Looking To Buy An Acoustic Guitar And Need Help

[Mac98]

Congrats on your Washburn, it should be a great guitar for you! It's a good idea to oil your fretboard. Hubby owns a guitar shop and he uses Lemon Oil.usually a good brand like Homer Formsby or something like that and it doesn't take a whole lot. Besides temperature, humidity plays a good part in taking care of your acoustic guitar. One way to help keep your guitar humid is to place a small damp kitchen sponge inside of a travel soap dish that has had holes poked in it. Place it in your case with your guitar. Most shops will have something similar but this way is cheaper.

Nice! Thanks for the advice. Only I've never in my life had to oil a guitar... how do I go about doing this? I would usually just pass a "damp" rag on the frets to take away any acids my hands (or fingers) may have left, but that was usually only for the strings.

And as for humidity, is it better to keep my guitar on the rack in my music room (which is next to my upstairs dining room) or in its case?

 

[smotherman]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking to buy an acoustic Guitar. Unfortunately, I haven't a clue as to what brand names are good, which aren't, which models are better, is a vernish finishing better than a matte, etc.

I was hoping somewhere among you someone knew a thing or two about acoustic guitars.

I've been playing guitar (with an electric) for about 5 years now. My first electric guitar was a Barracuda (lol I know, I'm ashamed too), now I have an Ibanez RG350DX... I've been playing it for about 2 years now.

I'm going around a 500$ budget (though I don't wanna' go much higher and am trying to stay above 400$). ANY and all suggestions will be truely appreciated (just models or brand names will suffice, I can research the rest on my own, yet feel free to toss in any personal advice)

"Ovation" makes an exceptional acoustic guitar. All ovation guitars are automatically made with a built in pichup and controls for amplified (electric) play.

For quality, you can't beat a taylor. From about $1700 on up you get their proprietary ES pickup system and a cutaway. They are the best acoustic electric around. If you can't afford one, save your money or buy a Seagull.

 

[redtheviking]

I's so sorry i missed this thread. I would have steered you toward a Taylor. Friggen amazing guitar. I've had or played all of the above. I know i might catch flack for this but none compared to the Taylor. If you look at what the pros are playing most instrumental players do so with Taylors. Jason Mraz etc.

I got mine @ Guitar Center's July 4th sale. They mis-tagged the guitar as a lower grade model by accident and had it marked down 40% off that. I got a 3K guitar for little over $1100. I bought it a week before my wedding and played my ass off at the ceremony. Best two decisions of my life... so far!

Congrats none the less. Just play and sing your heart out. Playing an instrument appears to most non musicians as such a difficult task. Most people cut you more of a break than you do yourself. Having the balls to just let it all hang out usually comes back to you in positivity. Rock out!

 

[Epmd607]

I got this Martin Auditorium style acoustic a few years ago for around 800. It's smaller than the typical dreadnoughts that everyone on earth has and I really like the sound of it. It's a good guitar for a female too because of its size.

 

[Mac98]

I's so sorry i missed this thread. I would have steered you toward a Taylor. Friggen amazing guitar. I've had or played all of the above. I know i might catch flack for this but none compared to the Taylor. If you look at what the pros are playing most instrumental players do so with Taylors. Jason Mraz etc.

I got mine @ Guitar Center's July 4th sale. They mis-tagged the guitar as a lower grade model by accident and had it marked down 40% off that. I got a 3K guitar for little over $1100. I bought it a week before my wedding and played my ass off at the ceremony. Best two decisions of my life... so far!

Congrats none the less. Just play and sing your heart out. Playing an instrument appears to most non musicians as such a difficult task. Most people cut you more of a break than you do yourself. Having the balls to just let it all hang out usually comes back to you in positivity. Rock out!

I had looked into Taylor, but public reviews for 400 - 600$ worth Taylor's weren't as good as Seagulls. I think my guitar is perfect in sound and vibe and all for a sophomore player like me. I've only been playing acoustic for about 2 years now (and electric for the past 5 or 6 years) and feel the guitar was well worth the 600$ (including the case and extra strings ).

As for your last paragraph, I sorta' have to disagree. I feel people don't respect musicians half as much as they used to. I've heard an amazing amateur guitarist play and barely receive half the recognition he deserved because people don't seem to appreciate musical talent when they see it anymore. Which is sad, because it takes a lot of time, effort and practice to become a decent player.

I don't care though, I play music for myself, because not only is it fun, but it's great for the aching soul. Long Live Music.

 

[redtheviking]

I know what you mean. I guess i was thinking more about your friends and acquaintences. Those are the folks that i still think are surprised when they see someone who may be unlikely to have talent and do. But yeah people are so used to over produced studio sounds that they have a hard time appreciating getting back to basics. Like you said Live long play harder

 

[JasonGuitar]

Congrats on the guitar. I had a Washburn back in the day that I really liked. I'm a Martin guy now, though I have toyed with the notion of picking up a Taylor someday. I just can't get the bass response from Taylors that I can from Martins.