Encore guitars

dkboi

Hi, am looking to buy an electro accoustic guitar for my son - must be left handed, with a limited budget. Was looking to buy second hand but seems to have little out there. Saw an Encore guitar on guitar-warehouse website, price sems good but are any good.

Would appreciate any advice/views.

Thanks D.

Blackhorse Slim

I've played a few Encore guitars, and to be honest I really don't like them. They are a step up from some of the absolute junk you can get in toy shops that don't imo qualify as musical instruments - but only just.

Is there a reason it needs to be electro-acoustic? If you can't find what you're looking for second-hand, I'd recommend getting something like an Epiphone, Fender/Squier, Yamaha, Cort - all make decent entry-level guitars at a reasonable price. And you can always add a soundhole pickup later if he needs to plug in; something like this http://www.thomann.de/ie/harley_benton_woody_hba.htm €33 and it clips easily into the soundhole.

IMO if you get an Encore or similar, your son will likely want to upgrade fairly soon if he progresses, and won't want to look at the Encore again. Whereas if you get something like a Yamaha or Epiphone, even when he upgrades he'll always have a decent instrument as a backup or to take to parties, camping etc.

I don't know what your budget is, but a quick check on Thomann brought this up - http://www.thomann.de/ie/ibanez_v50nljpnt_jam_pack.htm
Left-handed, respected brand, entry-level acoustic guitar and accessories, €98. Not electro-acoustic, but you could do a lot worse.




Edit; If you can stretch to it, this looks very good; http://www.thomann.de/ie/ibanez_v72lecebk_ltd.htm Ibanez again, left-hand electro-acoustic, €196. If you add a spare set of strings to bring it over €199, you won't have to pay a delivery charge.

dkboi

Hey Blackhorse,

Thanks very much for your reply and advice...my son plays classical and wants to play more modern material for own fun and classical guitar did n't sound right for him. Your views confirmed my suspicions of the Encore range but you have given me two really good suggestions, one within budget, €100 approx and other beyond it but would go that far to get a good quality guitar that will last him.

Will get him to look at these....all the best

)

martinedwards

with any purchace, have a thought at what it cost to make the thing.

a £5 bottle of wine for instance.......

£3.50 of it's tax..... retailer profit, bottle, shipping,lable printing.... HOW much does the grower/winery get?

50p?

so HOW good is it likely to be?

likewise a budget guitar.

by the time its been shipped in from the far east, had a profit margin and VAT added, then if it's costing £100, it left the factory for 30.

I make guitars.

if I get the wood for free (which can happen) and then don't count my time as a cost, I still cant make an acoustic for £30. a set of decent tuners cost more than that.

now there are some great budget guitars out there.

and SOME Encores could just be very pleasant indeed.

but I wouldn't buy online without playing it first......

keep an eye on gumtree, craigslist and ebay.

as well as pawn shops and cash converters, though they can get the arm in a bit too.......