School me on acoustic guitars

[vort3xr6]

I picked it back up and realized my 8 year old acoustic is crap. Warped neck, 2 cracks in the wood, 3 year old strings...

I don't need an electric acoustic. Would prefer a cool color other than typical light brown. Black or cherry would be sweet. I want something rich sounding, not real "tin" sounding. I finger pick and use a pick if that matters. Budget is under $400. School me? What brands, features, types should I look at? Any good shops to play around at?

[DanFZ1]

Google the following for websites and directions:

Arvada Olde Town Pickin' Parlor
HB woodsongs boulder
wildwood guitars louisville
Robb's Music boulder

...and then there's ebay...

I have bought a total of six acoustic guitars on ebay and never had a single problem. It's not for everybody I guess. I am not a seller. I am definitely a buyer though. As long as the fretboard is in good shape, I would rather have an older tone wood guitar anyway.

[rybo]

Brad

One of the best values I'm aware of in acoustic guitars is the Seagull brand. I gave one to my brother some years ago and am blown away every time I play it. I've been playing for three decades, and have owned a number of guitars in those years.

Check out the S6 - good string spacing for fingerpicking.

http://www.seagullguitars.com/seagull_s6_original.html

Buy a good case humidifier and keep up with it.

There are a number of local dealers that sell them and They show up on CL from time to time.

This one is a really good deal. The M6 and s6 are similar ( different woods / finishes)
http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/3522468952.html

Here is a s6
http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/3589740427.html

Good luck

[Sean]

I picked it back up and realized my 8 year old acoustic is crap. Warped neck, 2 cracks in the wood, 3 year old strings...What kind of guitar is it? You'd be surprised what a good repair person can do. The neck just may need an adjustment, cracks can be okay (my concert classical has a ton and I play it all of the time) and stings are only $10. It might be an option worth looking into? I can find out the name of a really good guitar repair guy on the front range if you need.


Would prefer a cool color other than typical light brown. Black or cherry would be sweet. I want something rich sounding, not real "tin" sounding. This is kind of an oxymoron. Usually, by adding color and altering the finish, your changing the quality of the sound for the worse. That's why most high end builders have the boring brown finish. So you need to choose what you want, good sound or something different? It would be hard to have both.


Budget is under $400. School me? What brands, features, types should I look at? Any good shops to play around at?To me, guitars are very personal and each one "fits" a little different. Kind of like helmets, I suggest just going and trying a bunch on. While $400 is not a huge investment, it may be something you will have for a long time.

I agree with Rybo that Seagull is a solid guitar. it's got a little bit wider of a neck, which is nice for fingerpicking.

I just saw that Breedlove (a very high end manufacturer) has a $400 guitar on musicians friend. I'd be interested in playing it. It might be crap, but who knows?

Personally I have a midrange Martin and enjoy it a lot. I don't do a ton of steel string acoustic playing, so it's fine. But some of Martin's low end stuff is pretty solid.

Here's a few to check out. They will all play and sound VERY different.
http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/3591148227.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/3590943262.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/3589740427.html

Don't know much about local shops. Woodsong in Boulder is solid for sure. Feel free to PM or post up and guitar's your looking at. Happy to help. :up:

[vort3xr6]

Thanks for the feedback.

I have a Mitchell acoustic now. I guess it could be repaired, but I would probably spend more repairing it than what I originally bought it for.

Good to hear about the color. Luckily I work right next to boulder so I will be checking out some shops and "trying on" lots of guitars.

How do you all humidify your guitars being that it's so dry here?

[Sean]

Mitchell...:think: yeah, maybe it's time to upgrade. :D

Humidifier-
Most local shops will have something in stock. Especially a shop that carries acoustic guitars. Almost anyone will do. If I were to buy one, I might get this- LINK (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/kyser-lifeguard-6-or-12-string-acoustic-guitar-humidifier?src=3WWRWXGP)

If you want to be redneck (like me):
- Get a plastic sandwich bag and an old rag
- soak the rag in luke-warm water for a minute
- ring out 75% of water
- place in baggie but leave ending wide open
- place in guitar case and close (you don't really want the wet rag touching the guitar)

This is the technique I use for my $4500 classical! :lol:

[DanFZ1]

How do you all humidify your guitars being that it's so dry here?

I have used Humidipaks and Oasis and other sound hole humidifiers in conjunction with a hygrometer just to make sure the humidity inside the case stays somewhere between 40% and 50%.

In Colorado, the best thing you can do for your piano, guitar, furniture, dry sinus passages etc., is to humidify your home. If you humidify your furnace room or install a system like April Air in your furnace, the humidity will remain constant.

Consistency is key. Wide swings between humid and dry climates will do as much damage (if not more) than having a less than optimal environment that hardly ever changes.

If you humidify a single room, or your entire house, you can leave your guitar out (put it on a stand or hang it on the wall) and it will always be there wanting to be played. If you stick it in the closet in a guitar case, you will almost certainly play it 1/2 as much.

p.s. Spend money on lessons. Everybody should.

[CaptGoodvibes]

I second the Seagull/Norman/Art&Lutherie line of starter acoustics for a very good value. They all fall under the Godin electric brand's umbrella. Very good Canadian maker...

[Frankie675]

just go to a shop, tell them your range, then play all of them. I play electric and went to go get an acoustic for shitsngiggles with a budget of $500. I left with an awesome laguna acoustic for $350. It sounded amazing, acoustic/electric, on sale, and it was a beautiful dark red.

[CaptGoodvibes]

FYI, Laguna is a Guitar Center in-house brand made in SE Asia. YMMV...

[dm_gsxr]

Guitar's Etc in Longmont too. Todd has a room full of acoustics and is pretty helpful (and Lewis).

Carl

[Zach929rr]

Get a classical. Bitches love a man who can shred some nylon.

[Sean]

FYI, Laguna is a Guitar Center in-house brand made in SE Asia. YMMV...I've never played one of those, but I usually she away from house brands.


Get a classical. Bitches love a man who can shred some nylon.:hump: I didn't get a hot wife because of my good looks and witty conversation.


Careful, one guitar leads to more guitars...
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j254/mr7string/photo-4.jpeg

[Zach929rr]

:hump: I didn't get a hot wife because of my good looks and witty conversation.

That's for goddamn sure.

[dm_gsxr]

Ain't that right? :)

http://www.schelin.org/jpgshow.php?65:DSCN3715.JPG

http://www.schelin.org/jpgshow.php?58:DSCN3511.JPG

Carl

[Sean]

That's for goddamn sure.Here is where I would normally tell you to fuck off, but there's no denying the truth. :banghead:

[CaptGoodvibes]

I've never played one of those, but I usually she away from house brands.


Exactly!