I want a new acoustic, but I'm skint!

Drew_TNBD · July 2015

Money a bit tight right now, so can't really afford to splash out... but my current acoustic just sounds a bit naff. It needs a proper set up, with the bridge area probably heavily needing addressing and a brand new nut. I'm not sure the outlay is really worth it... so I'm wondering if I should get a cheap acoustic to replace it?

RHC recommended the Vintage stuff, but none of it comes in left handed, so kinda outta luck there.

Any recommendations? Less than £200, coz as I say... cash is tiiiight.

bluechargeboy · July 2015

If your acoustic is quite old then most new ones will be better in terms of playability. I played all price ranges when I was looking around and most were fine, no cheese graters. You pay more for sound quality of course. Stuff like Epiphone, Farida, Yamaha etc. are decent enough. Acoustics really need to be tried out IMO. Go second-hand if you can! I have to say I don't know what the second-hand market is like for inexpensive recent-model left-handed acoustics.

Drew_TNBD · July 2015

Yeah mate, the one I have is an 80's Ibanez one. So it's quite old now, and does play like a cheese grater!

Gagaryn · July 2015

I'll be selling a Blueridge BR-343 in the next week or so if that is any interest - sounds nice and very playable. Same is this one http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/BR343.htm and comes with fitted hardcase. Would be a wee bit more than you are budgeting for but could maybe agree a price.

Deijavoo · July 2015

I'm sure you could get a Taylor Big Baby used for that. I got a new one ten years ago for £349, well as a birthday present from the now Mrs Voo. I still use it a lot, great great guitar for the money.

stimpsonslostson · July 2015

"RHC recommended the Vintage stuff, but none of it comes in left handed, so kinda outta luck there."

There's this:

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/vintage-lh-v300-folk-left-handed-natural/17996?gclid=CNTZz7Dh6cYCFQX3wgodvi0NJQ

Great wee guitars.

Gagaryn · July 2015

Oops - i missed the lefty bit - mine is the right way round!

crunchman · July 2015

I helped a friend buy an Ashton for his daughter for around £150 that was very good. I don't know if they come in left handed though.

guitarfishbay · July 2015

I have been impressed by some Cort acoustics in that kind of price range. The one my mate has is really pretty good and is a low end model with just solid top I think.

hightowersdeepwells · July 2015

Deijavoo;709520" said:
I'm sure you could get a Taylor Big Baby used for that. I got a new one ten years ago for £349, well as a birthday present from the now Mrs Voo. I still use it a lot, great great guitar for the money.

Definitely a great acoustic at this price point if you can bag one used. Totally stopped my acoustic search in its tracks. I love mine to bits & I'm yet to play an acoustic under 3 or 4 times the price that I like more.

olafgarten · July 2015

Sigma should do a nice acoustic for that money.

octatonic · July 2015

Why not get your existing one set up by someone who knows what they are doing?

With acoustic guitars setup is the most important factor, once you've established there are no structural issues.

Drew_TNBD · July 2015

octatonic said:

Why not get your existing one set up by someone who knows what they are doing?
With acoustic guitars setup is the most important factor, once you've established there are no structural issues.

Coz I reckon it'd be more than just buying a new one tbh!

Jez6345789 · July 2015

Acoustics are funny things I was amazed how well my old yamaha from the 70's came up after a bit of fettling by someone who knew what he was doing with acoustics.

I had a new bone nut cut, new bone bridge, and think he shaved the bridge to improve some angle or other, frets levelled due to 30 years of play wear. Did it for 140 quid. He works at such a speed I doubt it took him more than a couple of hours, sadly he is retired now.

Ibanez might well have some good wood as was often the case. I have played a couple of nice Ibby acoustics.

regards jez

octatonic · July 2015

Drew_fx said:

octatonic said:

Why not get your existing one set up by someone who knows what they are doing?
With acoustic guitars setup is the most important factor, once you've established there are no structural issues.

Coz I reckon it'd be more than just buying a new one tbh!

Which will also need setting up, mostly likely.

A decent setup should only be £50-100 or so anyway, depending on what needs doing.

Even if it is a new bone nut and saddle it would be extortionate.

I doubt you can buy a quality lefty acoustic guitar for that sort of money.

redrighthand · July 2015

I have one of these: http://www.coda-music.com/blueridge-bg140-secondhand-p-21369.html Coda want £499. I'd sell it for what I bought it for in here, a bargainous £225. Would need to work out delivery charges / logistics. Here's the original thread. http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/30129/ There's some rather nasty buckle rash (perhaps 2 year old with a sharp toy rash) on the back of it, plus the nut looks rather amateurish and there's a bit off buzz so it could probably use some tlc at some point. But it's cheap for what it is. If it's of interest let me know and I'll sort some pics.

redrighthand · July 2015

Oops. Missed the lefty bit too.

Moss · July 2015

This looks pretty nice - http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/acoustic_guitars_detail.asp?stock=14012216181158&gclid=COuPyt2k7cYCFc7HtAodFaQEMg

Sassafras · July 2015

I've played a lot of Ibanezes and they've all been pretty good, even the cheap ones are really good value. I'm sat here looking at an entry level one that cost me about 40 quid and it's surprisingly good.

Gru · July 2015

Richards guitars does some lower end cort guitars. I am sure some are LH and also include a setup.

midlifecrisis · July 2015

i second the vintage range, i have a ve 500 and v300 both can be had second hand for 80 and 130 respectively and both are available 2nd hand tho might be a bit thinner on the ground

stickyfiddle · July 2015

Could you do the old McCartney lefty/righty switcheroo? Easier on acoustic than electric.

http://s61.podbean.com/pb/eafaade571c075db66893ed539db9a54/55b33fa1/data1/blogs32/598534/uploads/PaulMcCartneyAcoustic.jpg

Rox · July 2015

@Drew_fx - I've been looking for a decent acoustic for years, and struggled to find what I really wanted soundwise.

Then, I pulled the trigger - on a whim - on a '92 Epiphone EJ200. Thanks to the name on the headstock, they're cheap.

It's bloody brilliant. In my search, I'd played some much more expensive acoustics - but nothing sounds like this EJ200 does. Well within your budget as long as you can look past the 'E' word on the headstock.

It booms when strummed, it shimmers when picked, and does everything else in between.

I wish I'd tried one years ago, it would have saved me a lot of time; but I was convinced that at that price point (and being an Epi) it wouldn't be up to much.

Boy was I wrong!!

Drew_TNBD · July 2015

Rox said:

@Drew_fx - I've been looking for a decent acoustic for years, and struggled to find what I really wanted soundwise.

Then, I pulled the trigger - on a whim - on a '92 Epiphone EJ200. Thanks to the name on the headstock, they're cheap.

It's bloody brilliant. In my search, I'd played some much more expensive acoustics - but nothing sounds like this EJ200 does. Well within your budget as long as you can look past the 'E' word on the headstock.

It booms when strummed, it shimmers when picked, and does everything else in between.

I wish I'd tried one years ago, it would have saved me a lot of time; but I was convinced that at that price point (and being an Epi) it wouldn't be up to much.

Boy was I wrong!!

Yeah man, Epiphone make decent enough guitars. I'll see if there are any lefties hanging around.

guitarfishbay · July 2015

Jumbos are awesome, but some people find them too big. Have you tried one Drew?

Drew_TNBD · July 2015

I haven't. My current one is a dreadnought style.

guitarfishbay · July 2015

Do you play with it on your picking hand leg when sat down? Do you ever find the dreadnaught uncomfortable? A jumbo will be bigger.

I've got fairly long arms but still prefer to play my jumbo on a strap hanging between my legs. Or sometimes on my fretting hand leg. It is usually ok on my picking hand leg but if I slouch then I'll end up in a bit of discomfort in my shoulder after a while, so I've stopped doing it.

Tonally I think they're worth it, they have an open and balanced sound that is pretty big, but they're not as bassy/punchy as a comparable dreadnaught for certain styles. For punchy strumming stuff a dreadnaught is still tough to beat. I like most styles of acoustic but tonally I find the Jumbos the most versatile, they sound big for strumming but still have nice balance for picking. A lot of the acoustic instrumental guys (like Andy McKee etc) use Jumbos.

Drew_TNBD · July 2015

I don't really find it uncomfortable to be honest. It's mostly the neck that I am disliking.

Drew_TNBD · July 2015

Hmmmm.... I'm quite fancying one with a cutaway so I can get some better high note access.

ennspek · August 2015

I've had a Vintage V300 for years. Brilliant for the money and I think you can get a lefty.

hobbio · August 2015

What about Crafter? I've heard good things about them and they have loads of lefty options.

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