Grateful Dead Music Forum

My "equipment locker" is somewhat lacking in the acoustic guitar department. All I have is a Guild D-25 that I picked up around 1977. It has neither a cutaway nor a built-in pickup. I have an "in the hole" Dean Markley p/u for it, but it kind of gets in the way and doesn't really respond evenly. It is a great guitar, but not really suited for amplified playing, and I don't want to hack it up.

I'd like to get an acoustic with a cutaway so it'll be easier to play up the neck, and built in electronics, so that I can play amplified when it is called for.

I recently tried a couple of used guitars locally and ended up taking them back. One was a Washburn Cumberland, which was modestly priced and played well, but the electronics were noisy, with what I thought was poor fidelity, and the built in tuner didn't work on the B or high E. I swapped it (+$) for a used Taylor 315CE-L4 and that was a very nice guitar, but when I plugged it in, there was trace microprocessor noise coming through, which was definitely the guitar. So, I returned it, got my money back, and decided to take some time and do a little research before buying again.

What do you guys recommend for a Jerry player wanting an acoustic? I am far more concerned with playability and tone than fancy cosmetics. I can't really spend the money for a real high end guitar, and would prefer to stay under $1000. Thoughts?

RUKinder Jackr is in the acoustic business. I bought a Breedlove from him in the same price range and I love it. He is a good guy and will set you up.

NashvilleMike wrote:RUKinder Jackr is in the acoustic business. I bought a Breedlove from him in the same price range and I love it. He is a good guy and will set you up.

That's a good thought, but I kind of need to play and hear a guitar before buying.

I had always thought the same but Jack is a grownup Deadhead guitar player and I figured since I wasn't dropping 4K on a Martin I would take a chance. Glad I did! Plus I like the idea of heads doing business with each other whenever possible. It's all to clear we're on our own.

Goto GC, find what you bond with and go from there, dude.

Without a price range it's hard to really advise.

I've always loved my Alvarez Yiari. I love JD's as well! Awesome guitars!

strumminsix wrote:Goto GC, find what you bond with and go from there, dude.

Without a price range it's hard to really advise.

I've always loved my Alvarez Yiari. I love JD's as well! Awesome guitars!

Would prefer to stay under $1000

NashvilleMike wrote:I had always thought the same but Jack is a grownup Deadhead guitar player and I figured since I wasn't dropping 4K on a Martin I would take a chance. Glad I did! Plus I like the idea of heads doing business with each other whenever possible. It's all to clear we're on our own.

I love the idea. If he were local, I would try it.

Love my Takamine......its in your price range.......
Jerry liked 'em too

Thanks for referring me Mike. I have sold guitars to several people here including a custom build. I love the breedloves and not just because I sell them. Dollar for dollar its the best deal around. In other words if you were going to spend $1k on a martin, taylor, gibson, etc you'll get more bang for your buck with a breedlove. Another one (that I dont really sell) that you'll get a lot of bang for your buck is a Tacoma.

The alvarez strum talked about is great as well but will be over your budget. The lower end takamine's are shit imho. The Japanese Taks are good but are going to cost you.

So go to GC and other stores and play some.

If you can stretch beyond the $1k just a little bit try the Breedlove Pro series or American Series. Amazing instruments. (ignore the GC prices)

There is a lot to consider when buying an acoustic.

Body type
woods
electronics

Feel free to pm me and we can talk about it.

Thanks!

I loves my Alvarez. I also loves my Ibanez.

Emoto wrote:Would prefer to stay under $1000

Bast value for the mid-upper end of this price range I'd have to say Takamine followed by Tacoma and Alvarez. Some to avoid, again in your price range, IMHO are Breedlove and Seagull.

I'd suggest you find a store with a good selection and go play them. You'll hear a big difference between brands and models.

I just purchased a Tacoma ER28C Mini Jumbo I found on ebay for $700, put an aftermarket pickup in it (Fishman undersaddle transducer - total cost w installation $135.00).Ican't recommend Tacoma highly enough - IF it is a pre-Fender buyout guitar! A good model for you to look at in your price range that would suit your needs would be the C1C Chief or the Roadking, you can find many of these on ebay. No, they aren't a $3000 Breedlove or Larrivee, but you will not regret buying one.

However, they are all solid wood construction, extremely high build quality, and play very well when properly set up. I would put this guitar up against any under $2500 acoustic I've ever come across, hands down, no hesitation.

I have a Fender CD-100CE and love it; its an acoustic/electric but I never really plug it in. Nice tone and easy to play, and for a great price.
http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0961006021

When I first bought this I was rooting through a really cool second hand shop in town (all sorts of old junk) and there was this beautiful (by comparison) guitar in the back. On the inside it said "CD-100CE NAT" which means "natural" as in the color, but of course that didn't occur to me. My name is Nat and I thought it was some sort of sign from above. I traded the old salt that runs the place my Taylor acoustic, he threw in an Alvarez hard case that fit it, and we drew up a written agreement that I would pay him $100 within some reasonable time-frame. Every now and then I stop by and we pick a little together; his name's Freddie Goodhart, and he's a bit of a living legend 'round these mountain parts of Virginia and used to play all over the country with all the old bluegrass greats.