The most acoustic-sounding electric?

[hesson11]

(I hope this is okay to post in the General Acoustic Guitar forum, because I'm seeking the experience of hard-core acoustic folks., and it is, at its core, an acoustic question.)

I did some searching, figuring this topic would have been brought up in the past, but didn't really find anything.

I've got some hand/wrist injuries and was recently taken by how easy and pain-free it is to play electric guitars, with their low action and slinky strings. Unfortunately, I'm not all that crazy about the sound of electrics. Are there any electric guitars you know of that come especially close to sounding like an acoustic (preferably short-scale)?

I've seen a few videos touting the acoustic qualities of the Taylor T5, and they sounded fairly convincing. Is that generally held to be the most acoustic-sounding electric? (Would love to find something less expensive; I don't think an electric will ever be my main axe!) THANKS.

-Bob

[TimberlineGuy]

Here's a bit of a hotrod but it gets the job done http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz93vfkXBJ0

thank me later

[Brant0086]

Wow !! That sounds great.

Bryant

[Bluewyatt]

I used to play a Telecaster with flat wound strings through a Roland AC 30 and it had a very pleasing acoustic type sound. I even gigged live (solo) with that set up for awhile.

[Kerbie]

Bob, have you seen the Yamaha Silent Guitar? Seems like it might fit the bill perfectly. I have had one for 2 and a half years. Very nice guitar... technically it is an electric... plugs into an amp or you can plug in headphones. It runs on A/C or battery power.

The real advantage is that it uses acoustic guitar strings, so its sound is very much like an acoustic. It has the sweetest neck... very playable fretboard. Mine has been set up perfectly to my liking. It has a short scale...a little over 24 inches. Maple body (although it doesn't have much body), rosewood fretboard, mahogany neck. Superb guitar to play.

The fretboard and neck are the best I have ever seen in that price range.

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/music...0s/?mode=model

[lennylux]

Gretsch prolines, 6120, 6122 even.... its an electric, but has the playing experience of an acoustic.

No substitute!

[jseth]

If you're talking about the guitar played "unplugged", then I'd say the Taylor T5... I have one, and love it's voice; not loud, by any means, but very balanced across the tonal spectrum...

I also have a couple Gibsons; one, an ES-175 (1967) and the other is an ES-345 (1974). My Taylor T5 sounds so much better than either of these that it's really not worth any discussion on the point!

Now, if you are talking about amplifying the guitar and having an acoustic sound/tone with electric guitar feel... well, I don't know about that. While I love my little T5 (it is a short scale, by the way), I do not use it for an amplified acoustic tone, but for all the various electric sounds I get from it... it's very versatile as an electric (and quite possibly the MOST mis-understood electric guitar!), giving me both Fender, Gibson and Gretsch tones from the Rupert Neve inspired electronics...

I believe there are folks on this forum who use their T5 as an acoustic, amplified, and are happy with the sound it makes... perhaps they will chime in, or try searching for "T5 set-up" or something similar...

Another thing about the T5; I have mine strung with 11's, w/ an unwound 3rd... again, because I use it for electric sounds... if I were going to go for an acoustic sound, I would most certainly put either 12's or 13's on it, with a wound G string. The short scale really does make this guitar play very easily; with 11's, the strings feel pretty "swimmy" or loose to my touch...

play on..................................>

John

[hesson11]

Thanks for the suggestions, folks. I appreciate the help.
-Bob

[jrmyrnsm]

That voyage air with the acoustic pickup sounded great!

[RockerDuck]

A "Telecaster Acoustasonic Deluxe" is a half electric and half acoustic, stereo guitar. Not for rock playing, but fine for lots and lots of other styles. It looks cool when playing it.

[thunderlung]

What about a Gibson ES-125?

[bbob]

Line 6 JTV 59, 69, 89's model some very nice acoustic guitars when plugged.

Bob

[googoobaby]

The Acoustic Variax models sound very acoustic, more so than their electrics. Not quite as easy as a good electric but not that far away.

[chrismartin4u]

Originally Posted by lennylux

Gretsch prolines, 6120, 6122 even.... its an electric, but has the playing experience of an acoustic.

No substitute!

These are very beautiful guitar. I really liked it.

[muscmp]

check out the gibson chet atkins ce and sst models. may be up your alley.

play music!