Heavy Handed Dreadnought player...Please recommend my Next one

[CASD57]

Okay I'm a little heavy-handed Dreadnought player...Ex-Electric player..
I don't really strum that hard it's more of a heavy picking for expression and sound...

I'm looking for Something priced under $1000 that can take a heavy-handed picking player with overdriving it..

Honestly, it doesn't need to be a Dreadnought but I like a full bottom end.. Maybe a Jumbo? or a Baritone tuned to E with lights?
I appreciate any info and Then You in advance..

[mischultz]

Originally Posted by CASD57

Okay I'm a little heavy-handed Dreadnought player...Ex-Electric player..
I don't really strum that hard it's more of a heavy picking for expression and sound...

I'm looking for Something priced under $1000 that can take a heavy-handed picking player with overdriving it..

Honestly, it doesn't need to be a Dreadnought but I like a full bottom end.. Maybe a Jumbo? or a Baritone tuned to E with lights?
I appreciate any info and Then You in advance..

A Taylor DN3 would be an excellent starting point for this conversation. Your choice of several on Reverb around 900.

[L20A]

Take a look at Eastman's Adirondack topped guitars.
They will hold up very well to a string picking hand.

And there are a few models that are in your price range.
A few more that are just a bit over your price.

[Bear Davis]

Alvarez MD60BG

All solid wood with forward shifted scalloped X bracing.

Brand new they are like 599 and they will hand heavy hands. Definitely one of my nicest cheap guitars.

[Italuke]

Eastman E6D, around $900. Phenomenal.

[Gatorwampus]

Originally Posted by L20A

Take a look at Eastman's Adirondack topped guitars.
They will hold up very well to a string picking hand.

I have an Eastman E1D, retails under $600 USD, solid sapele back and sides, solid adirondack top. I play the heck out this guitar. I bang on on it. It is sweet and balanced, has bottom end grunt and It sounds better every time I pick it up. If their higher end guitars are proportionally better as the price goes up, I need to mortgage the house and buy another one.

[Wade Hampton]

Chris in Meridian, Idaho wrote:

Originally Posted by CASD57

Okay I'm a little heavy-handed Dreadnought player...Ex-Electric player..
I don't really strum that hard it's more of a heavy picking for expression and sound...

I'm looking for Something priced under $1000 that can take a heavy-handed picking player with overdriving it..

Chris, what I have found is that Idaho musicians often prefer guitars with a heavily potato-centric tone to them, with underpinnings of deep fryer oil, sea salt and gourmet ketchup in the upper registers....

Okay, let's get serious here! Seriously, the suggestion to look for an Eastman is a good one. They're pretty hard to beat in their price range.

Larrivée also makes excellent all-solid wood guitars that are typically underpriced in the used guitar market, including not only a dreadnought but their own proprietary body shape the L body:

Larrivée L-03R

These guitars have the advantage of seeming smaller than they are: they're really comfortable to play, with their tucked in waists. But they're 16 inches across in the lower bout, which is actually a bit wider than a Martin dreadnought, and have all the power and projection of a full-sized guitar, with the tonal clarity and balance of a smaller one.

Another Larrivée series you might look into are their recent "Simple Six" models:

Larrivée Simple 6

These are very stripped down, no frills instruments, but they come in pretty darned close to your price range new.

So those are what I suggest you look for: a new Eastman dread, a used Larrivée L-03R, and possibly a new Larrivée Simple 6.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller

[RussL30]

There are some good options at this price and great suggestions so far. I’ll mention some that I haven’t seen mentioned.

Used, you could look at some of these:
Gibson J35, J15, Gospel reissue, J30
Martin Custom D, MMV, D16GT, DSR
Guild D25, D30, D35,G37
Taylor DN3( already mentioned but great value), DN4, 317

[Brucebubs]

Guild F-150R - the rosewood jumbo made in China.

Here's a really nice early version with the large fret markers and gold tuners with hard case on Reverb.

Less than US$800.00

https://reverb.com/au/item/6569596-g...e?locale=en-AU



The newer models went to simple dot fret markers and nickel tuners - look a little more 'down market' than the earlier version.

[Steve DeRosa]

Guild D-120, or used Martin D-15/J-15 - hog-tops are made for heavy-handed players IME...

[Ray175]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

Guild D-120, or used Martin D-15/J-15 - hog-tops are made for heavy-handed players IME...

+1 to this, and add the defunct Martin JM Mahogany Jumbo from the Road Series to the list. I have one since 2001 and it tallies perectly with your description - if I "dig in" it responds very well, but also works great with a more gentle touch.....

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by CASD57

Okay I'm a little heavy-handed Dreadnought player...Ex-Electric player..
I don't really strum that hard it's more of a heavy picking for expression and sound...

I'm looking for Something priced under $1000 that can take a heavy-handed picking player with overdriving it..

Honestly, it doesn't need to be a Dreadnought but I like a full bottom end.. Maybe a Jumbo? or a Baritone tuned to E with lights?
I appreciate any info and Then You in advance..

Hi, this is telling me that you have a yen to buy a guitar, but you really don't yet know what you are looking for. That way leads to false moves, and turnig around guitars.

You mention a dreadnought (Martin style - or a jumbo (Gibson style) , and they are very different things.
A dreadnought is a std scale, bass biased rhythm box, and a Jumbo (j45 or similar) is a short scale middle focussed strummer.
A baritone will be pitched lower, (typically B-b), and with a 27" scale requiring somewhat thicker strings, and is a VERY different and rather limited (IMHO) instrument.

All are large guitars and not really designed for being played seated.

Might I suggest that you consider your playing style, and the fretboard width and length and the tonality that you seek, before spending any money.

btw I'm in the UK so prices are very different - obviously the better deals are when buying used, but that necessitate knowing how to assess an instrument as tere would be n warranty options.

[llew]

Here's a nice Eastman E8D for $895. Lot of guitar for the money...
https://lowevintage.com/item/guitars-eastman/e8d/

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by CASD57

Okay I'm a little heavy-handed Dreadnought player...Ex-Electric player..
I don't really strum that hard it's more of a heavy picking for expression and sound...

I'm looking for Something priced under $1000 that can take a heavy-handed picking player with overdriving it..

Honestly, it doesn't need to be a Dreadnought but I like a full bottom end.. Maybe a Jumbo? or a Baritone tuned to E with lights?
I appreciate any info and Then You in advance..

Hi Chris

I'm guessing a good luthier or tech can set up any guitar you acquire to fit your style. Setup doesn't automatically need to come with off-the-shelf purchases.

The beauty of great luthiers and techs is they can tailor instruments to their player's style.

[CASD57]

Originally Posted by Bear Davis

Alvarez MD60BG

All solid wood with forward shifted scalloped X bracing.

Brand new they are like 599 and they will hand heavy hands. Definitely one of my nicest cheap guitars.

Can't find one?