Which acoustic guitar?

[Druk]

Thinking of a new semi-acoustic six string. Prefer a wider than standard fingerboard (if there is such a thing). Maybe a Takamine or Epiphone. Don't really know.

Budget iro £1000. Not in any great rush: just thinking out loud.

Any advice from forummers please? Mark Knopfler are you out there?

.

 

[andy_k]

I'd be looking at the Simon and Patrick range

They sound great, are superbly made, mature wonderfully and are competitively priced

 

[timskemp]

I don't play, but I record and do live sound, and the best sounding acoustics have been Seagulls and Taylors. Takamines always sound a bit thin to me and never seem to push good stage volume (which if you're looking for a semi acoustic is I guess part of what you want to do) Go find yourself a big guitar shop, ring them to find their quietest day, or even tell them you're in for a £1000 spend and see if they'll give you a couple of hours after closing to play loads.

 

[andy_k]

I believe that Seagull and Simon and Patrick are part of the Godin group so I have to agree with you

Also add in Godin and Art and Lutherie and a few others I can't remember

 

[timskemp]

Indeed they are both Godin group.

Don't forget to budget yourself for a Radial J48 DI box, and an AER amp...

 

[rf065]

There seems to be a bit of confusion as to what you are actually looking for?
A semi acoustic to me is most likely a hollow bodied electric, but the thread title is Which Acoustic?

If it is the former, you cannot go wrong with a Gordon Smith.

Gordon-Smith Guitars - Products

Russ

 

[andy_k]

I bought one of the first Simon and Patrick guitars that came into the country.

I was in a studio doing some recording using my Lowden. A friend who ran a music shop brought a couple of Simon and Patricks in for me to try.

After about 5 minutes, the Lowden went into it's case and that's where it stayed

It's been gigged, knocked around and played more than any other guitar I've ever owned.

I've still got it and it sounds so much better as it's aged - in fact, I may just treat it to a new set of strings on and play it this evening

 

[renault12ts]

oops, I was going to suggest Lowden.

 

[Ted]

+1 for Seagull/S&P
I have an S6, and for the price, I rate it as highly as a Taylor.

Stats in tune well too

 

[jimhardie]

If you;ve got a grand to 'play' with, then you should look at a 2nd hand Taylor. Gibson J200 are beautiful. I agree with the guys, Simon and Patrick's are pretty good, but you can get much better for the money.

Lowden, Larrivee, Martin all make incredible guitars in the £1000 range.

 

[Druk]

Thanks for all this. My mistake to say 'semi-acoustic'. That probably sums up my knowledge. I do mean a full acoustic with built-in electrics.
As for secondhand: I don't trust myself to be honest. . I do have a true semi, an Ibanez, which I bought s/h and I'm not a happy bunny with that. Neck problems. I can't seem to be able to say "no thanks"
I'm a true learner in the scheme of things. About 2 out of 10 in the skill scale. Why do I want a nice (expensive?) guitar I hear you ask? Well, you don't need to be Schumie to own a Ferrari or to enjoy how it sounds.

The need for a wider neck is a prime preference, I do have probs with standard string spacing. Any ideas on that?

 

[andy_k]

Lowden, Larrivee, Martin all make incredible guitars in the £1000 range.

No, they don't

Lowden start at double that, to get a decent Martin (not a modern mass produced badged piece of mediocrity) you are looking at anything up to 10 times the budget. Larrivee will fall inside the budget but every one of them I have seen/played has a very slender neck with a profile similar to the Martin low oval. Great guitars but they tend to feel quite 'small'

If a wide profile neck is that important, why not go for a custom build?

£1000 will buy you a fair bit of time with a luthier modifying one of his existing designs

 

[rf065]

£1000 will buy you a fair bit of time with a luthier modifying one of his existing designs

You could talk to Moon guitars, many pro have been buying them lately.

Moon Guitars

Russ

 

[Druk]

Moon would be lovely and they're close to me, but cheapest non-custom is here..........Moon Acoustic Guitars (GUITARGUITAR)

Just a tad much sadly.

 

[PXW]

Agree he comments on takamine - nice enough but a bit thin. I have an ovation with the adamas top (multi holes rather than a single sound hole) with the full roundback body - really powerful guitar, even if the 'round on round' fit to the player's body is occasionally a bit tricky

 

[camerafodder]

I have two custom built Fylde guitars, a six and a twelve string. The company is owned by a pal of mine and based up in Penrith. He makes truly superb instruments. They are pricey but you can sometimes pick up a second hand one for around the £1200 mark. A Fylde Alchemist would be good model to try as they come with a headway pickup as standard if you want to amplify.

www.fyldeguitars.com

 

[camerafodder]

In fact if you fancy a trip South to J40 on the M6 the cumbria guitar show is at the end of this month.
Cumbria Guitar Show, Guitar Factor, Penrith vintage and new guitar show,

 

[camerafodder]

The need for a wider neck is a prime preference, I do have probs with standard string spacing. Any ideas on that?

Sorry to bang on about Fylde again but the Gordon Giltrap signature model has extra wide string spacing

 

[camerafodder]

Thanks for all this. My mistake to say 'semi-acoustic'. That probably sums up my knowledge. I do mean a full acoustic with built-in electrics.
As for secondhand: I don't trust myself to be honest. . I do have a true semi, an Ibanez, which I bought s/h and I'm not a happy bunny with that. Neck problems. I can't seem to be able to say "no thanks"
I'm a true learner in the scheme of things. About 2 out of 10 in the skill scale. Why do I want a nice (expensive?) guitar I hear you ask? Well, you don't need to be Schumie to own a Ferrari or to enjoy how it sounds.

The need for a wider neck is a prime preference, I do have probs with standard string spacing. Any ideas on that?

Agree he comments on takamine - nice enough but a bit thin. I have an ovation with the adamas top (multi holes rather than a single sound hole) with the full roundback body - really powerful guitar, even if the 'round on round' fit to the player's body is occasionally a bit tricky

I know where you're coming from there....these day I have to ...'stretch to strum'

 

[Druk]

In fact if you fancy a trip South to J40 on the M6 the cumbria guitar show is at the end of this month.
Cumbria Guitar Show, Guitar Factor, Penrith vintage and new guitar show,

Seems strange this is on Sun and Mon rather than the weekend. Suits me though cos I'm going Runrig on Sat. :bannana: