Cheap solid-top guitar?

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 May 07 - 05:44 AM

out of interest Richard, what is a really good guitar for you? What are your choices for stage work - do they differ from what you like playing at home for fun?

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 May 07 - 06:35 AM

"Really good" - hmm that's loadsamoney. Andy Cavan's Armstrong, and Jay Turner's Armstrong are both nice (and very loud), William Pint's Goodall is glorious. I don't like Taylors. Les Irvine's 12 fret slotted head dreadought Martin (high-end) sounds great, and the similar shaped Collings that Mike Nicholson plays is also lovely.

I once heard a Fender Custom Shop acoustic (dreadnought) that sounded really good.

Fisheye's Yamaha FG 360 is right up there. My late wife's Hagstrom J-45 has a wonderful shimmer but could do with a bit more grunt. My Mugen THE78 is good, big thud and ringing trebles, lacks a bit of cut in a crowded mix.

My "beater", a Morris, works well plugged in, pretty good bite and a piano-like quality on the lows probably down to the extra-long scale length (26"), but a bit "b"-ish. My daughter's Sigma DM4 works well plugged in too and the stiffer top enables you to turn it up a bit

I like the big boom of a good dreadnought. I like the complex resonances of some L'Arrivees.

"Stage" - don't be silly, people pay me to go away, not perform on stage!!

Cheap? Ayers or shop carefully for a good Indie, or a Lamaq. Or a Sigma and a bit of DIY setting up.

Or take a total punt on ebay. If you don't like it, sell it again, and mostly you are only down a bit on postage, and if you sort out the action and put decent strings on you can cover your cost completely - I did that with a Sigma DM1 that was to trebly for my taste.

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 22 May 07 - 08:30 PM

in the UK some of the new 'Vintage' from JHS range of mid price acoustics look quite useful.

..the recent Vintage electric guitars
have become excellent value for money instruments
since being revamped by Trevor Wilkinson

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 May 07 - 04:35 AM

The "Vantage" range (made by Korg) was not bad in parts. Not so keen on the "Vintage" ones.

Lamaq's E-shop

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Mooh
Date: 23 May 07 - 08:31 AM

The Norman I mentioned earlier in the thread (in '04) was subsequently sold for double my cost, and it was still a good deal. From what I hear and see (dozens of students), the Godin/Lasido brands (A&L, S&P, LaPatrie, Norman, Seagull) still offer great bang for the buck.

Most of the major importers have figured out that "solid top" is a sales point that is virtually always made in the lucrative insrument markets, so they have "solid top" instruments at nearly every price point above dirt cheap. But alas, "solid top" doesn't necessarily equate with good. I've seen and heard (and serviced) some that were so badly constructed otherwise that even hotrodding them with bone nut and saddle, high end strings, great set-up, etc wouldn't change their nature. It seems a waste of even mediocre top wood, and I've heard some laminate top instruments that sounded better, much better. (No, I'm not excusing my own instruments, they're well documented in Mudville.)

In any event, if I were shopping for a cheap and decent solid top axe, used instrument dealers of repute would be my first choice. Take your time, take another pair of ears, visit the shop and any particular guitar more than once, ask for fresh strings if possible, listen as you play and another plays, buy for sound and general playability (ultimate playability can be achieved by a good set-up), cosmetic considerations are secondary to sound, check for construction issues, don't be pressured, don't be conned by a cutaway and electronics if you don't need or like them (they're not an indication of quality), get a case or bag, don't be lured by included accessories like strap/strings/picks/case/polish in leau of sound...sound first.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 May 07 - 12:35 PM

Definitely sound first! I have a theory that all guitar buyers should be blindfolded!

But here in the UK shops will usually refuse to put new strings on. Even had that when (with a friend) buying a Gibson J45 - about GBP 1000 - and the shop refused to get more than a couple in from the warehouse (its own warehouse, stock it owned) to compare, and point blank refused to put new strings on unless we guaranteed we were going to buy or pay for the strings.

In short, they couldn't have given a stuff wheher we spent GBP 1000 or not!

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 23 May 07 - 03:12 PM

Has anyone mentioned the Quebec-made A&L Ami yet. I think they're under $200 and Gurf Morlix (who played with Lucinda Williams) and Dan Walsh (who played with Fred Eaglesmith) both play these. They are both pictured with them in their avitar pic on myspace. They both paid more for the pick-up than for the guitar.

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: GUEST,Rick
Date: 25 Nov 08 - 02:14 PM

Epiphone Masterbilt. Fantastic all solid wood. clean workmanship. I have the AJ-500M. $500.00 Blew away the Gibson 45 and everything I tried in the acoustic guitar room. plays so easy too. I think some brand snobs see that its made in China and actually think it sounds worse.(placebo effect)

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: banjoman
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 06:51 AM

A lot of mention of not so cheap guitars that may well be out of the budget range of many. I agree that its probably best to shop around and to look at secondhand stuff. Always a good idea to have an experienced player with you if you are a beginner.
For myself - apart from the large collection of banjos, I play a very old Washburn 12 string acoustic/electric which is great for playing in church and cost me about £100 a few years ago. I also play an early Lakewood which was a bit of an expense new, but which really is a fabulous guitar. I am surprised that no other contributors to the thread have mentioned Lakewood - they make fine instruments and are well worth a look if you have a bit of money to spend.

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 08:40 AM

Jim, don't know if anyone else has mentioned Art & Lutherie guitars yet, but I will.. I've had an Ami Cedar for around 6 years, which I love. Not a guitar for everyone, or all styles, but for a parlour guitar it's excellent value (<£200 when I got mine, around £280 RRP nowadays)

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 08:59 AM

Don't know whether she's solid top or no, but I adore my Tanglewood. Crafters I played about the same time as I bought her, were shite.

At the time I had a Korean built Epiphone (I have posted previously that I prefer Epi's to the same range Gibsons, but I'm a Philistine). This Epi I had thought gorgeous, sweet, before I played the Tanglewood ; after which , the Epi sounded clunky.

I have never played a low-end Gibson (J45, J50, J185E) that I liked and never played a Far Eastern built Epi that I didn't. My other favourite, which I wish I still had, was a small-bodied Kimbara, as sweet as a virgin's xxxxx.

I had a small-bodied Harmony Sovereign at one time, which was a bitch of a guitar, but I wish I still had her today. Oddly, I part-ex'd her for my first Jap Epi . . .

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: olddude
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 09:55 AM

My buddie bought an epiphone for 100 bucks (including shipping)
online from Musicians friend

I played the guitar, It is very very nice with a pretty sound out of it. I was shocked at the quality for under 100 bucks considering they offered free shipping with it. How they do it, I don't know but I would not just write off cheap guitars these days, like someone mentioned, they are better than what we paid and arm and a leg for 30 or 40 years ago

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Cretzon
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 02:56 PM

I've had two Epiphone 12 stringers for 39 & 37 respectively. Identical models, but - unsurprisingly - not identical sounding. Both have had their neck blocks reglued in the recent years, both have a fine action and a good sound, not disgraced in the company of my Martin or Guild 12 stringers.

But, you know, the Epiphone's weren't all that cheap new. My first one cost me three weeks pay as a journalist.

The Martin has a sound that stands out above anything else; you won't have somebody with a Taylor drowning it out in a pub singaround, I can promise you. The Guild (commonly referred to as a modern cheapo) has a build quality that totally belies its price, and a sound that - although a bit boomy - is great.

12 stringers - I love 'em.

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Tangledwood
Date: 26 Nov 08 - 09:52 PM

Agreed Bryn, I reckon Tanglewood is great too, and yes it is a solid spruce top. It compared more than favourably with a slightly more expensive Martin and after almost a year it's tone keeps getting better.

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 27 Nov 08 - 06:53 AM

Endorsed, Tangledwood - the older she gets (nearly 3 years, now), the richer the tone.

I tried a Martin D15 in the same shop, same time, and wasn't impressed.

Richard B has the rights of it - Martins, in the UK, are (generally speaking) out of the price range of the average singer of folk songs.

Name Drop alert ! :-)

I have in the past played Martin Carthy's Martin, and Ralph McTell's. Both times I "met myself coming back" (this is the only way I can express it). A friend at the time, Rosemary Hardman, commented :

"First you learn to play guitar ; then, you learn to play a Martin".

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 04:59 AM

Sticking to the original thread query ;
    I have owned & played many different guitars in my 60-odd years,and at times of turmoil & financial stress, which have been frequent,I have always turned to the Yamaha range for a good solution to the "affordable solid-top" problem . Having said that,I have recently bought a Chinese- made Guild ( ie Fender) all-solid GAD 40,and I have to say that I am amazed at the quality,sound,and playability of the instrument -- OK,so it may not fall into the "cheap" bracket at a pre-owned £375-00,but it would be worth going without life's essentials ( Sugar,Fat,Caffeine & Alcohol)for a few weeks for--even the case is high quality !! I love it !
                  But,as I have done in the past,I would also consider another Simon & Patrick SP6 Cedar,or even a Washburn (pre-owned,of course ; they're cheaper !)

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Captain Farrell
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 05:52 AM

Spoke to Clive Gregson last week and he was using a solid top from Sue Ryder charity shop. Looked very nice and sounded pretty good price around £150 brand new. If its good enough for him etc.

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: olddude
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 07:51 AM

seagull makes an amazing guitar. I don't own one but I sure like them

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Myrtle's cook
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 08:03 AM

I have a Crafter parlour solid top guitar (TA 50 I think) which is not only very well made but acoustically almost up there with the £1,000 set.

I have also tried a couple of Faridas and been pleasantly surprised just how good they sound. Not quite in the Lowden et al league, but really good value for money.

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Fortunato
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 11:22 AM

Blueridge. See them, play them.

IMHOP superior to anything under $3,000 and MANY above.

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: s&r
Date: 18 May 10 - 02:36 AM

Hi there. Become a member. It's free and easy

Stu

Subject: RE: Cheap solid-top guitar?
From: Gurney
Date: 19 May 10 - 01:50 AM

I bought a used Jack and Danny Brothers acoustic online for very little money, NZ$81, about UKL42. Not a mark on it. Can't fault it for volume, staying in tune, setup, playability or build quality. The bottom isn't the best I ever heard, but not bad.
They seem to be about UKL200 new, and if I was looking for a new cheap guitar, I'd look at them first.
Those (branded)Gibsons with the Epiphone logo on them aren't too bad, at UKL100, either. I walked aroung a shop and sounded about 12 of them. All the same sound.