Acoustic-Electric $300-$400 ^_^ Help!

[yongsheng11]

Hi everyone, i've been playing guitar for over a year now an decided to buy myself an acoustic-electric (semi acoustic) guitar. My budget is no more than 450 sgd.

I have been looking around and was thinking of these 2 guitars.

Takamine EG340C
Washburn W20SCE

Are they good guitars (worth the money)? are there any better that i could get around that price range? I have tried both of them and they seem quite good to me. but im afraid i may regret when i find a guitar better around that price range.

P.S i dont mind shipping so if theres any good guitar that cant be bought here i dont mind shipping it.

Thanks Guys

 

[Jumpin'Jellybean]

Custom Acoustic, for that price you could be looking at a full solid.
But if you want either of those you narrowed down, i'd say go for the Taka,

 

[yongsheng11]

hmm the taka is laminted while washburn is solid. Solid has a better sound overall? or is it personal preference?

and where could i get some custom acoustics?

thanks for the reply btw

 

[loldude333]

Yes, i'd say exactly the same. The Taka is probably the best for the price. Have you considered Maestros and Ibanezes? I recently tried this sweet sounding solid top Ibanez at Swee Lee, i believe the list was about 600 so with the 'usual' discount, it should be within your budget range. GA shaped, crisp and bright. Can't remember the model though. Might wanna see if Yamaha or Crafter suit your tastes too. Do remember to try it plugged-in though, since you mentioned you want an electro-acoustic i assume you're going to plugged-in quite often. What kind of tone characteristics do you like in your dream acoustic?

 

[loldude333]

Laminated tops are basically tops which are made of several thin sheets of wood glued together. A solid top is a well, solid piece of wood. Lam tops have glue 'obstructing' the soundwaves as they pass through the top of the guitar, hence some tone purists perceive them to be not as resonant as solid tops. Solid tops however as more sensitive to moisture and humidity due to the top being more or less 100% wood, hence if you don't keep the guitar in a cool, dry place, you might get a 'bridge bulge' from the moisture seeping into the wood underneath the bridge. People generally prefer solid tops because of the 'obvious' tone difference. MOST of the time, i find this to be true, but a good sounding guitar is a good sounding guitar nonetheless. The back and sides can also be solid, but most of the time at this budget range, the most you can get is a solid top. Custom Acoustics at Citymusic, Peace Centre.

 

[yongsheng11]

Oh so the solid top and laminted doesnt really matter that much? or is it just that taka is better than that solid washburn.

i didnt want one that is too bright (maybe abit that is on the warmer side), was looking at the yamaha apx500 but i think its very ugly and i want first semi acoustic to look as good as it sounds. I heard Ibanez arent that good with acoustics? not too sure though this will be my first acoustic guitar since ive played a classical since i started.

 

[yongsheng11]

thanks for explaining

 

[loldude333]

Again, the notion of good and bad is really up to you. Try them out, if it sounds better then get it. Although in my experience, solids have always sounded better than lams to me.

 

[yongsheng11]

ill go back to take a look at the washburn, although its a solid top it sounded kinda weird. but i cant really remember so i gotta go back thanks alot again. there are so many choices its so hard to decide! D:

 

[yongsheng11]

does anyone own those guitars i mentioned that could give me any info on how they are etc? or if anyone got any suggestions on what guitars around that price range that i should be looking at?