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  #1  
Old 12-14-2008, 09:02 PM
serenaxcheelam serenaxcheelam is offline
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Default Advice on a beginner's acoustic electric?

My friend who is a beginner at guitarring has an acoustic ibanez, the one you get from a value package. Honestly, it's a decent guitar, but obviously not something magnificent. Right now, she is looking for an acoustic electric guitar, because she wants something that can plug in. She also has a budget, something less than say 400 dollars. What do you guys recommend?
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Old 12-14-2008, 09:05 PM
Jeff D Jeff D is offline
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I would recommend an art and lutherie, any type, and a k&k pickup added to it. This will give one of the best guitars for the price. Also, a yamaha with a k&k would also be very good.
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Old 12-14-2008, 09:11 PM
serenaxcheelam serenaxcheelam is offline
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Sorry for my ignorance, but what is a k&k? and would it be anything less than 400?
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Old 12-14-2008, 09:25 PM
Jeff D Jeff D is offline
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It's a good pickup for relatively cheap. Installed should be around $110.
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Old 12-14-2008, 09:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by serenaxcheelam View Post
Sorry for my ignorance, but what is a k&k? and would it be anything less than 400?
Hi...
The K&K Pure Western Mini is a popular pickup for installing in guitars.

If you don't want to install a pickup (blind install with your arm inside the guitar involving superglue), I'd suggest getting a Seagull guitar with the pickup already in it as a good sounding option. It would be more than the $400 but not much more, and they are great guitars. My Seagull S-6 is probably about 6 or 7 years old and still working fine.

Here's an example...

Seagull - click

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Old 12-14-2008, 11:12 PM
serenaxcheelam serenaxcheelam is offline
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Would anyone of the value packages be good?
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Old 12-15-2008, 03:15 AM
grayn grayn is offline
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Take a look at Crafter guitars.
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Old 12-15-2008, 03:30 AM
TokyoNeko TokyoNeko is offline
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Yamaha's APX/CPX series is also good for a beginner acoustic/electric. I think they're actually meant to be played while plugged in more so than unplugged.
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Old 12-15-2008, 09:22 AM
FlySig FlySig is offline
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A used Ovation. There are many excellent used guitars on the market at give-away prices. Mid level Ovations are outstanding guitars, and the electronics are also excellent. Check out over on the ovationfanclub dot com forums and have her ask around. She'll find a near-mint instrument in her price range that will blow away any new guitar in the same price range.

The Elite T, also called the 1778T or the 2078T, would be what I would look for at that price point. The biggest bang for the buck new, even better used!
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Old 12-15-2008, 09:29 AM
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A used Epiphone Masterbilt is all solid wood and has a nice martin style vintage voicing which sounds great. They can be had for around $300. I saw one in guitar center the other day. You may or may not have to add a pickup though. That's what I would buy if I only had $400 or less.
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Old 12-15-2008, 09:42 AM
eolmack eolmack is offline
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Try looking for a used Taylor 110 or 110E (electric version). While the electric version will run more than $400, its money well spent and you can usually snag one on Ebay or Craigslist.

Better yet, tell her to keep saving her money. Buy a better acoustic than what she has and, as previsouly suggested, add the pick-up when she has the money.
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Old 12-15-2008, 10:36 AM
AndrewG AndrewG is offline
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I agree with the above; forget the electric bit until she has progressed somewhat beyond the beginner stage. Inexpensive electro-acoustics are very much a compromise and I would strongly advise a better quality pure acoustic in the first instance.
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