Decent budget acoustic?

[Bill Brown 1979]

Can anyone recommend a decent budget acoustic guitar?

I'm looking to spend about £300 ($500 ish), or thereabouts, sometime in the future on an acoustic guitar. Does anybody have any suggestions? Like brands to avoid? Or important features to consider?

:)

[shaniab]

I have one, Its a beautiful Fender Squier SA-100 acoustic. Beautiful sound on it. Nice and full without loosing the bright sounds in the higher 3 strings. The It only cost about 130 after tax. Down side is is that it has no cut away. I got it as a pack too so it came with six picks, a leather gig bag, strap, and a Chromatic tuner. Plus a lesson book.

[2gross4u]

This really kind of depends on a few things like your 'style' or the way you play, whether you prefer a "C" shaped neck or a more flat neck- lots of variables to consider. Are you looking for a purely 'acoustic' guitar or considering a(n) Acoustic/Electric and have at least "some" , if not "the best" of both worlds. I would seriously consider going with the Acoustic/Electric (A/E), myself and at that price point I would highly recommend either the Yamaha APX500 Thinline A/E-thinner body with a nice "C" shape to the neck with a very comfortable and very 'playable' feel to it, not as "full" of a sound unplugged due to the thinner body style, but sounds great plugged in an has a very 'electric guitar' feel to it for $299.99 (U.S.) or along more traditional lines I'd take a look at the Dean "QSA" series of guitars for that great A/E 'full bodied" sound in a bigger bodied guitar with an 'essentially' flat neck. A Very Nice, loud, full bodied sound at $349.99 (U.S.). Both are single cut away body style.

[Bill Brown 1979]

Thanks for the reply guys. :)

I already have a very nice Prestige Ibanez for the electric side of things, so a fuller bodied sound would be preferable. Style wise, well, I'm wishing to do some solo, chord-strumming-type covers and also wanting to put lots of time into some finger-style stuff.

I guess I'd have to try the differences between the different neck shape variables. I think I'm only familiar with the 'C' shape. To be honest, I was unaware of the differences. I've played guitar for a while, but know not much about the actual instrument design.

Some of the Dean A/E guitars look lovely.

[JoaquinCastillo]

Look into the Yamaha acoustic line of electric guitar. One of my best friends has one and I go over to his house constantly to play it :P. It´s the model APX-5a. It is of great value, beutiful instrument! It has that sexyness of a Les Paul.

[cserway]

If I had only $500.00 I would consider a Used Breedlove (Atlas Models) Seagull guitar or a Blueridge. If you can find one on craigslist or used somewhere might be able to buy an all solid model like a Blueridge. I recently purchased a Blueridge BR-160 with the hardcase case off of craigslist. It is in mint condition and plays beautifully. As far as what to avoid.. that is hard to say. I would have to play them first as each one plays differently. I would avoid guitars that don't play easy (or have no room for adjustments). I would also avoid guitars with problem necks or bridges.

[Bill Brown 1979]

Thanks for the advice guys. :)

[JimmyAlford]

Bill...
Check out these: SERIOUSLY good for the money bro :)

http://www.imuso.co.uk/Acoustic-Guitars/Acoustic-Guitars-by-Manufacturer/Collins-Acoustic-Guitars

I have 1 and bought in 3 for the Rockschool where I work. They play like a guitar worth 5 times more!

[Slipin Lizard]

For what its worth, I tried a Martin DCX1E acoustic, and thought it sounded great, and played super nice too. It has the built-in Fishman pick-up, which also sound excellent. I'll probably buy one once my home reno's are finished and I'm no longer living in a trailer!

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Martin-DCX1E-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=514816

[Bonafan1]

For what its worth, I tried a Martin DCX1E acoustic, and thought it sounded great, and played super nice too. It has the built-in Fishman pick-up, which also sound excellent. I'll probably buy one once my home reno's are finished and I'm no longer living in a trailer!

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Martin-DCX1E-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=514816

Thats exactly what I bought 3 months into....bought a real cheapie Day 1 to learn on which was a mistake (in hindsight, for me)...even if I bought something a bit more expensive and gave up 2 months into it you can sell the better guitar and get most of your money back. I stuck with it and wound up buying a 2nd guitar within months.

Granted, it depends on your financial situation but I would recommend a "longer-term" guitar upfront if you can swing it. You either keep it for a long time or sell it and wind up ok financially.

Just one opinion....

[smorkalkin]

I have a YAMAHA FG 730S which is about $300 plain and 330 in a finish, at least that's what it cost then, about 4 years ago, great sounding guitar !

[Born Toulouse]

Just bought a Taylor Mini GS. I was looking for a "beater" travel size guitar to haul around. Incredible sound/tone, sustain and playability for the price ($499). I played all the low end Martins, Yamaha's, Fender's, Seagulls etc. Nice guitars, but nowhere near the sound of this guitar. Unmistakeable Taylor sound. Check out the sound clips by Taylor on YouTube, or at their website. Definitely one to consider...

[shaniab]

Hey. Forget what I said before about the Fender acoustic I had. It is a great sounding guitar no doubt. BUT, I found an even better acoustic at my local guitar shop. Its called a takamine and the one I found is 400$ SOOO much better than the Fender. Such beutiful highs and the mids and bass tones are very full without sounding too muddy. I got to play it only twice but I am hooked on the darn thing!!! I'm gonna try and get my dad to get it (Wish me luck lol ;-) ) this week. If you want a good acoustic, go for the Takamine and not the Fender. I was SOOO proven wrong when I thought my fender was the best acoustic, and then played the Takamine LOL!!

[paradigm75]

I just bought a Fender CD140SCE. Sound wonderful. It's not a very big body and the frett board is perfect for my smaller fingers. I can't fault it. Plus it is a Fender!!

[haghj500]

I bought an Applause back in 1990. Still looks and sounds great. It is an Ovation knock off, but plays and sounds real nice for a lot less. Everyone has there own likes, but I have never wanted to repalce it. The space age plastic they use on the back projects the sound better than most wood backed guitars of the same price.

I have had a lot of people over the years tell me this plays amost as easy as an electric. Give one a try.

[G1619T]

Hi Bill,
I was in the same predicament. I had all my watchers out and got a call from the owner of a pawnshop I check out every now and then. He told me he had an acoustic I should check out. When I got their I held a small Martin Campfire size guitar. It sounded amazing. For $175 I grabbed it. I put new strings an it had the set up checked and enjoyed it for about 2 weeks, until my son showed up and I ended up giving to him. Now I stuck with my old (inexpensive) Takamine. They make some nice guitars but, their price shows it. I'm still looking but the bottom line is, if you can extend that $500 another $100 or $150 (save up if you have to), it will put you in a different ball park when looking at new or negotiating or a nice used one you really need.
Later,
Steven