Originally Posted by wolverinewolfweiselpigeon (Post 1180096)

So I guess my question is, should I really spend the money on a Martin (I'm looking at D18's and haven't found anything under $1,200), or is there a comparable brand out there that I just haven't heard of? I don't want to settle, but if there's something almost as good out there that will save me money I would really like to know about it.

Originally Posted by blastingas10 (Post 1179978)

I'm leaning towards the strat. The only reason I question it is because I've always wanted a semi-hollow.

Originally Posted by mr dave (Post 1180366)

A Martin is a worthwhile investment and I've never known anyone to regret it. They only get better with age.

The other big name I hear a lot for acoustics is Taylor.

As GB said, go down to the shop, especially if you're looking at a budget that could afford a Martin.

I was also going to mention Godin guitars but their acoustic sub-division is actually Seagull...

One last thing, if you're concerned with getting something and then finding out a month later you think the tone sucks why not just rent it for a month? It's a little more expensive but it would make it easier to really find something you like.



This is worth addressing because in cars terms it's like saying "I'm leaning towards a pickup truck, the only reason I question it is because I've always wanted a convertible".

You're trying to lean over a pretty big gap with this situation.

Essentially the Strat is a workhorse and personally I think every guitar aficionado should at least own one or a good clone. However if you're not at that stage yet then you need to make a choice and ultimately it only needs to satisfy you.

The main difference besides the obvious brightness of the tone is that hollowed guitars create more feedback than a solid body, and in some cases A LOT more feedback.

What do you currently have for a guitar? Is a Strat really that different? Are you looking to change your overall tone or just refine it? Do you plan on amassing an eventual collection or just perpetually trading upward?

If anything I'd recommend the rental deal again, especially where you're considering two distinct beasts like these.

Originally Posted by mr dave (Post 1180366)

A Martin is a worthwhile investment and I've never known anyone to regret it. They only get better with age.

The other big name I hear a lot for acoustics is Taylor.

As GB said, go down to the shop, especially if you're looking at a budget that could afford a Martin.

I was also going to mention Godin guitars but their acoustic sub-division is actually Seagull...

One last thing, if you're concerned with getting something and then finding out a month later you think the tone sucks why not just rent it for a month? It's a little more expensive but it would make it easier to really find something you like.

Originally Posted by wolverinewolfweiselpigeon (Post 1180422)

Yeah a lot of people I've talked to have suggested looking into getting a Taylor. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. And actually I hadn't considered renting, that's a fantastic idea.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez (Post 1180434)

Its just to bad Seaguls have that goofy looking thin headstock.

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre (Post 1180436)

I think the only headstock shape that would keep me from buying a guitar if it was outright better than another one, would be an honest to god bell end.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez (Post 1180441)

Haha to each his own. I love gibson styles to much, and think the Les Paul is the best looking guitar ever made. That open book bell headstock is really the only kind I like if not the Fender Strat/Tele headstocks.

Call it social conditioning. My Alverez has the Gibby style headstock and my god do I love it. Especially with some decent binding.

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre (Post 1180447)

See, I have a functional preference. String pull not straight? You better have pulled some voodoo to keep this thing in tune...

But aesthetically? IDGAF

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez (Post 1180450)

All I know is I have never had trouble with with good high ratio Grovers and a Composite or Bone nut. Intonate it well enough and I can abuse the **** out of it without any tuning probloms.

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre (Post 1180489)

I've had plenty of trouble tuning wise, sadly. The only 3x3 headstocked guitar I've ever played where the tuning was rock solid, was my breedlove.

Sadly, Gibsons and the like have real problems with tuning. Its partially down to the fact their headstock angle is 17 degrees instead of 13/14 which is basically everyone elses standard.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez (Post 1180565)

Surprisingly my best tuning is with vintage 2 point trems. I never use them free floating as imo thats meant for floyds. Use 4 springs in back and make sure to wrap string at least 4 times around tuning peg. I can abuse the **** out of it and stay in tune.

It stays in tune better though than most gibson style guitars that dont even have a tremelo.

GOD BLESS LEO FENDER

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre (Post 1180570)

That really, really shouldn't work. Especially with that many wraps around the post. The reason locking tuners exist is to reduce the number of wraps. The rationale is less wraps = less string stretching, deforming, and getting caught on itself.

The rest makes sense though, and iirc its exactly what Stevie Ray Vaughan used to do.

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez (Post 1180572)

Well im putting it through the peg THEN wrapping it 4 times. Perhaps youre thinking wrapping then through? When I did it the other way I had mad tuning problems.

Originally Posted by dr. Rez (Post 1180575)

i dont know how to explain it i guess. Whatever i do works so god damned well and ill never do it differently. Perhaps i am defying physics or just an idiot. All i know is every time since i started stringing fender guitars like that my tuning worries even with a plastic piece of **** nut have gone away.

Originally Posted by blastingas10 (Post 1180420)

Thanks for addressing my comment with such detail. I curretly have a solid body laguna, which Is one reason im startin to lean towards the hollow body. I want something different. I have a friend who has a epiphone dot, he runs it through a Marshall that has two 10 or 12 inch speakers in it. He plays some heavy stuff. I've never heard any feedback issues when he was playing, and my amp isn't even as loud as his so I'm not really worried about feedback issues, i think it'll be fine.

Another thing to consider is that my girlfriend is wanting to buy it for me for me birthday and the strat is a little more expensive, so I almost don't even have a choice.

Originally Posted by Guitar Sniper dot com (Post 1181186)

I want to win the guitar on the GuitarSniper web site.

It's a Dean. But this one looks pretty nice.

Originally Posted by Peppermint4life (Post 1182720)

Epiphone G-1275 Double-Neck Custom Electric Guitar Heritage Cherry | Musician's Friend For no reason other than its really cool and could make for some cool riffs and the like.

I don't really know what I want. I just want something new lol. I have a price limit of about $1500

Originally Posted by Burning Down (Post 1182452)

Okay, I'll just use this thread. Anyone know if I can get a decent classical guitar for under $200? Willing to stretch my budget to $250, but that's it due to sales tax on top of it. I'm taking a summer class at school called "Introduction to Classical Guitar Technique" that starts in July, and I need a nylon string classical guitar for the course. I have 7 other guitars at my house but they are all steel string (and 5 are electric).

So yeah, I just need something basic. Nylon string classical guitar, good quality, preferably under $200. I've looked on the Internet and in stores, but all the guitars that are in my price range are the kid size ones (like 1/2 or 3/4 size), and I need a full size guitar.

Thanks.

Edit: I'm also okay with ordering from the US as long as it comes within my budget.

Originally Posted by Burning Down (Post 1182863)

Update:

Ibanez G100 Classical Guitar [35747] : Steve's Music Store, Guitars, Drums, Keyboards, Recording, PA, etc...

Found and tried this guitar out at the store. It's an Ibanez and costs only $189.95. It sounds really good, and I just love the feeling of nylon strings. I think I will like classical guitar! The neck does not taper like the neck on an electric or acoustic guitar, the strings are so much easier on the fingers, the body of the guitar is much smaller and lighter, and the action is lower.

I think I'm going to buy this guitar!!

Originally Posted by Rubato (Post 1182876)

I was under the impression you already played classical guitar? I never got the hang of nylon strings, They never seemed to stay in tune, bugged me to no end.

Originally Posted by blastingas10 (Post 1182873)

So my girlfriend ended up getting me an epiphone dot. It's a natural wood color with a gloss on top. It's really nice, plays really smooth. I now can clearly see the difference between a solid body and hollow body. Its seems obvious and self-explanatory, but until you've really played both, it's hard to know exactly how different they're going to sound.

Originally Posted by Burning Down (Post 1182863)

Update:

Ibanez G100 Classical Guitar [35747] : Steve's Music Store, Guitars, Drums, Keyboards, Recording, PA, etc...

Found and tried this guitar out at the store. It's an Ibanez and costs only $189.95. It sounds really good, and I just love the feeling of nylon strings. I think I will like classical guitar! The neck does not taper like the neck on an electric or acoustic guitar, the strings are so much easier on the fingers, the body of the guitar is much smaller and lighter, and the action is lower.

I think I'm going to buy this guitar!!

Originally Posted by rnrloser_IX (Post 1182804)

If you have 1500 to blow on a guitar, then you should go to a guitar store. It sounds like you could by almost anything in there and while you're they're, just walk by all the guitars you like, and play the open notes without plugging it in. That will give you a gauge on the natural sounds of the tone wood. If you like the way it sounds, just start playing with it until you find the perfect feel. If you find that, worst case the pickups don't produce the right sound and if you're willing to throw down 15 hundred on an internet guitar, then you shouldn't have a problem picking out new pickups and having them installed. Hell, I did that with a $250 dollar epiphone SG and it really sounds quite good. Do it with a guitar with good tone woods, then you can create a unique beast.

Also, I see you like Bigsby. Just take your new guitar, figure out which model is appropriate and install it. Again, thats on my Epi and I love it. Honestly, if you just shop for tone and feel instead of the whole package, I find that you can get a fine guitar that is totally unique in many respects and also a bit cheaper than going brand name, especially with Gibson/Fenders (so expensive!).