LOUD acoustic guitars ...or what we call 'banjo killers" ???

Keira-WitherKay

apart from my love for jazz, i have an side interest in country /blues /bluegrass ...basically chicken pickin on acoustics ..... and want find a real LOUD (unplugged) steel string acoustic guitar to use in an unplugged ensemble ......

so my question is ...with the following conditions in mind ..... what have any of you found to be a real loud acoustic 6 string

1. it needs to be acoustic only
2, relatively budget or middle of range price wise (this is a silly side project not wanting to buy a gibson j200 )
3. most importantly it needs to be LOUD
4 VERY IMPORTANT i would sacrifice some rich tone for VOLUME

as the title says "looking for a banjo killer"

and yes heavy bright strings ........ a thick pick will help too

i am also considering a resonator ? however i actually played the fender resonator with the tele pickup in neck today and acoustically it was surprisingly soft ..... i truly expected louder....

so what you think...resonator? (all metal) .......super jumbo acoustic ?? gypsy jazz guitar (ala django reinhardt) ?

what suggestings ... makes and models appreciated ......

and in the next few weeks i'll stop off at music stores i pass and volume test everything i can find

and YES a banjo would be perfect volume wise and i know that 6 string banjo's are now available (in guitar tuning) but thats just way too "outside" of what i want tonally ...i don't mind bright but not "banjo bright" ?

kapepper

your LG 3 you have had would be a great candidate for this ?

Chocklit_Thunda

Dreadnought or Jumbo shape for volume. Or a resonator as you mentioned ? That being said, I did play an Alvarez acoustic that was probably the loudest acoustic I've ever heard! It's like they hid a JCM2000 in the sound hole!

Keira-WitherKay

kapepper wrote: your LG 3 you have had would be a great candidate for this ?

i want more volume than that .... ?

Bob-Dubery

If you want loud then get a Smoothtalker - but that fails your budget test.

Chocklit_Thunda has suggested a dreadnought, and that shape is intended to produce volume. But it's relative - build quality helps as well. My Morgan will outgun a lot of budget dreadnoughts, but not a Martin or a Larrivee. John van Nierop has a very nice, good quality classical guitar. But when he performs with his wife he can get blown away. She's got a ramirez. Same size, same shape, much more volume and projection.

There's another thing to look at. Woods. In my experience good mahogany (back and sides) flat tops will cut through a mix if they're played in an ensemble. They're not actually louder, it's something in the frequencies they produce.

kapepper

wasnt there for sale recently a Maya Jumbo (beuatifull guitar) for sale for like 1000 Rand?
that could do the job...

Shibbibilybob

I find my mahogany/spruce OM way louder than my Queensland maple/Spruce Dreadnaught.

I think the expectation of a dreadnaught to be loud is incorrect. My dreadnaught is more adapt at handling me strumming hard and playing really loud, but it is not louder than my OM.
I would expect this would have more to do with the top wood (perhaps the exact piece, rather than just the species) than the body shape.

AlanRatcliffe

Resonators are usually louder - they were specifically designed for that in an era where brass was a big part of a band, but ultimately they were replaced by electrics as they still couldn't compete in the big bands. Also they have more focus on the midrange for punch and highs for clarity. They are also more directional, pushing more of the sound forwards, but less to the sides and back.

The Fenders don't represent resonators very well IMO. I'm not sure what it is, but they definitely sound badly choked compared to anything else.

Size is key, a jumbo acoustic will always be far louder than a parlour guitar. Mahogany back acoustics do also push more on the mids, which help them punch. Flamenco nylons are cannons too, thanks to the relatively lightweight construction (relatively - they are still not loud compared to most steel strings).

The other thing you have to take into account is the player - a plectrum player using a heavy pick will always be far louder than a fingerstylist, and some players thrash the bejeezus out of anything they play. Personally, I don't play steel at all because I can barely get the top to move the way it should (and the tonal balance is off anyway).

AlanRatcliffe

Oh yeah - also look at six string banjos. They project and sound like a banjo, but are tuned and played like a guitar.

se7ent7

My suggestion from experience would be a Taylor 110 or 210 (non-cuataway) strung with .13 Elixir nanowebs.

The stiff 3-layer laminated unbraced backs on these give them huge projection (more than 300-500 series). They aren't very rich sounding though.

A 214 may also work, but the dread will have the edge.

A 110 can be picked up for R5k - R7k second hand fairly often.

Charlie4

As Alan and Bob have mentioned, it comes down to perceived loudness - filling the whole frequency spectrum. It's probably more important then merely having and undefined but loud guitar. Thick strings/picks combined with midrange-focused woods and you will probably have what you're looking for.

slyd

My Ovation is always markedly louder than any other acoustic when jamming unplugged. . . 8)

Chocklit_Thunda

? I didn't consciously realise it until today but my cousin's Walden D710CE is insanely loud! Louder than my 12 string even. I think this is why I've never played it after 11pm... I think my subconscious realised that If I strummed this bad boy late at night I'd probably get shot.... ?

Greg

I think the issue with flattops is that they have poor projection. They sound great up close, but just don't carry and cut.

Freddie Green managed to cut through the band just find with his Stromberg.

On my archtop journey I found out that Loar (chinese made) archtops seem to be REALLY loud as well as reasonably priced.

It's obviously nothing like a vintage Gibson or any other archtops of that sort, but they're affordable and LOUD.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/the-loar-lh-300-archtop-acoustic-guitar

That'll do blues, country and bluegrass, but is probably better for jazz.

Resonators are probably more what you want, but I know the Loars are loud, so I thought I'd add my 2 cents.

Chris-Mason

My Martin D35 is the loudest accoustic I have ever heard. The sound explodes from it.
definatley a Banjo Killer.
If you want to sing and play its down to really gentle playing.
Saddle and very Nuts