Best Acoustic? - What's best?

[GuyCool]

Yeah Ice Cream.
Yeah I will try before I buy.

But. In the mid-price range what is the best electro-acoustic?
I don't want a dreadnought type.
I want some thing that is comfortable to hold and play, with a neck that is as close to as playable as an electric.
A reasonable pick up would be nice.

I like the look of Ovations, but have always found Yamaha equipment to be good quality for the money.


Any advice?

Thanks

Guy

[jeffrey]

Taylor.

Not for the faint of heart tho.

[Jesse Greenawalt]

Love my Taylor 412CE. *You want a "12" model - that's the small body size, and a "CE", which is the pickup models. *So, a 312ce or 412ce for $1000-1200. *Or, for $1700 & up, a 512ce, 712ce, 812ce. *Those have a blender system with an internal mic and fishman piezo. *Best amped acoustic sound I've played - too bad I couldn't afford it... :-(

The other small bodies - Ibanez, Ovation, Epiphone, (even Guild) etc. always had a tinny sound to me. *The small Taylors miss some Dreadnaught *bass, but are still sweet sounding.

The Martins and Tacomas may be as good - I dunno.

[jeffrey]

The 12 means small? Hrm. I thought it was the C. I have a K-14C thats the small body.

I'm pretty sure it's the C and not the 12.

[gkelm]

Ditto on Taylors. *I'd go for a 314CE or 414CE (or higher if you have the $$). *The _14 is the concert body, normal body depth. *The _12 (312, 412, etc.) body has a shallower body depth (a bit thinner tone). *These also have a wider fretboard and slightly smaller neck than the dreds.

C = cutaway
E = electronics

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/models/300.html

The Yamaha CPX line plays great...the fretboard is a bit narrow for fingerpicking, but otherwise very nice.
Greg

[rickboot]

I have a Taylor 510. This is the first acoustic I have kept for any length of time. My Ovation didn't last long.

You know guitars are like ice cream. You really should try before you buy.

Rick

(ducks and runs away to another discussion)

[Jesse Greenawalt]

The higher line _12 models don't increase the fretboard width - the 812, for example. *Another reason I'd have liked that one...

[Strat man]

Has anyone played an Ibanez Talman (TCY10 or TCY25)? I like their slim body and thin, low-action neck. I wonder how they sound accoustically?

Does anyone ever play Ibanez accoustic??? Except for Paul Gilbert?

[ripl3y]

A friend of mine has what I think is a Talman (although I'm now questioning myself) , and it's a real nice sounding acoustic (this wasn't an electro)
The neck is very thin and really comfortable and also the action is a lot lower than standard production acoustics.
It was damn loud from what I remember and had a nice clarity on the low strings and not too sharp and whiny on the highs.

Obviously most people will say "Taylor" or "Martin" and if you're into acoutstic that much then go get one (though from the very few I've played I prefer Takamine's and Lowden's), but personally I just can't justify spending that amount of money (ludicrous amount I should add, especially in the U.K. market) on a guitar that wouldn't see the same amount of play-time as an electric.

gl with the search

Steve

[gkelm]

I picked up a Talman "acoustic" a few weeks ago...and promptly put it down. *It may be OK plugged in, but it was definitely acoustically-challenged...at least this one was.
Greg

[iain]

A friend & I played a Rainsong at WMC, a month ago, or so. What an incredible instrument. It's totally composite NO wood! Very nice tone, and quite loud, unplugged. I recommend checking one out, if you can.

Web Site

[darren wilson]

I've quite enjoyed the Yamaha APX series. Nice neck, nice sound, not too big and "folky" looking.

[Josh Blagg]

What about the Carvin that Vai uses? *I think it has a great neck joint, 24 jumbo frets with easy access, and it is extremely thin. *It's not a dreadnought sound, but then again, you didn't ask for one. *I bet it plays wonderful if you set it up right.

[Paul Warren]

When we had a used Godin come into our store, I picked it up and was sold on it immediately. *It is the closest thing to an "electric guitar feel" that I have played. *It has a cutout, excellent sound and the bridge seems to sit about where an electric guitar bridge would. *Very low and comfortable. *Of course, they are nylon strings but the sound is beautiful. *Not sure if Godin makes steel string acoustic/electrics, but I highly recommend sitting down with one and experiencing the feel and sound. *Oh yeah, these guitars don't have soundholes, but still but out a nice amount of acoustic volume.

http://www.godinguitars.com/intro.html

[GuyCool]

Thanks for the tips.
I don't play acoustic all that often, and so I can't justify spending more than about £500. I think the Japanese guitars are probably priced more competitively over here in the UK than the American ones-that might influence my decision.

Guy