Intro and hypothetical question

[gocamels]

I've been playing off and on for roughly 25 years - although I've never been more than passable, and below that now with my fingers starting to stiffen. I was plagued with short, stubby fingers, so I was never going to be great in the first place. I can play well enough to accompany myself, which is really good enough for me. I've owned a Martin (which I ended up giving away to a new player), a Washburn (Festival EA26 Craig Chaquico that I loved - but it played like a brick so I finally sold it), and now own a Seagull (cedar dread which my wife bought for my anniversary) and a Breedlove Pursuit Concert.

So now to my hypothetical question. If you had $2000 to spend on a guitar, what would you buy? Don't try to figure out what I should buy. I'm not asking for rec's. I'm really curious what you would buy for $2k. Would you buy a new Martin Performing Artist, or maybe a mid-2000's Taylor, or maybe an old Gibson that you could rebuild/refinish, or maybe a conversation piece. Thanks in advance for indulging my curiosity.

[L20A]

Used Guild D-55 or Martin D-18.
Both will be under or at $2,000.00 used.

[Mycroft]

A used Webber OM. Preferably Englemann over Cocobolo. Never play one that was less than great.

I'd probably get a used Waterloo WL12Mh or a National NRP steel tricone, although at $2000 that would be a lucky find.

[Mr. Jelly]

I have over $2,000 to spend on a guitar and there isn't anything calling me. I guess I got what I want.

[Wade Hampton]

It’s hard to go wrong with a used Martin Standard Series guitar.


whm

[Goodallboy]

Originally Posted by gocamels

I've been playing off and on for roughly 25 years - although I've never been more than passable, and below that now with my fingers starting to stiffen. I was plagued with short, stubby fingers, so I was never going to be great in the first place. I can play well enough to accompany myself, which is really good enough for me. I've owned a Martin (which I ended up giving away to a new player), a Washburn (Festival EA26 Craig Chaquico that I loved - but it played like a brick so I finally sold it), and now own a Seagull (cedar dread which my wife bought for my anniversary) and a Breedlove Pursuit Concert.

So now to my hypothetical question. If you had $2000 to spend on a guitar, what would you buy? Don't try to figure out what I should buy. I'm not asking for rec's. I'm really curious what you would buy for $2k. Would you buy a new Martin Performing Artist, or maybe a mid-2000's Taylor, or maybe an old Gibson that you could rebuild/refinish, or maybe a conversation piece. Thanks in advance for indulging my curiosity.

A used guitar that sounded great when I PLAYED it.

[bufflehead]

Probably a Halcyon 00 with a cedar top. And that would be $2,000 Canadian.

[hairpuller]

Probably another 000-18.
scott

[drawshot1975]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

It’s hard to go wrong with a used Martin Standard Series guitar.


whm

This....x10.

D-18, OM-18, 000-18.

Any one of those would be a lifetime player, with change left over for beer and nachos.

[Tico]

Originally Posted by L20A

Used Guild D-55 or Martin D-18.
Both will be under or at $2,000.00 used.

+1 on the used Guild D-55!

[Long Road Home]

Originally Posted by bufflehead

Probably a Halcyon 00 with a cedar top. And that would be $2,000 Canadian.

I was in the middle of posting something similar.

I would contact Ed Bond at Halcyon Guitars and talk to him about my playing style and what I was looking for in a guitar, and then go with his recommendation. That's what I did for the OM in my signature, and I'm on his build list for a second guitar (still deciding, but a 00 in mahogany with torrified lutz top has the inside track at the moment). Can't go wrong.

[RP]

I've already purchased my $2000 guitar, again and again....

[TBman]

Martin makes an all ovangkol guitar that sounds pretty decent. I'd track down a J-15 too if I didn't already have a J-45. I play fingerstyle so I'd be looking at Furch's lower priced models too.

[JoeYouDon't]

For so long I was dead set on getting a D-18. A family friend had a '54 that I played as often as I could when I was just really getting into playing. That'll always be the one that got away for me.

Then, when I had finally saved enough, I went to the store intending to get a Martin, or some boutique mahogany backed dread, and a used Waterloo WL-K followed me home.

It outshined everything I a/b'ed it against, and despite my intent to walk out with a dread I couldn't let this guitar haunt me like others I should have bought when I had the chance.

With all that being said, if I had another 2k to drop on a guitar today, I'd be looking for the best D-18 style I could find.