Recommend me a folk guitar

[choubix]

hello,

I am interested in buying a folk guitar.
I'd like to know which solution would be better:

a normal folk guitar + an additional mic
or the same guitar but electro acoustic (mic mounted by the manufacturer)

I was looking at Art & Lutherie or Seagull but really dont have a clue about the mic their electro acoustic models are shipped with.

any recommendation as per where to buy a 2nd hand guitar by the way?

thanks!

 

[niteblade]

look at soft.com's classified!

whats your budget?

 

[ShredCow]

I was looking at Art & Lutherie or Seagull but really dont have a clue about the mic their electro acoustic models are shipped with.

Have you tried them?

Go try them.

Then go try some Yamahas.

Then go try some Ovations.

Then you'll get an idea what sounds better and what sounds not so good.

Then come back and lets discuss what guitar best encapsulates the sound you like.

 

[choubix]

I ruled out Ovation and Yamaha a long time ago... (even though a few months back I was surprised by yamaha)

ovation: I don't like both the shape and the sound.
yamaha: I usually find them overpriced (but good looking!)

I find Martin's sound (D28) too dry (and too expensive)
a nice guitar I tried: the Sheryl Crow signature model (gibson J-45 replica I believe). very expensive if you consider the original was sold us$45 back in the 50's!

 

[ShredCow]

Interesting...

Well, without going into budget - lets talk abt what sounds you really like. Regardless of budget.

Reason is - you CAN get a good sounding acoustic for a relatively low price ... and put in a great pickup system for a relatively low price. The thing is - getting that cheaper-but-good-sounding guitar, which is like finding a needle in a haystack.

But lets just talk abt sounds.

The Yamahas, which ones did you try? The APX series? They using some piezo pickup thing - did you like the sound of those things?

 

[choubix]

hi,
actually the title should be "acoustic vs electro acoutic"

I think I tried a L series and not an APX.
found it nice but pretty expensive.

I'd prefer to pay for the quality than for the overall look

 

[ShredCow]

Great... sounds like you got a good arrangement of priorities...

I'd go for a great sounding acoustic - regardless whether its got a pickup or its just acoustic acoustic.

However, I dislike how piezos sound... and a nice LR Baggs Element pickup (http://www.lrbaggs.com/html/products/systems_element.shtml) costs just $200 bucks.

I managed to nail a great sounding acoustic for $250 - solid chinese spruce top, rosewood back & sides, rosewood neck (i think) & fretboard... and it sounded stellar. A little touch up on the frets, installed the Element pickup and I had a great sounding electric-acoustic. Plus I don't worry so much about scratching it and what not - just play the damn thing.

Take a trip down to Davis - try their Johnson acoustics. I don't know how many are left.. and mind you, the guitars DO have QC issues - like i said, needle in the haystack.

 

[choubix]

hi thanks for the tip.

just tried a few seagulls today.
I like the finish of most of them but the best sounding instrument was the "Maritime Gloss". solid spruce and mahogany.

I also tried a J-45 and a Dove. great sound.
actually I wouldnt mind the same sound as one of these for a fraction of the price

the neck of the Dove was fantastic but the J45 sounded better balanced (to me)