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What's the Best Acoustic Guitar You've Ever Played?


charlie brown

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The best Acoustic that I've played is a Gibson J-15. I played nearly all the acoustics at the Gibson Memphis showroom and the one that stood out was the J-15, so much so that my Wife even commented on how good it sounded (a guitar's a guitar's a guitar to her), I liked it so much I had to go looking for one when I got back to the U.K.

I do have to say, that not all J-15's are created equally though, I played a couple that weren't as good. I was also pointed in the direction of a Martin D15M Burst by one shop which was very nice but I couldn't help feeling that it was slightly "unfinished" with it having no binding (protection) and a completely matt finish.

When I did find a J-15 that I liked, the shop also had a rather nice J-45 which tempted me, it was as good as the J-15 but different, rather mellow compared to the bright sound of the J-15 so I'd have been quite happy to walk out of the shop with either, but as I'd come looking for a J-15, I stuck to my guns and bought the J-15.

 

I've played many expensive acoustics, like Koa Taylors costing thousands of pounds,I've watched many reviews on The Acoustic Letter, and I've come to the conclusion that they are ruled by the law of diminishing returns, whereby you are just spending money on bling, and beyond a certain point they all sound pretty much the same, at least that's my opinion, and on some forums (AGF) there's a great deal of guitar snobbishness.

 

Ian

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I must say that I am very happy with my recent Taylor purchase, a 214ce Deluxe.. I bought it a couple weeks ago while I was home in Boston. I tried many guitars, Taylors, Martins, and Gibsons mainly… I was very tempted to get a used Hummingbird at one of the shops but in the end there where two things that made me pull the trigger on a new Taylor. The sound and playability along with the electronics and price… I guess that's 4 things :rolleyes: All quality acoustics, as in the brands mentioned, you end up splitting hairs in selecting which is best. It can drive you nuts… I am a happy camper with the Taylor though, makes me smile every time I pick it up. Would I have liked the Hummingbird?? Of course and a Doves in flight would even be better. Maybe sometime in the future…

 

 

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BUT… As of now, the best acoustic guitar I have ever played is hands down my Alhambra… I don't think even the best of guitars can rival it, sorry Gibson...

 

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The best Acoustic that I've played is a Gibson J-15. I played nearly all the acoustics at the Gibson Memphis showroom and the one that stood out was the J-15, so much so that my Wife even commented on how good it sounded (a guitar's a guitar's a guitar to her), I liked it so much I had to go looking for one when I got back to the U.K.

I do have to say, that not all J-15's are created equally though, I played a couple that weren't as good. I was also pointed in the direction of a Martin D15M Burst by one shop which was very nice but I couldn't help feeling that it was slightly "unfinished" with it having no binding (protection) and a completely matt finish.

When I did find a J-15 that I liked, the shop also had a rather nice J-45 which tempted me, it was as good as the J-15 but different, rather mellow compared to the bright sound of the J-15 so I'd have been quite happy to walk out of the shop with either, but as I'd come looking for a J-15, I stuck to my guns and bought the J-15.

 

I've played many expensive acoustics, like Koa Taylors costing thousands of pounds,I've watched many reviews on The Acoustic Letter, and I've come to the conclusion that they are ruled by the law of diminishing returns, whereby you are just spending money on bling, and beyond a certain point they all sound pretty much the same, at least that's my opinion, and on some forums (AGF) there's a great deal of guitar snobbishness.

 

Ian

 

You're right about the J-15. Like you, I tried a variety of Gibson's before I bought mine - a Hummingbird, Dove, J45 and others, but the J-15 really stood out and had great sound, feel and playability. I own a J 185 which I've had for about 3 years now and whilst it is a fantastic guitar the J-15 I bought I prefer overall and it's an incredible acoustic IMO. I love the walnut back and sides and the walnut fingerboard too [smile]

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My favorite plugged in acoustic is my Yamaha AC3M. My favorite 'acoustic' acoustic was a Gibson, not sure what model, I played it at a Guitar Center and it was just amazingly resonant and easy to play; I had just recently bought my Yamaha so I couldn't buy the Gibson, but it was great.

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My favorite plugged in acoustic is my Yamaha AC3M. My favorite 'acoustic' acoustic was a Gibson, not sure what model, I played it at a Guitar Center and it was just amazingly resonant and easy to play; I had just recently bought my Yamaha so I couldn't buy the Gibson, but it was great.

I also have one of those Yamaha's it's a very good guitar. The thing I like about it is that you can play it hard but acoustically it's not very loud so I can practice without disturbing anyone. I think Yamaha's are very much under estimated.

 

Ian

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I also have one of those Yamaha's it's a very good guitar. The thing I like about it is that you can play it hard but acoustically it's not very loud so I can practice without disturbing anyone. I think Yamaha's are very much under estimated.

 

Ian

I don't think the Yamaha is under estimated

I'm not sure of the model but I read where the 720?? was the top selling guitar in the world

James Burton says he uses one for acoustic work in the studio, records better than anything else he has used

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For me it was also a Martin D-42 that was for sale at our Martin dealer. This was to be a 25th anniversary gift from my wife(I'm a lucky guy). I picked it up , hit one chord and thought "That's the sound". What a Guitar! There were several other Martins there(D-28,D-35-D-18-Eric Clapton and Paul Simon signature models and many cheaper ones) but none were even close. Unfortunately the fingerboard took a dive where it met the body and for $3600 this was unacceptable. I was still considering buying it and having it sent back to Martin under warranty , however the store's owner wasn't there(this was on a weekend)and the "guitar tech" tried to tell me "it's supposed to be like that" and "how often do you play up there anyway". I walked out and ended up buying a Taylor 610ce at another dealer. It certainly doesn't sound as nice but the neck is perfectly straight ,plays like a dream and sounds great plugged in.

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Reading the comments so far... I think we're kinda talking several different things - use acoustic for playability and the picker's preferences in tone, use as an AE playability and tone, and then kinda the "i just like this" that includes aesthetics of appearance too.

 

For me... it's been different guitars at different times. Probably the best quality playing and sound would be an acoustic I picked up in Chicago around 1971 or so and then swapped for the first of my two Ovation AEs around '73 or so that I needed for doing "old time" and a country saloon band. I still have the Ovations although they don't get the playing they probably deserve.

 

For pure AE and most of the stuff I've done the past two years "out," laugh if you will, but it's an Epi PR5e. Perfect size and shape for me except I'd prefer the shorter scale. Since it's always played through a board, and the electronics work quite nicely, and Gibson makes nothing similar since the CF100e (and that with mag pup), it's a go-to for cowboy, folkie and "acoustic" jazz material I'm likely to do. it's also really the least expensive I own.

 

Otherwise... I usually take out an archtop.

 

One way or another, though, I'm almost never in a "play it pure acoustic" and all my flattops are AE, even the two nylon-strung boxes.

 

m

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I don't think the Yamaha is under estimated

I'm not sure of the model but I read where the 720?? was the top selling guitar in the world

James Burton says he uses one for acoustic work in the studio, records better than anything else he has used

I think they suffer from the idea that they are only suitable as beginner instruments, so they rarely get considered for lists such as this one (favorite acoustics). They are frequently included in Best acoustics for the money lists. Some people discount them because they manufacture them in China, but it's their own factory, not a sweat shop and they use top notch materials, like aged wood, not inferior, still wet timbers, etc.

 

I took the Martin Factory tour a couple of years ago and I had my wife talked into letting me get a Martin. I tried out every one of the sample guitars in their lobby and the finer ones in the humidity controlled room in the gift shop to see how I liked them. There were some very nice guitars there, however, I didn't find any I liked better than my Yamaha 'A' series or that Gibson I tried out that I listed as my favorite acoustic (I think it was a Hummingbird or Songwriter model). So I passed on my permission to buy a Martin (at the time), although I keep trying them when ever I see them.

 

I think maybe a Martin with the Aura preamp might compare plugged in to the A series Yamaha plugged in, but I don't see that it could be any better, the preamp on the Yamaha sounds fantastic amplified.

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I also have one of those Yamaha's it's a very good guitar. The thing I like about it is that you can play it hard but acoustically it's not very loud so I can practice without disturbing anyone. I think Yamaha's are very much under estimated.

 

Ian

I selected the concert size solid mahogany model instead of the dreadnought or solid rosewood model to give me tighter warmer tone without as much volume or resonance for recording plugged in and live performing plugged in. I'm surprised how much volume and resonance it still has unplugged with mine.

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I have to say its my 1975 yairi dy 90.

This aged laminate jacaranda back and sides has the richest balanced sound with incredible bottom end and complex overtones. Piano like irry sustain. Very comfortable wide neck. Whats really cool is I got it very cheap. I threw in a 30$ fishman pickup and it sounds better in the amp than my other guitars with more exspensive pickups. Its a rare guitar. Cant do it justice by just talking.I will try and do a very amature recording.

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It was a Gibson, but I have no idea which model, and it wasn't mine. A guy I knew many years ago let me play it for a bit. He had "inherited" it in the 60's when he moved into an apartment in Chicago. The previous tenant had become a Hare Krishna and had left all his worldly belongings behind. It was small as I recall, not quite a parlour size, but close. Sunburst I think. It sounded absolutely amazing. I can still hear the sound, although I could never really describe it in words. All I know is that I wish I had one, whatever it was.

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I did a simple cell phone recording of my j45tv and the dy90. Played it through an amp and the 1975 Yairi Dy 90 was more than head and shoulders above. That being said the gibson j45 is better when playing along with music because it rings loud and true.Sounds contradictary I know but thats how it is in my not so humble opinion.

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