Looking at electro acoustics

Tannin

I've never even seen one, never mind played one, but I seldom hear a bad word spoken about the Godin Group instruments, in particular Seagull. A used Seagull would be in the price range, maybe even a new one. Something to keep an eye out for.

ElectricXII

Thanks for the tips about Faith guitars guys. I hadn't realised they had drop-shoulder models. I'll definitely consider these.

BigPaulie

ElectricXII said:

Thanks for the tips about Faith guitars guys. I hadn't realised they had drop-shoulder models. I'll definitely consider these.

The FRESB45 is a beautiful thing indeed!

I think Tanglewood have done some slope shouldered dreads too.

Supportact

If I was looking in this price range I'd also consider Simon & Patrick, Seagull, or one of their other related brands (I see someone has already mentioned Seagull).

I gigged a S & P S6 for several years and it's a solid guitar, still got it now. Not fancy but nice to play, stays in tune, sounds good. Worth a look. 

Chuffola

I have an older Epiphone Masterbilt AJ45e and it’s superb. All solid woods, lovely neck, great sound. 

BillDL

One thing that tends to set the Sigma guitars in that price range apart from others is that they use "Micarta" for the fretboards rather than opting for Pau Ferro or similar non-endangered woods.  I have Sigma guitars with Micarta boards and I like them.  They are consistent in colour like good unstreaked ebony you just cannot get these days, and they feel to me just like wood.  Just like other manufactured wood substitutes used for fretboards (eg. Richlite) you obviously don't condition them with oil, but they do start getting what I would describe as a dusty appearance on the unplayed bits next to the frets.  A very slightly dampened cloth cleans them up fine.  That can be your small contribution to saving the rainforests if you buy one. Nothing wrong with composite fretboards (some Martins use it) and I prefer that to poor quality heavily pitted rosewood that comes on a lot of lower to mid range guitars these days as makers increasingly struggle to get decent grades of the stuff.  Somebody is bound to argue about tone here.

I haven't played or held a Sigma JM-SG45, but if the build quality and finish is anything like my other Sigma acoustics you won't be disappointed with either of those aspects.

ICBM

Tannin said:

I've never even seen one, never mind played one, but I seldom hear a bad word spoken about the Godin Group instruments, in particular Seagull. A used Seagull would be in the price range, maybe even a new one. Something to keep an eye out for.

I’ve seen quite a lot of them… usually when the headstocks fall off. Probably the most common brand for it other than Gibson.

Sadly they’re not very well made, and can start to fall apart quite quickly in other ways too. They sound good when they’re new, but just don’t last well.

Not a fan, sorry. I find most other Godins quite mediocre to be honest.

ElectricXII

Chuffola said:

I have an older Epiphone Masterbilt AJ45e and it’s superb. All solid woods, lovely neck, great sound. 

Thanks. That's on the list too if I can find one to try.

ElectricXII

BillDL said:

One thing that tends to set the Sigma guitars in that price range apart from others is that they use "Micarta" for the fretboards rather than opting for Pau Ferro or similar non-endangered woods.  I have Sigma guitars with Micarta boards and I like them.  They are consistent in colour like good unstreaked ebony you just cannot get these days, and they feel to me just like wood.  Just like other manufactured wood substitutes used for fretboards (eg. Richlite) you obviously don't condition them with oil, but they do start getting what I would describe as a dusty appearance on the unplayed bits next to the frets.  A very slightly dampened cloth cleans them up fine.  That can be your small contribution to saving the rainforests if you buy one. Nothing wrong with composite fretboards (some Martins use it) and I prefer that to poor quality heavily pitted rosewood that comes on a lot of lower to mid range guitars these days as makers increasingly struggle to get decent grades of the stuff.  Somebody is bound to argue about tone here.

I haven't played or held a Sigma JM-SG45, but if the build quality and finish is anything like my other Sigma acoustics you won't be disappointed with either of those aspects.

I agree with you about the use of Micarta and I'm not a huge fan of Pau Ferro. Good to hear you've had positive experiences of Sigmas too.

BigPaulie

I've had limited experience with the new Sigmas. I've only tried one, in fact.
It was an SDR-28 in Merchant City Music last year. It was well enough put together, but far from spectacular and it sounded really dull. None of the snappy bass thump you expect from a rosewood/spruce dread. In comparison to other £1000 guitars available these days it was remarkably unremarkable. They're also made by Cor-Tek which is a deal breaker for me, so I'm glad I didn't really click with it.

guitarjack66

BigPaulie said:

I've had limited experience with the new Sigmas. I've only tried one, in fact.
It was an SDR-28 in Merchant City Music last year. It was well enough put together, but far from spectacular and it sounded really dull. None of the snappy bass thump you expect from a rosewood/spruce dread. In comparison to other £1000 guitars available these days it was remarkably unremarkable. They're also made by Cor-Tek which is a deal breaker for me, so I'm glad I didn't really click with it.

I've just bought a Sigma from Merchant City Music via Reverb. I like it but it still needs setting up to my comfort level.

Mellish

@guitarjack66 ; you've got KGB not far from you for the setup mate