Inexpensive (but good sounding) OM or 000

[wreck]

I am considering buying a relatively inexpensive ($200-300) smaller size guitar that I can easily take with me on auto trips. Does anyone have experience with some brands/models that they would recommend. Obviously, I would want sound as good as possible. I would appreciate any recommendations. Thanks.

[nosoupforyou]

The Breedlove Atlas Series AC200SM is a very nice sounding, and playing guitar for the money. I got to play one recently, and was very impressed.

You can get them for around $350.00 shipped I believe

[KMHaynes]

Also the Blueridge BR-43 (lam. mahogany), -63 (lam. rosewood), -73 (lam. brazillian) are worth looking into, all under five hundred $$ on line (try onlineguitars.com).

[patrickw25]

I have been very impressed with my Epiphone Masterbuilt OM. All solid woods and fantastic sound for the money. Blueridge's are also great bang for the buck, but the necks are quite narrow. My Epiphone has a 1 3/4" which is what sold me on it.

[nosoupforyou]

Originally Posted by patrickw25

I have been very impressed with my Epiphone Masterbuilt OM. All solid woods and fantastic sound for the money. Blueridge's are also great bang for the buck, but the necks are quite narrow. My Epiphone has a 1 3/4" which is what sold me on it.

Totally agree Patrick, I enjoy my Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500R Burst very much. The neck, short scale, and 1 3/4" nut sold me too. I didn't mention it though, because it was out of the price range he mentioned... but I agree, great little guitar!

[wreck]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I will check them all out.

Terry

[ebsbert]

Originally Posted by nosoupforyou

Totally agree Patrick, I enjoy my Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500R Burst very much. The neck, short scale, and 1 3/4" nut sold me too. I didn't mention it though, because it was out of the price range he mentioned... but I agree, great little guitar!

Am I wrong, but I think the Epiphone Masterbilts are not short scale (25.5")?

[patrickw25]

You're right, they have a 25.5" scale.

[patrickw25]

As for the price,

Yeah, it's a bit pricier than the what was mentioned, but I think for the extra 200 bucks or so that would have to be spent, you can get a very big jump in quality. But I digress.
My little Epiphone is a cannon, and I would encourage Terry to at least give one a strum, he might expand his budget if he does!

[cpmusic]

You might look for a used Martin 000-15.

[wreck]

Thanks for the replies. Is the 000-15 all mahogany (or laminates of mahogany)? I am really trying to keep it on the $300 or so side of things, but would consider used also. I have a Collings D2H that is my main acoustic, but I'm just not comfortable taking it too many places. It is my house guitar.

[cpmusic]

The 000-15 is all solid mahogany, including the top. The result is a warm, complex, and inviting tone. There might be an occasional newer one made of solid sapele (usually 12-fretters; Martin substitutes it when mahogany isn't available) but all of the 14-fret 15s I've seen to date have been mahogany, and if it says "mahogany" in the interior label, then it's definitely mahogany. They're really great guitars, and a used one should be pretty close to your budget.

[wreck]

Thanks Chris, I'll look around for the 000-15 and give it a go.