Electro Acoustic Reccomendations

[Matthew_Eames]

Ok so the story is:

I currently have a Takamine electro acoustic that was £350-£400 new and bought 3 years ago from a mail order company (on account of the rarity of left handed electro acoustics
EG530SC/LH


Having developed a minor crack I took it to a Luthier whom has fixed that but also told me the action is twice what it should be, and he is currently setting it up (I have never played an acoustic other than this one....left handed so dont get a chance to "pick up" any others) so didnt know anything was hugely amiss, knew the action was a bit high but thought nothing of it....it wasnt an expensive guitar really

Heard back from him today and he has removed the shims from the saddle and is now removing the spare material of the bridge (saddle is now sitting below the height of the bridge!) but states that due to the neck angle being incorrect (A manufacturing defect) the action will never be "standard" as is likely to be around 1/16" above normal

So with this in mind, and with my 21st coming up I was thinking that instead of asking for a Tokai Love Rock (which I will get at some point) to Sell the Acoustic (£200 or so) and upgrade to something better.

BUDGET £700-£800 Provisional (no need for a case)

Currently owning a Dread I may prefer to stick to that body style, but I'm not discounting something a bit more rounded.... advice here would be great

I quite like the look of this one @ £700 (and sold from the same place that would the Tokai....so some possible savings there if I buy 2 at the time)

Taylor 210ce


What would be your opinion on the situation (is 1/16" really anything to bother about) and the Taylor
any other reccomendations on models to look at....remember it needs to be Left handed with a cutaway

[MachineGunJohnny]

Hi im a Takamine player, however the action on my recent one is a bit poor for the money. I think for your budget youlr could get a nice Taylor, Johnny Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls swears by Taylor guitars

[Matthew_Eames]

Just been to pick up the guitar (well earlier today) and it's massively improved, still a little on the high side but a world away from what it was

Still looking at an upgrade for next year as a combination 21st/Graduation present (with me making up the deficit) and have been to look at a few taylors today, sold myself up to the 414ce model...a big step up in price (£1300 ish) but a "real" american made guitar with solid back and sides...decided the 210ce was not enough of a jump in quality and that I would eventually want another upgrade so I may as well go for one that will last forever

[catmartin]

Martin are a good guitar too!

[satchbot]

What about Ovation?

[GetCarter]

I recently had the same choice and it narrowed down to either Martin or Taylor. The Martin has more depth to the sound and Taylor was much more lively.

Found the Taylor easier to record so went for that.

[gingerpaul]

I was in a very similar position to you a couple of years ago. I had a Takamine 330 something-or-another dreadnought electro cutaway and the neck warped giving me fret buzz all over the place. Fortunately it was covered under warranty so in the end I managed to get credit to the full value of the guitar as I felt I was improving enough to justify an upgrade.

I ended up getting a second hand Taylor 414-L7, which is a grand auditorium guitar with no cutaway and no electrics. I wanted a guitar without the electronics box sitting on the top spoiling the finish. I would have liked a cutaway but it seems with Taylor you get both or neither. The L7 is just that it is a limited edition that came with rosewood sides and back rather than ovangkol.

I tried everything within my price range in the shop and that was the one that I liked the most, and when choosing a guitar I don't think there's a better way of going about it. It's a fun way to spend an afternoon too!

Also remember that you can get pick up systems fitted to non electro acoustics. Mine is now electric but I have fitted a system that is completely invisible apart from the 1/4" jack in the strap button and the volume and tone controls hidden inside the sound hole. Not one person has noticed so far, and that includes friends of mine that are guitar players.

I appear to have written an essay. Sorry about that!

[garycat]

Take a look at Cort. Very good quality guitars from what I've heard.

http://www.guitars.co.uk/acatalog/Cort_Left_Handed...

I think Takamine are very overrated, I've played several and all seem to have a high action and a dull tone. My Fender Malibu acoustic feels as fast as my PRS electric and has a great tone with lots of woody phase harmonics. Maybe it's just to my personal taste but to my ear is sounds as good as Taylor and Gibson.

[gingerpaul]

I agree about Takamines having now played a few more guitars. When I got mine I really should have got a Yamaha. They're excellent guitars for the money.