Post by sydsbluesky on Aug 30, 2009 21:15:13 GMT -5
Having gotten the news that a co-worker has a friend that manages a guitar center and can get me 50% off anything in the store, I made an unwavering decision that I was going to buy a top end acoustic guitar to be immortalized in my collection.
My needs were as follows:
Cutaway
Large body, but not D style
Top end electronics
Fit, finish, playability and tone. All that "top end" stuff
I was willing to go up to $3000 (before 50%)
The manner in which I conducted this search was quite thorough. I called around to various Stores looking for specific guitars, and went and spent time playing them. I looked for several examples of each model when it was possible to coax them out of back room of brick-and-mortars, and feel that I made a pretty detailed investigation of it all.
I investigated all the usual suspects: Gibson, Fender, Takamine, Breedlove, Ovation, Martin and Taylor. I also looked at a few of the more unusual suspects: Washburn, (they make wonderful acoustic electrics!) Epiphone, Cort, Parkwood and Ibanez to name a few.
In the pursuit of a "top end" guitar, I quickly ruled out several companies that didn't produce a guitar in the $1000+ bracket that were sold at guitar centers after playing their best delegates to the GC acoustic room. These companies simply didn't make something that could be marketed as "top end" in my mind. They were lacking all round. These companies that were ruled out included Fender, Epi, Guild, Parkwood and Ibanez.
The Corts Aren't sold through Guitar Center, so they were automatically off the list, though I happen to be a huge fan of the company, as I happily own a 12 string from them.
Other companies began to fall off the list after I played their products.
Ovation - I can't get over the design. They sound great plugged, but I think there is something lacking in the acoustic tone, and, as importantly, the general feel of the instrument. Good action.
Breedlove - I like the unique look of these guitars, and was expecting Good things in their 1500 dollar area, but The guitars I picked up sounded almost wimpy, and, as a whole, were badly set up from the factory. Though bad setup isn't a clear "no," a good setup is a clear "yes," if you follow my meaning. If I see a guitar that is setup very well, then I know it is capable of being setup very well. With a poorly setup guitar, the mystery remains. Very good feel, but poor setup ruined my chance to get a good sample in two different stores in two different states.
Guild - Though I like these guitars, I was unable to find any at this specific Guitar Center except one used. It was oddly heavy, and didn't have a great setup or new strings, but it was a passable guitar.
Washburn - another guitarist in my band has a top end model - around a grand - and it is a very nice guitar. Thinner, jumbo, quilted maple body, with a very airy, bright sound, similar to some of the Gibson Super Jumbos. I very much liked the one he owns, and the one I played there, though the bass left a little to be desired. It was very high on the list. Excellent electronics. Very clear.
Gibson - Wonderful guitars, but with a price. I love the super jumbo gibsons. Always have. Very "airy" sound. Very clear on the notes. A Gibson Maple Jumbo is the best guitar in the world for strumming in my opinion. Finger picking, however, (think bron-yr-aur - my favorite song to play) and it looses its mojo. The ones I played were very well setup, and had excellent intonation. One more thing I didn't like was having to reach into the sound hole to adjust the electronics of the one I played. Very annoying.
It came down to Taylor and Martin.
Taylor likes:
-Many body styles to choose from at each different trim (budget) level (100-900 with the 10, 12, 14 and 15s mixed in.)
-That famous Taylor sound.
Taylor dislikes:
-All models have the same pickup and electronics system. This is good for the >1000 dollar models, but if I'm paying $3000 for a guitar, I want upgraded electronics.
-Rumors of soft fret wire. Though the company has plans to upgrade to stainless steel, until a date is set, it will always be an issue to me. Re-fretting is a serious task that I don't want to have done every few years.
They are wonderful guitars, and Taylor offerers a model for almost every budget, but the issue of the electronics not being upgraded as the price went up was a serious one to me.
Martin Likes:
-Plenty of options to choose from, with their many electronics/pickup systems. The Aura system is one of the best modeling systems out there.
-That famous Martin tone
Many models to choose from for nearly any budget.
Martin dislikes:
Less-than-knowledgeable customer service.
I was interested in a 000 aura model. A 1750 dollar guitar, as they are sold. Cutaway. The site claims that they are available in a burst finish, but I couldn't find them anywhere online. I inquired with their customer service, and the reply was surprising. I was informed that the model does not exist in a burst finish, as is clearly stated on their company website, and that I should look at a different guitar, which was shown in an embedded picture.
This is the guitar in question.
martinguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?p=z&g=l&m=000C-16RGTE%20AURA
This is the pictured guitar that was recommended, as near as I can tell, for no model number was given. It was one of their d-18 models, or perhaps one of two d-28 models.
martinguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?p=m&m=000-18%20Authentic%201937%20Sunburst
You may notice that these two guitars have very little in common... to say the least.
Other than that, the Martin was very appealing to me, until I did a little more digging, and came across this.
takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=2345&sid=67
I own a Takamine, as I point out in another post.
This guitar was -not- available at this guitar center, but it was perfect. Everything I wanted, even having not played it... especially with a return policy.
I found one online, at price a bit higher than I would have paid for any of the guitars offered through GC with the deal I was getting, and got my guitar. This list of likes and dislikes is for my specific guitar.
Takamine likes:
-Options of Cutaway and non cutaway, as well as burst or natural finish on many of their models. A guitar for every taste.
-Durable fret wire
-Highly regarded electronics system, with the cool tube preamp.
-flawless finish. One the most beautiful guitars I have ever seen. Excellent execution of the burst.
-Very solid neck setting - one feels the vibration through the neck as on very few other guitars.
-Excellent playability.
Dislike(s): The case leaves a bit to be desired. I prefer the EG series case that came with my 350 dollar guitar. Luckily, this fits inside it.
This company makes a guitar for everyone. From budget models, to top and instruments, there is something for everyone. The availability of cutaways and alternative finishes on nearly every model is quite nice, as is almost all of their guitars coming with cases. EVEN the cheap ones! Many of their models even come with 12 strings or 6, along with the other options. Their product line is absolutely enormous, as these things come as separately labeled models instead of options.
It came down to the universal electronics on the Taylors, and the lack of a large bodies Martin. It was very close.
I'll get some pics up of the guitar. It sounds quite like a Gibson Jumbo, except slightly tighter (antonym to airy) mids and trebles, and a more well pronounced bass end, which makes it sound somewhere between a super jumbo and a dreadnought, but not exactly like either. Very capable hen finger picking, and also went strumming. Very well rounded guitar, as is usually the case with the Grand Auditorium styles, though this is Takamines own take on the dimensions. Excellent preamp. The EQ is very handy, and the tube adds a great deal of "warmth" and "depth" to the tone. This could also be described as thickening up the bottom end. (antonymous to thin, trebly or shrill.)
Hopefully this can be of use to anyone to find themselves seeking what I sought. I spent many weeks comparing online, playing and considering these different guitars, and the Takamine TF450SCM SB was the one that worked for -my- specific needs.
My needs were as follows:
Cutaway
Large body, but not D style
Top end electronics
Fit, finish, playability and tone. All that "top end" stuff
I was willing to go up to $3000 (before 50%)
The manner in which I conducted this search was quite thorough. I called around to various Stores looking for specific guitars, and went and spent time playing them. I looked for several examples of each model when it was possible to coax them out of back room of brick-and-mortars, and feel that I made a pretty detailed investigation of it all.
I investigated all the usual suspects: Gibson, Fender, Takamine, Breedlove, Ovation, Martin and Taylor. I also looked at a few of the more unusual suspects: Washburn, (they make wonderful acoustic electrics!) Epiphone, Cort, Parkwood and Ibanez to name a few.
In the pursuit of a "top end" guitar, I quickly ruled out several companies that didn't produce a guitar in the $1000+ bracket that were sold at guitar centers after playing their best delegates to the GC acoustic room. These companies simply didn't make something that could be marketed as "top end" in my mind. They were lacking all round. These companies that were ruled out included Fender, Epi, Guild, Parkwood and Ibanez.
The Corts Aren't sold through Guitar Center, so they were automatically off the list, though I happen to be a huge fan of the company, as I happily own a 12 string from them.
Other companies began to fall off the list after I played their products.
Ovation - I can't get over the design. They sound great plugged, but I think there is something lacking in the acoustic tone, and, as importantly, the general feel of the instrument. Good action.
Breedlove - I like the unique look of these guitars, and was expecting Good things in their 1500 dollar area, but The guitars I picked up sounded almost wimpy, and, as a whole, were badly set up from the factory. Though bad setup isn't a clear "no," a good setup is a clear "yes," if you follow my meaning. If I see a guitar that is setup very well, then I know it is capable of being setup very well. With a poorly setup guitar, the mystery remains. Very good feel, but poor setup ruined my chance to get a good sample in two different stores in two different states.
Guild - Though I like these guitars, I was unable to find any at this specific Guitar Center except one used. It was oddly heavy, and didn't have a great setup or new strings, but it was a passable guitar.
Washburn - another guitarist in my band has a top end model - around a grand - and it is a very nice guitar. Thinner, jumbo, quilted maple body, with a very airy, bright sound, similar to some of the Gibson Super Jumbos. I very much liked the one he owns, and the one I played there, though the bass left a little to be desired. It was very high on the list. Excellent electronics. Very clear.
Gibson - Wonderful guitars, but with a price. I love the super jumbo gibsons. Always have. Very "airy" sound. Very clear on the notes. A Gibson Maple Jumbo is the best guitar in the world for strumming in my opinion. Finger picking, however, (think bron-yr-aur - my favorite song to play) and it looses its mojo. The ones I played were very well setup, and had excellent intonation. One more thing I didn't like was having to reach into the sound hole to adjust the electronics of the one I played. Very annoying.
It came down to Taylor and Martin.
Taylor likes:
-Many body styles to choose from at each different trim (budget) level (100-900 with the 10, 12, 14 and 15s mixed in.)
-That famous Taylor sound.
Taylor dislikes:
-All models have the same pickup and electronics system. This is good for the >1000 dollar models, but if I'm paying $3000 for a guitar, I want upgraded electronics.
-Rumors of soft fret wire. Though the company has plans to upgrade to stainless steel, until a date is set, it will always be an issue to me. Re-fretting is a serious task that I don't want to have done every few years.
They are wonderful guitars, and Taylor offerers a model for almost every budget, but the issue of the electronics not being upgraded as the price went up was a serious one to me.
Martin Likes:
-Plenty of options to choose from, with their many electronics/pickup systems. The Aura system is one of the best modeling systems out there.
-That famous Martin tone
Many models to choose from for nearly any budget.
Martin dislikes:
Less-than-knowledgeable customer service.
I was interested in a 000 aura model. A 1750 dollar guitar, as they are sold. Cutaway. The site claims that they are available in a burst finish, but I couldn't find them anywhere online. I inquired with their customer service, and the reply was surprising. I was informed that the model does not exist in a burst finish, as is clearly stated on their company website, and that I should look at a different guitar, which was shown in an embedded picture.
This is the guitar in question.
martinguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?p=z&g=l&m=000C-16RGTE%20AURA
This is the pictured guitar that was recommended, as near as I can tell, for no model number was given. It was one of their d-18 models, or perhaps one of two d-28 models.
martinguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?p=m&m=000-18%20Authentic%201937%20Sunburst
You may notice that these two guitars have very little in common... to say the least.
Other than that, the Martin was very appealing to me, until I did a little more digging, and came across this.
takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=2345&sid=67
I own a Takamine, as I point out in another post.
This guitar was -not- available at this guitar center, but it was perfect. Everything I wanted, even having not played it... especially with a return policy.
I found one online, at price a bit higher than I would have paid for any of the guitars offered through GC with the deal I was getting, and got my guitar. This list of likes and dislikes is for my specific guitar.
Takamine likes:
-Options of Cutaway and non cutaway, as well as burst or natural finish on many of their models. A guitar for every taste.
-Durable fret wire
-Highly regarded electronics system, with the cool tube preamp.
-flawless finish. One the most beautiful guitars I have ever seen. Excellent execution of the burst.
-Very solid neck setting - one feels the vibration through the neck as on very few other guitars.
-Excellent playability.
Dislike(s): The case leaves a bit to be desired. I prefer the EG series case that came with my 350 dollar guitar. Luckily, this fits inside it.
This company makes a guitar for everyone. From budget models, to top and instruments, there is something for everyone. The availability of cutaways and alternative finishes on nearly every model is quite nice, as is almost all of their guitars coming with cases. EVEN the cheap ones! Many of their models even come with 12 strings or 6, along with the other options. Their product line is absolutely enormous, as these things come as separately labeled models instead of options.
It came down to the universal electronics on the Taylors, and the lack of a large bodies Martin. It was very close.
I'll get some pics up of the guitar. It sounds quite like a Gibson Jumbo, except slightly tighter (antonym to airy) mids and trebles, and a more well pronounced bass end, which makes it sound somewhere between a super jumbo and a dreadnought, but not exactly like either. Very capable hen finger picking, and also went strumming. Very well rounded guitar, as is usually the case with the Grand Auditorium styles, though this is Takamines own take on the dimensions. Excellent preamp. The EQ is very handy, and the tube adds a great deal of "warmth" and "depth" to the tone. This could also be described as thickening up the bottom end. (antonymous to thin, trebly or shrill.)
Hopefully this can be of use to anyone to find themselves seeking what I sought. I spent many weeks comparing online, playing and considering these different guitars, and the Takamine TF450SCM SB was the one that worked for -my- specific needs.
