or flatpicking. The D-28s were very good and felt like they'd work in pretty much any environment, but it wasn't love love. The Larrivee parlour was uber-cute but definitely a second guitar and a bit small for my hands. The HD28V did sound amazing, crazy top and bottom, but I wasn't really sure about the balance, especially if it was accompanying a voice. A great solo guitar I imagine.
If you'd put a gun to my head I'd probably have walked out with the Larrivee L-03. It was about half the price of everything else and at least the equal of the D-28s in sound and finish with a slightly more balanced sound. The form, slightly smaller than a Dread, is really nice.
But I was basically feeling too cheesed off to even consider buying something. I actually meant to buy a music stand and some other stuff but I couldn't bring myself to. Grar.
posted by unSane at 6:32 PM on March 10, 2012
(It also made me realize that the S&P Songsmith I'm using is an outstanding guitar for the money)
posted by unSane at 6:33 PM on March 10, 2012
posted by unSane at 6:33 PM on March 10, 2012
(every single guitar in the Mississauga store was out of tune and all of the Martins were set up like shit, strings rattling. Completely impossible to judge anything)
posted by unSane at 6:36 PM on March 10, 2012
posted by unSane at 6:36 PM on March 10, 2012
Sorry you had such a shitty experience. Long and McQuade can really suck.
When I got my Martin I new pretty much what I wanted and didn't need to fuck around too much with them. They had a new one in the backroom which hadn't been all molested like the others on the wall.
I'll go there when I know exactly what I want and that they have it in stock and at a competitive price, but for exploring stuff I prefer the smaller boutique stores like Capsule, Ring, 12th Fret etc. here in Toronto. Are there no smaller stores in your neck of the woods?
By the way, the HD28V is just the "vintaged" version of the HD28, where you pay more and they kind of make it look fakey-old. Seemed like a ripoff to me.
And you will drive yourself nuts if you go into a store pressuring yourself to find THE GUITAR of your dreams or whatever. It has to happen more organically than that.
posted by chococat at 8:02 PM on March 10, 2012
When I got my Martin I new pretty much what I wanted and didn't need to fuck around too much with them. They had a new one in the backroom which hadn't been all molested like the others on the wall.
I'll go there when I know exactly what I want and that they have it in stock and at a competitive price, but for exploring stuff I prefer the smaller boutique stores like Capsule, Ring, 12th Fret etc. here in Toronto. Are there no smaller stores in your neck of the woods?
By the way, the HD28V is just the "vintaged" version of the HD28, where you pay more and they kind of make it look fakey-old. Seemed like a ripoff to me.
And you will drive yourself nuts if you go into a store pressuring yourself to find THE GUITAR of your dreams or whatever. It has to happen more organically than that.
posted by chococat at 8:02 PM on March 10, 2012
There are a couple of small stores round here but they are the opposite of boutiquey. Full of pointy guitars. It's like 1983. Also, they can't afford to bring in the nice stuff. You know, there's one Gibson on the wall that you have to give two weeks notice and put down a deposit to play and the owner stands over you with a shotgun.
I actually meant to go downtown to 12th Fret and the L&M on Bloor which has that nice acoustic room upstairs but I ran out of time and it was quicker to get to Mississauga.
The 28V was a bit weird. It didn't look vintaged *at all* but it had the V neck so I guess it really was the 28V. I agree about the vintage thing but they didn't have the straight 28.
I think the 28 would work better for someone with a lighter touch than me, which I'm sure you have. It felt like with the light bracing I was almost overdriving it.
In retrospect the Larrivees were the most intriguing of the guitars.
posted by unSane at 4:43 AM on March 11, 2012
I actually meant to go downtown to 12th Fret and the L&M on Bloor which has that nice acoustic room upstairs but I ran out of time and it was quicker to get to Mississauga.
The 28V was a bit weird. It didn't look vintaged *at all* but it had the V neck so I guess it really was the 28V. I agree about the vintage thing but they didn't have the straight 28.
I think the 28 would work better for someone with a lighter touch than me, which I'm sure you have. It felt like with the light bracing I was almost overdriving it.
In retrospect the Larrivees were the most intriguing of the guitars.
posted by unSane at 4:43 AM on March 11, 2012
I hear you about the Martins being loud. I guess it depends on what your used to; I liked that aspect when I first played one. Of course, they string them with mediums which was the first thing I changed. Way less boomy with lights; you do get a bit of string buzz but I like that, especially close-mic'd. Probably not your thing either!
And that L&M on Bloor is the one I got mine at. It's like a 5 minute walk from our house.
posted by chococat at 10:09 AM on March 11, 2012
And that L&M on Bloor is the one I got mine at. It's like a 5 minute walk from our house.
posted by chococat at 10:09 AM on March 11, 2012
Loud is good... it was more that because of the light bracing I felt like I was overpowering the soundboard. The D-28 felt a lot tighter... I think it would be better for me.
On the other hand I just restrung my S&P and it sounds pretty good...
posted by unSane at 7:50 PM on March 11, 2012
On the other hand I just restrung my S&P and it sounds pretty good...
posted by unSane at 7:50 PM on March 11, 2012
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posted by unSane at 8:01 PM on February 24, 2012