Acoustic suggestions?

TimmyO

Acoustic suggestions?

Once a few things are sold and adding in his savings, I'll be after a good acoustic for my son. 

He REALLY likes my Martin 00-17S (but so do I so he can't have it) 

I should probably explain a bit about the 00-17S bevause it sounds quite different than all the other similar sized things I triedat the time - I think the increased body size makes a big difference- it doesn't sound tight and quiet like a 00/parlour type often does - it gives up a sound with a fairly light touch - it reminds me of a cedar top in that way despite being mahogany.

He doesn't want "a big boomy thing" and will probably appreciate at least somewhat sofa friendly dimensions.

Budget: up to £1500 I think. 

Not averse to used.

If anyone knows of a 00-17S that would also be of interest

Ta

sev112

Look at Dowina, they are extremely good value, they have some smaller stuff too

bertie

can he handle a V neck ?

Furch OM33SR  mint  for  £1500

bermudianbrit

My Martin in the classifides? Sounds like a dred but plays/feels like an OM.  

goldtop

bermudianbrit said:

My Martin in the classifides? Sounds like a dred but plays/feels like an OM.  

I was just about to post a link to your ad. Looks like an incredible bargain. I've got a couple of amps to sell, otherwise I'd have been in touch already.

earwighoney

TimmyO said:

Acoustic suggestions?

Once a few things are sold and adding in his savings, I'll be after a good acoustic for my son. 

He REALLY likes my Martin 00-17S (but so do I so he can't have it) 

I should probably explain a bit about the 00-17S bevause it sounds quite different than all the other similar sized things I triedat the time - I think the increased body size makes a big difference- it doesn't sound tight and quiet like a 00/parlour type often does - it gives up a sound with a fairly light touch - it reminds me of a cedar top in that way despite being mahogany.

He doesn't want "a big boomy thing" and will probably appreciate at least somewhat sofa friendly dimensions.

Budget: up to £1500 I think. 

Not averse to used.

If anyone knows of a 00-17S that would also be of interest

Ta

I've been on the lookout for a budget 00 sized guitar for a while, but there are few options out there.

A little larger than a 00 but a Yamaha LS 6 in mahogany or rosewood is a fine guitar.  Otherwise the Alvarez Delta 00 is one of the few 00's for not a huge amount. I've left out the Eastman E10-00, I have one myself but it's neck is hard work to play. They have another 00 for about £600 but I haven't played it. 

TimmyO

earwighoney said:

TimmyO said:

Acoustic suggestions?

Once a few things are sold and adding in his savings, I'll be after a good acoustic for my son. 

He REALLY likes my Martin 00-17S (but so do I so he can't have it) 

I should probably explain a bit about the 00-17S bevause it sounds quite different than all the other similar sized things I triedat the time - I think the increased body size makes a big difference- it doesn't sound tight and quiet like a 00/parlour type often does - it gives up a sound with a fairly light touch - it reminds me of a cedar top in that way despite being mahogany.

He doesn't want "a big boomy thing" and will probably appreciate at least somewhat sofa friendly dimensions.

Budget: up to £1500 I think. 

Not averse to used.

If anyone knows of a 00-17S that would also be of interest

Ta

I've been on the lookout for a budget 00 sized guitar for a while, but there are few options out there.

A little larger than a 00 but a Yamaha LS 6 in mahogany or rosewood is a fine guitar.  Otherwise the Alvarez Delta 00 is one of the few 00's for not a huge amount. I've left out the Eastman E10-00, I have one myself but it's neck is hard work to play. They have another 00 for about £600 but I haven't played it. 

On the day I bought my 00-17S I also tried that Eastman - they couldn't have sounded or felt more different. The only thing I tried that came close to competing the 17 was a Martin CEO-7 at double the price. It may be that I found a lucky one-off 00 that is just ace, or maybe the 12 fretter is a sleeper model that our nches above its weight - I'll put probably never know. 

TimmyO

bermudianbrit said:

My Martin in the classifides? Sounds like a dred but plays/feels like an OM.  

I did notice that - it's really hard to take a view on as I've never experienced one of those. I'm guessing it's more of an armful than an OM? 

TimmyO

bertie said:

can he handle a V neck ?

Furch OM33SR  mint  for  £1500

No idea - he'll never have played one and I'd not want to risk it - I do like Furch/Stonebridge though 

TimmyO

sev112 said:

Look at Dowina, they are extremely good value, they have some smaller stuff too

Ta

Tannin

TimmyO said:

The only thing I tried that came close to competing the 17 was a Martin CEO-7 at double the price. It may be that I found a lucky one-off 00 that is just ace, or maybe the 12 fretter is a sleeper model that our nches above its weight - I'll put probably never know. 

It was no accident. I've played a CEO-7 in Melbourne and it was outstanding. Two things put me off: (a) it has a short scale and even though it made a lovely noise I disliked the feel of the short scale, and (b) that bloody awful Gibonesque sunburst is a shocker.

Martin use Red Spruce instead of Sitka for the top of the CEO-7 and I think it works brilliantly. You naturally get a more mellow, rounded sound with a 12-fretter, and you always get more flub from a short scale, and the stiffer Red Spruce offsets  those things to wind up with a truly great sound. (It would be even better with a proper 650mm scale - a bit sharpish for flatpickers maybe but ideal for a mostly-flesh fingerpicker like me.)

Could I live with a guitar that looked like that? Well, yes, probably if I had to. But it would have to be perfect in every other way - which the CEO-7 nearly, nearly was. 

enjo

Have you seen this? (no affiliation)

https://reverb.com/uk/item/75438039-martin-00-17s-black-smoke

TimmyO

enjo said:

Have you seen this? (no affiliation)

https://reverb.com/uk/item/75438039-martin-00-17s-black-smoke

Thanks

Dave_Mc

earwighoney said:

 I've left out the Eastman E10-00, I have one myself but it's neck is hard work to play. They have another 00 for about £600 but I haven't played it. 

Just out of interest, could you elaborate on this a bit? Do you just not like its profile or is it something more objective that makes it difficult to play?

rustneversleeps

I feel this is worth a mention.After many years of acoustic Martins,Lowden’s etc.I fancied a cheap small acoustic.Tried out plenty of the normal suspects.Ended up with a Guild Westerly M 140 all solid woods with a nice gig bag.I’ve been shocked how good it is.It hurts a bit to say as a life long Martin fan but it beats my Martins.Maybe I got lucky with mine but worth a test drive if you get the chance.

guitarjack66

Dave_Mc said:

earwighoney said:

 I've left out the Eastman E10-00, I have one myself but it's neck is hard work to play. They have another 00 for about £600 but I haven't played it. 

Just out of interest, could you elaborate on this a bit? Do you just not like its profile or is it something more objective that makes it difficult to play?

I'd like to know this too. The Eastman's neck is something I'm drawn to because it's described by many as wider,fatter,chunkier or whatever and that suits me fine. If it's something else then that interests me to know also.

sir_strumalot

guitarjack66 said:

Dave_Mc said:

earwighoney said:

 I've left out the Eastman E10-00, I have one myself but it's neck is hard work to play. They have another 00 for about £600 but I haven't played it. 

Just out of interest, could you elaborate on this a bit? Do you just not like its profile or is it something more objective that makes it difficult to play?

I'd like to know this too. The Eastman's neck is something I'm drawn to because it's described by many as wider,fatter,chunkier or whatever and that suits me fine. If it's something else then that interests me to know also.

The Eastman necks are a full C, I like them a lot. If you like a skinny neck they are not for you!

TimmyO

For me I was just amazed at how much less I liked the sound of the Eastman 00 compared to the Martin 17 . By comparison the Eastman sounded small and felt tight and stiff (not physically - I mean it took a lot to get a lot of sound out of it) - I picked it up expecting to love it having heard so many good things. 

earwighoney

TimmyO said:

For me I was just amazed at how much less I liked the sound of the Eastman 00 compared to the Martin 17 . By comparison the Eastman sounded small and felt tight and stiff (not physically - I mean it took a lot to get a lot of sound out of it) - I picked it up expecting to love it having heard so many good things. 

Which Eastman did you try? My one is a 12 fret one and it sounded a bit stiff for a few years, and took a while for the red spruce soundboard to settle on and it is a loud brute of a guitar, I find it's volume a bit too much to handle to be honest. It's voiced completely differently to a Martin though.  Eastman's are their own thing, I'd recommend them but not as a Martin replacement.

Dave_Mc said:

earwighoney said:

 I've left out the Eastman E10-00, I have one myself but it's neck is hard work to play. They have another 00 for about £600 but I haven't played it. 

Just out of interest, could you elaborate on this a bit? Do you just not like its profile or is it something more objective that makes it difficult to play?

It's got a 1 13/16" wide nut, with a deep V neck about an inch thick at the 1st fret.  It's a neck shape to rest your thumb on the back of the neck, but not one to play the low bass string with the thumb. It's string spacing is 2 3/8" which is a little wider than I like. 

These measurements might suit your hands but mine find them a little too much at times. 

Dave_Mc

earwighoney said:

TimmyO said:

For me I was just amazed at how much less I liked the sound of the Eastman 00 compared to the Martin 17 . By comparison the Eastman sounded small and felt tight and stiff (not physically - I mean it took a lot to get a lot of sound out of it) - I picked it up expecting to love it having heard so many good things. 

Which Eastman did you try? My one is a 12 fret one and it sounded a bit stiff for a few years, and took a while for the red spruce soundboard to settle on and it is a loud brute of a guitar, I find it's volume a bit too much to handle to be honest. It's voiced completely differently to a Martin though.  Eastman's are their own thing, I'd recommend them but not as a Martin replacement.

Dave_Mc said:

earwighoney said:

 I've left out the Eastman E10-00, I have one myself but it's neck is hard work to play. They have another 00 for about £600 but I haven't played it. 

Just out of interest, could you elaborate on this a bit? Do you just not like its profile or is it something more objective that makes it difficult to play?

It's got a 1 13/16" wide nut, with a deep V neck about an inch thick at the 1st fret.  It's a neck shape to rest your thumb on the back of the neck, but not one to play the low bass string with the thumb. It's string spacing is 2 3/8" which is a little wider than I like. 

These measurements might suit your hands but mine find them a little too much at times. 

Thanks very much for the info (also about the "not as a Martin replacement" which is also really useful). That does sound like a bit of a handful! I wouldn't want to rule one out (I really like my Eastman Epi Casino-alike, but then that's an electric guitar!) but I'd really need to try one first.

ditchboy

There’s a Larrivee OM-02 for sale on gumtree. I’ve just picked one up on here. So much guitar for the money!