I'd like an acoustic that stops me picking up my electrics

bbill335 · April 2018

I've never found an acoustic that hits the spot in the way my favourite electrics do. This means that, even though I try and leave an acoustic out to grab and noodle as and when, I tend to just strum an unplugged electric more often than not and it's not a good habit.

What should I be looking out for? I'd like something:
-Small body
-small neck with a narrow nut (41mm or less would be ideal)
-less than £300
-slightly esoteric like a lawsuit or old European brand

I'm not bothered about whether it's a flat top, resonator, archtop, nylon strung as long as it makes me want to play

richardhomer · April 2018

Beyond your budget - though shouldn’t be too far off if bought used - the obvious answer is a Taylor GS Mini.

meltedbuzzbox · April 2018

An used Faith guitar?

Phil_aka_Pip · April 2018

not your budget, but Epiphone Masterbilt Century archtop. Try the Zenith. 'kin excellent - will stop you playing electric!

bbill335 · April 2018

richardhomer said:

Beyond your budget - though shouldn’t be too far off if bought used - the obvious answer is a Taylor GS Mini.

I've seen these recommended here and there but I'm yet to bump into one. Need to get off my butt and into a music shop.

sticker · April 2018

another vote for Taylor GS mini here , since I got mine it's my go to guitar .

fastonebaz · April 2018

An ibanez ep9 euphoria. Mine plays like an electric virtually.

TonyR · April 2018

Taylor GS Mini hands down, big sound for such a small guitar.

Get off your lazy ass boy and try one out!

BigLicks67 · April 2018

GS mini's may be fine guitars but they find their way into the classifieds with alarming regularity.
My suggestion is to buy a Martin D28, bask in the rich expansive sound and realise it's there without fiddling with tone controls, pedal boards or assorted other settings, all you have
to do is pick it up and play it : >

Phil_aka_Pip · April 2018

BigLicks67 said:

GS mini's may be fine guitars but they find their way into the classifieds with alarming regularity.
My suggestion is to buy a Martin D28, bask in the rich expansive sound and realise it's there without fiddling with tone controls, pedal boards or assorted other settings, all you after to do is pick it up and play it : >

nice guitars but a bit outside his budget, methinketh

sw67 · April 2018

Up until last year i just didn't do acoustics. I tried a few over the years and had a GS mini that was sold on after the novelty wore off. I now have a Gibson J35 that i just cant put down. Way over budget but perhaps a used epiphone would be worth trying.

steveh · April 2018

I don't want to sound a total cock but it might be hard to find an acoustic that stops you picking up your electrics with a budget of £300. That sort of budget goes a lot further for an electric than it will for an acoustic. You're not relying on pickups, effects etc.; you're dependent on the quality of the wood, how lightly it's been built, and how it resonates to get you the compexity of tone/overtones etc. that stop you putting it down. New, that's hard at 300, where the guitars are being chucked out of factories.

I'd had loads of cheaper acoustics over the years (nylon and steel string) but kept going back to my electrics until I got a really good acoustic (a Lowden). That was transformative for me - I stopped playing electric pretty much overnight.

A really good acoustic is a thing of great, great beauty. Even if you don't have the budget for one at the moment, try a few just so you know what you're shooting for. There can be some great used bargains out there, especially in this climate.

Kilgore · April 2018

You might have a hard time finding an acoustic with 41mm nut.

How about a Gretsch Jim Dandy? Not the best strummer, more suited to blues noodling but under £200.

Sigma do some good value 000 and parlours. The 000m hog top is a great sofa guitar.

Phil_aka_Pip · April 2018

Kilgore said:

You might have a hard time finding an acoustic with 41mm nut.

How about a Gretsch Jim Dandy? Not the best strummer, more suited to blues noodling but under £200.

Sigma do some good value 000 and parlours. The 000m hog top is a great sofa guitar.

You could do a lot worse than a Jim Dandy, especially if on a tight budget. They sound a lot better than the price tag says they should and they handle reasonably well. I have one. If there are any reservations they are in the intonation dept. You'll need new strings and a good setup job from a tech that knows what (s)he's doing.

DiscoStu · April 2018

A second hand Breedlove might fit your bill. Narrower necks than some, quite like an electric.

BigLicks67 · April 2018

Phil_aka_Pip said:

BigLicks67 said:

GS mini's may be fine guitars but they find their way into the classifieds with alarming regularity.
My suggestion is to buy a Martin D28, bask in the rich expansive sound and realise it's there without fiddling with tone controls, pedal boards or assorted other settings, all you after to do is pick it up and play it : >

nice guitars but a bit outside his budget, methinketh

Perhaps, he should buy my LL6 in the classifieds then ☺

bbill335 · April 2018

I'm not someone who fusses around the sound of acoustics because I only play them in the house, so my focus is on comfort and affordability.

Kilgore said:

You might have a hard time finding an acoustic with 41mm nut.

I could probably manage a 43mm but the reason I thought an MIJ/lawsuit brand might be appropriate is that japanese guitars tend to be made with smaller necks (from my experience with MIJ vs MIM/A Fender types).

rustneversleeps · April 2018

Sigma is definitely worth a look at with your budget.Many models to choose from and nice for the money.Good Luck.

SlopeSoarer · April 2018

Reidys in Blackburn had a used SIGMA 00R-28VS for £340... it was a really nice guitar, I nearly had it: )

Winny_Pooh · April 2018

GS mini. Really fun, confortable and not overwhelmingly loud. I play mine more than my Gibson.

Grunfeld · April 2018

GS mini was a game changer for me too: it's physically so pick-up-able.
That meant I actually played it rather than looked at it.
Which meant that I started playing material which was "acoustic" rather than electric noodlings played on an acoustic.
Which meant that I eventually went and got a nice nylon acoustic and that's my go-to guitar these days.

jellyroll · April 2018

I had the opposite experience with a GS mini. I thought it sounded so awful it actually had the effect of putting me off playing acoustic.

Each to his own, etc.

octatonic · April 2018

Find a £200 used acoustic and spend £100 on a setup/nut/saddle.

Rigid_Digits · April 2018

Get a Jim Dandy. The most fun to play guitar I have.

TimmyO · April 2018

Yep I think the GS Mini is good as a gateway guitar to a proper acoustic

Lardy · April 2018

Yamaha tuna can?

Esoteric martin copy......

Not sure of price though

jakzek · April 2018

Gs mini for me as well. Can't put it down, leave it in the living room and always end up sat on the sofa playing for hours without realising while the tv is on.

Comes with elixir 13's as standard which I haven't changed yet and they have really improved the strength in my fretting hand/fingers. Now when I pick up one of my electrics they feel so much easier to play.

donbot · April 2018

Anyone tried the Ibanez Artwood guitars? Saw a video of the AVN9 and 10; both sounded pretty good for what they are...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUwyeYV1Yjs

bbill335 · April 2018

@HarrySeven do you know of any old MIJ acoustic models with small necks & bodies? Are acoustics not your thing?

bbill335 · April 2018

donbot said:

Anyone tried the Ibanez Artwood guitars? Saw a video of the AVN9 and 10; both sounded pretty good for what they are...

They certainly look nice!

stickyfiddle · April 2018

bbill335 said:

donbot said:

Anyone tried the Ibanez Artwood guitars? Saw a video of the AVN9 and 10; both sounded pretty good for what they are...

They certainly look nice!

That slothead 12-fretter looks absolutely brilliant.

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I'd like an acoustic that stops me picking up my electrics

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