£8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars

Subject: £8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 19 Jul 19 - 12:55 PM

Short 11.30 mins video comparison..

light entertainment viewing for the weekend...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IpU2xZRN44&t=77s

Subject: RE: £8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars
From: JHW
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 04:41 AM

Well yes I can hear the difference but both are via my laptop speakers and via the demonstrators mic.
I bought a resonator maybe 7 years ago and tried everything in a roomful of such. Came out with a £200, way the cheapest there to my surprise. Still use for open tunings (not slide). Name doen't matter as I've seen the same thing under other badges and colours.
How can anyone make a guitar for £200 or £299 that plays at all?

Subject: RE: £8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 05:14 AM

Just bought two ukekeles for £44 each, one for me, one for Mrs Steve. My son has restrung mine for me upside down as I'm a confirmed leftie. We haven't a clue what to do with them. They sound great to me. Should be fun. There's a ukulele orchestra round here...

Subject: RE: £8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars
From: beachcomber
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 06:45 AM

Steve, if you haven't done so already, look up JOE BROWN singing "I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS" etc on youtube (Sorry I can't give you the clicker thingy)and you will be converted to ukelele.

Subject: RE: £8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars
From: gillymor
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 07:28 AM

That's what got me hooked and now I have a concert and a tenor uke.

I'll See You in My Dreams by Joe Brown the finale at the excellent "Concert for George". There is a very accurate PDF tab to be had on the net.

Subject: RE: £8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 07:48 AM

"How can anyone make a guitar for £200 or £299 that plays at all?"

Computers and lasers basically. The huge difference between guitar making today compared to even 20 years ago is that you have a computer-assisted design and laser-accurate cutting. So it's just much cheaper and more accurate and quicker.

I own several acoustic guitars and the most I have ever spent on one is £360. All of my guitars were made in Chinese factories. The cheapest of them is my Harley Benton mahogany parlour, about £150 new. Solid mahogany top, laminate back and sides. It's great, comfortable to play and does what I want it to do just as well as any Collings or Martin or Taylor I've played..

My favourite among my guitars is my Recording King ROS616, an all-solid mahogany orchestra size model. I have never played a guitar that I prefer to my ROS616, and that includes Lowdens, Fyldes etc. I don't see the point of £2000+ luthier made guitars frankly.

Ironically, the only reason I could imagine spending over £1000 on a guitar would be to commission a luthier to make me a replacement for my factory-made £360 ROS616 if it were to ever get smashed or stolen, as unfortunately the model is discontinued.

Subject: RE: £8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 09:27 AM

Can't remember how or why, but I somehow got my hands on a Gibson guitars brochure
just when I'd started taking a real interest in Top of the Pops
and buying records around age 12..
I hadn't even considered learning to play yet,
but was just interested in the pictures.
Like I would be with something like the Ladybird Books, or collectable cards out of tea packets.
Anyway, even then I took a dislike to all the over-ornate guitars smotherered in fancy pearl and gold bling..
My standout favourite was the plain and simple SG.
All the others looked too old fashioned.
The SG looked modern, and was what I noticed my favourite bands playing on the telly...

Even then around 1971, I must have been developing a proto punk rock sensibility
for plainer cheaper minimilistic guitars...

These days I only own a handfull of guitars with gold hardware..
Not by choice, only because they were heftily discountsd in sales,
and no cheaper chrome or nickel options were available...

Subject: RE: £8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars
From: Tony Rees
Date: 20 Jul 19 - 09:58 PM

To quote Punkfolkfocker:

"These days I only own a handfull of guitars with gold hardware.."

yep, I'm down to my last couple of dozen as well...

Subject: RE: £8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Jul 19 - 01:21 AM

Yes it's true.. I no longer know how many guitars I own..
I lost count years ago...

It all started with just one acoustic guitar 45 years ago,
then I tried an electric solid body,
convinced I could handle it and stop any time I wanted to..
Ok, I accept, that hooked me on the hard stuff..
Over time I gradually spiralled out of control..
Now I've sunk so low I even own two electric banjos and an electric autoharp...
But I haven't got a problem, I don't need help...???
There are worse, far more harmful addictions...

Look at those Star Wars toy collectors.. now if anyone needs rehab...

Subject: RE: £8299 vs £299 acoustic guitars
From: GUEST,Nemisis
Date: 21 Jul 19 - 04:49 AM

PFR you have what is known amongst musicians as G.A.S (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome?)