Guitar Players - questions

[KitchenWitch]

My son has decided on getting an accoustic/electric guitar instead of the Taylor accoustic we planned on getting.

What should I look for in an accoustic/electric guitar? I am looking to spend less than $800 at this point.

Any good brands/models?

[Zuni]

1. are you sure you want an acoustic electric?

Ovations are nice.

But I would rather have an acoustic and an electric. Acoustic-Electrics are limited on the electrical side, and tend to feed back something awful

[KitchenWitch]

2. This is what my son wants

He has a classical accoustic, and two electric guitars...

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. depends on the type of electronics in them

My Taylor has a Fishman transducer that I can adjust to be microphonic or not

[Zuni]

7. no feedback problems?

that is my biggest complaint about acoustic electrics I have played.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

32. Only when I am using the microphonic pick up..otherwise no

[enigmatic]

17. Damn

I didn't know you played guitar; what's your setup?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. For you and Zuni

Acoustic/electric is a Taylor prototype that later became the Doyle Dykes model with a Fishman transducer..I play it through a Seymour Duncan solstice processor into a 2-12 Blues Deauville tube amp (too cheap to go out and buy an acoustic amp and I don't gig anymore)

[Zuni]

34. good stuff

I wish I brought a guitar to DC---we could have had a good ol blues jam

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

36. that would have been a blast

[enigmatic]

37. That sounds great

If yoiu've got anything on tape I'd love to play it on the station; anytime..

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

39. I don't anymore

I now do chord melodies now...if I do record anything, I'll send it to you.

Thanks

[chaska]

4. If you like tuperware.

I hate 'em.

[WCGreen]

15. I have an Ovation A/E, and a regular Ovation....

I played in a band with the Ovation A/E and when I ran it through the Fender Amp, it sounded okay by me...

Of course I just played rythme....

When I really wanted to rock, I grabbed my Kramer and put the Acoustic down.

But if he is going to college, and wants to get laid playing a guitar, take the acoustic....

Chicks dig the guitar, Man........

On Edit, I forgot that at one time I had a Fender A/E... IT sounded great... If I was playing at a party, I would take my accoustic... Any place with an Amp, I took the A/E..... Either the Ovation or the Fender....

Hell, I don't even know if Fender still makes an A/E

[KitchenWitch]

22. They do

So does Ovation

[cleofus1]

47. ovations

are pretty little plastic guitars for girls...

[enigmatic]

5. Acoustic

If you can get a used Martin acoustic, I'd go for that in a second. I'm not fond of acoustic-electric guitars; I've never really found one that I like the sound on..

[Zuni]

9. I have a Martin

I love it.

Yes, i have never been happy with acoustic-electrics either

[freethought]

41. Value your instrument sir!!

Some Martins are worth more than their weight in gold. I do remember seeing one on EBAY, a pre WWII intstrument for $40,000 starting bid.

[Zuni]

44. mine is not one of their expensive ones

but I love it just the same

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. For the money you are looking to spend, Takamine makes a decent

acoustic electric...you should be able to get it with a hard case for about that much if you shop it

[Zuni]

13. Takamines are great guitars too

I have a friend who has several. I have never played one through an amp, though. They are so smooth sounding, and the strings are set really low so that it almost feels like you are playing an electric.

They are definetly worth looking at

[usregimechange]

8. They have pros and cons

I like the mere level of sound that comes from a full bodied accoustic. Some accoustic electrics are smaller bodied. They don't put out as much sound but they are smaller and more compact. If you can afford it get a cut-away full bodied accoustic electric. Martins are great but expensive. Talkamines (sp) are damn good. I like to play them at the stores before deciding. Also, music and drugs often go together so be careful.

[KitchenWitch]

14. I am aware of the music/drugs thing

He is involved in things other than music also.

We will go to the guitar store tomorrow to look.

[usregimechange]

24. Involved in other things is the key, sorry I had a hard time with it

[KitchenWitch]

31. no sweat

I appreciate the concern!

[democracyindanger]

10. How long has he been playing?

If he's just starting out, I'd put the kibosh on acoustic/electric.

[KitchenWitch]

16. He has been playing for almost 2 years.

He also plays piano and trombone...

[democracyindanger]

23. Now you're just bragging

[KitchenWitch]

26. Why yes I am!

He is mostly self taught on piano and guitar!

He is AMAZING.

[johnnie]

11. I have one of these

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/det... /



I have come to really like Epiphone guitars even though many might disagree with me. In my experience they are well made guitars for the price and they sound pretty good. The cutout at the bottom is nice ot have and the electronics sound really good.
I also have the non-electric version and like that one a lot also.

[Zuni]

18. Epiphones are great guitars

I don't see what the problem with Epis are---built by Gibson, but less than half the price.

I do not see what is wrong with that

[johnnie]

21. Well...

A lot of people think because they are the Gibson seconds that they aren't well built. I have 3 of them (4 if you want to count my 65 Coronet) and I have no problems with them.

[Zuni]

28. I love my Epiphone Les Paul Standard

it is an excellent guitar. And for the price, it is one of the best values around

[WCGreen]

38. My first two guitars were Epi's

[enigmatic]

19. I like that

Epiphone's are nice guitars for the price; that's a beautiful one..

[johnnie]

25. I had a guy in the studio a month or so ago

He has been playing for 40 years and is really a pretty good guitar player. He picked that one up and played it for a while and the next day wrote to me and asked what model it was and he said he wanted one. He also asked if I would sell the one I have, but I don't really want to get rid of it.

[enigmatic]

29. I need a new acoustic

My Mann beater (el cheapo, but beautiful sound) acoustic is falling apart. I'm going to look into that..

[freethought]

12. There are a number of good makers out there

I played from junior high school up until a few years ago( graduated in 1985!)
Your $800 ceiling is a pretty good number but I would warn you not to go with anything under $500 if you are buying brand new. Unless you're an experience player it can be hard to describe what exactly to look for. Do you have any friends or coworkers that play? Maybe you can barge them into helping you out.
This kid turned down a Taylor acoustic? Yeeesh? Picky! Taylor is a good name!

[KitchenWitch]

20. He may end up with the Taylor

He thought the accoustic/electric would be more versatile.

[freethought]

33. From my own personal experience

I have never like those acoustic/electric hybrid type guitars. Guitars that have an electric body style and size but are hollow with a sound hole. They have always sounded kind of wimpy to me. You mentioned he has a classical acoustic. I am assuming this is the type of acoustic with nylon strings. You can buy him a good steel string acoustic and then purchase a pick-up that he can take on and off the acoustic and it will plug him in to any amplifier that he has just fine. Still I wouldn't go under $500. I have a taste for quality but that's just me.

[KitchenWitch]

35. The Taylor we accoustic we are looking at is in the $700 range

I had no idea they had removeable pickups...I think that will be the way we go then...

Thanks for your help.

[freethought]

40. Thanks for asking? But I would suggest

trying to find someone you know who plays that is 1)not your son 2)not going to try to sell you an instrument. This may help an experienced player could evaluate action(the way strings lie on the fretboard) and intonation. I speak mainly from my own experience and tastes.
Note: I stopped playing because domestic concerns took front and center.

Good Luck!!

Freethought

[bamacrat]

27. I have an Austin semi-acoustic.

great sound and under $500.

[alarcojon]

42. May I recommend a classical electric?

I recently bought a La Patrie cutaway with pickup for about $600. I play it through a Genz Benz amp and get a good variety of sounds - clean and mellow to harsh and tinny.

[KitchenWitch]

43. Hmmm

had not considered that...She looks like a beauty!

[cleofus1]

45. takamine

has been making very nice electric acoustics for years....

[cleofus1]

46. here's a link to my personal favorite

well within your price range...

http://www.music123.com/Epiphone-PR5E-Cutaway-i27916.mu...



exerpt from customer's review...

"This is an astonishingly high quality guitar for the price. It has the Gibson name on the access plate and the workmanship of this guitar is worthy of that name. I've had mine for over 3 years now and all I've ever had to do to it is change the strings. EQ is very flexible and allows fine tuning of the tone. The florentine cutaway makes it easy to get up above the 12th fret and the overall appearance of the guitar is very appealing. Another nice feature is the two different styles of output connections. Mine came with Grover tuners and they absolutely keep it in tune. Overall a really value for the price."