Electro-Acoustics

TTony

Lets just suppose that I was thinking about venturing into the land of electro-acoustics.

I had an Ovation something-or-other years ago, and whilst the neck end was fine, the body was one of the bowl backs, so it kept slipping away from me if I tried playing it sat down.  Which was the only time I played it.  Being a electrics-only player, I don't want a mahoosive body, and a cutaway would be handy, so that I can at least imagine playing up that end.

What am I going to use it for?  Just for home fun - I'm not planning on a world tour anytime soon, so live playing would be limited.  Probably limited to theFB's excellent jam sessions.


So ... What would I need to know, what should I look out for and what should I make sure to avoid, any good brands/buys tips, etc.

Nikc

I've got a freshman and like it a lot, although i've heard their QC has taken a nose dive, I've played Faiths and like them too. Depending on price point Taylor must be worth a look I always hear that they play more like an electric and the few i've played seem to bear that out.  

ICBM

Electro-acoustics are the work of Satan.

TTony

Price point - good point.

s/h always preferable of course, and I'd prefer the lower end of £300-£500.  Anymore than £500 and it'll get painful.

darthed1981

I've got a Crafter I bring to all the jams loads of people have played so will have opinions on.  Cost me somewhere in the ballpark of £300 years ago... I think...

I love it though, had it for years.  I'll be bringing it to Quad with me if you haven't decided by then you are welcome to have a play.

rpr

Martin X series are worth a gander, tho the used price are creeping up towards what they cost new a few year back.
Do you know what body size you want?

TTony

rpr said:

Do you know what body size you want?

No.  Pros & Cons?

rpr

Generally - smaller bodies - Bright projecting, :Fingerstyle, Dreadnoughts bassier, richer, designed to support vocals, can be boomy, jumbos, more balanced, good strummers.  OMs are a good all rounders, but dreads are probably the most popular shape.

rpr

Have you seen this? http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/136451/martin-gpc-pa5k-450-price-drop-1981-yamaha-12-string    

TTony

Thanks @rpr

Phil_aka_Pip

Faith = good. You can trust the intonation on a Faith.

If you like something slightly different try the Epiphone Masterbilt Century acoustic archtops.

Snags

Secondhand Faith, Eastman or similar.  There are (or were) quite a few very promising options at Coda recently - I was looking for a mate who now has to postpone his search.

Also worth considering a straight acoustic with after-market electronics (what I ended up with, on a Furch). 

TTony

Phil_aka_Pip said:

If you like something slightly different try the Epiphone Masterbilt Century acoustic archtops.

Now, I think I know why you might be suggesting one of those @Phil_aka_Pip!


Too jazzy / bulky for me though, I think.  

Faith is a name I'm aware of - in a positive way.

Yamaha I'd always trust (and I have a 40-odd yo Yamaha acoustic upstairs), and they are plentiful s/h.

Martin might be too much of a stretch within the budget.  Guild has been suggested.  I've seen/heard some good Crafter guitars too.

I'd love one of the Godins, but their electro models hang on to their value a whole lot better than their electrics, which probably rules them out.

Phil_aka_Pip

TTony said:

Phil_aka_Pip said:

If you like something slightly different try the Epiphone Masterbilt Century acoustic archtops.

Now, I think I know why you might be suggesting one of those @Phil_aka_Pip!


Too jazzy / bulky for me though, I think. 

They come in 3 sizes. I got the middle one.

Snags

My experience of Yamaha is that they always seem to be excellent value, but I find them a wee bit soul-less.  Really nice guitars but nothing to get hold of/connect with in that weird intangible area.

However, I feel the same about the limited number of Taylors I've played (well, not necessarily the excellent value bit), so I may just be a crap judge of these things. Or weird compared to other people.

TTony

Any more suggestions to help part this fool man and his money?

meltedbuzzbox

drive to coda and play everything in your budget. It really is the best way to find out. 

munckee

What about one of the fender telecoustic/stratacoustic things with an electric style neck, have often thought one of them might be good for home.

Legionreturns

GS Mini at that price point. Also parlour sized so won't feel like you're trying to get to grips with something the size of a WWE wrestler compared to your electrics

Snags

@meltedbuzzbox speaks wisdom.

The bad news is that they seem to have sold some of the candidates I was looking at a few weeks ago.  Now there's just this lot

guitars4you

Try a Takamine Tony - get a good used example - Yamaha APX always popular but I never liked them - But a nice used Jap model and popular amongst many 'electric' based players - EN10C and EF261 are popular