What is the "Easiest" Acoustic you've ever played?

[Methos1979]

I picked up a very-used Martin 000-28EC from a friend (my second EC, ironically both acquired from the same guy). It was a manufacture year 2000 model acquired in 2015, so not all that old but it had a fair amount of fret wear, finish checking, a few dings, the bridge had been reglued and it also already needed a neck reset. Because of the wear and tear I snagged it for like a grand. It had a great sounding DTAR Multisource pickup system in it as well as a K&K (cable taped up inside) that had been in it originally.

The checking along with the vintage toner further darkened by 15 years of heavy use by a couple of real player gave it the appearance of a guitar much older than it really was. But the thing played like buttah and sounded incredible both acoustically and plugged in. I originally bought it as a beater and got the neck reset but I eventually sold it and made several hundred bucks since I'd gotten it for such a great deal. But to this day it's probably the 'easiest' playing guitar I've ever owned and one of the best sounding.

Side by side with a Kronbauer SMB - look how dark that vintage toner looks:



Finish checking:







Neck gap





Fret wear:



Dings:

[Rudy4]

Just throwing a brand name out as "easiest guitar to play" doesn't tell the whole story. If you don't factor in scale length (and string gauge used...) then it's really only half the story.

Two Taylors I have owned would be excellent examples; a mahogany GS Mini and a mahogany 322. Both of these guitars have shorter scale lengths than the often used 25-1/2", so they are both "easier to play" than many of the other guitars referenced in this topic.

Longer term players know this, but newbie players may think that playing ease is simply a function of which brand they purchase.

[MickZ]

Santa Cruz OM/PW for me.

[rstaight]

I would have to say either of my Takamine's. A GD93 and GJ72CE-12 string. I may have to give an edge to the 12 string.

[bobster7]

A Taylor 12 fret, super easy to play but not the best tone unfortunately.

[TedBPhx]

Taylor GT K21e with its short scale and slightly narrower neck makes my 814ce Dlx feel kind of clunky at first then my fingers remember this neck and it becomes my second easiest.

[A Wolf]

My Goodall RCJC. 25 inch scale and 1 13/16 nut—as set up by Goodall. Cedar top, pretty much everything about the set up, woods, make it mainly finger style—about the same time the top begins to compress too much, the strings begin to buzz—but up until that point, it even works for flatpicking. Currently has the low tension SC strings on it (still deciding what final strings will be, but these are probably it). (Oh, I actually like the compressed, slightly distorted sound when I play it hard with a pick; but I mainly like the rich clarity it exudes with fingers or softer picking.)

For a 12 string, my Larivee mahogany jumbo (~2010, a model not made any longer) has remained incredibly easy playing. I walked into the store expecting to buy a Kottke Taylor 12, and this pretty much trounced it. Was glad the owner suggested I try it (and made a smaller sale, too!)

[Oldguy64]

Originally Posted by kmckenna45

What acoustic is the easiest to play? Not the best sounding - not the most versatile.... Simply the easiest?

Like, you picked it up and started playing and the thought, "Wow. What I I am playing sounds like what is coming out of this guitar!"

For me - it's been Taylors. Specifically, 412'S AND 712'S.

I think Taylor's lack "character", (unlike Gibsons and Martins) but they are so easy to play. Maybe it's their electric-style-neck.

They're like a Baldwin upright piano - you play them, and they sound like what you through it should sound like.

And so - why aren't we satisfied with that? Instead, we anguish over chasing that perfect sound (at least I do).

Thoughts????

Just thought I'd share...no big point being made. Frankly, I'm a little drunk and happy to be a guitar player on a Friday afternoon.


Peace.

Alvarez AJ60SC.
I’ve actually had three of them.
I’m keep this one forever.
Plays like a Taylor.
Growls like a Gibson.
Costs like a Rogue.

[Hoodster]

Taylor Academy 12e.

[Tom_B]

The one with the lowest action.

[hotroad]

My Taylor Doyle Dykes custom. Best neck, action, tone, of all. Beats out my Cole Clark, Bourgeois and Gibson though all of those are stellar.

[nuchdig]

A number of today's guitar makers produce easy to play guitars. For me, the first guitar that struck me as easy to play was my cousin's late 70s Takamine 12 string. He was quite accomplished as a player (guitar, classical violin, piano) and tinkered quite a bit with his instruments. I wouldn't say he rose to the level of luthier apprentice, but he was able to fine tune even cheap instruments. His go to gig guitar was a Takamine 12 string. Thing played like butter. That instrument opened my teen eyes to what an acoustic guitar could feel like

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Guitarplayer_PR

Any Taylor I've ever owned.

+1 for both my Taylors.

Lowden F-25 ... plays itself.

[Br1ck]

An Olson I played thirty years ago. $7000 then and used.

[K20C]

John Kinnaird 000 12 fret.