$3000 for a new guitar, what do you buy and why? - Page 3

Col. D Mortimer · #31 12-09-2003, 07:09 AM

First I'd go to ebay... there the possibilities are very wide. Breedlove C22 in striped ebony and engleman, Taylor 914CE, Martian ugh... Martin ugh... Rowan and Martin's laugh in video series...

Mortimer

Skywachr · #32 12-09-2003, 10:18 AM

A Goodall or Collings and let your hears and hands tell you which.

Jeff M · #33 12-09-2003, 12:55 PM

I would avoid the ebay route. If you are going to purchase a used guitar, play it yourself (for instance, lots of folks dislike the Breedlove sound. Who cares if it happens to be made of Macassar ebony and Engleman if you can't stand how it sounds?) The first thing you need to do is deecide on which builders guitars you tend to like, adn go from there.

You can also contact a reputable dealer who can fill you in on the guitar. I've had good luck with Kim Sherman at Cotten Music, and the folks at Gryphon when it comes to purchasing guitars sight unseen.

gjatkins · #34 12-09-2003, 03:48 PM

My favorit guitar store, Guitar Works , has a used Goodall Koa! Standard for sale.

You might want to email or call and check it out. The link above is to page of Goodalls they have for sale.

koaguitarman · #35 12-09-2003, 03:53 PM

For $3000 it would have to be some nice Koa.
Russ

gjatkins · #36 12-09-2003, 04:01 PM

It is. Not the dark carmely color, but nicely flamed, and I think it has either a cedar or redwood top. One of the sales people showed it to me a couple of weeks ago.

I remember it having a really nice warm tone, and good projection.

twangman51 · #37 12-09-2003, 05:03 PM

I've just tried a Collings d2h-Taylor 810 and a Martin HD28

I went to the store to try the Collings and Taylor looking for that Dread' sound.
It was quite easy to work out that the Collings had a great bottom end but no real clarity or sparkle up top.
The 810 was a real let down. It looked great but had no real volume and sounded thin.
I then asked to try the Martin and was astounded, it played nice sounded great with bass middle and top and was difficult to put down,it sustained for ages I was gob smacked.
I then asked if the strings could be changed on the Collings, and the guy put a new set on, ugh awful, all over the place and not impressed, so much for Collings I thought, considering the price it wasn't good.

Overall I would say that the Martin had a real acoustic tone not developed for electrics but strong and friendly in its own right, the guitar played very smoothly.

Secondly, the Collings had what I would describe as a clubby, unfriendly neck and did not sound thousands of dollars worth, it played ok though.

Thirdly the 810 was the most far away from a dreadnought sound that you could imagine, the serial no. showed 2002-september so I'm not sure if it was a re-voiced model (I hope not). The action at the saddle and nut were to high for comfort and my finger had to reach over the strings to fret them if you see what I mean. I don't think this was a bad guitar as such just not dreadnoughty enough.

So I would say go for the Martin if you already have a Taylor, or at least spend as much time trying out different makes as you can, you might be surprised

I was !

Taylor007 · #38 12-09-2003, 07:44 PM

twangman51 -

I had the same experience w/ a few of the Collings guitars I played.

tplayer03 · #39 12-10-2003, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by leftydude
Breedlove C25

I agree! Breeedlive baby!

Ninjato · #40 12-10-2003, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MichaelM

The 614 and 914 will sound very different because of the maple on the 614. I played a 614 and 914 at a store the other day and was surprised how different they were.

YUP. I have a 615spec and an 815ceL1. Totally different tone and sound. What is really cool is to have a friend play one of them and me on the other. The tonal spectrum covered is real wide w/ the deep low from the Brazilian Rosewood on the 815, and the highs really project on the Maple 615.

Fngrstyl · #41 12-10-2003, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by architectx
For $3000, I'd be trying to find a Goodall.

That's what I just did, and it is hands down, the finest guitar I have ever played. It is extremely loud, and perfectly balanced. It is almost exactly the same size as the Taylor x14, and twice as loud the Taylor Dread, revoiced! I'm serious!!

I have never had a guitar excite me so much.

Fngrstyl · #42 12-10-2003, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gjatkins

No offense to Martin, or even Taylor, but I haven't played or heard a better sounding guitar than a Goodall (personal opinion).

Glad I'm not alone!!

woodyboyd · #43 12-10-2003, 02:15 AM

Collings !

SteveS · #44 12-17-2003, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taylor007
I'm curious and just might be in this situation soon.

Well, are you looking? It seems that Goodall is getting high marks here. What are you thinking?

plexipunk · #45 12-20-2003, 05:06 PM

invest in a 1959 Les Paul Jr...... you can't go wrong