[milod]

I guess I'm more of a "comfort" nut than a "tone" nut.

As I've said, of all my acoustics, all of which are more expensive, that little Epi is the one I play most.

I also think that for what I play, yeah, I'd prefer a hand-made, lacquered Gibson version that they haven't made in 50 years, but this has good tone unamped and very good tone amped. I prefer that to very good tone unamped and great tone amped because A.) I don't know what "great tone" is best for what I do and I'm happy with what I get and B.) I doubt that tone helps me play better but shapes do.

Each guitar, regardless of price, is an individual, though. I'm also convinced that I play better on a comfortable guitar than one I find less comfortable.

So "best buy acoustic guitar" as opposed to "best quality whether you are comfortable playing it or not," is to me an entirely different question.

But if I had $2,500 and had to spend it on a single acoustic guitar? Honestly I'd have to take a long trip and play a lotta guitars.

m

[badbluesplayer]

I like Martins and Gibsons. In my experience Gibsons are a little smoother sounding and Martins are a little more dynamic or articulate sounding.

I don't really like Taylors. Just my experience. They don't seem to respond well to playing hard.

[badbluesplayer]

000-28

[rocketman]

badbluesplayer, on 03 February 2013 - 04:52 PM, said:

I don't really like Taylors. Just my experience. They don't seem to respond well to playing hard.

Is it because of the low action? If so they are built that way so I can understand that.

[EuroAussie]

badbluesplayer, on 08 February 2013 - 06:58 AM, said:

000-28

I have to admit as much I like the look of the 000-28EC's Ive not played one that sounded anything decent to me. Very boxy, dull, unresponsive tone. The 000-18GE on the other hand is a completely different story. Very responsive, projective, as loud as a dread, great little Martin.

[Dave F]

EuroAussie, on 08 February 2013 - 07:59 AM, said:

I have to admit as much I like the look of the 000-28EC's Ive not played one that sounded anything decent to me. Very boxy, dull, unresponsive tone. The 000-18GE on the other hand is a completely different story. Very responsive, projective, as loud as a dread, great little Martin.

You need to play my 000-28EC. I can't believe the sound from that small of a guitar. It's an older one and I think it's opened up somewhat.

[onewilyfool]

I like that Matin 000-17S, I think you can get them new for around $1k...a real bargain!!!

[badbluesplayer]

rocketman, on 08 February 2013 - 07:46 AM, said:

Is it because of the low action? If so they are built that way so I can understand that.

I'm not sure, but The Taylor's I've played just don't have a lot of bottom end - to my ear.

[telemaster03]

Best production guitar right now? Taylor, for all the reasons that everyone here hates them - they are manufactured with little or no margin for error due to the CNC process and little human hands-on variable. Try the 200 series if you're budget shopping, they are amazing for the price. My 2001 714ce is easily the best acoustic I own. I just sent mine back to the factory for one of their service packages and it's better than new.

I do love my Gibsons that I bought this past year, amazing instruments and I love the little quirks that make them unique. The sound, history and look of Gibsons can't be beat and they definitely have found a place in my arsenal of guitar tools. Shop around, there are deals to be had if you look for them.

I have probably had my hands on or played 300-400 Martins in my lifetime. I've heard others play them and it was fine, but they are simply too inconsistent for me and I think their overall build quality is horrible. I've never found one I would pay money for and a few I would not have taken if they were free. The CPCPA series is funny, it looks like they were trying to copy Taylor with bad results...that should tell you volumes about Taylor's presence in today's guitar market when other manufacturers attempt to copy what they are doing.

To each his own.

[EuroAussie]

telemaster03, on 09 February 2013 - 06:54 AM, said:

The sound, history and look of Gibsons can't be beat

Isnt that what its 99% about .. ?

So youre giving Taylor the nod because they excel in 1% of the whole makeup ... ?

[fortyearspickn]

It sounds like you are mostly into Electrics, want an un-electrified, non-custom, priced around $2,500USD you want to be your one and only, for a long, long time. Martin and Taylor are more 'production line' types - combined they probably put out 10x as many guitars as Gibson Acoustic. Many commenters here seem to be from the electric side of Gibson's forum and not as in touch with the acoustics. Most here believe the guitars coming out of Bozeman now, and in the past 20 years or so, represent what is being called 'the golden age of Gibson Acoustics'. You can get a really good Seagull for $200 or so. Search and find a Take-mine, that doesn't sound and feel like a one night stand, but if you are looking for a go-to keeper (to mix metaphors) you really do need to consider Gibsons. They're obviously a little cheaper without electonics on board. I've got a H'bird and an SJ200, but the J45, a has been mentioned is the most widely appreciated in the line-up. And versatile. The AJ is virtually the same guitar with Rosewood instead of mahogany. The latter being 'warmer' than the former. G'luck.

[Gruffchris]

Erm

"Best Buy" Probably a Yamaha?

If your talking bang for buck. I had a LJ16 about 5 years back, cost 460 pounds new and was a beautiful instrument(one just sold on flea bay for 450 second hand).

[merseybeat1963]

Of course the acoustic guitar universe is only made up of Martin,Gibson & Taylor... yeech!

Your best bet is to try every well made real guitar you can get your hands on. Ive always found a pre mind set of what I wanted has never really worked out for the best.
God will put the right one in front of you, and that is the one you should buy..
I suggest you aim to buy for life in that price range. It may cost £1200 or it may cost £2500. When you've found it..try to get it.
You really only need one great guitar anyway...ebay the others to help fund the good one.

I don't recommend Martin cause they are across the board average.
Taylor..you really want to spend the rest of your life with a Taylor..?
Gibson.. find the right one and you will be happy...
Find a Huss & Dalton...a Lowden...try them...and A/B them to any Martin. Both with new strings & equal set up will smoke the Martin 95% of the time.

I freakin swear by Gibson electrics..overall, Gibson probably is 90% of the guitar universe.

[Mojorule]

IanHenry, on 01 February 2013 - 07:19 AM, said:

Thanks for your replies,
I already have a Takamine EG523SC, which is quite nice, but it's got a terrible action, I also have a Yamaha FG180 which my father bought me in the 70's, but I fancied something like a Gibson of a Martin.
My budget is £1000 to £1500 ($1583 to $2375) but for a Gibson I think I’d have to go a little higher.
The guitar is for home use only, and having a pick-up is of no interest to me.

Regards,
Ian.

For this money, Ian, you are just about in range for several classic Gibsons new (J45/50/Southern Jumbo, Advanced Jumbo, Blues King/L00, L1), and perhaps a wider range of models second hand (the odd J100 and even a J185 or J200 might come up in your range, or you might put in a winning bid on ebay at that level). On the Martin front, it seems that the 18 series is out of range (though Thomann have a D18 in sunburst which is currently under 1700 quid), but the 15 series is affordable. Should be several Taylors in that range, but I'm not up on them, as the sound of them doesn't float my boat.

Shop online for the best prices, but make sure you try out as many different models and examples of each model as you can. Not sure where you are in the UK, but unless you're in London, you'll not find many more than one or two of the classics (J45, Hummingbird, SJ200) to try out. Listen to as many samples as you can. I bought my Gibson acoustic while in Hungary, where there are essentially no Gibson acoustics to try. So I did a lot of internet research here, but also on Youtube and the like. Decide what sound you like first - mahogany back and sides sound quite different from rosewood or maple; Martin dreads sound quite different from Gibson jumbos even where they use the same materials; Martin OOOs sound quite different from dreads in the same series. For me there is nothing to compare with the sound of a slope-shouldered Gibson with mahogany back and sides: J45, Southern Jumbo, J50. That said, the Advanced Jumbo (rosewood as standard) doesn't sound too dissimilar from them and would tempt me if I were buying now, because Thomann is selling them cheap.

If you like the Gibson sound, my best buy tips would be the Woody Guthrie SJ (what I own), which Thomann is selling for just over 1500 quid, or the Advanced Jumbo which they have for under 1350 quid. The SJ has a pickup which may or may not be important to you. The AJ is a serious piece of kit for the Thomann price. When I bought my SJ, the AJ was the same price (both models were more in GBP than at present). My decision was simple. If I were buying now, I'd be giving the AJ serious contemplation.

[mountainpicker]

I've owned a Sigma D-28 copy, two Takamines, a Bourgeois Contry Boy (D-18 copy), and a Composite Acoustic Cargo. I currently own a 2006 Santa Cruz D/PW, a 2006 Gibson J-50, an Eastman ET5-SS (an LG clone but with adi top), a Recording King RNJ-25 and a newly acquired 1997 Early J-45, and also a 2008 Eastman MD 515 mandolin that's been manovoodoo'd. I play every Friday night with a bunch of Martins, some vintage some newer (like early '90's), a Takamine Dread of some sort, and a very nice Santa Cruz VJ which I used to own but foolishly let go, and a Seagull SM6 I think. Of all of the guitars around me that I've played, the one that impresses me the most, the one with the most bang for the buck, I'd have to hand it to the Eastman. It's such a great guitar I almost hate to play it because it makes me realize the shortcomings of some of my other guitars. The very best of all the guitars I've listed, to my ears, is the SC VJ. It has opened up to become a monster instrument and it is the lightest build of the bunch, with my '97 J-45 coming in second.
It took me about five years of playing to really begin to narrow down my preferences in a guitar. It didn't take long before I realized that rosewood just isn't my thing compared to mahogany and that's probably because I use the guitar as accompaniment (this reminds me that I need to sell my D/PW). So I'd suggest you think about what accompanys your voice best if you are going to sing with it. The next make or break thing for me is the neck. I can go as low as 1 11/16" but I prefer 1 3/4" and my J-45 is 1 23/32" as best as my eyes can read the rule, and I like it too. I like my friends Seagull but if I was limited to only buying one guitar I'd prefer all solid wood construction but as far as sound goes the Seagull is a contender. For me though, that bottom end thump you get with a J45/50 is the clincher. There is just no way to get the Gibson sound without owning a Gibson and it's what makes me a Gibson man. I'm not and never will be a blue grass player so the whole Martin dread thing is not my bag and the few Taylors I've been around didn't make me want to ask to play them. But that's just my personal ear and taste. Guth is ultimately correct, play'em first if you can. But try an Eastman if you can. Many of them come with Adirondack tops and the workmanship and tone are really hard to beat at the price point.

[Big Norm]

I had that guitar for 15 years and got rid of it. It's tha worst move I ever made. I never heard a better sounding guitar afterward. And I mean very good ones like Martin, Guild, taylor, Ovation etc... It's a Canadian made "Norman ST68", from Godin guitars. If you have a chance to put your hands on one, grab it.

[Murph]

J-45.

Yep....

[Rambler]

"Best" is such a loaded term. Are you talking build quality? Tone? Value for money? A gitty can be a winner on one level and not at all on another. Not to mention a category like tone, where some people demand bel canto sounds while others are looking for, uhm, character.

Martin gets "best" for A) construction quality (no runny glue drip, they), bel canto voicing, C) tradition (grandaddy of the X-brace) and D) value (A+B+C=D). Gibson (popular perception) is a 'fail', A-D. Aficionados give 'em points for character (those funky saturated mids), jazz-friendly necks and chord tones. Oh, and build quality is better than their (urban lore from 60s), though not uniform. Taylor scores well on A, not so much B-D. Tone, especially, can be a sticking point for some and as for value, I'd question a $1700 (a used 712 in the neighborhood) price tag on a bolt neck guitar. Guilds? No idea re build. Sound? No particular identity there (I tried a couple of F30s a while back that were definitely of the meh category). Taks? Really?

[merseybeat1963]

At Sam Ash Mega store in NY City 34th St...Is a Larravie D50 in mah & herringbone trim new solid wood & quality.
It was reduced from $1999 to I think it was $1350...THAT is a lot of guitar for the money..made in USA.
Plays & sounds really good.