I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something of the acoustic persuasion.
I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
A few facts / limiting factors:
I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit bewildered by the choice.
Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of the question, price-wise.
So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
George Weston wrote: > I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something > of the acoustic persuasion.
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires > it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and > treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and using > the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom > appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst > attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts are > therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup for band > use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd appreciate > some advice as to what to look for.
> A few facts / limiting factors:
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that > Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit > bewildered by the choice.
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which > possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through the > band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good acoustic > amp such as one of the AER models).
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing > away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be > disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of the > question, price-wise.
Not necessarily, George.
Check out the Gibson Canadian-made models (they took over the Garrison factory and produce some of the Gibson acoustics there). OK, they're a bit more than £500 if you opt for a Fishman-type bug - but not that much more - and you get nowt for nowt.
That's £483 (yes - four hundred and eighty two English pounds) *delivered*, brand new. I expect that a decent bug will be £100 - £150 more.
Indidentally, there's a Taylor jumbo for about the same price (not the Baby or Big Baby).
PS: Non-magnetic electro-acoustics sound ATROCIOUS through an AC30. Don't do it. I played my Gibson J-50 through a vintage Vox during a jam at Tilburg <wince>.
<geowes...@NOSPAMgooglemail.com> wrote: >I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something >of the acoustic persuasion.
>I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires >it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and >treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and using >the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
>At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom >appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst >attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts are >therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup for band >use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd appreciate >some advice as to what to look for.
>A few facts / limiting factors:
>I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that >Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit >bewildered by the choice.
>Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which >possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through the >band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good acoustic >amp such as one of the AER models).
>Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing >away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be >disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of the >question, price-wise.
>So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on >electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>Thanks in advance,
>George
I've been there and done all that.
I hate to say so but for stage sound get a Tak. I hate them with a vengeance bordering on obsession but the fact is they do sound well amplified and the onboard electronics are O.K.
However, unplugged, they sound just like the dull, cardboard cutouts of a guitar that they really are, and you're looking for something which works both ways.
To solve this problem I ended up spending a lot more than you intend to (I ended up with a Northworthy Ellastone - current RRP £2500 - although I didn't pay that) and had an EMG undersaddle pickup installed. The EMG is very cute. For one thing it's a straight through endpin jack fitting so you don't have to carve up half the guitar to fit it (there's a battery and a bit of wire and that's it), and the other is that it's adjustable to the liveliness off the guitar (in other words, there's a little screw in the fitting you can turn to adjust the impedance from high to very low).
I use a Carvin Nomad for electric gigs and the Northworthy sounds fine through it on the clean channel. Through a P.A. it sounds just like a loud acoustic guitar - perfect.
As for the guitar you should buy - haven't a clue at £500, but best results will come from finding an acoustic you like and retro-fitting the electronics. All of the guitars I've ever played which were designed for amplification have sounded like shite unamplified.
The reverse is also true - never try amplifying a Martin D16, for instance - far too lively and loud. You might get away with a D35 (heavier built), but you're in for two grand there...:-)
You would also do well to ask the same question on rec.music.makers.guitar.accoustic - there are people there with much better technical knowledge than myself, and they will help you out.
> George Weston wrote: >> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire >> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song >> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to >> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a >> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close >> but no cigar.
>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom >> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst >> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts >> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup >> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) >> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that >> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit >> bewildered by the choice.
>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which >> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through >> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good >> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing >> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be >> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of >> the question, price-wise.
> Not necessarily, George.
> Check out the Gibson Canadian-made models (they took over the Garrison > factory and produce some of the Gibson acoustics there). OK, they're a bit > more than £500 if you opt for a Fishman-type bug - but not that much > more - and you get nowt for nowt.
> That's £483 (yes - four hundred and eighty two English pounds) > *delivered*, brand new. I expect that a decent bug will be £100 - £150 > more.
> Indidentally, there's a Taylor jumbo for about the same price (not the > Baby or Big Baby).
> PS: Non-magnetic electro-acoustics sound ATROCIOUS through an AC30. Don't > do it. I played my Gibson J-50 through a vintage Vox during a jam at > Tilburg <wince>.
You may want a look at the Yamaha LL16. http://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_ll16_westerngitarre.htm Spruce top, rosewood back and sides, all solid. I got mine from GAK in Brighton and I'm very pleased with it. Good sound, good action. Sounds like a much more expensive guitar. The gold tuners look a bit cheap though, and you'd have to take the price of a pickup into account.
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something > of the acoustic persuasion.
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires > it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and > treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and > using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom > appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst > attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts > are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup > for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd > appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
> A few facts / limiting factors:
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that > Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit > bewildered by the choice.
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which > possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through > the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good > acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing > away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be > disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of > the question, price-wise.
> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on > electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
> Thanks in advance,
> George
I was going to suggest a Yamaha APX900, but I don't think there is/at least can't see any references to: a left handed model. The nearest I can find is the very similar Yamaha APX700L which is a left handed version. I have an APX900 and find it very comfortable, and with both a good acoustic sound and a good plugged in sound provided it's plugged in to an acoustic amp or PA. The slightly smaller body makes the APX 900 comfortable and the internal pickup system, pre-amp and EQ is good. I think I paid about £470 for my APX900 pre-credit crunch.
My second choice within your budget would probably be for a Takamine, or maybe a bowl back like a secondhand Ovation Custom Balladeer - although some people can't get on with these and their 'weird' back.
If you don't mind going a bit more off beam, you could look at a modelling guitar such as the Line 6 Variax 700 Acoustic, which sounds very good, is comfortable, is easy to play, looks like a thin acoustic, but being solid bodied it is not an acoustic - I'm not sure if there is a left handed model though, although I believe there were plans. A left handed Variax 500 electric would give you some very acceptable acoustic models as well as electric models though and you quite often see L/H Variax 500's. IGNORE if you really want a proper acoustic though :-)
I wouldn't plug any acoustic in to the front of any standard guitar amp and expect a particularly good sound as others have said, although you *might* get a slightly better result going in via an 'acoustic' type FX pedal/pre-amp and some fairly heavy EQ into the amp's FX return. An AER Compact 60 does make an acoustic or modelled acoustic such as the Variax 700 Acoustic guitar sound very nice plugged in, but as you say they aren't overly cheap. You would probably find a little Marshall AS50D or AS100D acoustic amp which both have an XLR DI out to feed a PA would give you a decent enough sound for on-stage monitoring (about £200 new for the 50w version or less secondhand)
>>So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on >>electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>>Thanks in advance,
>>George
> Watching with interest as I've decided that it's time for a new > acoustic, as this 'thing' I currently have doesn't inspire me to pick > it up any more! > No electro or pickup for me though - just something to strum on the > sofa. Budget = under £500. > Currently eyeing up cheapest Taylor and Martins, Mid range Yamaha and > Seagulls, High end Tanglewoods, etc. > Hmm, too much choice!
Yep - that's the problem. Not wasting money on a "thing", as you put it but then trying to narrow down the search for what's left to spend the hard-earned on!
>>>So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on >>>electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>>>Thanks in advance,
>>>George
>> Watching with interest as I've decided that it's time for a new >> acoustic, as this 'thing' I currently have doesn't inspire me to pick >> it up any more! >> No electro or pickup for me though - just something to strum on the >> sofa. Budget = under £500. >> Currently eyeing up cheapest Taylor and Martins, Mid range Yamaha and >> Seagulls, High end Tanglewoods, etc. >> Hmm, too much choice!
>Yep - that's the problem. >Not wasting money on a "thing", as you put it but then trying to narrow down >the search for what's left to spend the hard-earned on!
>George
Depends what you're going to use it for, I guess. If you're just going to sit on the sofa and strum it then find a Yamaha-you-like. Even cheap guitars have their own voice and a new anything will give you some kind of inspiration.
I would (if you're thinking about fingerpicking) go for a Norman or a simple Martin - eg a D15 or D16 which are both dreads but are equally lively, relatively cheap and project well. They are also both very firm when picking them, unlike some of the more expensive ones (D25's 35's etc) which can sound muddy.
Taylors? Only ever played expensive ones but the 3 and 5 series aren't too expensive and they don't sound as thin and reedy as their reputation.
The deal with acoustics is that the GAS thing gets worse and worse. I have two handmade electrics and I know I can get anything I want out of them because of the electronics and the relationship between the guitar, the amp, and the room I'm playing in.
Acoustics? I have one for fingerpicking - an absolutely irreplaceable Larrivee Parlour - No.1 of five, but it's got a Koa body so it's very bright. Should I be thinking about a small-bodied OOO in Braz which will give me more grunt? Should I be thinking about something with a cedar top for a softer sound? Should I be thinking about something with mahogany back & sides for richness with an Englemann or Adirondack top to give me a bit of extra attack?
And that's just the fingerpicker.....
You should treble your budget and spend the money just once - just make sure you pick your luthier carefully.
Simon Smidmore at Brook makes amazing dreads (I don't normally post links but drool here):
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something > of the acoustic persuasion.
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires > it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and > treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and > using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom > appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst > attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts > are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup > for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd > appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
> A few facts / limiting factors:
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that > Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit > bewildered by the choice.
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which > possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through > the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good > acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing > away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be > disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of > the question, price-wise.
That sounds like Yamaha APX/CPX territory. They do lefties.
On 4 July, 18:16, "George Weston" <geowes...@NOSPAMgooglemail.com> wrote:
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something > of the acoustic persuasion.
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires > it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and > treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and using > the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom > appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst > attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones.
Hmm. Well, putting electrics into a good acoustic doesn;t ruin it. There *are* acoustically compromised electros out there, you can usually spot them by their shallow bodeis, 6-in-arow headstocks and gaudy paint jobs.
>My thoughts are > therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup for band > use.
Add-on pickups vary a lot. The better ones, like the Fishman Blend will be half your budget. There's a reason why many guitatrs come with under-saddle piezo pickups , they are a good bang-for-bucks otpion.
>Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd appreciate > some advice as to what to look for.
> A few facts / limiting factors:
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that > Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit > bewildered by the choice.
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous
Yes. like the superfolk/small Jumbo/grand auditorium shape
>either but which > possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through the > band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good acoustic > amp such as one of the AER models).
a poor acoustic amp (or a keybord amp) will still be a lot better than an electric guitar amp. The principles involved are completely different.
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing > away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be > disappointed later.
Don't write off asian-made guitars. I have been impressed by some of them (especailly the Tanglewoods, expecailly the TW45--available in left). The B-Band pickup it incorporates is good too.
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something > of the acoustic persuasion.
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires > it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and > treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and using > the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom > appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst > attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts are > therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup for band > use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd appreciate > some advice as to what to look for.
> A few facts / limiting factors:
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that > Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit > bewildered by the choice.
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which > possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through the > band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good acoustic > amp such as one of the AER models).
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing > away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be > disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of the > question, price-wise.
> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on > electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
> Thanks in advance,
> George
I did the same after years of electric playing I decided it was time to get an acoustic...this was a couple of years ago mind but as I wasn't a serious acoustic guy I wasn't going to do my usual badge snobbery.... still I wanted something that souded good. I contemplated a Simon and Patrick after playing Justins but I figured that was too expensive and the neck was a bit thick.... to a guy used to playing Ibanez electrics anyway.
I ended up getting a Vintage V300 as it was voted "Best acoustic guitar under £1000" by some guitar mag and it was only 85 quid at the time although the prices have taken a dramatic leap since then to £159.....but I have to admit I think it sounds pretty nice. I haven't heard that many acoustics in the flesh...most have been at Buxton and I had a shot of Mark's Flyde Magician every now and again when i was deciding so my reference tone bar was set pretty high and to the untrained ear it's not a million miles away
The other alternative is buy a Musicman JP6 with Piezo so you get a great electric AND it does the acoustic stuff at the flick of a switch. Although that's a tad more expensive ;-)
I ended up getting a Vintage V300 as it was voted "Best acoustic guitar under £1000" by some guitar mag and it was only 85 quid at the time although the prices have taken a dramatic leap since then to £159.....but I have to admit I think it sounds pretty nice.
I have one of those too, nice little guitar - very, very nice when you consider the price, the solid top etc. Very versatile wee guitar it is too, sounds lovely picked - although not the loudest - its 'folk' sized dimensions limit it slightly here.
On 4 July, 18:16, "George Weston" <geowes...@NOSPAMgooglemail.com> wrote:
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something > of the acoustic persuasion. <snip> > So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on > electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
For the useage you're talking about, Takamine. End of.
> On 4 July, 18:16, "George Weston" <geowes...@NOSPAMgooglemail.com> > wrote: >> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire >> something >> of the acoustic persuasion. > <snip> >> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on >> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
> For the useage you're talking about, Takamine. > End of.
OTOH, if you want a warm, responsive acoustic sound which pleases you then go ahead and try everything within your price-range (allowing budget for a p/u) and buy what feels right in your hands. I use a Fishman Rare Earth Series soundhole pickup, which sounds fine to me and is easily transferred to other intruments if necessary. Agreed about EQ, though - why not DI into the front-line and work off foldback for live gigs?
>> Both makers start at three times your budget, but you'll get three >> times the exitement..:-)
>You know how you go off people real fast?
>Steve >aka frustrated of Godalming
I can imagine...
I am speaking from experience though. I spent about £300 a year on guitars for 10 years before deciding it was about time I spent some really good ones, so whilst I still have about ten guitars, there's only 4 that I've spent real money on and I don't feel I have to buy any more.
It's very different buying acoustics from electrics. Playable electrics start at about £120 so it's possible to treat them as almost disposable, but good acoustics don't really exist for much less than a grand, although there are plenty which are fit-for purpose.
We were looking for a guitar for our rhythm guitarist which would do for amplified and unamplified work a few years ago. I think we played something like 60 Takamines, which are the benchmark for stage use. The cost went from about £500 to well over £1000 and not a single one gave any real response unamplified. We ended up with a Martin D16H which was £1200, and it's still a fantastic guitar now.
All I'm saying, really, is spend the money wisely now and save a fortune in the future - it cost me £3k just to learn that. The acoustic I ended up with cost me £1650 - to replace it would be more like £2600. The acoustic world is full of GAS just like the electric one, but I know an alwful lot of players who bought one good guitar a long time ago and who have never felt the need to improve on them.
>>> Both makers start at three times your budget, but you'll get three >>> times the exitement..:-)
>>You know how you go off people real fast?
>>Steve >>aka frustrated of Godalming
> I can imagine...
> I am speaking from experience though. I spent about £300 a year on > guitars for 10 years before deciding it was about time I spent some > really good ones, so whilst I still have about ten guitars, there's > only 4 that I've spent real money on and I don't feel I have to buy > any more.
> It's very different buying acoustics from electrics. Playable > electrics start at about £120 so it's possible to treat them as almost > disposable, but good acoustics don't really exist for much less than a > grand, although there are plenty which are fit-for purpose.
> We were looking for a guitar for our rhythm guitarist which would do > for amplified and unamplified work a few years ago. I think we played > something like 60 Takamines, which are the benchmark for stage use. > The cost went from about £500 to well over £1000 and not a single one > gave any real response unamplified. We ended up with a Martin D16H > which was £1200, and it's still a fantastic guitar now.
> All I'm saying, really, is spend the money wisely now and save a > fortune in the future - it cost me £3k just to learn that. The > acoustic I ended up with cost me £1650 - to replace it would be more > like £2600. The acoustic world is full of GAS just like the electric > one, but I know an alwful lot of players who bought one good guitar a > long time ago and who have never felt the need to improve on them.
I hear, understand and agree with everything above. However, I'm in a part-time party band, whose giggage is unpredictable to say the least. We're not on any circuit and we're reliant upon word of mouth for bookings. OK, this weekend marks our fourth gig in three weeks but this is exceptional for us. We probably won't get another gig until the autumn. On that basis, I couldn't justify or afford buying anything over £500 as it will only get used a few times during each gig, (played through the PA with foldback) and will otherwise spend its life being strummed around the house or at rehearsals. What I'm looking for is a decent "compromise" acoustic or electro-acoustic within my price range which plays and sounds *reasonably* well both plugged and unplugged - although from the replies I'm getting it would seem that "OK plugged and unplugged" are mutually exclusive? My other constraint of course is the restricted choice of lefty guitars, although I see that Tony J at Strings Direct has a good selection and there are a few at present on eBay. I'm currently thinking about either a Yamaha APX700 or a Norman B20 (both electro-acoustic). Or possibly a Taylor Big Baby (but would have to fit a separate pickup). Difficult, innit!
> What I'm looking for is a decent "compromise" acoustic or electro-acoustic > within my price range which plays and sounds *reasonably* well both > plugged and unplugged - although from the replies I'm getting it would > seem that "OK plugged and unplugged" are mutually exclusive? > My other constraint of course is the restricted choice of lefty guitars, > although I see that Tony J at Strings Direct has a good selection and > there are a few at present on eBay. > I'm currently thinking about either a Yamaha APX700 or a Norman B20 (both > electro-acoustic). Or possibly a Taylor Big Baby (but would have to fit a > separate pickup). > Difficult, innit!
I've got a Yamha CPX-5 here. It's my main acoustic, it's only plugged in ever so very occasionally, but sounds fine when it is. More importantly there's a massive variation in tone available to me when it is.
It wasn't expensive by most people's standards, but I love it. As far as I'm concerned it's a cracking blend of acoustic and electro-acoustic.
I'm all for making the right choice first time when buying anything and buying the best you can, but applying a certain logic to buying, say for example, a car and we'd all be running around in 100k+ sports cars. It looks like our friend here is more in need of a Ford than a Bentley.
On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 17:03:13 +0100, George Weston wrote:
-------------------8><
> I'm currently thinking about either a Yamaha APX700 or a Norman B20 (both > electro-acoustic). Or possibly a Taylor Big Baby (but would have to fit a > separate pickup). > Difficult, innit!
Whichever you go for means you forego all the others. FWIW I think the APX700 I bought last year for a bit under £400 is rather fine. There's a lot to be said for the bijou body unless, of course, you're looking for full-on unamp'd volume. I reckon, with the Newtone strings [1] I've fitted, it sounds really good.
> "George Weston" <geowes...@NOSPAMgooglemail.com> wrote in message > news:7bjua8F23o4bpU1@mid.individual.net... >> What I'm looking for is a decent "compromise" acoustic or >> electro-acoustic within my price range which plays and sounds >> *reasonably* well both plugged and unplugged - although from the replies >> I'm getting it would seem that "OK plugged and unplugged" are mutually >> exclusive? >> My other constraint of course is the restricted choice of lefty guitars, >> although I see that Tony J at Strings Direct has a good selection and >> there are a few at present on eBay. >> I'm currently thinking about either a Yamaha APX700 or a Norman B20 (both >> electro-acoustic). Or possibly a Taylor Big Baby (but would have to fit a >> separate pickup). >> Difficult, innit!
> I've got a Yamha CPX-5 here. It's my main acoustic, it's only plugged in > ever so very occasionally, but sounds fine when it is. More importantly > there's a massive variation in tone available to me when it is.
> It wasn't expensive by most people's standards, but I love it. As far as > I'm concerned it's a cracking blend of acoustic and electro-acoustic.
> I'm all for making the right choice first time when buying anything and > buying the best you can, but applying a certain logic to buying, say for > example, a car and we'd all be running around in 100k+ sports cars. It > looks like our friend here is more in need of a Ford than a Bentley.
> Not a criticism, just an observation.
You're pretty well spot on there - I can't afford a Bentley but don't want to buy a Skoda! ;-)
> >> You're pretty well spot on there - I can't afford a Bentley but don't > >> want to buy a Skoda! > >> ;-)
> >> George
> > Were you aware that koda is both Czech and Slovak for the following: > > shame,pity; disadvantage, loss; injury, damage, harm?
> I am now.... > ;-)
I've got two main lefty acoustics - one is a Yamaha FG series. It's the beginner range but it came with a proper solid top. Well worth it. Good machine-heads, very smooth, and it stays in tune excellently, and sounds nice. I usually use it for fingerpicking.
My main acoustic - and the one which gets (comedy) gigged*, due to the nice tone from its Fishman pickup, is a late 90's black cutaway Hoyer, built in Korea. I got it for 700DM (350 Euros) in 2000. I was so impressed with it I went out and got the equivalent 12-string model. The action is like an electric, stays in tune well, and I've been complimented on it's tone by a local recording engineer.
DON'T go near Thomann's Harley Benton left-hander cheapies unless you get a chance to play one first. I got one 2nd hand through Ebay for my "Nashville tuning" experiments. Horrible plywood thing with a bad action when I got it.. Just about usable once in Nashville tuning.
*It's doing Cologne Comedy Fest as "Philip Maurice and the Light Americans" singing "The Only Smokeless Cowboy"
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something > of the acoustic persuasion.
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires > it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and > treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and > using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom > appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst > attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts > are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup > for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd > appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
> A few facts / limiting factors:
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that > Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit > bewildered by the choice.
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which > possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through > the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good > acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing > away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be > disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of > the question, price-wise.
> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on > electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
> Thanks in advance,
> George
Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of any of them.... ;-) Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha APX700 acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369. I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have upped the price to £449 http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX7... I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of any > of them.... ;-) > Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha APX700 > acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond > Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369. > I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have upped > the price to £449 > http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX7... > I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
Good choice.
I preferred the deeper, traditional sized body of the CPX series, but the APX certainly does exactly what you want.
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