High quality (electro?) acoustic advice

[Driller]

I've played the guitar and recorded music now for 25 odd years, mostly electrics but I've owned a Seagull 12 string for the last 16 which has done well.

I'm wanting to buy a new quality 6 string acoustic with ability to plug into a PA when necessary. It has to have a great unplugged sound though. I have looked at Martin (HD28 etc), Taylor 514ce etc and Gibson (Songwriter, J45, J200).

At first I was looking at cutaway models but realised that I don't need to go up that high and also the cutaway and side mounted electronics has a really bad effect on the sound.

Most of my playing is strumming barred or open chords or compound open shapes up and down the neck with a pick. I do very little finger picking (hopeless at it).

Anyone have any experience they can pass on here as to which one is best and why. Unsurprisingly they all sound fantastic in their own way and the decision is extremely difficult.


I seem to prefer the spruce topped models and the Gibson Songwriter is maybe slightly ahead of the others although the J45 is not far behind. I didn't try any non-cutaway Taylors in the shop so don't know what these sound like.

Of course in the end it's down to personal choice on how they sound but still very interesting to hear seasoned views from the vets here.

Sorry for the long post, any advice/comments much appreciated!

Edited by Driller on Sunday 6th November 18:15

[Driller]

Bumpity-bump?

[V100]

I looked at the thread title and thought "ooh I have an electro-acoustic I might be able to help", then I saw the guitars you are looking at and realised I am too poor to offer any decent advice

I have a mate with a Taylor acoustic though, no cut-away. Looks and sounds fantastic, although I haven't played it (he won't let me ) so I can't comment on the playability. Costs a bleeding bomb though, although this may just be him inflating the story a bit

[6th Gear]

Driller, have you tried Lowden guitars? I rate them above Martin & Taylor in terms of sound and build quality.

http://www.georgelowden.com/

[singlecoil]

One thing to watch out for is that quite often the better they sound acoustically (especially the louder they sound) the more prone they are to feedback of the undesirable variety when amplified. A point worth checking in the shop as long as that is feasible.

[Driller]

Thanks for the replies guys, Tom I appreciate the sentiment

Not tried Lowden Adam but I will check them out, thanks.

The guitar will mostly be used unplugged Singlecoil so the feedback thing isn't going to be a factor in the purchase. Interesting point though which I hadn't considered. For a half decent "industry standard" guitar like a J45 or whatever the feedback can't be that bad presumably since these models are so commonly used on stage?

[singlecoil]

Driller said:

The guitar will mostly be used unplugged Singlecoil so the feedback thing isn't going to be a factor in the purchase. Interesting point though which I hadn't considered. For a half decent "industry standard" guitar like a J45 or whatever the feedback can't be that bad presumably since these models are so commonly used on stage?

Well, there is a certain amount that can be done to damp an acoustic for stage use, and a great deal will depend on the intensity of the amplification too.

But when one thinks about what it is that makes an acoustic sound good acousitcally, and makes it capable of playing loud when required (thus giving a good volume range for expressive playing) those very same factors will make it liable to resonate when amplified in certain situations. If I was in your position and making a choice a lot would depend on just how much amplification we are talking about and how large the hall is. But as you point out, if the model under consideration has a good reputation, and the budget is sufficient, then going with what works well for other people would be the sensible thing to do.