Advice on Gigging Guitar

[guitarisrshevy]

Hey All,

I'm looking for a good gigging instrument.

I own a range of Luthier made instruments: Dreadnaught, couple of OOO's both 12 and 14 fret; but i want something i can take to open mics. Something i won't stress about if someone asks to borrow it for a number or if theres a lot of to and fro on stage ect....

I have looked at the PRS SE range: both A55 and A60.

https://www.prsguitars.com/products/se_acoustic/

The Yamaha LL16 which in the UK i can get for a V. Good price.

https://www.yamahamusiclondon.com/LL...-LL16ARE-SUPER

I like the idea of these body shapes being pretty good all rounders. What else should i be looking at?
I'm UK based, pickup already installed is not a need as i have enough pickups laying around i can install myself.

Thanks in advance.

[AcousticWoody]

I just bought a new Martin 000x1ae (HPL body, Stratabond neck, and Richlite bridge/fretboard) for its durability and toughness. I wanted a guitar that is less susceptible to moisture swings, dings, and being outdoors around the campfire)

I got it yesterday and could not be happier with it. The solid spruce top is nice with lots of silking. I haven't tried the pickup yet. (I haven't plugged in for 10 years) I got it for a steal since it is discontinued in favor of the 000-x2e.

If I were gigging (I don't) I would take it instead of my all wood guitars. Just my opinion.

[Bob from Brooklyn]

I'd research Takamine.

[rmp]

I'd find a good used late 70s / early 80s Yari, or Takemine

I have a 78 Yari DY74 snowflake that I've owned since like 1989..

The top has many stories to tell from before I even got her.

great guitar tho, plays good, sound great, popped a Fishman infinity matrix pup had a new nut put on a few frets replaced and frets all leveled about 5 years ago. It's the PERFECT "I really don't if something smacks into it" guitar.

[asobi]

Martin SC-13E looks interesting for gigging

[CosmicOsmo]

This really depends on the type of gigs you're planning on doing.

My acoustic gigs these days are almost exclusively solo fingerstyle, and almost exclusively weddings or corporate events. So, not very raucous crowds but not so quiet that I'd want to use an external mic for amplification, and little chance of a drunk patron stumbling onto my guitar or spilling beer on me. Little opportunity for or risk of theft. For these gigs, I usually pull out my "nice, but not *too* nice" Eastman AC722 that I've dual-sourced with a Lyric mic and DiMarzio Angel mag pickup. It sounds wonderful amplified, I really appreciate the subtleties the microphone adds to the sound, but the whole setup isn't so expensive that I worry too much about taking it out or getting a scratch or ding on it.

If I was playing gigs that were either A) more raucous, or B) on a loud stage, maybe with a band, I'd almost certainly go with something more robustly built (and less lively acoustically), and probably drop the dual-source in favor of a UST with some sort of Aura-style imaging solution, preferably built-in like the Yamaha A-series uses. In fact, I'd probably just get a Yamaha A-series! I also like the idea of getting an old MIJ Tak or Alvarez/Yairi, those are great guitars that will take a pickup well, sturdy, and will already have enough battle scars you won't care to add a few more.

[jklotz]

Check out an Eastman E2-OM cedar top. I can't tell you how thrilled I am with mine, and at about $500 US, it'll save you a few bucks!

I haven't played one, but the dread version (E2D I think) gets great reviews as well.

[bufflehead]

I wanted a stage guitar for outdoor festivals, and ended up with a Breedlove Pursuit Concert CE Red Cedar. An absolutely wonderful guitar for the money, and a kick to play.

[Laughingboy68]

EAN series Takamine.

Mine’s from around ‘91-‘92. These have solid cedar tops and solid mahogany backs, sides are laminate. Tough as nails, and sound great - both acoustically and plugged in. The cedar is soft enough that any used one will already have a few dings in it.

I use mine at every single gig.

[Br1ck]

If you can swing it, a Cole Clark would fit the bill. Interesting wood and a ready to go pickup system. A friend has the three way and can blend the mic, the UST, or the SBT depending on situation.

[Dru Edwards]

How about a Taylor 200 or 300 series? Do you like Taylors?

BTW, the Yamaha LL16 is a nice guitar.

[Methos1979]

Love my Cole Clarks. Takamine and Maton would be your other two. Yamaha would be my other choice if I wanted something more affordable.

[1Charlie]

Huss & Dalton makes a Road Series version of their primary instrument styles.

They are fantastic guitars at under $2,000 used. Install a K&K, and you are good to go.

[AZLiberty]

Originally Posted by AcousticWoody

I just bought a new Martin 000x1ae (HPL body, Stratabond neck, and Richlite bridge/fretboard) for its durability and toughness. I wanted a guitar that is less susceptible to moisture swings, dings, and being outdoors around the campfire)

These are great guitars for gigging, but they are actually far more susceptible to damage from low humidity than wood or laminate guitars.

Seen more of these with cracked tops than any other design. The HPL doesn't contract at all with low humidity which means more strain on the top.

[Gordon Currie]

OP: Since we don't know what guitar you favor now, or the style(s) you play, it tends to devolve quickly to wild guesses where everyone just throws out their favorite 'budget' instrument.

Can you give a little more detail? Flatpick, fingerpick?

That Yamaha is a good generic choice. I think much more highly of Eastman, though not sure if they are available in the UK.