Help deciding on new guitar

xTH14

Hi Guys

I've been looking around quite extensively for a new steel string acoustic. My budget is maximum R6000. Tried lots of Sigmas, Epiphones and Takamines. Some Framus and Ibanez as well. I narrowed it down to these three.

https://www.takamine.com/GD15CE-NAT

http://www.ibanez.com/products/ag_detail18.php?year=2018&area_id=3&cat_id=3&series_id=84&data_id=47&color=CL01

https://www.sigma-guitars.com/guitars/1-series/dmc-1ste/

I think I liked the Ibanez most though.
What do you think about these three and are there other good options I may have missed?

Thanks in advance

studmissile

xTH14

"I think I liked the Ibanez most though."

Sounds like you've answered your own question?

V8

Hmm, interesting question - they are all rather similar.

The obvious answer : which sounds & feels best in your hands...

Resale isn't much of an issue? I'd think the Tak would be slightly better than the other two, but there's little in it.

Pickups do differ, I see one has a XLR out which can be useful, but a behringer DI box is cheap and does the same thing.

I would be a pain and try out every one of each model that the shop stocks. I've found there can be a variability between guitars of the same model (particularly acoustics). - It's the one plus of buying new, you get to choose from their stock of each model.

Bill-Rosenberg

V8 is correct when he says you should take the one that feels the best. I wrote a (rambling) piece recently which included my story of how setup was such a huge stumbling block for me. When I eventually got my acoustic reasonably well set up I started really enjoying it, and it's what I usually play now, although I do have a couple of electrics. It happens to be an Ibanez Performance, and I'm really happy with it. So do check the setup and general playability, and don't let the man in the shop push you around! If it's not comfortable to play you just won't play it.

morph

I would also play them plugged in, if that is what you are buying an electro-acoustic for. I had problems with the Shadow system in my Faith Venus, I replaced it with an LR Baggs, I have heard people having issues with even the expensive brands like Taylor EC2 systems. Most of my guitars have Fishman installed and they vary in sound quality, the lower end Fishman pickups are purely Piezo based, whereas the higher end ones have a mic as well that can be blended to get you the best sound.

I see two of them have Fishman and the Takemine has it's own.

Plug into an acoustic amp.