Which guitar purchase disappointed you the most?

[ikravchik]

Originally Posted by lodi_55

Gibson Songwriter many years ago. It’s tone was both muted and muffled. Definitely a head scratcher.

Muted and muffled has been my experience with every Gibson acoustic I've ever tried. I'm primarily a fingerstyle player and I think they build those guitars to withstand nuclear war with Russia.

[ikravchik]

It's hilarious how many people have responded to this thread. Everyone has a horror story. I think the acoustic guitar market is so over saturated with marketing propaganda that everybody is conditioned to believe that expensive, exotic tonewoods and lots of zeros after the $ sign make a great instrument.

I've had several disappointments that gave me a more Zen-like approach to guitar buying: I see guitars as tools for a particular sound I'm after not life long spouses that I'm supposed to bond with until death do us part.

My initial big disappointment in higher-end guitars came when I finally got enough money to buy a Taylor GS5. At the time I was a broke college kid who only owned a cheap Yamaha with high action. When I played the Taylor for the first time at Guitar Center, it seemed to blow away every single Martin and Gibson they had in there. It was so responsive to a light touch and loud. (Btw, all guitars sound better in a room full of other resonating guitars). When I finally bought the GS5 online after weeks of looking for the best deal it just sounded ok. I tried new strings but there was no magic. Sold it.

My final quest for the "holy grail" came when I bought a Goodall Spruce/Koa Jumbo. I lived on the Big Island for a while and figured James would be the best guy to build a Koa instrument. Well when it arrived it was ok. Definitely not head and shoulders over my other guitars. I still remember handing it to someone at a guitar meet up and him saying "yeah it sounds pretty good". Pretty good?? Let's just say after this experience, I became totally indifferent to high-end guitars.

I'm currently dealing with a Furch 24 CR baritone that for some reason doesn't sound good to me anymore. Maybe it got too dry over the winter time, but it feels like something died inside of it and it no longer sings.

[justonwo]

I have had a few luthier builds go sideways, and after the years and interactions usually involved for such things, that can be massively disappointing. In fact, it can be downright stressful.

[Joboxer]

Furch G-23CR - Bought off eBay, 3 hr train ride to collect. Demo took place on station platform - just needed a decent set up I thought. At home - and post set up - the string tension was very tight and the top had a substantial belly bulge. Intonation compromised. Cut money sold as seen

Electric - Gretsch White Falcon. Japanese made early 2000's. Rattled, buzzed and fed back. Sure was pretty though.

[Ps346]

Originally Posted by ikravchik

Muted and muffled has been my experience with every Gibson acoustic I've ever tried. I'm primarily a fingerstyle player and I think they build those guitars to withstand nuclear war with Russia.

This has been precisely my experience as well – and I, too, am primarily a fingerstyle player. I'm sure Gibson acoustics are fine guitars for many people, but I think most of these are flat pickers, hard strummers, etc.

Originally Posted by ikravchik

... everybody is conditioned to believe that expensive, exotic tonewoods and lots of zeros after the $ sign make a great instrument.

I'm not so sure about the "exotic tonewoods" part, but, regarding the "lots of zeros after the $ sign" part, I don't think I've ever found a (new) acoustic guitar for well under $5K that I thought could compare with the bulk of guitars over $5K. I wish this were not true for me, but, unfortunately, it is.

[ikravchik]

Originally Posted by Ps346

This has been precisely my experience as well – and I, too, am primarily a fingerstyle player. I'm sure Gibson acoustics are fine guitars for many people, but I think most of these are flat pickers, hard strummers, etc.



I'm not so sure about the "exotic tonewoods" part, but, regarding the "lots of zeros after the $ sign" part, I don't think I've ever found a (new) acoustic guitar for well under $5K that I thought could compare with the bulk of guitars over $5K. I wish this were not true for me, but, unfortunately, it is.

I've played many mediocre expensive guitars and a lot of good cheap ones. When I play a guitar I'm looking primarily for its character. I would never consider playing dirty, percussive blues on a McPherson it's too sterile and precise, I would pick a cheap beater with lots of texture and grit. I've never played a high-end guitar that impressed me so much as to justify the astronomical price tag and I don't go into religious fervor upon hearing the words: Madagascar Rosewood, Alpine Moon Spruce, Ziricote etc. If I remember correctly Kashmir was recorded on a Danelectro that Jimmy picked up for $75

[247hoopsfan]

Originally Posted by ikravchik

It's hilarious how many people have responded to this thread. Everyone has a horror story. I think the acoustic guitar market is so over saturated with marketing propaganda that everybody is conditioned to believe that expensive, exotic tonewoods and lots of zeros after the $ sign make a great instrument.

My final quest for the "holy grail" came when I bought a Goodall Spruce/Koa Jumbo. I lived on the Big Island for a while and figured James would be the best guy to build a Koa instrument. Well when it arrived it was ok. Definitely not head and shoulders over my other guitars. I still remember handing it to someone at a guitar meet up and him saying "yeah it sounds pretty good". Pretty good?? Let's just say after this experience, I became totally indifferent to high-end guitars.

Your experience with the Goodall Koa may be specific to Koa. I have never played a Goodall Koa that comes close to my Goodall Rosewood Standard. I have a friend who had has a Goodall Koa Standard and it pales in comparison to my Rosewood Standard. Goodall is generally know for producing guitars with rich, enveloping harmonic overtones. If you have only played the Koa models, you might want to try one of their Rosewood models. You will be shocked at the difference.

[Mirosh]

A used Yamaha DW-15, bought years ago from a guy on Craigslist who I now know does a lot of selling there. Description was accurate, guitar was beautiful and almost blemish-free, but it just didn't feel or sound right. I kept wanting to like it, but never warmed up to it. I describe it as stiff feeling and sounding. Weak resonance. Felt dead against my belly. I sold it to my local Music-Go-Round and have no regrets.

With my now better knowledge of guitars I could better assess its setup and intonation, but I don't think the problem resided there. I compare its measurements to several other guitars I've had before and since. IIRC its nut and string spacing there and down to the bridge were narrower than just about any of the others.

I am a fan of Yamaha products, including guitars, so my disappointment in this one is memorable.

[ikravchik]

Originally Posted by 247hoopsfan

Your experience with the Goodall Koa may be specific to Koa. I have never played a Goodall Koa that comes close to my Goodall Rosewood Standard. I have a friend who had has a Goodall Koa Standard and it pales in comparison to my Rosewood Standard. Goodall is generally know for producing guitars with rich, enveloping harmonic overtones. If you have only played the Koa models, you might want to try one of their Rosewood models. You will be shocked at the difference.

I couldn't agree with you more. I initially got into Goodall guitars when I played some at the Podium (Minneapolis). There was one: a medium sized guitar (probably a Standard) with a Cedar top and Honduran Rosewood back and sides. That guitar really sang! As a matter of fact after playing it, all the other, really nice high-end guitars at Jim's store felt like they had a pillow stuffed in their sound hole. That Goodall was six grand and I could not afford it. It was the best guitar I've played before or since.

Is your Goodall similar to this one? https://reverb.com/item/72047211-goo...-standard-1994

[247hoopsfan]

Yes ikravchik, that Goodall is identical to mine. Mine is a 1990, that one is from 1994. They both have his original batwing bridge which is very cool, as well as a curve cut on the end of the fretboard where it meets the sound hole. These are 2 features that newer guitars don’t have.
Looks like that has been for sale over a year. You might get it for less with an offer. I am quite sure you would not be disappointed with a Rosewood Standard or even a RCJ (Rosewood Concert Jumbo).
They compete with $10K plus guitars.

[Leocino_2804]

It would be my Taylor Built To Order. I got it when the program came out. I got promoted at work and thought I could treat myself with something special.

The sound is not bad, but nothing spectacular either. All of my other luthier-made (that I ordered much later in life) blew it out of the window BY MILES.

The limited edition inlay on the BTO was nice, but it got tired and boring after me seeing just about everybody else get the same inlay, practically the same guitar.
There is nothing so "custom-ed" about it at the end of the day. It turned out I bought just another factory made with a stiff price tag.

The fret work was average at best and it buzzes too often. The B&S was Indian Rosewood, yet cracks appeared too often during winter time. TOO often. There are tonnes of other issues that I am too fed up to even mention.

[s2y]

Originally Posted by Leocino_2804

It would be my Taylor Built To Order. I got it when the program came out. I got a promoted at work and thought I could treat myself with something special.

The sound is not bad, but nothing spectacular either. All of my other luthier-made (that I ordered much later in life) blew it out of the window BY MILES.

The limited edition inlay on the BTO was nice, but it got tired and boring after me seeing just about everybody else get the same inlay, practically the same guitar.
There is nothing so "custom-ed" about it at the end of the day. It turned out I bought just another factory made with a stiff price tag.

The fret work was average at best and it buzzes too often. The B&S was Indian Rosewood, yet cracks appeared too often during winter time. TOO often. There are tonnes of other issues that I am too fed up to even mention.

Cracking in winter and buzzing frets is likely a sign of poor storage conditions and inadequate humidity control. Poor fret work isn't how most people would describe Taylor.

[ikravchik]

Originally Posted by 247hoopsfan

Yes ikravchik, that Goodall is identical to mine. Mine is a 1990, that one is from 1994. They both have his original batwing bridge which is very cool, as well as a curve cut on the end of the fretboard where it meets the sound hole. These are 2 features that newer guitars don’t have.
Looks like that has been for sale over a year. You might get it for less with an offer. I am quite sure you would not be disappointed with a Rosewood Standard or even a RCJ (Rosewood Concert Jumbo).
They compete with $10K plus guitars.

Good to know. Thanks.

[ikravchik]

Originally Posted by Leocino_2804

It would be my Taylor Built To Order. I got it when the program came out. I got a promoted at work and thought I could treat myself with something special.

The sound is not bad, but nothing spectacular either. All of my other luthier-made (that I ordered much later in life) blew it out of the window BY MILES.

The limited edition inlay on the BTO was nice, but it got tired and boring after me seeing just about everybody else get the same inlay, practically the same guitar.
There is nothing so "custom-ed" about it at the end of the day. It turned out I bought just another factory made with a stiff price tag.

The fret work was average at best and it buzzes too often. The B&S was Indian Rosewood, yet cracks appeared too often during winter time. TOO often. There are tonnes of other issues that I am too fed up to even mention.

Yikes. I feel like I dodged a bullet. I was going to get a Taylor BTO when I was still hoping to buy "the one guitar to rule them all" back when I was inexperienced and thought that a combo of Adi spruce and Hog back and sides would be ideal for me. I didn't pull the trigger and I'm so happy I saved myself from tons of disappointment. Adi/hog are terrible for fingerpicking and I now own Cedar/Walnut and Cedar/Rosewood guitars almost exclusively. My favorite is the Bedell cedar/rosewood dread I picked up for $400. It sounds better than any high end Taylor I've tried.

[KESTLY]

A newer Martin OM21 that I bought off E Bay. It sounded like a heavy can of dog food rolling down concrete stairs!