The Guitar I Decided On

Subject: The Guitar I Decided On
From: orangeslice
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 12:45 PM

Okay, this is connected to the Dreadnought vs. Grand Concert thread that I created a while back. At that time, I was trying to decide on what body type I should get, then I started to wonder about what brand of guitar I should get as well.

    Well, for those who helped...I finally decided on what guitar to get. I shopped around and I found a Breedlove Atlas Series AD200/SM Acoustic Guitar (which is a dreadnought) at about 400 under retail price, and it's being shipped now and on its way. No electronics, but hey, with that deal, I was willing to let go of the electronics for the moment. I've read a lot of reviews and it seems to be highly thought of as a great guitar...does anyone have any personal thoughts on it, perhaps some experience with the guitar?

Subject: RE: The Guitar I Decided On
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 01:52 PM

I'm sure we all wish the two of you every happiness and many grand adventures!

Subject: RE: The Guitar I Decided On
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 02:23 PM

I owned a breedlove for awhile and found it to be a good guitar. I think you'll like it. I wound up selling it because I bought another guitar. Long ago I came to the conclusion that I was not a collector of guitars, therefore, if I bought a new one, I had to sell one off.

Subject: RE: The Guitar I Decided On
From: orangeslice
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 03:18 PM

lol, "grand adventures"...hmm, well we'll see. I'm sure I'll take it with me when I go on vacation next year. I'm naming her Tanja.

    I'm pretty certain that I'll enjoy it too...the guitar I own right now is not a solid top guitar and the neck is too thick...also it's not particularly attractive to me (high gloss finish, plastic white bridge pins, very boring rosette which I just decided to remove)...but this guitar is a pretty big step up. I actually didn't think I would be able to buy a guitar of this caliber for a few months, but I just happened to catch a sale and for once, had some money to burn. Satin finish, chrome Grover tuners, abalone rosette, pinless bridge, solid spruce top...all sounds better than what I've been working with.

Subject: RE: The Guitar I Decided On
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 03:50 PM

Let me second Al's good wishes; best of luck, and let's trust you continue to feel so good about your choice.

As far as electronics as concerned, you can always go back and have an under-saddle pickup installed after you save up another few bucks, or quid, or whatever. I'd keep it simple, avoid cutting a hole in the side of your instrument for an control panel and just go with the little pre-amp located inside the strap-pin-input-jack thingamabob.

You say "it's being shipped now," which seems to indicate that you may have played another guitar of the same make and model, but not the actual instrument you're about to receive. I suppose that'll be OK ~ these days, mass-produced instruments are undoubtedly more identical to each other than ever before thanks to computerized reverse-engineering and robotics. Some old-school types would be horrified at the idea, no doubt, but then again such ultra-persnickity standards may be appropriate only when operating in the stratosphere of really high quality and really high prices.

New factory-made guitars of all levels of quality and price ~ even the very best ~ are usually set up with higher-than-necessary action. If you have the money now (or later, as soon as you can afford it), consider investing in a good setup by a reputable luthier.

Don't make the same mistake I did many years ago. My Martin was always an excellent instrument, but I wrongly assumed that it was as good as it ever could be when I got it new. It was only five or six years later, after its first visit to the shop, that it suddenly became much easier to play thanks to having its action adjusted for the first time.

Subject: RE: The Guitar I Decided On
From: orangeslice
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 04:42 PM

Yeah, I'll have to ask about the adjustments, because...this is a small town, and we only have one music store and one place to get instruments fixed and adjusted, but the "guitar guru" at the store is really cool and we're kinda friends, so I can e-mail him and find out what the deal is with the adjustments. The guitar is said to be of low action already *shrugs* I really don't know much about "action" though.

Subject: RE: The Guitar I Decided On
From: orangeslice
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 11:33 AM

Alright, I checked and the guy said that they can adjust the action, add a pickup, put in/on a higher quality nut and saddle...all of that stuff *thumbs up*

Subject: RE: The Guitar I Decided On
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 12:09 PM

Let me toss down a bananna peel for you to slip on while on the way to pick up your new guitar, O.S. While on vacation these last few weeks I rented a Crafter OM style guitar which was brand new, carried a price tag of $349, had great playability and sounded better than some instruments I've played costing 6 or 7 times as much. I know they make dreadnought-sized instruments although I haven't played any. Something to think about anyway, good luck, vl.

Subject: RE: The Guitar I Decided On
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 12:09 PM

Subject: RE: The Guitar I Decided On
From: orangeslice
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 01:24 PM

Well, van lingle...I certainly have no gripes about the price I paid for the guitar ($200 during a closeout sale)...my only concern is how good of shape the guitar will be in when it gets here (which, I think it should arrive today, according to the tracking information). So, I won't say too much about it until I get it and I'm satisfied with the arrival condition. If it's nice when it gets here, then add a nice case, humidifier, take it to the local store/shop and get some adjustments made...and maybe some months from now I can get a Fishman Aura pickup...yeah, then I think I'll be pretty content for the next...long, long time, lol.

But like I said, just praying that it shows up today and all in good shape and everything...

Subject: RE: The Guitar I Decided On
From: orangeslice
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 10:05 AM

Okay, didn't show up today, b/c the idiot FedEx man showed up at the wrong address. Why don't these guys use GPS? Last time the guys lost track of my package for a couple of days, but they at least came to the right address...