New Guitar Recommendations

Subject: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Marcus Black Wolf
Date: 17 May 02 - 05:02 PM

Anyone out there recommend a good acoustic guitar in the £500-1000 pound range. Bear in mind it's gotta be left handed. I'm mainly an electric player but was looking to improve my acoustic abilities. I know Yamaha does left handers for example in this price range, but I'm not really fond of their electro-acoustic APX range - any more left-of-centre alternatives will gladly be considered. We are looking for something with a cutaway, fairly small-bodied, with an easy to use fretboard (I have quite small hands for a man) and it can be fully acoustic or electro-acoustic.

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Áine
Date: 17 May 02 - 05:36 PM

Hey Marcus,

Could you do a quick calculation of pounds to dollars, please. I used to know the going exchange, but haven't checked lately. Ta! And are you looking to buy from the internet, catalogue, or is there a local shop where you've been shopping?

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Wesley S
Date: 17 May 02 - 05:52 PM

Aine - According to a converter I found Marcus is talking about $730 to $1460.00. I would think that the C F Martin 15 series would fall into that area. As I recall they have a cutaway in a 00 or 000 size that would have a comfortable neck - less than the 1.75 inch widths I prefer. I'm not sure how tough it would be to find a left handed model. Other than that would there be any used Lowdens available over in the UK?

Everyone has their favorite brands { and you'll be hearing from them soon } but I don't think you can beat a good Martin. A GOOD one - there are clunkers around. Listen with your ears and let them decide for you. Good luck. Let us know what you end up with.

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Blues=Life
Date: 17 May 02 - 06:14 PM

I don't know if Tacoma Guitars are availible where you are, which I must assume is in England. Great bang for the buck, I found I got more tone from my Tacoma than I would have from a Martin in the same price range. Please don't everyone flame me, I love Martins (I absolutely covet a Golden Era version of the D18 I played recently) but there was no comparison dollar for dollar in that same price range when I bought my PR-40. They make a cutaway in that range, but like Wesley said, you have to let your ears decide. They're not ALL great. Blues

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Áine
Date: 17 May 02 - 06:24 PM

Thanks Wesley! I'm a big Taylor fan myself -- but, if Marcus plays as hard as he says, then I'd recommend a Martin,too. I think they sound lovely -- just can't play 'em myself. I'll see what Dear Hubby thinks when he gets home from work tonight.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Marcus Black Wolf
Date: 17 May 02 - 06:30 PM

Wesley, there are probably some used Lowdens here in the UK as they are originally made in N.Ireland, however you don't see to many for sale - I think people hang on to them as they are such good guitars. I was having a look at some Czech guitars actually at the moment as they seemed good value and sounded very nice (don't forget one very important guitar personage and did left-handers for no extra cost.

Anyway got some crazy suggestions about guitars from places in Europe etc etc. that aren't from the usual suspects? Although the suggestion about Martin is certainly worthwhile.

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Marcus Black Wolf
Date: 17 May 02 - 06:32 PM

Er, yeah slight mistake there in me last post :) The line one very important guitar personage should have refered to the Dopyera brothers who were from Slovakia and of course had great involvment with resonator guitars.

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Mark Clark
Date: 17 May 02 - 06:40 PM

How about something like this Taylor 310CE on eBay? Or maybe this Yamaha DWX8C?

My point being that you might do well to look for a used instrument and see if your money can go a little farther.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Marcus Black Wolf
Date: 17 May 02 - 07:22 PM

Mark I had looked at the auction sites, but I'm wary of buying of the internet at the minute (at least by card) as I am presently trying to resolve a situation in which someone used my credit card number to buy a lot of computer gear. This has caused me a considerable amount of grief and forced me to cancel my present cards, and I have had to reclaim all the money via my bank (still waiting to see if they give it back!) so I would probably pay by cheque if I was to use the internet again I think.

Anyone know if I did buy something this way whether I'd have to pay tax when the instrument enters England? Feedback from anyone who has bought guitars this way is welcome as I notice there is a rather good left-handed guitar shop in Texas which ships worldwide.

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: 53
Date: 17 May 02 - 09:14 PM

Taylor Big Baby is a great guitar and it will fit very nice in your price range.

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Escamillo
Date: 17 May 02 - 09:45 PM

See the thread "Seriously, guitars made in Argentina". You may find that your budget could buy an instrument of much higher quality, or the same quality for one third of the price. I'm not selling guitars, just promoting local products, and only the finest. Best of luck!

Un abrazo - Andrés (in Buenos Aires)

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Mark Clark
Date: 18 May 02 - 12:18 AM

MBW, I can't speak for the tax situation in the UK but here in Iowa, like most U.S. states, sales taxes are not collected automatically on out-of-state sales. We are required by law to go to the tax office and pay the state sales tax on any such purchases. As you might imagine, the state tax office has had to rent extra space and hire more workers just to handle the traffic... not. <g>

      - Mark

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Justa Picker
Date: 18 May 02 - 12:46 AM

Here?

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: C-flat
Date: 18 May 02 - 03:45 AM

Have you looked at "Lefties" in Leytonstone, London. They seem to advertise a pretty big range of electro-acoustics. I wouldn't like to recommend a particular guitar as it is so much about personal taste and as you already play electric guitar you know basically what to look out for anyway. Trust your ears and try not to look too much at the name on the headstock. Apart from the obvious, listen for even tones across all the strings, some "good" makers are often lacking in bass response which I think is crucial in getting a nice round accoustic tone. The APX range, which I know you say you don't like, only really come into their own when played through an amp and don't offer much unplugged but are designed with the electric player in mind but as I said earlier it's a subjective issue. Hope you find what you're looking for. C-flat.

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: mooman
Date: 18 May 02 - 03:46 AM

Dear Marcus Black Wolf,

Another suggestion. Your price range will get you a very good Lakewood model (these guitars are hand built in Germany). I have been playing an M-18 for a couple of years now and it is a finer guitar than my Lowden. So I would say they are worth checking out. Amngst others the Acoustic Centre shops stock them.

Here is a link to Lakewood's site so you can get an idea:

Lakewood Guitars

But at the end of the day it comes down to what SOUNDS best and is most aesthetically pleasing to you.

Best regards,

mooman

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: mooman
Date: 18 May 02 - 03:48 AM

P.S. They do left-handed models!

mooman

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Marcus Black Wolf
Date: 18 May 02 - 07:18 AM

Responding to everyone in turn (sorta) Escamillo any chance of some more information on Argentinian instruments at all please - I have no bias against buying a good guitar from anywhere in the world. One of my favourite guitars was a Fernandes Strat copy, which beat a lot of the 'real' ones hollow for example.

C-Flat, I am familar with Holiday music and their left-handed section in Leytonstone, I was considering using them - as I have always had good service from them in the past (they should send their staff to the West End to teach some of the people there in my opinion)I was just looking for something a little bit more left-field this time around.

Just a picka,I honestly don't know if my abilities are up to building a guitar at all from a kit. Though it could be fun to try!

Mooman, although I know who Lakewood are, I hadn't thought of them - I noticed they always got good reviews though so they may be well worth considering.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions - as it helps me in choosing a decent instrument and not an orange box with strings.

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Escamillo
Date: 18 May 02 - 03:41 PM

Marcus, sorry, somewhere I've lost the instructions to make blue clicky things, but you can paste this address and reach the thread on Argentinean guitars:

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=47260&messages=20

You will see some prices for steel strings next week. I'll ask for left-handed designs, but I'm sure they will have them.

Regarding kits, remember that the glues and finishings are a delicate issue by themselves and it is nothing simple, see the thread "Brazilian vs. Indian Rosewood" where Catspaw explains many important details.

By the way, Argentinean luthiers use the Brazilian rosewood (jacaranda) variety, solid spruce or red cedar, and ebony.

Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 18 May 02 - 03:50 PM

I would be remiss if I didn't recommend Seagull...

;-)

Subject: RE: New Guitar Recommendations
From: Midchuck
Date: 19 May 02 - 02:04 PM

Clinton, that's what the waiter said the last time I ate in a tourist restaurant on the Coast.

Serious answer to the original question: Martin 000-15S

Peter.