Acoustic for a guy that always plays electrics...

Jack_ · August 2016

I want to get an acoustic guitar, but I've always found full size dreadnoughts to be unwieldy and awkward.

Also, I've not played many acoustics, but most of the ones I have played have been cheaper, and have fairly high action and a lot of string tension.

I'm looking for an acoustic that I can pick up and play, but want it to be nice to play.

Where should I be looking? I don't want to spend too much, probably about £200, maybe more for the right guitar, and I prefer going used to get more for my money.

3/4, thinline, cutaway shapes?

Also, I much prefer the look of dark woods, like mahogany and koa.

Jalapeno · August 2016

Taylors were originally designed for electric players, and if you don't like dreadnoughts checkout Concert or OM styles with or without cutaways (and onboard preamps).

Jack_ · August 2016

How are the 3/4 guitars when sat down? I'm thinking my hand position is going to be lower than normal?

Baby Taylor's are definitely on my radar.

octatonic · August 2016

Buy a good one then then learn how to play it.
I'm not being sarcastic (for once).

Playing acoustic is quite a different set of skills- if you are already a decent electric player then you can adapt but don't think you can just start playing acoustic using your existing techniques and it will sound good.
It probably won't.

I favour 000 style instruments, I'm not much into dreadnoughts but if you are a strummer then you might prefer one.

Danny1969 · August 2016

I find Taylors have consistently low actions and generally play like electrics ... but still sound amazing. Unfortunately they aren't cheap.

joeyowen · August 2016

I got a Taylor GS mini not long ago. It is better than I ever imagined! I love it, it's my go to!

However, even second hand you are over budget

ICBM · August 2016

Jack_ said:

I'm looking for an acoustic that I can pick up and play, but want it to be nice to play.

Where should I be looking? I don't want to spend too much, probably about £200, maybe more for the right guitar, and I prefer going used to get more for my money.

3/4, thinline, cutaway shapes?

Also, I much prefer the look of dark woods, like mahogany and koa.

For that set of specs… Yamaha APX500.

I'm not a fan of them as acoustics personally, but they do all that, for about that sort of money second hand or about £300 new. They come in a wide variety of colours and finishes but I think there's at least one with dark mahogany back and sides.

But I also agree with richardhomer. An 000-size proper acoustic isn't that unwieldy.

pintspiller · August 2016

Weren't Ovation bowlbacks supposed to have an electric-style feel when released?

octatonic · August 2016

pintspiller said:

Weren't Ovation bowlbacks supposed to have an electric-style feel when released?

Yes, that was the idea.
Whether they achieved it is kinda debatable.

viz · August 2016

Consider getting a nylon-strung with a proper sharp cutaway like an alvarez rc20sc, or an ibanez ae450.

In fact if you google the alverez on images, mine is the 2nd picture, and it's a pic I posted on thefretboard

ICBM · August 2016

octatonic said:

pintspiller said:

Weren't Ovation bowlbacks supposed to have an electric-style feel when released?

Yes, that was the idea.
Whether they achieved it is kinda debatable.

They were also supposed to sound like a Martin D-45, and… er… ...

LooseMoose · August 2016

APX or GS Mini would get my vote given these requirements

BahHumbug · August 2016

+1 for Taylor. Mine changed my guitar playing life.

richardhomer · August 2016

Taylors of all descriptions are generally the most 'friendly' for electric players. They've really mastered the factory setting up process.

I agree with what others have said - a GS Mini would be a good choice, at reasonable cost.

If money is less of an issue I'd look at the smaller bodied '12' series (the 312 ce is the cheapest all solid wood model).

Jalapeno · August 2016

Secondhand Breedlove possibly would fit the bill, I love my s/h £250 OM/MMe

Jack_ · August 2016

Taylor Mini's are around £600... How do the Baby Taylor's compare? I love the Mini GS Koa.

richardhomer · August 2016

Jack_ said:

Taylor Mini's are around £600... How do the Baby Taylor's compare?

It doesn't, really.

They are purely a travel guitar - as with all Taylors, they play well - but they sound much smaller and 'boxier' than GS Minis.

Jalapeno · August 2016

@Jack_

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/80857/fs-hofner-grand-concert-gc-07-electro-acoustic-prototype-price-dropped

crunchman · August 2016

I don't like the Taylor necks even though I'm more of an electric player than acoustic. I also don't like the sound, although some of the newer models are reputed to be better.

I bought an Epiphone for my church for around £180 in the Guitar Village Boss Gone Mad Sale. It might normally be around £200 without some haggling. It's actually a very nice guitar. It's a bit toppy unplugged but the pickup on it is really good if you ever do want to plug it in.

The big difference you will find is that most acoustics have a wider fretboard than you will be used to on an electric - especially with the smaller body styles which are often aimed a bit more at finger pickers and have a bit more space between the strings.

As always, your best bet is to find a shop and try a few. Most will be strung with 12s from the factory so the strings will feel very stiff under your fingers. I use 11s on my acoustics which makes them easier to play. You can buy 10s for acoustic but they don't normally have enough mass to get the top moving.

Jack_ · August 2016

How are Ibanez acoustics?

I'm an absolute sucker for beautiful woods, and they've got a few models that look amazing...

bbill335 · August 2016

I was in the exact same position as you not long ago and I got a Washburn mini-jumbo for about 120 new. It's got a very easy neck and the shape/size is the perfect antithesis to a huge bloody dreadnought. Whether it sounds any good is debatable but it's solid mahogany, looks great in black, and it suits me perfectly.

Jack_ · August 2016

So I went and tried quite a few acoustics out today.

I was most impressed at the budget end of the market by offerings from Tanglewood. The ones I played had nice action, and I like neck binding.

I tried the Ibanez I posted above. It's nice, but it's got a gloss finish, and that takes away from the wood for me, it looks really shiny with lots of reflection, I much prefer a satin finish.

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Acoustic for a guy that always plays electrics...

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