singemonkey wrote:
Some of those more clued up on this will advise you. But it's important to realise that the difficulties people experience playing acoustics usually have to do with how well they're set up, not the basic design and construction of the guitar.
In other words, you can get a new acoustic that seems almost unplayable, take it to a guitar repair person, who'll adjust various aspects of it to make it play its best. This can make an enormous difference if the guitar is not absolutely awful.
Sadly this is more often necessary than not. Cheaper instruments are rarely well set-up in the factory, and the set up can go out with shipping anyway (changes in moisture, temperature and all that malarkey). People have literally given up playing because no one told them that this needed to be done.
Generally the cheaper the acoustic, the more setting up it requires. Buy something like a Larrivee or a Taylor and it's much more likely to have a properly cut nut, frets properly levelled and so on. But some cheap brands are more cheaply made than others...
If the shop says a setup is included then check what specifically they will do. Adjusting the truss rod is a good start, but there's more to it than that. Ideally you'd want the nut set up as well (can effect action and can certainly effect tuning) as well as having the saddle set appropriately.
If you want to play in pubs you'll need a pickup and at least a decent gig bag. You're not going to have much change from 2 grand - unless your name is Keira. So maybe check out the pawn shops and such, maybe you can find a bargain that needs a little TLC.
The deal that Gearhead is offering is a good one.
