Budget Freshman guitar?

daveyh · October 2013

My daughter, who's now 16 has previously dabbled with guitar and bass but at the time it wasn't for her, even though IMHO she had a natural aptitude.Well, she's now into music in a much bigger way and has decided she would quite like an acoustic guitar.

For reasons I won't go into she would like a Freshman. I was thinking the FA1ABK might be good. Anyone got any opinions?

daveyh · October 2013

No one?

rpr · October 2013

Worth reading this thread- http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/1059/cheap-but-decent-sounding-small-body-acoustic-recommendations-please#latest the OP eventually bought a Freshman, but gave his thoughts on similar guitars he tried before deciding.

After I sold my old Gibson acoustic. i picked up a freshman ( I think the non electro/non cutaway version of the one you mentioned) I had intended it to be a make do purchase, so i could take my time deciding on new one. The Freshman was so good I ended up keeping it for a couple of years, even when I bought my Martin, it certainly didn't embarrass itself alongside. I only ended up selling cos I needed the space.

Bidley · October 2013

I bought a Freshman FAsomethingorother (I don't have it to hand to check the model) a couple of years ago, and it really is lovely, certainly for the £75 it cost me. All solid woods, solid cedar top, good hardware, plays like a dream. I'd buy another one any day.

Misterg · October 2013

I was the OP in that thread...

I ended up with a Freshman Renegade, which I think is bottom of the range. It sounds OK/good, rather than stunning (I think it has a laminate top) but was one of the better sounding folk sized ones that I tried within my budget. There are a few sloppy bits on the finishing, but nothing drastic. I believe they come with a lifetime warranty, too. My only niggle is that the string spacing at the bridge is quite narrow. The main thing about it, though is that it plays very nicely indeed.

Deadman · October 2013

I used to have a FA400D. They're more money granted, but it was the best acoustic I've ever owned or played for that matter. Build quality was superb.

ThePrettyDamned · November 2013

My mate has a cheap tanglewood with a solid spruce top. It sounded nasty, but now after 6 years it sounds wonderful, especially for fingerpicking.

I've tried plenty of Freshmans and they've all punched well above the price. Even the cheaper all-laminate ones sounded excellent (I don't think solid top necessarily means better). I preferred the satin finished ones too, but they also come in a nice variety of colours and finishes, which is nice at that price point. Even the electros were good for the money.

Actually, most of them were good full stop - you could double the price and I'd think they were good. I tried one of the £600 ones and a bloke who was playing a £900 takamine or martin (can't remember) came over, asked to have a go and bought it (asking if I was buying first obviously).

scrumhalf · November 2013

I was helping a mate pick out an acoustic for his son this afternoon.

I thought the Vintage V300 was excellent for the money, but there was a £200 Freshman that really sounded great, a bit less strident and mopre rounded than the Vintage, but it was a bigger-body instrument.

I managed to get out of the shop before some personal Gas-age, but I think it's a case of "when", not "if".

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Budget Freshman guitar?

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