Moderately Priced Guitar Brands

Subject: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Parson
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 11:08 PM

I know that all of you are not guitar players, but for those of you who are, what brand of guitar do you like in the moderate price range? My interest is in flatpick guitar, especially Bluegrass and Gospel music. The guitar I have is a Yamaha which I have owned for several years. Just out of curiosity, what brands have you played or heard and liked that would be in the price range of not more than about $500?

Randall

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 11:12 PM

Seagull.....Very nice brand from Quebec Canada. Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From:
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 02:44 AM

There were several threads on different types of guitars. Here is one thread that might be of interest: Info/Opinions:Alvarez,Seagull,Washburn et al; but I think there is another thread aimed at discussing lower range guitars.

Murray

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 03:23 AM

We have quite a number of threads on the subject as Murray said and additionally, check the LINKS pages under "Instrument Related".

I'm sure others will be along too, but pleasse check the threads and the LINKS.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Midchuck
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 07:25 AM

Parson, have you joined flatpick-l? So far there are only three mudcatpickles that I know of: me, bigchuck and moonchild. But it sounds like just your thing and they're a nice bunch of folks, albeit some of them can get just a leetle obsessive. But they obsess about the correct things.

To make sense of what I'm talking about, check this page out.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Midchuck
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 07:30 AM

IMO you want a very low-end Martin. The "15" series (all mahogony, even the tops) are the best for the money, again IMO. I know of a music store in the northeast that had a sale going where they were selling them in the low 500s, and Elderly sells them in the high 500s all the time. And that's for new, with the lifetime warranty.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: bigchuck
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 09:07 AM

As an alternative, check out the Taylor "Big Baby", which is a 15/16 sized version of the Taylor Baby. We sell it for $ 329.00 with a Taylor Gig Bag. I feel that it plays and sounds better than most of the sub $1000 Martins, (the 15 series possibly excepted).

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: GUEST,Steve Beisser
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 12:42 PM

Seagull (as mentioned before) is an EXCELLENT choice for 3-400 bucks. Johnson also makes LOUD and solid guitars for CHEAP... A blueburst Johnson with gigbag and tuner and such is on eBay for 70.00! That's SEVENTY bucks... you can bid on them (always several) and if you bid seventy bucks and win, it's yours for 70.00! I worked in a store where we sold Johnson guitars... With a proper setup and intonation (MANDATORY for all guitars at time of purchase whether new or used, in my opinion as a repair guy) these guitars are FINE sounding for the price and you won't die devastated if you get one smashed or lost (unlike a Martin at any price; I'd fight to the death for a Martin). Check out Johnson's line (especially eBay) and Seagull's Folk Line.

Steve

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: GUEST,Luther
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 01:07 PM

well, since nobody mentioned Larivee, I will.

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: RichM
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 02:10 PM

http://www.chatsubo.com/only/lasido.html

Norman, Seagull, Godin, Simon&Patrick...All by the same Canadian company (LaSiDo).
Excellent sound and value for the money, starting at about $250 US. I used to recommend Yamahas, but these guitars are what I now recommend to beginners, or for a second guitar or festival beater. Some come with pretty good pickup systems too.

Rich

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 02:13 PM

And yeah...that one is in the Links page too....with a hot link. As is Elderly Instruments who stock them and sell them at an excellent price. Larrivee is there too. Anybody checked that page out?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 04:31 PM

I agree with Midchuck on the "15" Martin series. I played a few this afternoon and was very impressed. If not one of those I'd look at the Seagulls.

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: GUEST,wayne hosick
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 09:36 PM

i've checked out many guitars over the years . for 500.00 there is not a better value than seagull.

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From:
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 11:10 PM

Midchuck, what is Mahogony like as a tone wood? I have sort-of been admiring the 000-15S with the slotted headstock which is wider than usual.

Murray

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Parson
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 12:33 AM

Thank you all for your responses. Our local small town music shop sells several acoustic brands in the less than $500 price range, but I notice that none of you have mentioned any of them. It might very well be that this fact tells me alot. He sells, Aria, Sigma & JB Player. He is also a technician & does a set-up on all the guitars he sells. He lowers the strings at the nut and the bridge so that they fret easily, but without any buzz or rattle again the frets. But the fact that none of you mentioned any of the brands he sells would seem to indicate that they are, perhaps, more for beginners???

I will be checking out the sites that several have posted.

Sorry about asking the same question that you have all answered before. I tried to find something my searching the forum for "Guitar Brands" and only found a thread on fingerpicking guitars. I didn't think of searching as Catspaw has suggested.

Take care.

Randall

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 12:42 AM

Properly setup, the guitars you mention are still pretty much decent, but lower end instruments. To see all the htreads on guitars (and related) enter GUITAR in the filter box and set the refresh to 2 years. That ought to give you bookoo threads to read.

As you can see, Seagull gets good reviews for the price, but there are others. Be sure to check the elderly Instruments site on the LINKS/Instrument Related page and you'll see they have a broad selection of price ranges and they are great to work with. Also, Mandolin Bros. in New York. Sigma is Martin's offshore import by the way and you can compare local to Elderly and others there too. Properly setup, not terrible at all.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 04:15 AM

Guest Murray,

I have played, and worked on, several guitars with a mahogany soundboard. One or two of them were excellent in tone others not so. It's like everything else, tone is dependent on a multiplicity of factors, including woods, variations in the structure of those woods, quality of design, quality of build, other materials like glues, bones and fitments, strings, how all these variables work together and, last but not least, your own taste. Really there are no straightforward rules, its just a case of trying different instruments until you find something that really suits YOU.

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 04:15 AM

Guest Murray,

I have played, and worked on, several guitars with a mahogany soundboard. One or two of them were excellent in tone others not so. It's like everything else, tone is dependent on a multiplicity of factors, including woods, variations in the structure of those woods, quality of design, quality of build, other materials like glues, bones and fitments, strings, how all these variables work together and, last but not least, your own taste. Really there are no straightforward rules, its just a case of trying different instruments until you find something that really suits YOU.

Peace

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Midchuck
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 11:11 AM

Guest Murray, etc, said:

"Midchuck, what is Mahogony like as a tone wood? I have sort-of been admiring the 000-15S with the slotted headstock which is wider than usual."

You can't have one until I get mine! That's what I have earmarked to be the next guitar I buy - when I can find one! But I've conversed with enough people who feel the same way that I expect there to be a long line for them when they become available. Or do you mean you've actually seen one in a real world music store? I don't suppose you'd like to let me know where, while you're thinking about it....

I've played three or four of the new 15s and liked them all - the 00- and 000- models more than the dreads - but the guitars I now have in active use all have the wider neck (1 3/4" at the nut) and I find it enough more comfortable to play that I'm unlikely to buy any more instruments with the standard width neck unless they're such a good deal that I buy them for resale. So I was quite excited when I heard about the 000-15S.

The mahogony tops have, to my hearing, a "darker," "smokier" sound than spruce. If I were a lead picker, I wouldn't like it. But I think it sounds great for backing up vocals. It makes me think of song circles around campfires in the woods, with beer, and meat cooked on a long stick, and smoke blowing in your face no matter what side of the fire you sit on.

But then I have had an overactive fantasy life for the past 57 or 8 of my almost 59 years.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Wesley S
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 11:27 AM

If I'm not mistaken didn't Martin disign the 000-15S as a 14 fret model as opposed to the more traditional 12 fret? I know I'd much rather have a 12 fret. I can't wait to get my hands on one to see if it sounds as good as I hope it will. Then the problem will be justifying a new purchase to my wife.

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Marion
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 12:06 PM

Does anyone know anything about Conrad guitars (a Japanese classical guitar)? I have a Conrad, not by choice, just because that's the one that fell into my hands when I started playing. Roommate's boyfriend's brother permanently lent it to roommate's boyfriend who permanently lent it to roommate who permanently lent it to me.

When I decided to stick with it I paid some money to my long absentee guitarlord, and I'm still sticking with it for now, but I'm just curious as to whether Conrad is generally considered good or bad or indifferent. I don't think I've ever heard anyone else mention the name.

Marion

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: Kim C
Date: 14 Sep 00 - 10:23 AM

I have a little Alvarez that I got for $250 several years ago because of a tiny, tiny flaw in the finish. It was actually considered a factory second because of this. It is a fine-sounding instrument, though it doesn't have the same resonance as a larger-body guitar. Mister has a big ol' dreadnought Washburn, it's a beautiful guitar, but I had trouble learning on it and really wanted something smaller that fit me. (That's another thing to consider - it should "fit" you also.)

Oddly enough, though, our favorite guitar these days is a used student classical guitar we picked up for $60. I forget the brand name but it's made by Gibson. We wanted something cheap we could take on trips with us without putting our Real Guitars at risk for injury. Let me tell you, this thing plays like a dream, and for a Cheap Guitar, it has a really good tone.

Someone mentioned Martins, too, and sure, if you can get a good deal on one, go for it. :) I played a MArtin once in a music shop and they had to pry it away from me.

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: richlmo
Date: 14 Sep 00 - 10:01 PM

I bought an Alvarez for about $200 about 25 years ago or so. The best playing guitar I ever had. Still plays good and sounds better all the time. Still have the original soft shell case , too!

Subject: RE: Moderately Priced Guitar Brands
From: GUEST,DROOLER
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 08:48 PM

I have been playing an Alvarez for years. It is wonderful. Anyone who has ever played it has looked to see what it was. My husband has a Martin. I am not even tempted.