Best guitar in $250-500 range

[Photomaniac]

I'm looking for a decent acoustic guitar for my son in the $250-500 price range. A cutaway would be nice but is not essential. No electronics are needed.

Any advice? Hope this doesn't violate the price discussion rule. I tried to keep it vague!

[sharkydude50]

For a new instrument I think I'd go with a Big Baby

[drummerboybisch]

I just acquired a Seagull Entourage Mini Jumbo and must admit its a great sounding guitar for only xxx bucks.

[Kajun26]

I love my Hohner. Good quality built guitar for a low price.

[Fredmando]

For a little more, you could go with one of the Guild GAD's.
The Big Baby is a nice guitar.
I also like the Godin line and Seagull's are nice.
Alvarez puts out a great guitar for the money.
Depending on your taste, the Walden guitars are nice as are the Blueridge.
Good luck, you also might dig around and find a new/old stock Tacoma for that price.

[jwsamuel]

There are a surprising number of good choices. Among them are:

Seagull
Johnson Carolina I series and some of the Carolina II series
Blueridge
Yamaha
Epiphone
Alvarez
Martin's X series (on the high end of your budget)

Jim

[Big Eric]

My first vote would be for the Breedlove Atlas series. The 200 series doesn't have a cutaway, but does fall within your price range.

Seagulls are nice, and another great buy.

Art & Lutherie (same company, lower line) are also nice. Really cheap but playable. Some folks I know use them as camping guitars.

And I played a Durango recently. Inexpensive, but surprisingly nice. A cool, funky vibe to it.

[Sugar Bear]

How about an all-solid-wood dreadnought with Grover tuners and a padded gig-bag for this much?

http://www.instrumentalley.com/Cedar...p/cr-d300s.htm

I don't know anything about them but what that page says, but all-solid-wood, Grovers, etc. for THAT price is certainly interesting...

Sugar Bear

[banpreso]

Johnson Carolina, you can have either D sized or 000 sized all solid guitar for that money, even the EIR back and sides ones, just gotta negotiate it a bit.

[Herb Hunter]

I would use the Taylor Big Baby as a starting point.

[jcr55]

Find an Alvarez RF-8 and try it. You'll probably buy it and for only xxx.

John.

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by banpreso

just gotta negotiate it a bit.

Not all that much. Here is a good dealer who carries the Carolina series:

The Mandolin Store

I've dealt with him and he is as good as they come.

Jim

[cotten]

If that's all I could spend, I would definately be looking to stretch every penny. I could perhaps find a used one one I like in my price range that would have originally sold for, say, $500 - $900, maybe more. Buying used can get you a lot more guitar for the same money. Our Classifieds is a good place to look.

cotten

[banpreso]

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

Not all that much. Here is a good dealer who carries the Carolina series:

The Mandolin Store

I've dealt with him and he is as good as they come.

Jim

that's where i got mine

[Sugar Bear]

No bites on that Cedar Ridge up above, eh?

This might be worth a look, for just a wee smidgeon more (Now there's a phrase you don't hear everyday!):

http://www.folkmusician.com/Page_1/M..._sku_M-20.html

"The Vintage Voiced acoustic guitars by Morgan Monroe offer great tone and workmanship at a price that puts in in reach of the serious musician on a budget. The M-30 uses a solid AA spruce top paired with solid rosewood back and sides. The forward shifted X-bracing is modeled after some of the most sought after vintage flat top guitars. Appointments include a bone nut and compensated bone saddle, ebony fingerboard and bridge, Kluson style Butterbean tuners and herringbone inlay."

Or you could have a peek at the Michael Kelly acoustics. All solid woods, even bling bling, for inexpensive prices. I've played their electric jazz box, the Velvet II. That was actually pretty impressive for the price. Navigate on the left on their site:

http://www.michaelkellyguitars.com/acousticguitars/

Sugar Bear