I Want to get an Acoustic Guitar

Josh-Hayes

Hey everybody,

I am in a position where buying an acoustic will greatly benefit my current situation, and having never owned an acoustic before I need some help from you kind people.

Budget is about R3000. I will be looking primarily for something second-hand.
It needs to have good live capabilities (ie: good pickup). Other than that what should I look for? Obviously I am not spending R24k on a Martin or a Taylor, but I want to get the best value for money.

I found a Tanglewood Acoustic TSF CE XB for R2500 on Gumtree. (Bubinga body, Mahogany neck and Rosewood fretboard, Fishman ISYS electronics and it looks like it is in great condition. It also looks amazing.)
What do you guys think?

There are other options available, and I don't mind waiting a while for something recommended to pop up.

Over to you, what would you guys advise me to do? Any and all help is appreciated.

Cheers.

Chocklit_Thunda

Josh Hayes wrote: I found a Tanglewood Acoustic TSF CE XB for R2500 on Gumtree. (Bubinga body, Mahogany fretboard, Fishman ISYS electronics and it looks like it is in great condition. It also looks amazing.)
What do you guys think?

That sounds GOOOD! (I don't know about Mahogany FB though... You sure you don't mean Rosewood board on mahogany neck?) I don't know about going straight for an all Bubinga acoustic as your first though. Bubinga top may not be your cuppa tea though seeing as the usuals are spruce, cedar and mahogany or it may give you a different perception of what an acoustic should sound like compared to whats more readily available out there.

Fishman usually get it right with their piezo systems so you should be alright there.

The thing is, though, you have to try them all out before you find "the one" a lot of the mass produces acoustics are hit or miss. 2 of the exact same models can sound worlds apart.
My 2c, try the Tanglewood. If it doesn't "speak to you" (cheesy, I know...) then just keep searching. Make a point of going to music stores and trying all the acoustics you can (even the high end ones for comparison) and figure out your tastes and buy according to that.

e.g. all my acoustics are spruce topped, 1 has rosewood back and sides and the other 2 are mahogany back and sides but I prefer guitars with a mahogany top as well from the few I've played

GuitarDoge

My first guitar was a Cort acoustic with a spruce top and rosewood sides. Cost me R1800 new, stays in tune, decent pickup and very well made with a great acoustic tone.

Josh-Hayes

@Chocklit: My bad! ? It is Rosewood on a Mahogany neck. I am going to go try it out as a starting step. I'll take your advice and make sure that I find the one that really speaks to me.

@GuitarDoge: I also can't rave about Cort enough, I'll see if any deals come up on Gumtree.

Let the quest begin.

costafonix

I own a Tanglewood acoustic/electric and for the price you get very good value for money, and they sound great plugged in too. Another option to consider is a Korean Takamine, well built and great tone.

Josh-Hayes

Does anybody else have some insight?

UnmagicMushroom

I also think that Tanglewood and Cort's acostics are great. Especially if they have Fisherman pickups if you're looking to plug one in. Keep an eye out for Takamine - the g series should be about that price mark second hand if not new (model dependant). My friend has one, but I love playing on it though!

AlanRatcliffe

I wasn't too impressed with the Tanglewoods I saw (about a dozen all at once), but that's just one sampling and I have heard enough people speak well of them to make them worth investigating.

Corts are still the best value-for-money deals around IMO. They also have a low second-hand value, which makes them an even better deal used. You can pick up some great models for really good prices if you are patient and keep an eye out.

Bob-Dubery

UnmagicMushroom wrote: I also think that Tanglewood and Cort's acostics are great. Especially if they have Fisherman pickups if you're looking to plug one in. Keep an eye out for Takamine - the g series should be about that price mark second hand if not new (model dependant). My friend has one, but I love playing on it though!

Note that in many budget guitars the electronics are "Fishman designed" rather than "Fishman". Same general idea and using Fishman circuitry, but cheaper components and not built by Fishman. But a genuine Fishman (or Baggs) system added after purchase is going to set you back a couple of grand.

My usual advice: look out for a second hand, well kept Taylor Big Baby. They're not pretty, but they play and sound real good for the price.

Nitebob

You are going to struggle to get a used Takamine or Taylor at the budget you are looking at.

+1 on what Alan said. My first real acoustic was a Cort. They have good dependable electronics which sound great! (Correct me if I'm wrong, but even some of the Taylors come out with Fishman)I have since had an Ibanez (good construction, good sound, but electronics aren't that dependable) and an Ovation. Yet the Cort is still lying in a hard case for those moments when inspiration hits me.

Squonk

Play them all and then make a decision.

Obviously the Corts, Tanglewoods are the ones to watch out for, but there are many more.

At the Hillfox Cash Crusaders/Converters in the past couple of months there have been a G series Takamine, Walden and a Seagull that have all been well within your budget. I played them all and if I had cash I would have taken the Seagull! It doesn't mean that Seagull is better! That particular guitar just felt and sounded better.

When I bought my Takamine, I had my mind set on an Ovation, (I had played a friends Ovation Ultra II and was hectically impressed), but after playing about 5 guitars, including the Ovation, I settled on the Takamine which was a bit pricier and not as pleasing on the eye as the others, but we clicked ?

Keep an open mind and the Guitar will speak to you 8)

Nitebob

@Squonk: Have to admit, I'm still not used to the shape of the Ovation, having a bit of a tummy, its sometimes more like playing a lapsteel while standing, and to the player it sounds great, but put a recording device in the room, and it's another kettle of fish...sorry off subject...

Shibbibilybob

For me, I would stay well away from any guitar that has an exotic wood top. Within your budget, any exotic wood on a guitar is purely cosmetic. I would rather find a nice, laminate mahogany/indian rosewood guitar with a solid spruce top than a flashy guitar made entirely from bubinga laminates.

With your budget, a whole lot of second hand corts, seagul, takamine(g series), yamaha, etc, should be available with a solid spruce top.

Bob-Dubery

Shibbibilybob wrote: For me, I would stay well away from any guitar that has an exotic wood top. Within your budget, any exotic wood on a guitar is purely cosmetic. I would rather find a nice, laminate mahogany/indian rosewood guitar with a solid spruce top than a flashy guitar made entirely from bubinga laminates.

With your budget, a whole lot of second hand corts, seagul, takamine(g series), yamaha, etc, should be available with a solid spruce top.

+1 in general, and +1 on the Seagulls.

At that price point you might get lucky with a 2nd hand Taylor Big Baby. Those ain't pretty, but they offer a lot of playability and sound for the money.

Shibbibilybob

oh yeah a Big Baby or Gs Mini would be the holy grail of acoustics under 5k.

singemonkey

Stare at this for a while. Hopefully the feeling will pass...

Squonk

singemonkey wrote: Stare at this for a while. Hopefully the feeling will pass...

I want one of those as well ?

Chocklit_Thunda

Try a Walden! I forgot but I own one ??? Thing is superb! And acoustically LOUD. It's a winner. I have the dreadnought but I almost also bought the smaller not a dreadnought shape (that's a real thing.... If it's not a dreadnought then it doesn't count ? )

bindog

I got my tak, I love my tak... EG440 sc nex , just needs a setup to make it truly perfect in my opinion , maybe have a look at one

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Audible-Anarchy

My vote for that price - Ibanez AEG 10 ii

Really great tone with fishman pickup / eq / tuner and the size is great if you're used to playing electrics. Sounds and plays like a much more expensive guitar.

http://www.mercurymusic.co.za/pAEG10II/Ibanez-AEG10-II-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar.aspx

R2800 on special at the moment

you'll find a lot of positive reviews on the net too