Acoustics that feel and play like electrics

Travisthedog · June 2014

Are there any

I'm tempted to bin this new duet thing before it even gets going as I just don't think I'm going to find what I want

I'm such a Luddite with these things with big fat sausage fingers (don't say go and see Mark Phillps!)

I just think I'm not going to ba able to play properly because whenever I do play an acoustic within 5 minutes I am filled with the urge to jump on it with a pair of hob nail boots because the actions to high, there's no give in the strings ( I play natural with a lot of vibrato) the radius of the neck always feels tiny but I guess can't be

Help, basically

And I have about £250-£300 max at a push

Paul_C · June 2014

Yamaha APXs might be worth a look.

meltedbuzzbox · June 2014

Faith guitars

They have a great feeling neck

xSkarloey · June 2014

I guess it's a case of trying quite a few until you get the feel you want. They are out there.

I have got one of these cheap things http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Single-Cutaway-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music/3C0

I bought it as a backup that I didm;t mind getting knocked about. The thing is though it ain't half bad. Sounds lovely played finger style. Has a neck copied millimetre for millimetre off a Gibson acoustic (so it's not too cumbersome) and strung with 10s it's light enough to get vibrato and to bend strings reasonably comfortably, even bluesy half bends down near the nut.

So it might be a bit cheap for you, but perhaps shows it's worth persevering.

DiscoStu · June 2014

Did we not cover this recently?

Try Breedlove. Narrower at the nut than most acoustics.

Kebabkid · June 2014

Taylor T5 has that vibe going on.
EDIT: Apologies @Travisthedog - I didn't see your budget. I have the Taylor Big Baby and the ebony board neck is a good compromise. I've a Rare Earth humbucker pickup in mine.

Careful though as they're not the thickest/strongest of guitars and dent easily (very thin backs)

ICBM · June 2014

There is no reason at all that an acoustic with 10s can't play as easily as an electric with 10s - although you have to get used to the wound 3rd if you usually bend on that. (You *can* put a plain 3rd on an acoustic, or even 9s, but it doesn't really sound good.)

The bad news is that you may have to pay slightly more than you'd like to for one that plays that well *and* sounds good. For example Yamaha APXs sound terrible (both acoustically and in my opinion plugged in), even though they play easily.

Taylors are a good starting point, both the T5 - which is more of an acoustic-electric hybrid - and the standard electro-acoustics. I'm not the biggest fan of the Expression System electrics, but they do at least sound better than a piezo-based system.

Gagaryn · June 2014

Don't laugh but try a Fender Newporter, they are brilliant!

ICBM · June 2014

Gagaryn said:

Don't laugh but try a Fender Newporter, they are brilliant!

Good grief, I thought I was alone!

+1

Travisthedog · June 2014

I keep coming back to the Taylor big baby.........

ICBM · June 2014

Travisthedog said:

I keep coming back to the Taylor big baby......…

They're pretty good, but for just a little more you can get the GS Mini Mahogany, and put the ES-Go pickup in it if you need to amplify it.

Travisthedog · June 2014

They Are too small for me. I'm 6'4" and the wrong side of 16st it'd look like a use Uke on me!

Kebabkid · June 2014

Oh, the Yamaha Silent Guitars are good. Obviously, only if you're going to be plugging in.

Gagaryn · June 2014

ICBM said:

Gagaryn said:

Don't laugh but try a Fender Newporter, they are brilliant!

Good grief, I thought I was alone!

+1

My mate liked the one he bought so much, he bought another - Rikki's in Leith had them marked down to clear. They are great guitars.

equalsql · June 2014

Walden acoustics, especially the Supranaturas models. Very slims necks and low action. They put carbon rods in the neck for stability. Good value as well.

joneve · June 2014

Travisthedog said:

I keep coming back to the Taylor big baby.........

Shame you're not left handed. I'm getting rid of mine for just over a ton as it needs a small repair to the bridge (been quoted £40) but just haven't had the time to get it done. Only selling because I don't have the room at home (it's currently sat in my office at work getting in everyone's way!)

They are great guitars though. Mine's a little over 10 years old and sounds fucking superb for the money. Effortless to play too.

Even worse, I could have bought it with me next weekend as I'm coming down to Bournemouth so probably wouldn't be too far from you.

To be honest, I don't know how much it would cost to re jig the bridge angle from lefty to righty so it intonates correctly but still might save you some dollar on your budget if you were interested.

chrisj1602 · June 2014

I use an Epiphone EJ200CE and the neck is pretty similar to my Les Paul. Try some Ernie Ball Rock and Blues strings too, they are basically acoustic EAD strings and electric GBE strings in a pack.

len62 · June 2014

Gagaryn said:
My mate liked the one he bought so much, he bought another - Rikki's in Leith had them marked down to clear. They are great guitars.

Is Rikki's still open? The website has been down for a while.

Gagaryn · June 2014

Yeah, still open but half the size.

IanSavage · June 2014

I know where there's a Takamine EG5013S electro going for £250 with a Hiscox hardcase, from what I remember they're pretty electric-ish in terms of neck dimensions - shall see if I can get hold of it to have a play!

Jetfire · June 2014

I would say that the APX500 was the closest to an electric when I was searching recently. However, its not the most acoustic sounding guitar when you plug it in.. I did buy one but Ive not used it anger much. The real test for me is doing Bb Major as an A shaped bar chord which I can do using the APX500

Travisthedog · June 2014

joneve said:

Travisthedog said:

I keep coming back to the Taylor big baby.........

Shame you're not left handed. I'm getting rid of mine for just over a ton as it needs a small repair to the bridge (been quoted £40) but just haven't had the time to get it done. Only selling because I don't have the room at home (it's currently sat in my office at work getting in everyone's way!)

They are great guitars though. Mine's a little over 10 years old and sounds fucking superb for the money. Effortless to play too.

Even worse, I could have bought it with me next weekend as I'm coming down to Bournemouth so probably wouldn't be too far from you.

To be honest, I don't know how much it would cost to re jig the bridge angle from lefty to righty so it intonates correctly but still might save you some dollar on your budget if you were interested.

if its possible to do all that i may be interested!

joneve · June 2014

Pretty sure it is. If you've got a local guitar tech near you, ask the question and see how much it would cost. I can ask my local repairer to see what she'd charge too, but I doubt I could get it done before next week (if you wanted it that quick)..and I'm always weary about posting acoustics!

I can send pics if you're interested. It's got some cosmetic knocks which is inevitable with them as they're "unfinished" tops give a better tone, but I guarantee you that you'd love the sound. It's fucking awesome sounding for a solid top/lacquered sides guitar!

ICBM · June 2014

I apologise for wrecking a potential deal here, but do *not* reverse the bridge on a steel-string acoustic. It's not actually an easy thing to do well, and almost all steel-string acoustics are braced asymmetrically, so it will never sound right the other way round and could even have structural issues, although that's perhaps not very likely.

In particular, don't ruin a left-handed guitar making it right-handed when there are few enough decent left-handed guitars in the world anyway! It's slightly more forgivable the other way round, although still not ideal.

Sell it to a left-handed player who wants it for what it is.

Travisthedog · June 2014

Ha ! You didn't wreck the deal - I'd already said no!!

joneve · June 2014

ICBM said:

I apologise for wrecking a potential deal here, but do *not* reverse the bridge on a steel-string acoustic. It's not actually an easy thing to do well, and almost all steel-string acoustics are braced asymmetrically, so it will never sound right the other way round and could even have structural issues, although that's perhaps not very likely.

In particular, don't ruin a left-handed guitar making it right-handed when there are few enough decent left-handed guitars in the world anyway! It's slightly more forgivable the other way round, although still not ideal.

Sell it to a left-handed player who wants it for what it is.

Ha! Calm down dear

As Travis said, it's a "No" from him. I'd LOVE to sell it to a left handed guitarist, but it appears that unless I give it away, no one wants it!

And that's because we're so few and far between!

xSkarloey · June 2014

How do! A fellow Lefty here! Did I read correctly that someone's giving away a Big Baby?

(Sorry only joking. Am a happy man with 2 acoustics at the mo. )

Back to the topic, are Gibbos or Gibbo copies worth pursuing? The ones I've tried have almost all had slim comfy necks.

dindude · June 2014

Taylor's are definately a good bet.

Or how about this.....think it's rather fetching (although most will disagree)

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n505/dindude/7a51c9df71462b6e180a53bcd1eafe0d_zps55737133.jpg

jonnyburgo · June 2014

Gagaryn said:

Don't laugh but try a Fender Newporter, they are brilliant!

I was just going to say that @Gagaryn and @ICBM. My mates got one, they are slinky as fuck to play, feels like a Strat.

Octahedron · June 2014

Taylor are great. What hasn't been suggested yet? Washburn. I was really surprised by how easy to play those necks are. Very comfortable. Ended up buying! Ha.

joneve · June 2014

Skarloey said:

How do! A fellow Lefty here! Did I read correctly that someone's giving away a Big Baby?

(Sorry only joking. Am a happy man with 2 acoustics at the mo. )

Back to the topic, are Gibbos or Gibbo copies worth pursuing? The ones I've tried have almost all had slim comfy necks.

G'wan! You know you want it!!

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Acoustics that feel and play like electrics

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