recommend e- acoustic around 300bucks

[shan182]

Hey all
I'm helping to source for an acoustic electric (acoustic with pickup installed).
Budget would be around $300.

I've been looking into Maestros (SD-series which are laminated..?) and Custom Acoustic from Citymusic but I'm open to any suggestions..


thanks for your replies in advance!

Shan

 

[EugeneSmasher]

If you want really good value for money, go for Custom Acoustic. One of the most bang-for-buck brands available. Maestros sound really good (even the laminate tops) but they're pricey. Also, I'm not sure if you can get a Maestro electro-acoustic for below $300.

 

[Kaye]

Hello there, you might want to drop by TYmusic to check out their acoustics! I can't rmb the exact brand. It sounds pretty decent!

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Those at TYMC are Tanglewood guitars I think. Also recommended.

 

[loldude333]

Maestro, Custom Acoustic, Yamaha and Takamine D-series spring to mind. Of these, i'd go with the first 2 as Yamahas sound bland to me especially plugged in, regardless of the price, and the low-end Takamines have some QC issues, although tonally they sound pretty good. I'd go for CA simply because of the solid top at the price, although i feel the same about CAs as i do Yamahas.

Regarding Tanglewoods, they're good sounding and all, but i have to say that the ones in TYMC aren't in the best condition, i went in a coupla days back and tried one, setup all over the place, strings rusted and black, frets tarnished and all. It was a real turnoff. I'd suggest Luthermusic if you want to get acoustics, they're very friendly people with no qualms whatsoever if you walk in simply to try out the guitars without intention to buy. The guitars there are properly setup and in very good condition. Highly recommended, i got my Takamine from there and i have to say the service is topnotch.

 

[van_halen]

if you can find an electric-acoustic for your budget it's definitely gonna be laminate top. so i suggest you save up more, increase your budget and find a solid top electric-acoustic.

 

[lemonade93]

if you can find an electric-acoustic for your budget it's definitely gonna be laminate top. so i suggest you save up more, increase your budget and find a solid top electric-acoustic.

Custom Acoustics are solid tops :/

 

[van_halen]

so? you can find a custom acoustic solid top electric-acoustic for $300 and below?

 

[Jumpin'Jellybean]

If you want really good value for money, go for Custom Acoustic. One of the most bang-for-buck brands available. Maestros sound really good (even the laminate tops) but they're pricey. Also, I'm not sure if you can get a Maestro electro-acoustic for below $300.

Absolutely right. The cheapest Electro-Acoustics go for around 400+. Electro Acoustic under 300, always gonna be Custom Acoustic. No doubt about that. There's Fina and Samick as well though.

 

[loldude333]

Van_halen is right, there isn't any CA e-acoustic with a solid top. The only solid top below $300 is the FG70 @ $220, with a solid sitka spruce top, but it doesn't have any electronics. You probably will want to up your budget to $400, more options there.

 

[shan182]

Thanks for the help guys, just to check with y'all.....

I know that solid tops are more costly than laminated tops. what's the pros and cons on them?

I know solid tops are found to give better sound and resonance.. but laminated tops are more durable??

Which would be more of a "long-term investment" a laminated top or solid top??

Thanks again.

 

[Jumpin'Jellybean]

Solid tops mature. They give better sound once they've opened up. If you're thinking of keeping this one, get a solid top. A laminate is much more durable as it has numerous sheets of wood glued on top of each other. Think plywood. So it is more resistant. You have to maintain a solid top guitar- dehumidify especially. But the sound at the end of the day is definitely worth it.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Acoustic-Guitars---Laminated-Wood-Versus-Solid-Wood&id=80958

I just gave a summary. If you've time, go look through the article.

 

[EugeneSmasher]

^ This.

I'd like to add that it's not always the case, though. My all-laminate Yamaha sounds far better than the solid-top Ibanez PF60s.

But for most cases, a solid-top will sound better than a laminate-top of similar quality, especially after some maturation of the wood.

My theory on build...

Heavily-built guitars generally limit vibration more, hence sounding more boxy and more 'dead'. Especially with laminated wood that doesn't vibrate as easily as solid-wood. I find this to be a problem with Ibanez acoustics. They're very heavily built. Believe me, I owned one before. They feel indestructible, though.

Most of the all-solid-wood, high-end guitars have lighter builds. It frees up more of the top to vibrate, hence a louder, more resonant sound. My Yamaha has a light build, probably why it sounds better than a solid-top Ibanez.

*If you think my theory is rubbish, by all means. But be polite...

 

[reez_rock]

Dun forget to check those swing acoustics at SV

http://www.standardvalue.com.sg/

Highly recommended. Especially for the budget