I Want to get an Acoustic Guitar

Josh-Hayes · 2014-02-09T18:08:35+00:00

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.

studmissile

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

How can it when this is still out there?

studmissile

If you can scrap together R5000, this looks like a pretty good deal? Sell some pedals.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-musical-instruments/paarl/taylor-110+-e-with-hard-case/1001096419210910009839209

Josh-Hayes

Hey everybody. Yes, I am still looking...

studmissile wrote If you can scrap together R5000, this looks like a pretty good deal? Sell some pedals.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-musical-instruments/paarl/taylor-110+-e-with-hard-case/1001096419210910009839209

I had a look, I am going to try to increase my available budget as far as possible. But, I think R5k is probably going to be the most I can muster (even at a push, not keen on selling any pedals). Also, I have never been a fan of the dreadnought shape... :-\

I am going to keep an open mind during this process, and a close eye on Gumtree.

@singemonkey: Don't tempt me man! ?

PaulJ

Keep checking Gumtree/OLX etc, you're bound to find something that grabs you. I collect old 1970's Ibanez acoustic guitars (Jumbo's) and I've found all 3 of these beauties on Gumtree.

Honeyburst 1974- Paid R1500
Maple 1975 - R2500
Black 1978 - R2500

Once setup professionally they play and sound fantastic. Who cares if there's a few dents and scratches, just adds character to the guitar.

Nitebob

Audible Anarchy wrote 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

Agree it's great guitars. Uses a Fishman pickup and an Ibanez preamp though. I know the B band stuff was awefull!

Josh-Hayes

I am trawling Gumtree and OLX.

I am not going to go for the Ibanez since the store is not in my area, and I have a 'try before I buy' policy.

V8

Josh Hayes wrote I am trawling Gumtree and OLX.

I am not going to go for the Ibanez since the store is not in my area, and I have a 'try before I buy' policy.

Pop into the Gear Junkie (Salt River) - there's a bunch of Yahama's that you can just have a play on - at worst you'll get some exposure to the Yahama brand?

Nitebob

[/quote]
Pop into the Gear Junkie (Salt River) - there's a bunch of Yahama's that you can just have a play on - at worst you'll get some exposure to the Yahama brand?
[/quote]

If you can find a good Yammie in your price range, they are good. I think the F310 (?) is quite legendary.

Bob-Dubery

Nitebob wrote

Pop into the Gear Junkie (Salt River) - there's a bunch of Yahama's that you can just have a play on - at worst you'll get some exposure to the Yahama brand?
[/quote]

If you can find a good Yammie in your price range, they are good. I think the F310 (?) is quite legendary.
[/quote]
Tastes vary. One man's meat etc etc

But IMO the modern Yammies are overpriced NEW (2nd hand may be another story) and those old 70s yammies.... they can sound real good (Yamaha was the bang per buck acoustic in the 70s) but they may also need some work done to get them into good playing condition (which applies to any flat top of that age) and it can get expensive - and the value of the guitar may not justify the cost of the work.

Josh-Hayes

I have let the Bubinga Tanglewood go, and have found a Tanglewood TVC (red) with a case for under R2k. I am going to go check it out soon.

This is the guitar: http://www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/products/acoustic/evo_venetian/TVCTWR.html

IMHO it looks very promising...

Shibbibilybob

Solid spruce top apparently. nice find at that price.
I'm not nuts about the red finish, but if I were you, I'd check that guitar out. It ticks all of my boxes, although not much mention of the pre-amp, and if I recall, that was rather important to you. best go give it a listen and a play.

Josh-Hayes

Shibbibilybob wrote Solid spruce top apparently. nice find at that price.
I'm not nuts about the red finish, but if I were you, I'd check that guitar out. It ticks all of my boxes, although not much mention of the pre-amp, and if I recall, that was rather important to you. best go give it a listen and a play.

I am also not 'nuts' about the finish, but as you said it ticks the boxes.
It has a Fishman Presys preamp in it. Pretty good, judging by the research that I have done.

Nitebob

I think this:

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-musical-instruments/bellville/cort-earth70e-ns-6-string-acoustic-electric-guitar/1001096456680910018009709

...is worth a look as well, you can have change left...

PeterCF

I have had a number of acoustic guitars over the years (Takamine, Ibanez, Washburn) and ended up with the Taylor 110CE. Very nice dreadnought guitar, beautiful action and great sound unplugged. Just a bit uncomfortable to hold and play sitting down so I started looking for a Grand Auditorium style body or Jumbo style.

I was also looking to upgrade to both sold top as well as solid back and sides. The Cort AS-S5 ticked all the boxes in terms of body shape, and had a solid Sitka spruce top with solid Rosewood back & sides. I ordered the guitar to try out and it really was very nice instrument and wonderful craftsmanship. To play it was nice. But I really was not blown away by the sound. It really still sounded a bit "thin" to me.

Meanwhile I had come across a Tanglewood Sundance TW55 Jumbo guitar. I was a bit sceptical about "Tanglewood" but I had heard they were pretty good guitars. This guitar has a solid spruce top and solid mahogany back (but laminated sides).

http://www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/products/acoustic/sundance/03_superjumbo/TW55NSE.html

Make no mistake, when they say Jumbo, they mean Jumbo! It's one really big guitar - but the sound will blow you away. The action was great, the finish is perfect in every respect and comes fitted standard with Elixir light strings and Fishman Presys+ pickup.

I ended up buying the Tanglewood guitar from a well known guitar shop/chain - list price was R6000 and got it for R4500 after discount. The Cort list price is about R10 000 but with discount I could have got it for around R6500.

I am really very happy with my Tanglewood and it would be absolutely worth checking out these guitars and even trying to find a solid back guitar as well. Solid top is an absolute minimum in my opinion. My point being, that Tanglewood can be a really good option - just listen to it and see how they play. ?

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