Decent acoustic guitar under €200?

datobs

Hi!
Been messing around on fairly crap guitars for a few years now,can play a bit..normally when drunk at parties etc etc.Mostly just bash away as a hobby.But wanna buy a decent guitar under €200 soon before government robs more of my cash!!Been looking at xmusic.ie,thomann and gak.co.uk which seems to offer best value especially the way sterling is now.Heres a few that caught my eye,opinions appreciated-
-Yamaha F310- http://www.xmusic.ie/product.php?productid=26052&cat=246&page=1
-Takamine G220- http://www.xmusic.ie/product.php?productid=17529&cat=246&page=1
-Epiphone AJ200S http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/epiphone-aj200s/67054
-Fender CD140S http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/fender-cd-140-s/69414
-Ibanez V7212E http://www.thomann.de/ie/ibanez_v7212ebk.htm comes with gigbag and strap,nice colour!
Kinda like the cutaway guitars but dont know much about them.I have a basic 20 watt amp so semi acoustic could be an option but wont be doing any busking!!If anyone has any other suggestions,please fire them my way.I'm hoping to get up to xmusic this weekend to get a feel of a few!!!!!Thanks a million

Fingers Mcginty

The yammie would be tops on that list there for me. Also are you sure you want a cutaway?...robs the bass IMO and is useless unless you play way up the neck.......a lot..... I play a lot of lead on acoustic and don't need a cutaway. Just my 2c

datobs

Thanks fingers!

Just like the look of the cutaway but if it takes away from the sound,I wont bother.Would I be better off getting an acoustic or semi acoustic?Do semi's also take away from the sound?All of those guitars I mentioned above are decent brand guitars,just hard to pick one!Well thats one vote for the Yamaha anyway,cheers!

J.Ball

For me the epiphone would be a good choice on that list but thats just me really i like the brand.

Try for a tanglewood acoustic they tend to be great value for money and are usually around the 200 mark like ya want. A semi or full acoustic shouldnt make much of a difference when getting the guitar in my opinion as ya can get pickups for a full acoustic rather easily and cheaply

Blackhorse Slim

I'd stay away from the Fender, their low-end stuff is not great. Epiphone and Takamine are decent, but generally for entry level to intermediate Yamaha offer the best value.

Alanstrainor

Yeah i'd be thinking the Yamaha would be the best out of those, but there really wont be a huge amount of difference between them. Your best bet would be to play them all and see which you prefer.

MetalDawg

I'd go for the Yamaha too. I have a Yamaha F 335 that my dad handed down to me and its from the 1970's. Beautiful instrument. Get a hard case though even if youre only planning to use it at parties.
This reviewer says the same as me, its the third one down.
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/product/Yamaha/F335/10/1

datobs

Thanks folks!

Looks like its the Yamaha so!Xmusic,thomann or gak.co.uk dont have that Yamaha F335,couldnt find it in any other online store apart from US ones.Will try to get into xmusic tomorrow.

datobs

Popped into xmusic on Friday,great big store but their customer service was awful.Nobody came over to help but saw a really nice Tanglewood guitar for about €500,bit too much for me.The Yamaha's were average enough,nothing special but I suppose anything under €200 is gonna be average.They didnt seem to have too many under €200,a few orts but they looked crap.So looks like I'll buy online.Anyone got any other sites apart from the ones i mentioned above??Thanks

Fingers Mcginty

maybe 2nd hand would be your best bet datobs

datobs

Yeh Fingers,was thinking about 2nd hand but I dont know a great deal about guitars so would be afraid I'd buy a piece of rubbish!Was looking on adverts.ie and gumtree but nothing jumping out at the moment.Guess I'll just have to bide my time and wait for the bargain of the century!!!

datobs

Hi again folks!I saw a Yamaha FG700MS on totalmusic supply.com for £149.99 with free delivery to Ireland.Never heard of this site but seems like a good deal- http://www.totalmusicsupply.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=101502

Its gotten a great review on acoustic magazine- http://www.acousticmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=112&Itemid=52

Just wondering if anyone has used this site or has one of these Yamaha's?Seeing as lots of posters here are advising me to go for Yamaha..Thanks

markfla

I wouldn't forget about tanglewoods, a mate had a one a few years ago and I thought it sounded pretty good for the price and I own a Taylor 410 (approx 2k at the time)

Organeer

Hi, I would agree with the previous post. Tanglewood are excellent value for money. Try one out before comitting yourself.

Dangerous Man

Tanglewoods are fantastic guitars for the money - probably the best 'bang for the buck' out there in acoustics. I own two and love them. According to Tanglewood, their acoustic guitars are the most popular in Britain and Ireland - which is probably true as you'll have no problem in getting your hands on some to try out. Perfect Pitch usually has a reasonable stock. I think X-Music has some too although it's been a while since I've been up there. You could also try Sound Gear in Rathmines although, again, it's a long time since I've been there.

datobs

Was up at xmusic last week,played a lovely sounding Tanglewood TW15NS but it was over €500!!They have this one dreadnought acoustic TW28CLN-
http://www.xmusic.ie/product.php?productid=26041&cat=246&page=1

I mailed them earlier,but they dont have it in stock,said they have to order it in.They only have a Garrison in stock,no Yamaha,Fender,Takamine under €200 in store so cant get to see which one suits.Am wary about ordering one,commiting to buy it and not liking it.If that TW28CLN above was anything like the TW15NS,I'd defo get it cos it had a lovely sound,low action.

datobs

Think I've narrowed my search down to 3 guitars.Tha Yamaha FG700MS mentioned above,a Takamine G220 and a Tanglewood TW28CLN.
http://www.xmusic.ie/product.php?pro...cat=246&page=1
http://www.xmusic.ie/product.php?pro...cat=246&page=1

My friend has a Takamine and it sounds great but the one above seems to have a smaller body so would there be a lesser sound?I played a Tanglewood in a shop and it felt terrific but it was over €500 so wondering if the cheaper one above would be a lot different.The only thing is I'll be able to test the Tanglewood and Takamine before buying,but cant locate that Yamaha in any of the local music stores so I'b be taking a risk and buying without getting a proper feel.Thanks for the advice so far guys!

Gandorf

I played the Yamaha 700MS in mccullough pigotts and thought it was a great guitar for the price. Worth giving them a call to see if they still have them if you want to try one.

(Assuming MP is still open, haven't been there for ages!)

toby2111

Thanks Gandorf!

Just checked on their website and they seem to have that Yamaha in stock...€259!!Totalmusicsupply.com had it for £149 with free delivery....but just my luck,its out of stock at the moment!!Gonna get into MP soon,check out that Yamaha,then decide between it and the Tanglewood TW28CLN.Its a toss up between them,both seem decent bets.

chancer60

There are dozens of good guitars out there under 200 euro. What I look for is good machine heads (tuners) make sure they are solid and smooth. Look along the neck and make sure it's dead straight. Any bowing is a no no. Check to see it have truss rod adjustment (look out for an allen key head inside the soundhole where the neck joins the body or it's sometimes located under a little plastic plate just beyond the slotted "nut" at the top of the neck. Play a few chords and see if you like the tone. If it's for parties it needs to be loud and sustain well. This helps drown out drunks and compete with pianos. Don't panic if the action (distance from the strings to the fingerboard) is a bit high. Cheap guitar companies don't usually have the time to set this properly. Is easy to fix by taking off the strings and removing the perspex strip in the bridge. You can then sand the bottom end of this by rubbing it on sandpaper placed on a flat surface to lower it. Before you do this you might tighten the truss rod a half turn or so and check the action. Often, new necks bow a tiny bit when the strings are fitted at the factory. Buy a good quality set of strings (medium are good ) and replace the factory ones. Happy partying!

LaLucy

I have an Ashton semi acoustic guitar. It cost about 170 I think in a shop in Galway

LaLucy

I have an Ashton semi acoustic guitar. It cost about 170 I think in a shop in Galway. It's a cut away and sounds gorgeous

datobs

Thanks guys for the replies1

It seems the Tanglewood 28CLN is laminate while the Yamaha FG700MS is a solid top-so the question is,would there be a big difference in sound??Opinion seems to be divided as modern laminates are supposed to be pretty good and are durable while solid tops seem to get better with age and have a clearer tone.I'm leaning towards solid top but would appreciate advice!