Which Acoustic Guitar?

paulanthony

Hi All

I have decided to get back into playing the guitar after a few years of not playing. I was pretty much self taught on a pretty old acoustic which has been passed along to someone else.

Of the guitars below, does anyone own one of them or have any advice on which they think is best? I have played Yamahas before and liked them but the Takemine seems to have good spec and build quality. The Fender has a pickup but that is not really top of my list of priorities to be honest.

Thanks in advance. P

http://www.musicstore.com/en_EN/EUR/Guitars/Western-guitars/Takamine-G320-Natural-High-Gloss/art-GIT0020049-000

http://www.musicstore.com/en_EN/EUR/Guitars/Western-guitars/Fender-CD-60-CE-NAT-Upgrade-Natural/art-GIT0014089-000

http://www.musicstore.com/en_EN/EUR/Guitars/Western-guitars/Yamaha-F-370-NT-Natural/art-GIT0009173-000

http://www.musicstore.com/en_EN/EUR/Guitars/Western-guitars/Yamaha-FG-700-MS-Natur-Matt-New-in-the-past-FG-403-MS-/art-GIT0007110-001

J.Ball

I'd stay away from yamaha there guitars are ****e there good for pianos and that. Fenders acoustics are also very hit and miss.

Looking at the price range you seem to have on the adds get yourself a nice epiphone or a tanglewood you wont go wrong with either of these guitars i have one of each and there great never let me down and always sound great. The epiphone in particular

PeterIanStaker

Get the Takamine, Fender Acoustics are hit and miss. Also it's worth considering a secondhand good quality instrument that's been looked after. I know you said you've played before, but get a friend who plays guitar to come with you. Its what I'd do and I've been playing since I was 12. Hope this helps

nickcave

J.Ball wrote: »

I'd stay away from yamaha there guitars are ****e

This isn't true.

OP if your budget is around the €200 mark you should see if you can play any of the guitars to see which ones you like. See what the Takamines, Yamahas etc. sound like in a music shop. I didn't like any of the entry level Fenders I've played but that's just my opinion; you may like them.

I used play a Crafter http://www.gak.co.uk/en/crafter-d6/25444 which I would recommend. They have excellent hardware (tuners in particular) which is often what lets a guitar down at this price point.

Also maybe keep an eye on adverts and get yourself a bargain.

68 lost souls

+1 with nickcave.

J.Ball is wrong, the yamaha acoustics are great. Out of the ones listed the yamaha FG700 is the only one with a solid top which would mean out of them it would be the only one ton consider. The other yamaha and the fender are grand starter guitars and Im not sure about the takamine but the yamaha would be a step up. Try and get to a music shop near you and play them all though. With an acoustic I would never buy online as I would always buy the one I get to play, an acoustic instrument can vary greatly from one ot the next because the sound is coming from a natural wood.

J.Ball

68 lost souls wrote: »

+1 with nickcave.

J.Ball is wrong, the yamaha acoustics are great. Out of the ones listed the yamaha FG700 is the only one with a solid top which would mean out of them it would be the only one ton consider. The other yamaha and the fender are grand starter guitars and Im not sure about the takamine but the yamaha would be a step up. Try and get to a music shop near you and play them all though. With an acoustic I would never buy online as I would always buy the one I get to play, an acoustic instrument can vary greatly from one ot the next because the sound is coming from a natural wood.

Maybe i just had bad luck with a large string of yamaha acoustics then. In the years im playing i never came across a good one always found the machine heads slipped alot putting the guitar way outta tune and the overall sound was kinda tinny from them.
like i said maybe i just had bad luck with them but id never get one because of it

68 lost souls

Every one has their own experiences. There are a lot of different models and some are great, some are not so good. The FG range are quite good for the money and the some of the TX range are good, Im not a fan of their compass range. I like the LL range and they are great for the money.

Anoth optoin to look at in that price range is a Tanglewood TW115. Your looking at about 269 for a solid top or about a hundred or so more for an all solid.

ednwireland

nickcave wrote: »

This isn't true.

OP if your budget is around the €200 mark you should see if you can play any of the guitars to see which ones you like. See what the Takamines, Yamahas etc. sound like in a music shop. I didn't like any of the entry level Fenders I've played but that's just my opinion; you may like them.

I used play a Crafter http://www.gak.co.uk/en/crafter-d6/25444 which I would recommend. They have excellent hardware (tuners in particular) which is often what lets a guitar down at this price point.

Also maybe keep an eye on adverts and get yourself a bargain.

the guy in my music shop (a very small one) recommended the crafter d7 solid cedar top (i think it sounds better with martin strings on it)
as i didnt play at the time went with his advice havent regretted it
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/crafter-d7/25446

ClutchIt

I wouldn't buy an acoustic from a website. They all vary greatly from one to the next so for this reason you'd need to try it out.

I have always wanted a Washburn acoustic like my friend and my brother have. Then our local music shop bought in a couple and I tried them. They were the exact same model and all but they were just completely different from my friend and bros ones. So unfortunately I'm still on the lookout for a good one.