| Author | Message | ||
| 12stringwilson
Junior Username: 12stringwilson Post Number: 38 Registered: 12-2008 |
To all guitar players...my boss wants to get his 12 yr old an acoustic 6 string for Xmas. I was thinking Takamine or Alvarez...but surely there are others.... Looking for the best bang for the buck | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 932 Registered: 6-2002 |
I bought a new Alvarez a couple years ago for around 250, still satisfied with the purchase. There were a couple other Alvarez on the wall that didn't sound as good as the one I bought , so it would be worthwhile to play a few briefly to get the best one available. I have had a couple Michael Kelly instruments (both online purchases), and they are well made also. | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 716 Registered: 3-2004 |
I would check out whatever Breedlove, Taylor, or Larivee have in that price range. They all make really nice production models. I never fail to get compliments on my Larivee (which cost about $900, to be fair). | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4214 Registered: 7-2004 |
In that price range I wouldn't be too concerned about any particular brand. There are some very good (for the price) instruments coming out of China and Korea these days. I'd look for something that sounds decent, has decent intonation, and low action. Nothing discourages a new player as much as high action. Bill, tgo | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 510 Registered: 6-2004 |
Taylor Big Baby. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1333 Registered: 9-2002 |
Lots of choices for under $400, amazing how many. Back in the day, you either spent big money or wound up with a horrid little 'Spanish Geetar' from the stamp catalog. I wonder how many careers started with the little Silvertone electric with the accompanying case with the amp built in? I'd REALLY agree it needs to have good action. After that I'm always torn between buying something heavier since it's gonna get beat up vs. buying something nicer so you can get some of your money back when he decides he wants to play sports instead. Plus you have to ride that line where you can get something he thinks is cool vs. the one you bring it home and he just rolls his eyes and wouldn't dare show what YOU picked out to his friends ! OK, go with nicer. Big Baby's certainly a safe bet. A 'starter' Larrivee for under $400 would be a gas, maybe one of the Mexican Martins. People still start on Yamaha boxes, a black F335, $149, all laminate, or the solid top, rosewood back and sides FG730S thru Musician's friend or local retailer is hard to beat for $299. But there's lots out there for a $400 budget. J o e y | ||
| 2400wattman
Senior Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 757 Registered: 11-2005 |
I would check out Seagull. Made in Canada,are very nice actually and could stick around as a serious player in the future. I'll second Joey on Yamaha's ( The Peavey of Japan). It seems everything they do is always of good quality and low cost to the consumer. Probably the best bang for your buck! | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 617 Registered: 10-2006 |
A quick search of Musician's Friend shows 152 accoustic guitars between $100-400; another 80 are <$200, 29 of these <$100. Most are brands I'm familiar with, and I would not steer you away from anything in the $200-400 range. If you want an inexpensive instrument with a classic "prestige" name, Martin (excluding the Backpacker models) starts at $280; for newer "names" Taylor & Breedlove have $300 offerings. No Gibson, Guild, or Laravee. I'm not sure I'd pay for a name at this level, though; they're probably all made in the same 3 or 4 factories, and the name would be part of the price; you could probably get more guitar for the $ with a less prestigious brand (a friend of my son's has been trying for 10 years to get me to trade my old all-laminate 000-size Alvarez straight up for his Martin D-1. No deal.) So, you have a lot of choices, pretty much all of them decent-sounding & quite playable, though you really can't go wrong with your original ideas of Takamine or Alvarez (or Yamaha, or Epiphone, or...). One thing I would caution against, however, is the common assumption that "accoustic guitar" should automatically mean "dreadnought". Not only are there many of us who prefer the tone of other body styles, a D is a big honkin' guitar - I'm 5'11" & I find them a bit of a reach; a twelve-y-o might be overwhelmed (likewise beware of Jumbo & Super Jumbo). Look at what Martin would call a 000 or smaller; other terms to look for are folk, concert, grand concert, orchestra, or parlor. Peter | ||
| 12stringwilson
Junior Username: 12stringwilson Post Number: 40 Registered: 12-2008 |
Thanks guys for all of your suggestions! This is a huge help. Ever sicne I picked up the bass 15 years ago, I never again really played guitar. All this has sparked my interest to re-learn myself. LOL I will forward this info. to my boss and let you know what he decided on. | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 721 Registered: 3-2004 |
"they're probably all made in the same 3 or 4 factories" Funny you say that, I think I read once that Larivee, Breedlove, and Taylor share some production facilities, or did at one time. I certainly wouldn't shop just for a name, but these three builders have a good reputation (and make quite handsome instruments, IMHO). I tried several Gibson acoustics before I bought my Larivee, and even though they frequently cost more than twice as much, I would take my Larivee any day. For reference, I typically play bluegrass or alt-country when I play acoustic. | ||
| benson_murrensun
Advanced Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 204 Registered: 5-2007 |
I would look at Seagull. | ||
| spose
Advanced Member Username: spose Post Number: 287 Registered: 5-2002 |
+1 on the Seagull | ||
| jet_powers
Senior Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 480 Registered: 2-2003 |
I have Seagull #938 and it still plays nice and sounds better every year... worth every penny of the $200 or so I paid for it around 1982. | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 484 Registered: 4-2004 |
Never thought I'd ever hear "Martin, Taylor, Breedlove, or Larivee" in the same breath as $400.... lol.... With that said, all the solid-top Yamaha's I've ever owned have aged gracefully. A student of mine bought an "Avalon" a couple of years ago which was a solid guitar at this price-point. I also got the chance to play a beautiful Recording King 00 yesterday which sounded amazing for $450...... The list goes on, as long as your boss' son takes good care of an instrument in this price range it should last him a good while. | ||
| brb9911
Member Username: brb9911 Post Number: 63 Registered: 10-2007 |
+3 on the Seagull! | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 619 Registered: 10-2006 |
An '82 Seagull? Far out - I'd never heard of them until about '02. A -1 on them for me; I don't like their necks. But that, of course, is entirely subjective. I haven't played an Avalon, but have heard good things about them (they're the people who used to to be Lowden, before their legal trouble - bankruptcy, I think). But every one I've seen a price on is north of $1500. Peter | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 722 Registered: 3-2004 |
I had never even heard of Seagull before this thread. I guess I need to check them out. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4227 Registered: 7-2004 |
Seagull is the lower end brand of Godin (like Squire to Fender or (these days) Epiphone to Gibson). I have a Godin Acousticaster and an LGX-SA. Both are wonderful guitars. Bill, tgo | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 724 Registered: 3-2004 |
Ahh, that clears things up. Thanks Bill. |
