Need a guitar for my pastor

[rschultz]

Originally Posted by ms3

I just tried out a number of Yamahas in store, so I'm invested in this thread! What did you end up getting?

Edit: sorry, I had only seen the first page of the thread when I posted. I see you got him a Taylor, very nice.

Yamaha's are fantastic guitars for the money, almost always push them towards beginners for that reason. With hardcase, FGX800 is $400-450 new. Taylors are very nice but generally overpriced IMO (I've owned 3). But we found a really good deal on a Taylor 214ce DLX and went that way.

[Mark Stone]

Originally Posted by rschultz

So my buddy and I just purchased a 2014 Taylor 214ce DLX for $725 (we split it). Excellent shape, no scratches at all. Action is high, I will bring that down. The case needs a drawbolt fixed and is a bit beat-up so I'll see what I can do on that end. It's interesting the guitar is in such great shape and the case is not, but of the two I'd rather have that.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

Great choice! Hope your Pastor is happy with the 214. If I would have seen this thread earlier, I would have tried to steer you towards a 210 (instead of 14) because it’s more of a GP instrument, but that’s that -

[FingahPickah]

Originally Posted by TheGITM

I would suggest working directly with your pastor and let him sample various guitars in your price range... I'd let him choose.

I wouldn't want anyone to gift me a guitar and then me feel like I have to play it.

I second that...
It's such a nice gift... and the spirit in which it's given.
I'd want it to be truly enjoyed as well appreciated.

[Biosphere]

Get him a McPherson. According to Keith Harkin, one of the McPherson artists and a hardcore fundamentalist Christian, McPherson "just gives them away to everyone" (there's literally a YouTube video of him saying this, in one of the live performance videos with David Bakey). If you wrote out your pastor's entire story, including the whole being a shepherd and what have you, to be consistent and not unfair, they should hook him up.

[rschultz]

So I gave it to him couple night ago anonymously through his daughter. She sent me a text the next day:

So I brought it in and I said this is for you! 😂
He was very thankful and said “I am very humbled by this gift.” And
“If I wrote a thank you, you can get it to the right people?”
He loves the sound, it took him forever to put it down and get back to work last night and he took it to work today so he could play for a bit. So definitely a win!
Again thank you so much!!

[Fatfingers12]

That is awesome. Thanks for the update!

[Acousticado]

[LAPlayer]

Originally Posted by RP

Sounds like a very committed person, and buying him a "new" guitar is certainly a nice gesture. However, I'm unclear as to why it's incumbent upon any one parishioner to provide a nicer guitar for the pastor. Wouldn't that be the responsibility of the church? Color me ignorant about such things, and I hope I'm not stepping on any toes. I just don't know how this sort of thing works...

You're not missing anything. I would go to the board of Deacons first to see if a purchase for the church is feasible. If not, I would get permission for a fundraiser to purchase either a gift for the pastor or guitar for the church. Perhaps it's time to consider fundraising for the music-ministry in general.

[Br1ck]

At this price point, it's all about being better than what you had. If it is, it's a win. Taylor does very well with the going to buy a good first or second guitar crowd. The MIM product from both Taylor and Martin fit that bill nicely. Those of us not of the Taylor ilk have no reason to complain about them.