Best guitar for playability?

[bentay]

Is he still alive? Maybe he went on to model trains.

[NJ Guitar man]

If you'll explore the many threads about Ovations, you'll see "playability" is a word that comes up often. FWIW.

[Malcolm Kindnes]

Originally Posted by TaylorGA8

I always find it funny. Every time I post on here instead of answering the question people only ask another question. I am not asking about the finer points in life and how its all about personal choice. All I was asking is "In your opinion strait out of the box which guitar is best for playability?"

I don't understand why people insist on giving generalized it depends answers.

Because that's the only correct answer.
The best guitar for playability "for me" is a small bodied Michael Hauver with a wide nut, a thick neck and a very long scale, but it is the absolute opposite of what most people regard as easy to play.
As previously mentioned, a good set up will make any guitar play more easily.

[Guitartanzon]

The martin drednaught Jr.. It just about plays by itself.. smaller body size, 1.75 nut width, 24 inch scale, great sound.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Though this is a resurrected zombie thread, I think it is a topic many members are interested in, especially newer players, so I'll contribute.

Here are my top three, in order, based on my "playing on the showroom floor" experience:

1. Godin family (Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Art & Lutherie) - In first place by a pretty wide margin. I have been impressed by the factory set-ups on every one of these I have played.
2. Alvarez Masterworks series
3. Taylor

Also, there are some specific, objective playability things I look for when trying a new guitar:

• Action at the saddle: around 6/64" under the low-E string measured at the 12th fret.
• Action at the nut: Very slight clearance at the first fret when fretted at the third fret.
• Neck relief: around .012" (a standard business card's thickness) at the 7th fret.
• Clean (not sharp) fret edges all up and down both sides of the fretboard.

Though it is fair to say that set-up parameters are subjective, I also think it is fair to say that the above mentioned parameters are a good starting point, and are indicative of a "good factory set-up".