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Joined: Mar 2003
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Apprentice
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Hi folks, I’m looking for a budget electro/acoustic guitar and wonder what do you recommend? I'm looking for something along these lines, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300508706487&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:ITNeeds like the above to have a built-in tuner. I already have a crafter bowl shaped guitar, but looking for something that might have a fuller sound hence the deeper body. Most of the time won't be hooked to amp just something to pick up and play and not too worried about it getting the odd scratch etc. Any recommendations gratefully appreciated. Thanks very much Joe
Last edited by joemardo1; 12/30/10 05:46 PM.
joe
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My advice - don't worry about the pickup right now. Buy the best acoustic guitar you can afford, stick generally with Dreadnought styles for the lower end you are looking for.
Add the pickup in later - easy enough to do. Buy a clip-on tuner for the headstock (lots of offerings under $30 these days) and forget about the built-in tuner.
For an add-in pickup that's almost effortless to install, go with an LR Baggs I-Beam. It will sound much better than what you will get in knock-off guitars. Save up around 120 quid and you're there with an eBay purchase.
It's hard to know what brands are for sale in the UK in the lower end of things (which seems where your price point is).
-Scott
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Joe, Quote:
My advice - don't worry about the pickup right now. Buy the best acoustic guitar you can afford, stick generally with Dreadnought styles for the lower end you are looking for.
Ditto to what Scott said. There's a lot of decent acoustic guitars out there now that won't break the bank.
If you can find a Seagull, you'll have a good chance of getting a lot for your money.
http://www.seagullguitars.com/intro.htm
Good luck.
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Thanks Scott and Bob for the good advice. There is no doubt about it potential guitar buyers nowadays are spoilt for choice comapred to when I first started over 30 years ago, so many inexpensieve guitars around like this one I found. http://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_cd60_ce_na.htmThe thing with buying an inexpensive guitar for me anyways is that I'm not going to be too worried if it gets a bit of a knock and I can just let it sit in the cornet waiting to be picked up, whereas with a more expensive model I would probably need to have it well out of harms way.
joe
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I agree with Scott. You will get a better acoustic guitar if you buy one without the electronics. Over on this side of the pond Rondo Music has some very nice inexpensive guitars. They do ship over seas however you have to pay duty. There may be a similar guitar store over in the UK, don’t know. Also you can buy a hand held chromatic tuner for 12$ USD. That way you can tune any other instrument you may have. Good luck in your search
When you are at the checkout line and they ask if you found everything say "Why, are you hiding stuff?"
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Joe,
I completely understand the 'knock-about' aspect. This is specifically why I stated not to worry about a built-in tuner nor pickup. These are easily add-on purchases.
Buy the best knock-about guitar you can. You will enjoy playing it more and actually play better in the end as a result. Should you need to put a pickup in it, do so later, once you are comfortable with the instrument.
The problem with looking for something with both a tuner and pickup built-in is that the manufacturer is going to slight you on the build quality of the guitar first, to pay for the electronics. At least this is what I have found to be true in the price range you are looking in.
The clip on headstock tuners are quite nice and convenient and these days only cost 10-15 quid or so online. You can use them on multiple guitars. Mine pretty much stays on the headstock of my acoustic - it folds under the headstock and goes in the case just like that - no removal needed.
It cost about 30$. Had I purchased the 'convenience' of having one of these built-in, I would have paid 75$ or so.
Thomann has many models of clip on headstock tuners, most under 30 quid.
So my suggestion again is to take your budget that you've planned on - spend it all on the best quality acoustic you can find. Add in the tuner next, then if you really like the guitar, add in the pickup. In the end you'll have a more playable instrument.
-Scott
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On the other hand, buying a used instrument can sometimes yield unexpectedly good features for an unexpectedly low price.
It is almost a cultural cliche that musicians pour their identity into an instrument, then sell it when they get married so they can buy furniture.
I once answered a classified newspaper ad for "old guitar for sale $50"
Turned out to be one of the original Gibson double cutaway Les Pauls
Alas, I later sold it to buy furniture. But you catch my drift... there is an abundance of financial desperation in this world; and for the person whose current situation requires cash more than it requires a third guitar sitting in the corner gathering dust, you can often strike a pretty good deal.
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Pat makes a very good point. Quote:
On the other hand, buying a used instrument can sometimes yield unexpectedly good features for an unexpectedly low price.
Most of the guitars I've bought over the years have been used. The truth is, especially on acoustics, they sound better after they've been played and have had a chance to "open up".
You may be able to find something locally, but if not ebay is a good place to look. I've bought and sold several guitars on ebay.
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Noe thing i did not like about that guitar, or anyone in their add is that you could not read about the materials used in the construction. I.E. mahogany or rosewood side? what? I want to know cause this tells a lot about sound quality. I do not know the exchange rate right now but 139 pounds is somewhere near $225 US. You can get some right nice accoustics for that.
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Yes, the used market is a great place to look - if you know what to look for. Look for solid tops to begin with. Then take a look inside at the glueing of the bracing and kerfing. If there's quite a bit of slop, then you can almost be assured that there was slop in the construction of the guitar in general. Don't be impressed by extra shiny varnish. Less varnish is better in general for acoustic guitars - don't be afraid of a scratched up top.
Do look across the top and look for general dips or bulges = bad
If you're shopping used, always also ask if the owner can put a new set of strings on the thing so you can hear what it can sound like. A dull and grimy set of strings is a guaranteed tone killer on what might be a gem of an instrument. Be prepared with a few sets of strings on your own and offer to do this to the instrument and ask to have that amount pulled from the price if you decide to buy.
-Scott
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Todays stupid deal on Musicans Friend Stupid Deal of the day Something cheap you can beat around, Rogue Natural Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar $79.99 Brian
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