£350 for an electro acoustic - what do I want?

markslade07 · June 2020

So with pretty much all gigs now cancelled, my band is looking at doing some acoustic stuff, possibly back garden/ driveway gigs. I don’t have an electro acoustic but it’s a minefield at this price point. I want it to be mainly a versatile strummer, not bothered by finger style (I have a little parlour for that). I’ll probably be running into a PA and can go through my HX effects too.

i spotted Peach doing Yamaha LL6s for £399 but they would need a preamp which is going to push the budget too high. They also have an FGX800C for £349, or an APX600 for £289. But then Sigma, Faith etc etc....

I’m pretty clueless on acoustics and will be buying blind so, well, heeeellllppppp!

TheBigDipper · June 2020

FWIW, the HX FX does a decent enough job at being the preamp for an acoustic with a passive pickup (like the K&Ks I use in my acoustics). If you don't like the pickup tone your guitar gives you, you can always try an acoustic guitar IR at the end of the chain, too! :-)

APXs are decent and "electric guitarist" friendly.

I use a FlyRig Acoustic when playing solo or with my mate in our little duo, not the HX FX, but that's just because it's small and light and the HX FX is velcro'd and connected to everything else on my electric guitar pedal board. If I'd had a spare HX FX I'd have happily used it.

markslade07 · June 2020

TheBigDipper said:

FWIW, the HX FX does a decent enough job at being the preamp for an acoustic with a passive pickup (like the K&Ks I use in my acoustics). If you don't like the pickup tone your guitar gives you, you can always try an acoustic guitar IR at the end of the chain, too! :-)

APXs are decent and "electric guitarist" friendly.

I use a FlyRig Acoustic when playing solo or with my mate in our little duo, not the HX FX, but that's just because it's small and light and the HX FX is velcro'd and connected to everything else on my electric guitar pedal board. If I'd had a spare HX FX I'd have happily used it.

Ah ok, I didn't know I could use the HX FX as a pre amp....interesting....

I had an APX (maybe a 500? I can't remember) many years ago and you're right, it was electric guitar friendly...unplugged, it sounded like crap though, but that's not going to be the main purpose for this

TheBigDipper · June 2020

markslade07 said:

TheBigDipper said:

FWIW, the HX FX does a decent enough job at being the preamp for an acoustic with a passive pickup (like the K&Ks I use in my acoustics). If you don't like the pickup tone your guitar gives you, you can always try an acoustic guitar IR at the end of the chain, too! :-)

APXs are decent and "electric guitarist" friendly.

I use a FlyRig Acoustic when playing solo or with my mate in our little duo, not the HX FX, but that's just because it's small and light and the HX FX is velcro'd and connected to everything else on my electric guitar pedal board. If I'd had a spare HX FX I'd have happily used it.

Ah ok, I didn't know I could use the HX FX as a pre amp....interesting....

I had an APX (maybe a 500? I can't remember) many years ago and you're right, it was electric guitar friendly...unplugged, it sounded like crap though, but that's not going to be the main purpose for this

I don't understand the electronics too well, but my K&K pickups need to be plugged into the right impedance (1megOhm?) or they sound poor. The K&K preamp is great, the FlyRig is great and (I was surprised) the HX FX also great. Plugging straight into the desk or an audio interface (to record) was not.

ICBM · June 2020

I would get the guitar you like and not worry about the electrics as long as it has a pickup.

Almost any electric guitar pedal will have an input impedance around 1M ohm - if it’s a buffered pedal it doesn’t even have to be turned on - something like a Boss tuner will do perfectly as a basic preamp. The reason you can’t plug a passive pickup straight into a desk is because the inputs are typically 10-100K.

It’s unlikely you will need a sophisticated preamp for playing through a small PA in your driveway anyway... it’s pretty much going to sound the same no matter what you use, and no-one is going to notice too much.

Personally, I detest Yamaha APXs - the LL or FG would be a much better guitar. I also like most Tanglewood and Crafter guitars I’ve played.

thomasw88 · June 2020

I'd be inclined to go for a guitar around £200- £250 ie second hand tanglewood, simon and patrick for example. Then I'd spend the rest on a LR baggs M1 or M80 pickup. They are super sounding pickups and you don't get feedback from them.

Something like this is a bit over budget, but they are superb guitars and are all solid.. I have a TW15ns and it sounds absolutely fantastic.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TANGLEWOOD-TW15NS-ACOUSTIC-GUITAR-HISCOX-LITEFLITE-HARD-CASE-Excellent-Cond/274407372111?hash=item3fe3f4354f:g:PTIAAOSw6mZe82oq

Andyjr1515 · June 2020

ICBM said:

Almost any electric guitar pedal will have an input impedance around 1M ohm - if it’s a buffered pedal it doesn’t even have to be turned on - something like a Boss tuner will do perfectly as a basic preamp.

Another gem of knowledge. I love this forum. Thanks @ICBM

markslade07 · June 2020

Andyjr1515 said:

ICBM said:

Almost any electric guitar pedal will have an input impedance around 1M ohm - if it’s a buffered pedal it doesn’t even have to be turned on - something like a Boss tuner will do perfectly as a basic preamp.

Another gem of knowledge. I love this forum. Thanks @ICBM

Agreed...never knew that!

WindmillGuitars · June 2020

@markslade07 ;Eastman PCHGA-ce is worth a look - drop me a line

earwighoney · June 2020

WindmillGuitars said:

@markslade07 ;Eastman PCHGA-ce is worth a look - drop me a line

Or another Eastman PCH model eg the OM and get a K&K Pure Mini etc put it.

markslade07 · June 2020

WindmillGuitars said:

@markslade07 ;;Eastman PCHGA-ce is worth a look - drop me a line

I'll have a look, though I need to be careful on your website as I keep eyeing up that Fano SP6 Std you just got in.....

Thanks for the heads up

WindmillGuitars · June 2020

@markslade07 the LPB colour is pretty special! Just shout if if you need anything

Universal8 · June 2020

PRS TX20E . Project Music have them for £399.

I know that’s slightly over your budget but they’re great guitars.

markslade07 · June 2020

Universal8 said:

PRS TX20E . Project Music have them for £399.
I know that’s slightly over your budget but they’re great guitars.

Hadn’t considered a PRS to be honest...will go and have a squiz!

Schnozz · June 2020

Andyjr1515 said:

ICBM said:

Almost any electric guitar pedal will have an input impedance around 1M ohm - if it’s a buffered pedal it doesn’t even have to be turned on - something like a Boss tuner will do perfectly as a basic preamp.

Another gem of knowledge. I love this forum. Thanks @ICBM

He is very, very good - I find myself looking out for ICBM comments now.

Creed_Clicks · June 2020

seagull, sigma, tanglewood

Jimbro66 · June 2020

Tanglewood can actually be very nice guitars but a) you definitely need to try before buying because QC can be variable and b) they lose a lot of money off new price if you decide to sell. That means used ones can be quite a bargain.

i sold a Tanglewood jumbo electro-acoustic last week that I wasn’t using. It was all solid woods and sounded/played really good. Originally would have cost north of £800. I let it go for £200 and after a quick play the guy was beaming from ear to ear and rushed off with it in case I changed my mind

King85 · June 2020

I picked up one of the Faith Naked Saturn Electro on Tuesday and really like it, they're on sale at gg for £380 at the moment.

markslade07 · June 2020

King85 said:

I picked up one of the Faith Naked Saturn Electro on Tuesday and really like it, they're on sale at gg for £380 at the moment.

Ooh....I’ve already got the Faith Naked Mercury and love it....good spot...thanks!

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£350 for an electro acoustic - what do I want?

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