Perfect acoustic guitar? (Similar to the playability of PRS and Suhr, with similar build quality)

Jonathanthomas83 · August 2017

Over the last few years, I've realised what I love in an electric guitar...Stainless Steel frets (if possible), compound radius, thin neck profile, 25" scale, easy access to upper frets. I have been in search for the perfect acoustic for a long time now and wonder if these things translate to acoustic and if there's the perfect guitar out there that would suit these needs.

My perfect electric would be a PRS with stainless steel frets and a pattern thin neck, for example. Taking the best bits of a Suhr and putting them on an already great PRS. I know you guys would disagree, but that's me.

So I'm asking if you guys have any experience with acoustic guitars that may fit my profile or know of the features I love that builders are using. What I like about PRS and Suhr is that they're constantly innovating their classic design, making great guitars better (unlike gimmicky Gibson's efforts). I'd like to find a similar builder for acoustics, someone who is constantly innovating and making their guitars awesome...anyone have any suggestions?

fields5069 · August 2017

Sounds like you need an Ovation.

Jonathanthomas83 · August 2017

Haha, my dad had an old Tanglewood Ovation copy, was my first guitar. What makes you say that then?

Winny_Pooh · August 2017

At first look I would say a cutaway Taylor. But acoustics are almost a different instrument entirely and need to be evaluated on their own terms. Is there a recorded acoustic tone that you like in particular?

Jonathanthomas83 · August 2017

@Winny_Pooh I agree. I can only comment on electrics because that's where my experience lies, so I know what I know with those.

I played a lot of Taylor's a few months back and they sound a little too bright for me, I had better luck with the Martin's I tried, particularly the 00018, which was great. But couldn't help but feel it was a bit old school for me, I'd prefer something more modern in terms of build and feel.

I like something that will ring out for open chords and something that sounds full in that regard, but almost bell/piano like when it comes to single note definition.

Winny_Pooh · August 2017

The 00018 is a great guitar, nice ring and balance.
I'm stumped as to more modern playing variants that aren't handbuilt, maybe someone else could.

Jonathanthomas83 · August 2017

@Winny_Pooh it sounded fantastic, to be fair. It was the only guitar I played that day that made me go 'wow', and I played at least 10, including Taylor's, Fenders, Martin's, Maton, Lowden, Avalon. (The Lowden was nice though, just not for me!).

Out of interest, what is the general consensus on Ovation guitars? I always thought people hated them! @fields5069 were you being serious? I only ask because I have fond memories of my dad's old guitar and it's not out of the question as I remember the chords sounding fantastic on that old thing.

crunchman · August 2017

Not sure it will be easy to find 25" scale on an acoustic. Most of the ones I've come across seem to be 25.4" or 24.75".

Brook will have a shallower neck if you want to go that way, but they have a really flat fingerboard radius that I really don't like. That may or may not be off putting coming from a 10" PRS radius.

You are unlikely to ever get electric style playability on an acoustic though. Thicker strings will mean more tension. Also, you often hit them harder which means that you normally need a higher action to avoid buzzing.

You might be better off looking at becoming more adaptable with what you are willing to play. I've got different scale lengths and different neck profiles on different guitars and it doesn't really bother me - as long as the neck isn't really shallow, and the fingerboard has some radius.

Strangefan · August 2017

For me it would l ways be a guild, the older the better, sublime necks

Jonathanthomas83 · August 2017

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'll not give something a chance because it doesn't meet my specs...I have a Fender Tele, Gibson LP, PRS 24 and a Suhr Classic Pro Strat, so they're all different...I'm ok with that and the differences between them.

What the crux of my question really is, is anyone out there pushing the boundaries in the acoustic guitar realm, or is the old recipe still just reliable and stick with that? ie, Martin 00018!

fields5069 · August 2017

Jonathanthomas83 said:

@Winny_Pooh it sounded fantastic, to be fair. It was the only guitar I played that day that made me go 'wow', and I played at least 10, including Taylor's, Fenders, Martin's, Maton, Lowden, Avalon. (The Lowden was nice though, just not for me!).

Out of interest, what is the general consensus on Ovation guitars? I always thought people hated them! @fields5069 were you being serious? I only ask because I have fond memories of my dad's old guitar and it's not out of the question as I remember the chords sounding fantastic on that old thing.

It just popped into my head as something modernistic, forward thinking etc. I think they look hideous so it wasn't serious.

TimmyO · August 2017

First thing I think of when you say electric style neck on acoustic is Brook

BigLicks67 · August 2017

Sounds like you might be better off contacting a UK Luthier and getting an acoustic built to your own specs.

crunchman · August 2017

Furch (Stonebridge) are well worth a look. Not particularly groundbreaking but very good guitars.

That girl from Surrey who was at the Birmingham Guitar Show had some more unusual innovative stuff (if you can afford the price tag). I'm sure there is a thread on it somewhere if you go back to sometime around February.

KKJale · August 2017

Mmm. I think you could potentially tick the boxes for innovative thinking, a really thin neck, compound radius (I think...), good upper fret access and hard frets (though Gotoh 214, not stainless), with a secondhand Parker P8E.

Not easy to find, not everyone's cup of tea, more electro than acoustic, etc etc...

http://i.imgur.com/5eVexqo.jpg

jellyroll · August 2017

Collings might be said to be the PRS of the acoustic world, challenging the old order with exquisite production standards. Their guitars are different to Martin's but whether you like that difference is a personal choice.

TimmyO · August 2017

crunchman said:

That girl from Surrey who was at the Birmingham Guitar Show had some more unusual innovative stuff (if you can afford the price tag). I'm sure there is a thread on it somewhere if you go back to sometime around February.

Turnstone?

ICBM · August 2017

Ovations do indeed play very well, usually - it's just the tone which isn't to everyone's taste! And the slippery bowl bodies which tend to 'capsize' while playing.

If you find Taylors you've tried in shops too bright, it might be the strings - they factory-fit them with Elixirs, which sound tinny to me. They *are* bright guitars, yes - but fuller and richer-sounding if you put normal phosphor-bronze strings on them.

One problem you may find is that acoustics always sound fuller if the action is higher than the bare minimum to avoid audible rattling, which then means they won't play like an electric.

Collings is a good suggestion if you want something high-quality and refined, although personally I find them characterless. But since that's a criticism often made of Suhr and PRS, maybe you'd like them...

mgaw · August 2017

personally i would buy the acoustic that sounds the best, you can easily adapt to any other factors (within reason), i just dont think low action slim necked acoustics cut it on the whole. its tone tone tone all the way

polotska · August 2017

Martin’s short scale (which includes the 000-18) is a nominal 24.9".

Other than Dobros and similar, 25" exactly may be difficult to find in an acoustic—I think even PRS acoustics have a scale longer than that.

Sassafras · August 2017

Sounds like you need a 12 string, but then again, who doesn't?

CarpeDiem · August 2017

Auden make the necks thinner on some of their guitars to make them more appealing to electric players. If you want brands that push boundaries, I'd suggest Turnstone Guitars, as has already been mentioned. They aren't cheap, but very good and highly configurable. Another option would be a Patrick Eggle acoustic, as he tries different approaches.

Sassafras · August 2017

Those carbon fibre guitars are innovative.

http://emeraldguitars.com/product-category/current-stock/?v=79cba1185463

CountryDave · August 2017

I recall trying a Rainsong acoustic at a show many years ago and being very impressed.

Seemed to address all the potential issues with acoustics such as wood being subject to temperature changes/humidity etc and sounded great without appearing too plastic.

http://www.rainsong.com/

fob · August 2017

PRS make acoustics. I've never tried one but I know someone who has who said it was perfect. That was a real-deal one though and I don't think they're cheap (£4-5k from memory). They do an SE version though.

Jonathanthomas83 · August 2017

I've been racking my brains about this one guys. Thanks for all the suggestions. I briefly considered saving for a PRS, but I'm not sure it's for me. Also considered going custom with a British luthier, but again, not sure it's the right fit for me.

So it comes down to the Martin 00018 and a Taylor 814ce (or Deluxe which looks great too). Both completely different guitars, I know, but I think the Taylor is edging it. I've yet to try that particular model, but am looking to get my hands on one soon. It's the elctronics that are swaying me and the tone sounds about right for my tastes, at least in video's, I really need to try it to know for sure. All 'round, it seems like a more modern guitar that suits my tastes and requirements. What do you guys think of the 814?

ICBM · August 2017

I would avoid buying a guitar with onboard electronics, unless you really (really) need it as a stage guitar and you don't mind about long-term reliability or obsolescence.

Especially Taylor, since their Expression systems aren't compatible with any other systems in the event of failures or parts unavailability in the future.

It's much better to get a good acoustic guitar and fit it with a simple pickup system and outboard electronics, in my opinion… based on many repairs.

Jonathanthomas83 · August 2017

@ICBM, I don't think Taylors come without, do they?

ICBM · August 2017

Jonathanthomas83 said:

@ICBM, I don't think Taylors come without, do they?

Yes, but annoyingly not the cutaway ones except by special order… which costs more even though they must be cheaper to make! I asked about one years ago.

To be fair, I have not yet come across the reliability problems with the new ES2 system that I have with the original version.

Jonathanthomas83 · August 2017

That's annoying then! @ICBM incidentally, what's your preferred pickup system?

ICBM · August 2017

Jonathanthomas83 said:

That's annoying then! @ICBM incidentally, what's your preferred pickup system?

At the moment, either the K&K Pure Mini, or a standard undersaddle piezo feeding a Fishman Aura or Boss AD-8.

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Perfect acoustic guitar? (Similar to the playability of PRS and Suhr, with similar build quality)

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