Help: New Guitar, all things equal

Subject: New Guitar, all things equal
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 07:29 PM

My new guitar quest is under way. A trip to Rochester New York shows up with these fine instruments.

A Larrivee LO-3E

A Martin OOOC-16GTE

A Taylor 412-CE

They all play like my sainted old Guild F-30. They have pretty much the same on board electronics. They come with cases. Only the Larrivee isn't a cut away model. The Taylor isn't Mahogany, its Okyvangkol. They are all with in my $1500.00 budget range by a good bit. I asked for instruments with in a $1200.00 limit and the dealers all complied.

Here is the conundrum. I really like them all. No one instrument has an edge over the other and I be a happy man with either of the three. If it comes down strictly to the name, what do you choose? Hells bells, how do you choose. Go with your gut? Mine ain't workin' here.

Opinions?

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: 53
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 07:39 PM

go with either the taylor, or the larivee.

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: Big Mick
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 07:40 PM

Geezis, Don. I think you need to just play 'em until one bites ya. For me it is sound first, with action a very close second. I am starting to look a bit too, and I played the Taylor and the Martin models that you have described. I like the Martin a bit better. I figure that I am going to just shop for about 6 months. I am going to play vintage and new. I am looking for an instrument that just speaks to me. I don't care if it is a $300.00 instrument or a $3,000.00 instrument, as long as it grabs me by the 'nads and begs to come home. If I don't find one that does that, I will probably go back and get the Martin.

Great to see you in the threads.

Mick

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: DougR
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 07:41 PM

Aw heck, Don, just go on and buy all three of 'em! Bite the bullet, so to speak.

DougR

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 07:47 PM

Hell Don, you and I both know all things are never equal so just play them a lot and see what comes back. I don't think (and you don't either) that you can go too far wrong with any of them.

Why not pick the case you like best?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 07:57 PM

That Taylor is made of "ovangkol", btw, Don ! And a fine tonewood it is too.

If I were you I wouldn't buy any of them I would save up and buy a Gibson, you can't go wrong with a Gibson, there's just something about a Gibson .......

Murray

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 07:59 PM

Yeah Murray.......When you put them in water they sink.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 08:17 PM

So they all play the same, and they sound the same to you when you play them. Maybe you could grab a friend and have him or her play all three while you listened...blindfolded. Who knows - they might sound different from the other side.

Maybe if you keep visiting them and hold off on the decision, one will begin to stand out in your mind.

If that doesn't work, I'm with Spaw. Pick the one with the coolest case.

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: Justa Picker
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 08:18 PM

Which one would have the best resale value if you decided to flip it down the road for whatever reason?

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 08:41 PM

My brother, son and I are off to Elderly Instruments next. I'll just play a ton of instruments. But of the three I mentioned, they all have bitten me pretty good. I could stop the search right here and not be disappointed. The only thing that has a flaw is the Larrivee. It doesn't have a warranty.

Murray, thats how Ovangkol is spelled?? I thought Ovangkol was spelled Okyvangkol. Well I guess if any would know it would be you. I did try a few Gibsons and a Takoma and two other Martins. None came up to the three I mentioned. Besides, everytime I pick up a Gibson I start playing Phil Ochs and Everly Bros.

Mick, price is less an issue than it is a limit. The Larrivee is $850.00, the Taylor $1225.00. Both in the budget and neither has more or less influence on my final choice. My big issue will always be the neck then the sound.

Buy the neatest case?

Don

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: harpmaker
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 08:42 PM

Looks, sound, and get a good luthier to give his/her advise. Many good guitarists come to see me with their latest dream. Even on some good names, the workmanship could be better

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: John Hardly
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 09:54 PM

Don,
I think those are all winners. I do think the 000 and the L hold a slight edge in the versatility department--the ones of those that I've played have a greater bass than the _12's I've played (there bouts are larger--the Taylor _14s are a more equivalent body)

As justa implied, the Martin, in my opinion will hold it's value best except that, if I understand you right, somebody else walked off with the Larrivee's depreciation---just about cementing its value staying the same.

One minor consideration--these are three of the guitars I lined up at Elderly's a few years back when I bought mine. Comfort ended up being one issue because I am tall and long enough to make the _12 a bit too small for me. If I wanted to vary the sound dynamic from the top of the soundhole to the bridge, I really had to physically lift my arm to reach the bridge end of things (my arm was too long to just swing it that way).

The Larrivee's neck functioned better for me. that silly little 1/16 wider helps me out immensely. I believe that this is of little issue with your choices because, if memory serves me, the Martin 000's have 1.75 necks too and though the Taylors may not they are a bit wider. But the Larrivee is less radiused and I've heard some complain about that.

You just can't lose with any of them.

Have a BALL at Elderly's. It's as close to heaven as I've found on this sod!

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 09:56 PM

Been playing my good old 1964 Gibson J-45 since I got it used in the Bi-Centiennial (1976). It has gone around the world with me. I've never needed or wanted another guitar. Play the guitars, and the one that gives you that feeling of "this is it" is the winner. If you don't feel that way when you're trying out a new instrument, it is not the right one for you.

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: 53
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 10:07 PM

gibsons are good too, i have a j-45 walnut color i've had it 21 years and i love it.

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 10:21 PM

For those of you who thought I sounded flippant about this, that's not the case. Over the past few years I've gotten to know Don here and to be truthful, this is pretty much a "fun" thread. Sure, Don wants an opinion, but I know that he is as qualified as pretty well anyone around here to judge sound and workmanship and electronics. He also has a physical problem which makes the neck more important than virtually anything else. Reality is that Don is a good guy to ask for an opinion.

Don, have a great time at Elderly and I still think that when it comes down to it, one guitar will end up "talking" to you. But if you can only narrow it down to two or three.........Go with the cool case!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: DonMeixner
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 10:32 PM

Thanks for the praise Pat but I am like the Lawyer or Doctor with the fool for the client. And I have often been too close to problem to see the solution so I always try and get a good schooled opinion before I jump.

I'd love a J-45 at some point. Here is a bit of trivia:

Best sounding guitar I ever played was a Lo Prinzi. The best playing guitar I ever tried was Gallagher.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: 53
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 10:35 PM

go with your gut feeling.

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: Big Mick
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 10:48 PM

Don, email me and let me know when you are going to Elderly. I will meet you there, and say hello. Maybe we get a bite of lunch, eh? My email addy is [e-mail].

Mick

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: DonMeixner
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 11:20 PM

You Bet Mick

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: John Hardly
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 09:39 AM

"...but I know that he is as qualified as pretty well anyone around here to judge sound and workmanship and electronics. He also has a physical problem which makes the neck more important than virtually anything else. Reality is that Don is a good guy to ask for an opinion." --catspaw 49

Okay. So now I feel sufficiently stupid for an overly long and pedantic post. Sorry.

Why don't you tell those of us who don't know you what special requirements you DO have and maybe my opinion/advice will be a more educated guess.

JH

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: John Hardly
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 09:44 AM

...seems to me that you, Don, favored and older Guild F30. If you like that shorter scale perhaps you should stick with the Martin 000, as it is the only of the three you listed that is also short scale. They are also now making the F30 again (they had stopped for a while). I played one last year and my only complaint was volume. It also has a VERY un-wide (from E to E rather than neck thickness) neck.

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: Clifton53
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 10:28 AM

I wish I had this problem Don! It's a tough choice as they are all fine guitars. My guess is that when you get to Elderley you'll find even more variables in your equation, and that's a good thing eh? Take your time, you'll know when you've found the right one.

Clifton

Subject: RE: Help: New Guitar, all things equal
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 10:49 AM

Actually John your comments were very valuable to me. While I am not over tall I do have big arms. Your comments on the taylor are well advised. Don't feel foolish. I imagine everyone here has heard about my hand injuries and is tired of it by now anyway.

The first guitar I picked up in one shop was new used Guild F-30 and it had very dead strings. To power it up with equal electronics would have almost knocked it out of the box budget wise.

Clifton, I am afraid I'll find myself stuck choosing between the color of Mahoganies. Sometimes I blame Howard Johnson for this. Why shop for Rocky Road when all i wanted was Vanilla, Chocolate, or Strawberry.

Don