Are you planning on importing or buying locally?

Tanglewood...

Best value for money guitars.
And the only all solid wood acoustic you have listed there... No brainer for me ?

Let us know what you choose.

Expensive doesnt always mean the best ?
Guitars are a personal choice, so i would go for the one i like the most, tone, look and feature wise!
Also, extra's always make the deal sweeter...
Hoewever... Buying a hard case for either the tanglewood or the martin should still work out cheaper than buying the taylor?!


EDIT:

Just to give you an idea...
I wanted a cheap, quality acoustic that sounded fantastic...
Now, i was scared when i bought my tanglewood, because i hadnt played any right hand models, but i took a chance on it!
Compared to the yamaha's, corts, and ibanez guitars in its price range, and i will even go as far as to say in higher price ranges, it sounds and feels better than those and much better than what the price might suggest!

There are also a few others here with Tanglewood electrics and they're very happy with them too!
They are quality instruments for the price you pay! Very underrated imo!

The Tanglewood should mature nicely coz of solid back & sides and is likely to be quite a bit cheaper than the Martin.

Of course all this very much depends on your budget, subjective taste and what you want to play with the thing.

WHat's the price range. You've included a Martin, so you seem to have a reasonable amount to spend.

I'll give my usual vanilla advice which is to consider good condition 2nd hand instruments. I have two good acoustics, I bought them both 2nd hand and I got more guitaring bang for my buck that way.

Also do you plan to play live and thus require electronics in the guitar?

theantirockstar wrote: So I am planning on getting a new acoustic, I have a couple of options:

the Tanglewood 45FLRB, all solid. Rosewood back and sides, cedar top. I've played it, rich and warm suits my voice

the Taylor 214ce. Solid spruce top, rosewood laminate back and sides, a mate of mine swears by it, and c'mon it's a Taylor.
it's by far the most expensive of the three but it does come with a case.

With Taylor you pay for the name. Your mate swears by it, but have you played it? Did you like it? Did the tone work for you? Personally I'm not a fan of the current Taylors - and that includes the high end guitars - but if it floats your boat then that's what's important. But it must float YOUR boat, not your mate's.

Brentcgp wrote: Tanglewood...

Best value for money guitars.
And the only all solid wood acoustic you have listed there... No brainer for me ?

Let us know what you choose.

Godda agree with Brent on this one! Really is a no brainer, but that's just us! ? I LOVE Tanglewood's, loved everyone i've played thus far.

I will add (my usual speech), try breedloves. GREAT guitars for the money. Really are amazing!

I do also agree with Bob, secondhand really is a great way to go, especially in your price range. Can pick up some SWEET deals if you look out and wait a little.

I see Bob just added a bit about Taylors, I agree 100%, I've played 6-7 214ce's and NONE of them did anything for me. So, personal preference.

Thanks for the replies guys.

The Tanglewood at the moment is definitely in the lead, it sounds and play's beautifully, balanced sound with nice warmth to. to answer about whether i play it live, yes, i do the singer songwriter vibe as well as lead at church. About breedloves i would love to try one but you can't find them in CPT for love or money.

Going to try out the Taylor tonight, as well as keeping an eye open for a 2nd hand deal.

The Tanglewood sounds good because you've already played it and liked it.

laminated back and sides probably don't make any difference - see Keira's recent thread. But why pay more for the name on the headstock when it comes with a lower spec guitar?

I totally second Bob on second hand. Not only are they a lot cheaper once they leave the shop, but a flat-top acoustic takes around 10 years to hit peak. Why not let someone else spend those years getting sub-peak tone?

Got a Taylor Limited Edition Fall Series KOA 314CE going on sale here as soon as I can figure out the price!!

jack, if priced right that just might be an option ?

Jack Flash Jr wrote: Got a Taylor Limited Edition Fall Series KOA 314CE going on sale here as soon as I can figure out the price!!

Great guitar!! I LOVED the 314ce's I played!! The KOA series looks too cool. Look forward to seeing pictures! ?

theantirockstar wrote: jack, if priced right that just might be an option ?

Cool, I will post/pm as soon as possible...

While you at it pm me as well hey. Or put it up on the classifieds and we hope you dont get too many if only I had the busks'. that's a 1 3/4 nut width ne? You're on my benficiary list at my bank already
I'm pretty interested in these low-end Martins. I like all this sustainable stuff and I recently read a review on one with everything except the top made from some or other composite or synthetic. And they said it was sweet. And over at some other forums they're are also singing in the aisles about them. However, I guess the name on the headstock might make low priced not so low you know what I mean.

Jack Flash Jr wrote: Got a Taylor Limited Edition Fall Series KOA 314CE going on sale here as soon as I can figure out the price!!

Holy smokes, I'm interested! I got a 714CE LTD, Spring 2009 model, it's got Madagascar Rosewood back and sides and it's a wonderful guitar, but it's a little fancy for some of the dingy gigs we do... please PM me when you've decided on a price.

singemonkey wrote: laminated back and sides probably don't make any difference - see Keira's recent thread

Really Singe?

Maybe plugged in.... But unplugged... I would argue that point till I breath my last breath.

Where is the thread of Keiras'?

Hi guys, the classified for the Taylor (Ltd Fall Series KOA 314CE) will only go up next week... need to take it to Marshall for a valuation, have no idea what it should cost in ZAR...

well i tried the Taylor 214ce, I like it but not too sure if it beats the Tanglewood for the money.

Jack Flash Jr wrote: Hi guys, the classified for the Taylor (Ltd Fall Series KOA 314CE) will only go up next week... need to take it to Marshall for a valuation, have no idea what it should cost in ZAR...

Hey Jack Flash, what year is it and what condition is it in?