The best acoustic fingerpicking guitar

morph

I am looking for a good fingerpicking electro-acoustic guitar. What I mean is, one that has a slick action, nice and low, soft on the old man hands and tendonitus prone wrists. At the moment I have a Yamaha APX5, about 20 years old, fretboard is showing some wear, the action at the nut is a bit high, intonation is far out, the bridge cannot be adjusted either for intonation or string height. I have been using .10 Elixir strings, mainly due to the tendonitus.

I need light touch, D-shape neck, I have small hands so neck thickness is an issue, but obviously I can't go too thin, smallish box, with a cutaway. In fact the physical size of the APX is perfect. I would love to get something that plays light like my electric with .9's.

Budget R10K ish. Brand, I don't know, obviously the Taylors and Martins are way out. Takemine? Yamaha? .....

V8

How about a APX900?

Or pop into Music Experience & check out some Tak's?

I'm going off Elixir's, they feel a little stiffer to me than other strings in the same gauge. DAddario do a long life set I reckon I'll try out next.

Hasie

I would recommend the APX500ii. It is really light on the fingers and wrist.

Nitebob

While you are at Music experience, give the Alvarez's a try, I bought a Mahogany Alvarez's from them. Alvarez has a slightly wider neck which is nice for fingerpicking, and my one plays like butter...plus at your price range, you could buy two!

studmissile

Greg Perkins wrote: I am looking for a good fingerpicking electro-acoustic guitar. What I mean is, one that has a slick action, nice and low, soft on the old man hands and tendonitus prone wrists. At the moment I have a Yamaha APX5, about 20 years old, fretboard is showing some wear, the action at the nut is a bit high, intonation is far out, the bridge cannot be adjusted either for intonation or string height. I have been using .10 Elixir strings, mainly due to the tendonitus.

I need light touch, D-shape neck, I have small hands so neck thickness is an issue, but obviously I can't go too thin, smallish box, with a cutaway. In fact the physical size of the APX is perfect. I would love to get something that plays light like my electric with .9's.

Budget R10K ish. Brand, I don't know, obviously the Taylors and Martins are way out. Takemine? Yamaha? .....

I know exactly what you talking about, and whilst I'd encourage you to go for a higher end acoustic, I stumbled across an early
ibanez ew20wne that has the best neck on an acoustic I've ever tried and had? Unfortunately it's not a solid top, but the tone is mellow resonant and quite unique! It gets played silly and I love it to bits!

morph

studmissile wrote: I know exactly what you talking about, and whilst I'd encourage you to go for a higher end acoustic, I stumbled across an early
ibanez ew20wne that has the best neck on an acoustic I've ever tried and had? Unfortunately it's not a solid top, but the tone is mellow resonant and quite unique! It gets played silly and I love it to bits!

Beautiful guitar, wow. I am an Ibanez fan, I have a 1980's LS300, jumbo box with a narrow neck, 40mm nut width.

I am going to take V8's advice have a look at Music Experience.

theantirockstar

try a Tanglewood TW40 O-AN-E. they're under R10k, and really good value for money. it's vintage Martin style guitar
http://www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/product/sundance-historic-tw40-o-an-e/

morph

What do you think about Faith Guitars out the UK

singemonkey

Why are you not having your Yamaha sorted out? You didn't mention any problems with the sound. Get it properly set up, have the bridge replaced if necessary, have the fretboard levelled if it's an issue, and when the action's right, you won't have to play it with .10s unless you're bending strings all over the place. It'll cost way less than R10k, so I'm not sure what the problem is here.

studmissile

Greg Perkins wrote:
studmissile wrote: I know exactly what you talking about, and whilst I'd encourage you to go for a higher end acoustic, I stumbled across an early
ibanez ew20wne that has the best neck on an acoustic I've ever tried and had? Unfortunately it's not a solid top, but the tone is mellow resonant and quite unique! It gets played silly and I love it to bits!
Beautiful guitar, wow. I am an Ibanez fan, I have a 1980's LS300, jumbo box with a narrow neck, 40mm nut width.

I am going to take V8's advice have a look at Music Experience.

There was a 2nd Hand Japanese Takamine Ltd Edition on SA MUSIC STORE for R10K, which is the best bang for buck?

Update: Shibibbillybob is going to post the this Tak on the classifieds, do yourself a favour, check that out!

Shibbibilybob

That's my guitar ?

It's phenomenal! Only issue is that it's not got a cut away.

Keira-WitherKay

as a fingerstyle player myself...i can say that don't worry about asking advice from others when it comes to this..... as it's the comfort factor that matters.... so best option is to NOT RUSH it and play as many guitars in your budget that you can till you find the "best fit" or one that simply screams out to you......and yes you may just be surprised what that guitar is..... since we all have different idea's what constitutes a comfortable feel ...and for fingerstyle thats what it's all about....

BUT don't forget when it comes to acoustic instruments.... if it sounds bad unplugged .... or maybe bad is a strong word ...rather if it does not sound good to your expectations unplugged...plugging it in will not improve it .... so buy the tone you like ... and for fingerstyle sometimes a more mid range boost in tone is required to keep the clarity of the individual notes .... those lovely big bodied deep bass and mellow top and scooped mid jumbo's can often sound terrible with fingerstyle ...as the clarity is just not there...

so half a page to just say....you must play as many guitars as you can and buy the one you happy and comfortable with .............

Anthony03

Hi Greg - I have this one on sale @ BidorBuy if you are interested. Excellent action top range finish.I am in Montagu in the Western Cape.
Cheers
Alf
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/207180775/REDUCED_Cort_MR710F_NS_Acoustic_Electric_with_Satin_finish_neck_and_plush_Cort_dreadnaught_case.html

morph

Thanks very much

the dreadnought is too large unfortunately

Attila

Go visit Fosters www.fosterguitarworks.com see if he can give you wise words before jumping in headfirst

buttle

Yeh Greg... I am with Singemonkey on this. Why don't you just get your existing issues sorted out. None of them sound impossible to overcome.

You could also try a set of flat wound Dr. Thomastik-Infeld Plectrum strings: http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/family-detail/Plectrum
they are super BRIGHT but feel like rubber bands.

On the other hand... are you maybe just ITCHING for a new toy ? I get that often...

morph

I have serious GAS at the moment. Fighting the urge.

Attila, when you mention Foster guitars are you referring to him from a guitar tech perspective or a hand build guitar. On the latter it looks like he only does a Dreadnought type, last mention here in this forum was about R30K and 9 months to delivery. Certainly would be a dream to own one of his instruments but a little steep for me right now.