Buying advice for long time electric player...

[MartinGibsonFan]

Stick to electric for now.

Study and listen to acoustic genre before moving forward.

MGF

[Brucebubs]

Any reason a Gibson SJ-200 isn't on your list?

[MrShredX]

Originally Posted by MartinGibsonFan

Stick to electric for now.

Study and listen to acoustic genre before moving forward.

MGF

Uhhh no thanks. [emoji23]

At no point did I indicate I don’t know anything about the acoustic genre. I mean, I guess I should have listed primarily acoustic artists I like?

I don’t mean to be combative, but this is some weird advice.

[MrShredX]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Any reason a Gibson SJ-200 isn't on your list?

I’m trying to resist the temptation...my mamaw (grandma) played a Hummingbird and SJ200...it has been 30+ years but I still think about that guitar.

Real answer? I’m not sure how I feel about the maple back and sides. I had that wood combo in another guitar and it didn’t thrill me, but it has been a long time. It should be on the list.

[loco gringo]

J45 or a Southern Jumbo type guitar, which is a J45 with some bling, and or a D18 or D18 type guitar.

I don't find a D18 and a J45 to be redundant. In fact, you can cover a lot of ground with those 2 guitars. If I could only have 2 acoustic guitars, those would probably be the 2 I would choose.

[StringMeUp]

Call Brian Truesby at Wildwood! He is a great resource. Talented too!

https://youtu.be/DEGBtbl8Szo

[MrShredX]

Originally Posted by StringMeUp

Call Brian Truesby at Wildwood! He is a great resource. Talented too!



https://youtu.be/DEGBtbl8Szo

Yeah, I’m going to call Brian in the morning...maybe take a drive over there and pick something up.

[Tico]

Don't overlook the new Guilds coming out of Oxnard, California. Or older ones, for that matter, especially out of Westerly, RI.

[Rpt50]

Originally Posted by MartinGibsonFan

Stick to electric for now.

Study and listen to acoustic genre before moving forward.

MGF

I took this post to mean that now is not a good time to buy a high-dollar acoustic. And I would agree with that. I happen to live in a huge metro area within an easy drive of 5 GCs, a Sam Ash, and several well-known shops that cater to the more discriminating buyer. In pre-pandemic times, it afforded me the easy opportunity to go check out recommendations from this and other sites. I suppose in a very broad sense there was a relationship between what I read on the web and what I heard with my own ears and felt with my own fingers, but overall I have found this a very unsatisfactory way to find a guitar. I suggest you wait until this thing is over.

[pickinray]

Originally Posted by MrShredX

I just want a great guitar....but hard to put your finger on it when stores are closed.

What is great for somebody else may not be great for you. Any of the guitars on your short list could work for you. Take your time and play some guitars when you can. Dealers want to sell guitars - I think that they will work with you as much as they can in this unusual time. Keep notes about what you liked or didn't like about each guitar you try. Be patient and trust your instincts. Good luck!

[EZYPIKINS]

Don't count out the Jumbo's. Especially the Maple stuff Gibson or Guild.
Being an electric player myself. My advice would be. Find the one that sounds good to you.
Then have it set up with an action that you can live with. Not what they think is best, because they don't want to go any lower. Find a tech that will do the action and intonation string by string. Not just file the bottom of the bridge and say, "there you go"

[rampix]

howdy MrShredX, welcome. based on my past experience with Wilwood Guitars i wouldn't be surprised if they don't come up with a way for you to demo your list. i think a phone conversation from a serious player/buyer may yield options...and you sound like both.

as soon as their new showroom opens back up I'm driving down to ogle a few 000's. last trip that cost me few thousand $.

let us know what you end up with and we like pics too

[StringMeUp]

Originally Posted by MrShredX

Yeah, I’m going to call Brian in the morning...maybe take a drive over there and pick something up.

You won’t regret it! Let us know if you find something.

[j3ffr0]

If you cannot find what you want locally, I suggest looking a some of the boutique builders if you are buying a guitar online that you haven't played. The quality is more consistently better and you are much more likely to end up with a great guitar. Huss and Dalton, Santa Cruz, Bourgeois, Collings to name a few. I haven't played a Huss and Dalton that was any less than very good to great. Not much you couldn't do with a great J-45 (or H&D DS Crossroads).

[jp2558]

I played electric for about thirty years when I decided I needed a Martin. I also expected to come home with a D-28 or a D-35. When I went shopping I never even tried either model after I played what became my M-36. I have never regretted my purchase. If you can, try before you buy.