Recommend me a new acoustic guitar

Lodious · April 2014

I'm currently playing a Martin D16-GT. I really like the sound of it, but the neck profile is just too skinny, and I'm finding it less and less comfortable as I get older. Has anybody got and recommendations for something to replace it with which has a similar tone, but a fatter neck?

I have owned a Taylor 410 in the past, and hated the sound (too bright). I have also tried Lowden's, which again seemed very bright, and I didn't like. I prefer the mellower tones which Martins have. , so I'm probably not too picky about little details. I play with 12's, if that makes any difference.

Budget wise, probably about a grand, and quite happy to buy s/h. Could probably stretch to a little more, but I'm not a great acoustic player, so it's probably overkill.

xSkarloey · April 2014

Have you tried Gibsons?

My personal favourite is the J-45. It has a lovely balanced sound across the range. The neck is very comfortable too.

2nd hand could be in your budget. Of course the looks might not be to your tastes.

thermionic · April 2014

There's a lovely Larrivee in the classifieds at the moment which I'm lusting after...

crunchman · April 2014

Some of the higher end Martins in the Vintage series have big necks like the old ones they are modelled after. If you could find the extra money to get one then they are stunning.

Stonebridge/Furch (I believe they have changed back to the Furch name now) make Martin style guitars that are very high quality, but without the Martin price tag. The ones I've played haven't had huge necks though - they are not really skinny but they haven't been big.

I don't know if you could find a second hand one from a British maker. I've played Atkin and Moon guitars that were stunning. You might find one second hand close to your budget. Avoid Brook though - their necks are very shallow.

noisepolluter · April 2014

Skarloey said:

Have you tried Gibsons?

My personal favourite is the J-45. It has a lovely balanced sound across the range. The neck is very comfortable too.

2nd hand could be in your budget. Of course the looks might not be to your tastes.

Was just thinking the same as I read this. The J-45 definitely can't be accused of being overly bright - it's very mid focused (bear in mind that there's also less low end than square shouldered dreads such as the D16-GT). Both strumming and fingerpicking are definitely on the mellow, middy side of things. Since I've had mine I've spent quite a lot of time trying different plectrum thicknesses/materials and different fingernail lengths if I need a little bit more definition.

I also find the neck extremely comfortable, though I wouldn't say it's got a fat neck. Definitely quite an easy action compared to most other acoustics I've played.

I've not played the D16-GT so couldn't say how it compares.

I'd have thought £1000-1100 would get you a second hand one - they do seem to vary a fair bit cosmetically, tonally and in terms of build so definitely try a few. Mine for instance has virtually no sunburst at all - it just looks like they were trying to spray it flat black and ran out of paint! I also suspect the finish on mine is on the thick side - it's starting to thin out in the usual points of contact now though.

chrisj1602 · April 2014

The new Gibson J15?

ToneControl · April 2014

Try Larrivees, you can get some really nice ones for £1k or so

Get to frailers

Lodious · April 2014

I had honestly never thought of Gibson, sounds like a good suggestion. I've have never really played one of their acoustics, sounds like I need too. I do like the appearance of them though. Is Frailers a good shop for acoustics? I used to go there years ago, and their selection of electrics was never great, and I was never really into acoustic guitars. Always a pleasure to visit Runcorn though :-) Are Larrivees bright? I always assumed they were similar to Taylors (probably not for any good reason though)

ToneControl · April 2014

Frailers have the best selection of used acoustics in the whole UK AFAIK

Larrivee do dark and bright guitars

I hated my 314ce, but kept my Larrivees - nicer than Taylors I think, and even kept my SD60 Larrivee when I went up market

Their stocklist is all online

BigLicks67 · April 2014

crunchman said:

Some of the higher end Martins in the Vintage series have big necks like the old ones they are modelled after. If you could find the extra money to get one then they are stunning.

Try the D18V or D28V. I have an OM 18V and the neck is a large soft V shape. Try before you buy though as some people don't get on with these necks. As Crunchman says they are excellent guitars.

crunchman · April 2014

I think it's HD28V rather than D28V unless they have changed their range. If you want a smaller body the OOO28EC is really good if you can put up with the signature inlay on the 12th fret, and the fake tan colour. That has a bigger neck than the HD28V as well.

I'd echo the try before you buy though. Some of them are better than others. I've never played a bad one, but it can be the difference between "This is a really good guitar" and "This is the best acoustic I've ever played"

ToneControl · April 2014

Frailers have plenty of used Martins usually as well (and Gibsons, etc)

Lodious · April 2014

Thanks for all the suggestions :-). There is a shop in Nottingham (Dave Mann music) which looks like a pretty good acoustic guitar shop, I might stop by once Easter is out the way. They also have a tech who works with the shop so I could take mine down to see if the setup could be improved (I don't think by much though, it's been done once and I think it's pretty close to as good as it's gonna get.).

ToneControl · April 2014

Lodious said:

Thanks for all the suggestions :-). There is a shop in Nottingham (Dave Mann music) which looks like a pretty good acoustic guitar shop, I might stop by once Easter is out the way. They also have a tech who works with the shop so I could take mine down to see if the setup could be improved (I don't think by much though, it's been done once and I think it's pretty close to as good as it's gonna get.).

Sounds like a good start

bear in mind the sheer number of used guitars at Frailers means you can save a couple of years worth of going to other shops, they must have 100 or so used guitars I reckon: http://www.frailers.com/scripts/pricelist.asp

Another place to take a day trip to is: in Brighton: http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/guitar-luithers.html

He has about 50-100 absolute top notch guitars in stock - mostly new, typically costing £3k-£6k, so no good for your current budget but well worth a trip to be able to make future plans

daveww · April 2014

I'm enjoying my Gibson songwriter deluxe ec but I'd recommend you try some Guilds as well if you can.

Lodious · April 2014

That's interesting, I tried a Guild about 20 years ago (coincidently in Frailers) and really liked it. They appear to have dropped of the map a little bit, are they still building decent guitars?

daveww · April 2014

They still build great guitars. I've tried a few and I'd even recommend there Chinese GAD range but your after something a bit higher end.

AuldReekie · April 2014

Coincidentaly, I also owned a Taylor 410 and was less than enamoured with it, not really impressed by Taylors full stop - no subtlety. In the price range you are talking about, Larrivees all the way, even their less expensive models are way better than anything else in the price range. I have three of them now, albeit higher end models. If you can fins an OM09 second hand, it might get it for £1K. Widish neck and as an orchestra model, a good all rounder

wrinkleygit · April 2014

I went down a similar route recently, sold my taylor mini as it cramped by left hand after about 10 mins playing, tried a '58 gibson lg1 in vintage & rare, bath, felt perfect with a nice chubby neck, they also had a 60's model which was nowhere near as nice, however I was worried about how fragile a 50 year old guitar might be & walked away. Next step was to visit every guitar shop that I passed in the westcountry & played instruments new & s/h with values from £200 up to £5k only to discover that since the 60's to the present most necks are the slimmer variety, finally picked up a martin 000-28ec & couldn't put it down,also tried a std 000-28 which is a very different guitar, went back a week later,tried it again & it still felt perfect,four months later I still play it every day, before I go to work & when I get back in the evening. Remember you're playing the guitar not the signature inlay, the v neck might not suit you but keep looking & playing until you find the holy grail, best of luck in your quest, mike b.

xSkarloey · April 2014

Forget to mention Takamine.

Very, very comfortable necks on those.

woody · April 2014

lowden too bright? did you play a koa or maple one? ive had loads of em and bright wouldn't be how id describe them, anyway im with crunchman here,furch/Stanford are exceptional,although they are very lightly braced so you've got to be pretty careful with them. at higher price range id recommend small martin. 00028 or mcilroys(although if your not a fan of lowden you may not like these either....)

richardhomer · April 2014

Frailers is a great place - staff are knowledgeable, stock is massive and prices are very fair.

Most makers have increasingly gone down the skinnier neck route in recent years, due to the sales success of Taylor - which consistently play superbly.

Pre '85 (before they introduced the low-profile neck) Martins are worth a look and 70s Westerly Guilds have bigger necks. Some older Gibsons actually have very skinny necks - so do make sure you play the actual guitar you are thinking of buying.

ICBM · April 2014

Skarloey said:

Forget to mention Takamine.

That's definitely the best advice.

I would try a Guild for a thicker-sounding guitar with a bigger neck. They don't hold their value as well as the other big names either for some reason.

strtdv · April 2014

Try a Furch or Stonebridge. I've heard that the weights vary considerably but when you get a good one it'll be a keeper. Great sounding, mine is mahogany and cedar and they have a 3 nut width options at no extra cost.
All solid model will cost under £800, and they're made in Europe (Czech republic)

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Recommend me a new acoustic guitar

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