I think I need ANOTHER acoustic guitar

[swarfrat]

Never thought I'd say this, as for decades I didn't have a use for an acoustic guitar, but... I think I want ANOTHER acoustic guitar. Recently played/sang at church, hoping to do some more. I absolutely LOVE my Alvarez Baritone. I'm a big jumbo fan. Worked out awesome for my voice sing it a fourth below concert pitch since I was singing melody (ie solo). I just love the wallop that a jumbo brings. But... I needed to play something in concert pitch recently, and capoing up 5 frets takes a lot of the fun out of it. Since the baritone is strung 16-70 with a wound 2nd (F#) string, it's not just a matter of retuning.

But I'm not sure what I want. I mean I could talk myself into another jumbo real fast. The jumbo, when strung as a baritone, sort of loses it's jumbo punch and just becomes a "normal" guitar - kind of like Superman in the presence of Kryptonite. Tuned up to concert pitch it takes on the beefy footprint of a jumbo.  But should I be considering something a bit more complementary to the stable? Like a dreadnought or an OM or something else? I am looking to start incorporating a lot more finger picking into my playing.  Volume and clear voicing is important too. Of course, having two acoustics and not having a dreadnought seems like a hole in the stable, but then again, I'm not a bluegrass lead player either. Mostly looking for something flat/fingerpicked self-accompaniment. Probably about a $600 cap.

 

[DangerousR6]

I too have grown over the years to love the sounds of acoustics, just never really thrown a lot of money at one. I do have two A\E's, an original Kramer Ferrington and a Fender Stratocoustic which I swapped out necks with a Warmoth. But I would like a nice Taylor...

 

[swarfrat]

Yeah, I've always been curious just how hard you can rock with an acoustic/bass /drums. I think the answer might surprise a lot of people. Gobs  of distortion can really blunt your attack, despite its reputation for being the recipient for sounding "heavy". Of course that formula begs for another jumbo.  I think solo acoustic works well with a jumbo, and makes good use of the bass bump. Having an actual bass player, would probably tip towards something with more mid voicing.

 

[Cagey]

I'm a huge fan of Taylor's acoustics. Even their "low end" models beat the snot out of most other OEM's higher-end stuff. But, even their "low end" models aren't cheap. You'll have at buy used to get below $1,500 or so. But, they're out there. I got mine used, and it's not like they wear out, other than nuts/frets.

 

[TBurst Std]

If you are finger picking, go with an evenly voiced Guitar (OM, etc) as well as a wider spacing in the strings. 

 

[swarfrat]

I've always been a huge Guild fan. Wish I still had my JN4 (rent in college).Hearing good stuff about the new Guilds, and the new OM is interesting. Or maybe a 90's D4.

 

[Seamas]

90% of my playing over the last 20 years has been on an acoustic--mostly  '53 Martin 00-17.
I'f looking to buy a new guitar it would be an acoustic--probably dreadnaught.
(I have a Tacoma DM-9, which was a good guitar but needs a crack repaired and a neck reset)

Would REALLY like to get a resonator guitar as well

 

[Seamas]

I'm a huge fan of Taylor's acoustics. Even their "low end" models beat the snot out of most other OEM's higher-end stuff. But, even their "low end" models aren't cheap. You'll have at buy used to get below $1,500 or so. But, they're out there. I got mine used, and it's not like they wear out, other than nuts/frets.

IMHO, their lower end guitars are just as good sound-wise and playing wise as their high end ones.
One thing I notice about Taylor, is just about all of them have a similar sound profile (which is a nice one)

 

[Cagey]

I agree. The better stuff mostly just includes more aesthetics. Some mother of pearl here, a little abalone there, etc.

 

[Logrinn]

The new Taylor's with their V-bracing looks really interesting

[youtube]https://youtu.be/gj8M-wF3ZPQ[/youtube]

 

[swarfrat]

Played a Taylor mini and a 10/12E today at lunch. GC has no Guilds. The selection was actually abysmal outside of the Taylors. There was one midline Alvarez with strings that came from the wreck of the Antikythera. Made it hard to evaluate.  There were some $600 Martins but EVERYTHING else was $200 and under brand new.  I was kinda shooting for a $300-400 USED guitar. Willing to go up to $500-600 new, but not really anticipating anything there.

 

[Cagey]

GC probably isn't the place to shop for acoustics.

It's too bad you don't live around here. Huber & Breese is our "professional" guitar store, where they have a climate-controlled room just for acoustics. They only carry the good stuff, which ranges from $800 to $25,000. But, there are usually some trade-ins available at more reasonable levels.

When I was in the market for a good acoustic, I was fortunate in that I didn't need one. That allowed me to just set the money aside and let fate do its thing. If something showed up next week, fine. If it took a several months, that's fine, too. The critical point is: chance favors the prepared. If I had decided I had to have an acoustic 4 hours after the craving hit, I'd never have gotten my Taylor. I'd have ended up with some intro-level Yamaha or something that wouldn't have been nearly as nice.

But, the word went out, and over time friends and family would point out ads or people selling things, so I was able to play a lotta stuff. Then one day the Taylor popped up as part of bunch of gear a studio was liquidating, and here we are.

 

[stratamania]

Pick up your guitar and play...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNjczDq5D4E
[/youtube]

Acoustics are so expressive in the right hands.

 

[swarfrat]

Yeah, we all know that good and well. GC happens to be about 3 miles from work. But I was disappointed even going in with low expectations.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I played a very nicely playing Yamaha Nylon classical electric over the weekend.
Wifey and I got tempted to pull out the credit card for my birthday, but then decided that we need to pay bills down further before indulging.

 

[swarfrat]

I got a pile of electronic drums waiting on the collectve Craigslist Tax Return. Once they're gone - I should be getting a gitfiddle.

 

[stratamania]

Yeah, we all know that good and well. GC happens to be about 3 miles from work. But I was disappointed even going in with low expectations.

Glad you know it. The second sentence sounds somewhat a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

[swarfrat]

All was not lost though.. I've got about $30 in Cold Stone Creamery gift cards going back at least 2 christmasses - there just aren't any around where I go, but the MIL likes to give them. They finally opened one up near work/GC.

So I got a dark chocolate fudge syrup waffle cone out of the deal.

 

[swarfrat]

Wow.. that was weird. Hadn't really planned on buying sight unseen. Just made an offer on a blem/refurb Guild OM-240CE after pretty much deciding on that model pending laying my hands on one and a few Reverb sales. I wasn't expecting him to take it but he did.

Sneaking stuff in the house is much harder now that my son tattles on me.

 

[stratamania]

I'm not familiar with the Cold Stone Creamery. But a free cone and then getting a Guild a day or so later sounds like a plan.