AndrewD wrote: A friend of mine is about to buy her first decent acoustic and has narrowed it down to:

Fender CD60CE
Ibanez AW40ECE
Cort is MR710F NS

I'm not the best qualified person to be giving advice to her on acoustics/semi-acoustics.

What do you think? Which one should she go for?

I presume that when you say "semi-acoustic" you mean an acoustic with electronics fitted.

If your friend hasn't actually tried these in the shop then she should (if she's inexperienced then she should take an experienced player, perhaps yourself, along to help her decide).

The Cort looks to be the least expensive but still has a solid top and possibly better electronics than the other two (looks like it has two different pickups with the signals blended in the control unit).

The Fender has a laminated top (and seems not to be the cheapest) whereas the other two have a solid top. I'd want the solid top myself.

A couple of things little birdies have told me
1) Corts are very good budget guitars
2) Ibanez usually have a very good plugged in sound but the electronics tend to crap out
3) You should try before you buy

PS: A well cared for 2nd hand guitar usually gives you a lot more bang for your buck.

What is her budget? I know she's narrowed it down, however, I have a feeling she can get a better guitar than those, although as Bob pointed out, Cort are great cheap guitars.

Has she tried the crafter range? They come fitted with LR baggs pickups, can't go wrong with those. Those guitars are often very very nice too.

Price wise - those three are all roughly the same and immediately available. She wants one yesterday.
And the Ibanez is also available 2nd hand for less but with faulty electronics.

Yes - sorry, acoustic with electronics fitted.

buy the Cort, The solid top is the seller and you made Bob's little birdy, a birdy of integrity, by mentioning the Ibanez with dodgy Electronics 8)

AndrewD wrote: Price wise - those three are all roughly the same

Well I'm sure you shopped around. I saw a spread of R3k to R6k, but I was looking at specs rather than shopping around for prices.

X-rated Bob wrote:

AndrewD wrote: Price wise - those three are all roughly the same

Well I'm sure you shopped around. I saw a spread of R3k to R6k, but I was looking at specs rather than shopping around for prices.

Yeah - narrowed them all down to between 3 and 4k

OK... so go and play them all. Play them plugged in too if possible. I think people tend to think acoustic guitars are acoustic guitars are acoustic guitars but they aren't - even at that price point.

I spend a lot of time at TJs listening to acoustic guitars. OK... mostly plugged in but the room used for open mic nights is small and the volumes are not that high so you tend to get a good sense of the guitar. What my ears tell me is that Cort, Takamine and Tanglewood offer bang per buck.

AndrewD wrote: Fender CD60CE
Ibanez AW40ECE
Cort is MR710F NS

I would like to assume the Cort is made in South Korea while the other two are from China... :-\ if that is the case I'd go with the Cort. 8)

Cort :yup: :yup: :yup:

Tanglewood! ?

I have a similar Cort, only with Bubinga wood back/sides. I have had it for almost a year now,play it regularly and am still on my first set of strings. I am extremely happy with it and everyone who hears it amplified comments on it - Sound Engineeres say how easy it is to EQ and how fantastic it sounds. It stays nicely in tune and has good action, even though it has not had the action set (I am waiting for the first string change and for it to settle first). I was so impressed with the pickup that I build the same on into my old 12-string.

in that price, definitely check out the Tanglewood's too!
they outplay their competitors in the same price range, and way above!!!

and buying new... mmmm... the smell of the wood upon opening the box is to die for!

Thanks everyone for your advice.

She has settled on the Cort and I'm sure she'll be happy.

Pity I came to this conversation late, but Tanglewoods are amazing for the price. havent played one that I dont like. Played alot of Corts that I dont like. ? hope she enjoys here guitar though!