Specific Acoustic under £1000

Stevepage · November 2014

I'm seriously considering taking up Acoustic guitar so I've been looking about for something relatively affordable but with good build quality.

I've narrowed it down to what I'm looking for

*Solid woods, no laminates

*No pickup

*Satin finish, I don't like glossy acoustics

*Not too big

*Something that would suit finger picking

I've looked at Taylors but I'm struggling to find something that matches what I'm looking for. Any help? can be new or used.

spacecadet · November 2014

Check out the Breedlove or Larrivee range. Both spectacular.

ICBM · November 2014

Martin 000-16GT.

They do have a gloss top - although not too shiny - but satin back, sides & neck.

Not *quite* under £1000 - most of the shops are listing them at £1079 - but that's not too far out, and you'd get a second hand or ex-demo one for less.

dindude · November 2014

I would have thought the newish Taylor 324 or 322, both mahogany top, tick a lot of your boxes.

I have a now discontinued Taylor GA4 which has satin back and sides, gloss top, all solid, non electric. Cost a little over a grand two years ago and it's a belter.

Here's the 322, around £900, I love the look of it. In fact the Gas is quite string on this one, I must now stop looking.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n505/dindude/1041564986de193a94bb0991aa88f7da_zps9a06a5f6.jpg

Tone71 · November 2014

dindude said:

I would have thought the newish Taylor 324 or 322, both mahogany top, tick a lot of your boxes.

I have a now discontinued Taylor GA4 which has satin back and sides, gloss top, all solid, non electric. Cost a little over a grand two years ago and it's a belter.

Here's the 322, around £900, I love the look of it. In fact the Gas is quite string on this one, I must now stop looking.

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n505/dindude/1041564986de193a94bb0991aa88f7da_zps9a06a5f6.jpg

This.....absolutely lovely, ticks so many boxes.

Budgie · November 2014

You could check out a Martin 00015. Solid mahogany, smaller size and satin finish. You should easily find a used one for quite a lot less than your budget.

I was looking at these but ended up in a shop in Truro a couple of months ago whilst on holiday and walked out with an OM1GT, which is miles away from what I actually intended (similar check list to your own) but it sounded ace and I preferred it to a D15M burst and one or two others. Gloss top, stratabond neck (which I actually quite like) and richlite fingerboard, all seemed a bit meh, but as I say, it sounds lovely and that's what mattered to me more in the end!

guitargeek62 · November 2014

I played a couple of those 322's recently against a 114ce and a 214ce Dlx, I have to say that as nice as the 322 was, the sound didn't quite cut it for me - plus the nut was fractionally narrower which made fingerpicking a bit tricky.

That said, the 214ce Dlx* was stunning; I've had a basic 214 before, but this has some upgrades in that the back & sides are gloss, and the pickup is from a higher model.... so probably not the guitar for you!

I personally wouldn't worry too much about laminatee sides, or even the back (depending on the bracing) but as long as the top is solid then you can sit safe in the knowledge that it'll only get better over time.

*I'm very tempted to buy one of the Koa ones soon

TinLip · November 2014

Budgie said:

You could check out a Martin 00015. Solid mahogany, smaller size and satin finish. You should easily find a used one for quite a lot less than your budget.

I was looking at these but ended up in a shop in Truro a couple of months ago whilst on holiday and walked out with an OM1GT, which is miles away from what I actually intended (similar check list to your own) but it sounded ace and I preferred it to a D15M burst and one or two others. Gloss top, stratabond neck (which I actually quite like) and richlite fingerboard, all seemed a bit meh, but as I say, it sounds lovely and that's what mattered to me more in the end!

^ ^ This. Get the 000-15M. It is solid wood (mahogany) and one of the smaller-bodied Martins. It is deceptively light and bright, even considering it is a 'parlour' style guitar and tends to have some muddy tones.

crunchman · November 2014

Furch/Stonebridge are definitely worth a look.

FelineGuitars · November 2014

I was playing a very nice Faith the other day and was very impressed (and tempted)

AuldReekie · November 2014

Larrivee all the way

xmrchi · November 2014

For me Japanese takamines rival any other :-)

xHymnal · November 2014

Could easily find a Martin 000-15M for that price. They are really excellent and sound great!

richardhomer · November 2014

If you're not keen on laminates, you should be aware that some lower-end Martins have Micarta fingerboards and bridges:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micarta

Personally I would rather have a solid wood fingerboard on a guitar with laminated back and sides, than a composite fingerboard and solid back and sides.

Is probably worth noting that many prized 'Westerley' Guilds had pressed laminate backs.

Taylor's Mexican lines (Baby, Big Baby, GS Mini, 100 & 200) are laminated but generally sound very good.

the_twin · November 2014

Larrivee OM 02 or 03

Freebird · November 2014

Take a trip out to Brno

>-

matdotcodot · November 2014

These are really nice all solid guitars for the money, and satin finished.

http://rguitars.co.uk/products/gs-20-cm-c

strtdv · November 2014

I would second trying out a Furch.

The 20 series as suggested above is a Mahogany/Cedar combination and sounds wonderful, really nice for fingerstyle, or the 21 series is identical with an Ovankol/Spruce combination.

Both are under £1000, and AFAIK you can specify the neck width as well on a lot of the models.

Larrivee also seem to be highly rated at that price point, but I've not personally tried them.

Freebird · November 2014

strtdv said:

I would second trying out a Furch.

I recommend a trip to Brno, the prices there are competative and you'll get to play a bunch of models in their showroom. Nice beer too!

underdog · November 2014

FelineGuitars;400912" said:
I was playing a very nice Faith the other day and was very impressed (and tempted)

Beat me to it, you've got to try a faith in whatever price range you're shopping in.

ChrisCox1994 · November 2014

I picked up an Alvarez masterworks MFA70, all solid, natural finish, fooled some real old time martin owners it was a lot for expensive than it is...

stuartryanmusic · November 2014

I'd second Stonebridge and L'Arrivee and also Lakewood if you can find them over here.

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Specific Acoustic under £1000

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