#61
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I’d skip $500 price point and get a Yamaha, Seagull or Eastman around $1000. Preowned Martin 15-17 series or Taylor 300-400 series for $1500 and under.
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Steven Boucher SG-52 (Adirondack Spruce/East Indian Rosewood) Bourgeois OM Custom (Italian Spruce/Cuban Mahogany) Martin Custom Shop 000-18 (VTS Sitka Spruce/Sinker Mahogany) Taylor GA3 (Sitka Spruce/Sapele) |
#62
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Knowing what I know now, for me only:
I would skip the $500 range entirely. Some great values for a starter guitar no doubt, but I would have outgrown them too quickly. I would enlist the help of a more experienced guitarist to find me a used Larrivee. I most likely would still be playing that guitar decades later, even if I had added better ones in the meantime. Getting that Larrivee would open me up to an entire world of guitars that I would otherwise never consider. So the higher price tiers would have lots of choices. I would skip Martins, Gibsons, and Taylors entirely since they just don't work for me, at ANY price point (including free).
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-Gordon 1978 Larrivee L-26 cutaway 1988 Larrivee L-28 cutaway 2006 Larrivee L03-R 2009 Larrivee LV03-R 2016 Irvin SJ cutaway 2020 Irvin SJ cutaway (build thread) K+K, Dazzo, Schatten/ToneDexter Notable Journey website Facebook page Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art. - Leonardo Da Vinci |
#63
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Interesting question. When I bought my first guitar, it was a used Alvarez for $100. And a Mel Bay chord book. A couple years later the bridge was coming loose and the top was rising/bellying up. I knew nothing about acoustic guitars or caring for them. I knew nothing. I didn’t know a G chord.
So knowing what I know now, on the cheap end I’d get either an Alvarez (I know they’re making some excellent guitars now) or a Breedlove, which sound great in their cheap versions. If I had more money maybe a used Larrivee or a Martin 000-17 or 000-15m. If I had over $2000 and knew what I know now: Gibson, Martin.
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Gibson J-50, 1970 Larrivee 00-40 Republic steel-body resonator, 2016 maybe Basses Electric guitars Lap steel |
#64
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Great thread topic! I'm going to assume buying new.
For $500 range, I'd probably go well under with a Yamaha FG800, or if I didn't know about the epoxy I'd also most likely go with a Simon & Patrick Woodland Cedar. $1000, I'd say Yamaha FG3 or LL6 or 16. $1500 I'd probably go with a Larrivee D-02, or Martin 000-15m. |
#65
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For around $500 I would spring for an Alvarez or something in the Eastman PCH/E1/E2 series. Taking a quick-peak at Reverb, it seems like an Eastman E1OM, E1D, E2OM and E2D can be had for $530, which is a fantastic deal for an all-solid guitar.
My first "higher" end guitar was in the $1000 range, but if I could do it over, like many others, I would spring for a Larrivee. I've seen lower-trimmed used Larrivees in the $800-1200 range; I'd argue they're near unbeatable for the quality you get. Last edited by Mezner; 11-28-2021 at 10:53 PM. |
#66
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I’d go hunting for guitars to play within whatever price limit…you never know what you’ll find!
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#67
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Going to break the rules of price ranges:
I'd look for an all solid wood smaller guitar: either a 00 or OM; and if an OM I'd prefer a short scale. I'd want it easily playable and easy to just pick up, grab a seat and get my arm around. Best starter guitars for me at two illegal price points: 1. Martin 00-18 2. Collings OM2G or OM1A (both short scale) |
#68
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Cheapest: Yamaha FG800 or Epiphone Pro
Sub-$500: Epiphone Hummingbird $1000: Taylor 200 series $2000: Martin D15
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2021 Martin D18 standard 2022 Taylor 514ce Urban Ironbark 2021 Fender Player Stratocaster 1996 Ovation Celebrity Elite 2016 Epiphone Hummingbird Pro 2021 Schecter Reaper 2020 Ibanez Mikro Bass |
#69
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Edited for reconsideration
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(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) Last edited by Neil K Walk; 12-12-2021 at 02:45 PM. |
#70
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My first guitar was a nylon-string Yamaha student guitar, which I have somehow managed to still have some 50 or so years later. Not sure how I was able to play it (I was 8 or 9 at the time). My next guitar was a Fender Mustang (eureka for small hands) followed by a Les Paul Custom, a fretless wonder. Didn’t buy a steel-string acoustic until I was 30 or so—a Yamaha FG420A-L.
Knowing what I know now, for a first guitar for my 10-year-old self, I would probably get a Cordoba crossover (or whatever they are called) or 3/4 guitar—nylon strings but with a narrower neck. In the $1k range, definitely a Yamaha, but not the dreadnought size, the 000 size. For $2k, a 000-18 (basically what I paid for mine recently). Not exactly what I would consider a “first” guitar, but more of a “first guitar in that price range.” |
#71
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If I knew then what I know now:
Under $500, either a used Seagull Entourage or a Yamaha FG800 series model. Both great bang for the buck. $500-1,000 is tough because I've owned a lot of guitars in that range that have been excellent, but have rotated them in and out of the collection over the years. Breedlove's Stage Series would be a great option that often gets overlooked. But I also really like my Martin D Jr. Custom, so something in that line would be a strong contestant. Up to $1,500 is also tough, for similar reasons. A 15 or 16 Series Martin can be had in that range, as can a Seagull Artist Series and several other strong choices. I love all of those -- in fact my 2 main workhorses at the moment are a Martin DC-16RGTE Aura and a Seagull Artist Concert Hall. Up to $2,000 opens up a world of possibilities, hard to choose for entirely different reasons. Wouldn't quite be able to afford a used Martin M-36, which I really want. But a nice 18 Series would be possible. And of course there are a number of Larivees, Eastmans, Gibsons, Takamines, Breedloves and even a couple of Taylors in some of these price ranges that would be worth looking at if they're the kind of sound you like and they feel right in your hands. I just tend to really enjoy Martins and Seagulls.
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Martin DC16RGTEAura Martin D Jr. Custom Seagull Entourage Mini Jumbo Seagull Artist Concert Hall Alvarez MSD1 |
#72
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$500
For a steel-string, I would stretch my budget a bit and buy the Seagull S6 Cedar Original QIT Acoustic-Electric Guitar. It costs $629. The acoustic-only version can be had for $529. It's a versatile instrument suited for strumming and fingerstyle; and I've realized that acoustic-electrics are also good for beginners. For a nylon-string, I would again stretch my budget and get the Yamaha CG-TA. If you want an acoustic-only, I would go with any Cordoba that's at least a C5. I don't have extensive knowledge or experience with more expensive instruments to offer recommendations. |
#73
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If I knew what I knew now and had the money I buy a Eastman D20 and be done. And maybe a proffessional setup if I could find it in my neck of the woods...
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#74
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My first guitar was a Harmony Soverign guitar, huge, bulky, but a good sound. Wound up passing it onto a friend. If I was starting from scratch, I would get a Martin 15 series, no bigger than a 000. I think that is the perfect match for what I like - smaller guitar, less bulk, but a good sound to it.
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#75
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As a Beginner looking for my first guitar, $1000 and $2000 is unreasonable. I’m in the $500 range. Now you want a solid top because if it doesn’t sound good it will just end up back at the second hand store.
The best bang for your buck is the Seagull or any other Godin brand (Art & Luthrie, Simon and Patrick, etc). So in the beginner realm your looking at the S6 or Entourage maybe a Coastline in there. So think about the tonewoods you want. Standard for those models is a Solid Cedar top with wild cherry sides and back but there are All mahogany, Spruce and other models available. Now you have to think Size. The S6 size is a dread size. You can in the entourage and coastline lines get concert hall and mini jumbo sizes but dread size is the most normal size from them. The normal scale is 25.5” the Entourage is short scale at 24.8”. Then nut width. Most S6 and coastline are 1.8” and Entourage is 1.72” (same as a Taylor). The S6 and Coastline are available in slim versions at 1.72” and I have seen a couple short scale versions but not too many. But bottom line but my first guitar would be a guitar would be a Seagull. My first all solid wood guitar would be a Seagull. Until you start getting into the tiers past the Artitsts, buy the Seagull, they are the absolute best guitar for your money out there. |