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Joined:
December 2007
Posts: 150
| I'm buying my wife a guitar for xmas and I too am going to learn. Was looking at some alvarez's and have found some with great reviews, solid spruce tops, 200t or 600mtk or Fishman Aeor electronics, etc...I can find either "factory seconds" with little to no blemishes which is fine or just used. I guess my point is I can get a decent alvarez guitar for $150-$200.
However, since I want to go with a cutaway, I thought ovation. However, I'm not sure about the lower end models. I don't want my wife or myself to become discouraged and don't know if the applause are a decent guitar. Some of you may remember me as I was looking for my uncles guitars after he passed and did find one. So, I do have an Adamas 1885 II but I don't think I should learn on a 12 string.
I appreciate the help!
Thanks! |
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Joined:
December 2007
Posts: 150
| Sorry, I suppose I should also note that I am more looking for acoustic as any kind of on board electronics/tuner are a bonus and not nesc.
I don't really like the classical ovations. |
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Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 747
| I wouldn't worry too much about a cutaway until you have something to say that far up the neck and by that time you'll know how to go about it without needing a cutaway.
Price wise 150-200 off the rack new might be garbage. Better to spend 10 cents more and get a top professional standard used US built Ovation which will last the rest of your life and probably that of anyone you leave it to as well. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Don't know where you live, but you could look on Craigslist.
That way your price might be negotiable and you can try it out.
My local Craigslist has a coupla Celebrity's and a Balladeer for around $300, but like I said...
There might be wiggle room.
And depending on what brand you really want, and what quality you really want...
If you have patience, I have had Celebrity's and Balladeers that I have paid $200 for.
I have had a coupla $100 wood-boxes pass through my hands that were actually Nice Guitars.
(I also have a $650 Ibanez that I would tell you not to pay full price for...)
You can also look at the Clearance, Scratch-n-Dent, Stupid Deal Of The Day sections of Musicians' Friend and Guitar Center. |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | As Joe said I would not worry about the cut away for a while...
If you can buck up a bit more and you want to buy new I would seriously look at Blueridge guitars. The BR-40 and BR-43 are amazing guitars for the money. You would be hard pressed to find a sound difference from them and some guitars at five times the cost. They seem to run in the mid $300 range.
There are tons of great guitars out there in the used marked but if you don't know what you are specifically looking for it can be a challange.
Buying a guitar like a Blueridge from a reputable dealer who can make sure it is set up for easy play will get you going in the right direction.
http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/BR40.htm
http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/BR43.htm |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Go look at a solid top Takamine G series. Great instruments in all kinds of shapes and sizes. If your wife would like a smaller bodied guitar, they make a G series Parlor (New Yorker size) that is veyr nice indeed. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I remember you're posts about your uncle ...
Tak's are good, as are ovations, including the celebrity line, and you might also want to look at yahmahas and the Godin lines, I think they may have something in your price range.
When you buy a guitar for less than $500 (new) the quality is very uneven, even in the same model, so try before you buy! |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | Yamaha, Seagull, Jasmine (Takamine), and Fender.
The Applauses in the $150-$200 range sound pretty horrid IMO. Necks are still good though. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by Yak:
The Applauses in the $150-$200 range sound pretty horrid IMO. Necks are still good though. The Applauses in the $300-$400 range sound equally horrid... But the seller is Greedier! :eek: |
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Joined:
December 2007
Posts: 150
| Thanks everyone.
I'm not really looking at new "off the shelf" as I know that price range will be tough.
I mainly look on craigslist (I'm in St. Louis, MO) and Ebay. I thought about the G Series Takamine but wasn't sure.
I'll take a look at the suggestions. Thanks! |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 39
| I disagree that all Applauses are inferior instruments. I bought one for my daughter after playing a few and picked the best one. Out the door for less than $200 brand new...and on sale. Plug it in and it sounds even better.
I second the comment about not necessarily needing a cutaway. I never play in that region of the fretboard anyway.
I think that there are some good choices out there for a first guitar, especially if you shop carefully. |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | EVERY instrument is inferior, depending on what you are comparing it to. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
EVERY instrument is inferior, depending on what you are comparing it to. Worth to print out and hang on the wall. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I used to own a Takamine G-230. It was cheap enough to use in risky situations (campfires,etc.), but easy to play, had cast tuners, and I like the NEX body. You can find these used/almost new for very little on ebay.
John <>{ |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 106
Location: UK | As a first guitar have you considered something with Nylon strings?
I know a few people who tried learning guitar and on the first day their finger tips on the fretting hand were sore and they never picked up a guitar again.
Most cheap guitars have action that you could drive a truck under. Learning guitar usually means repeating the same chord over and over and the fingers really do hurt.
A low action, possibly nylon strings should mean the fingers don't hurt as much and might increase the chance of somebody not giving up after the first attempt. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | I think that's a cogent point, Ian. The bang-for-your-buck, in terms of price/quality of playing ease- Ovation products are hard to beat.
I've played some Celebrities that had exquisite actions. Sometimes, a bit thin on the volume, if they're a shallow bowl, though. |
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Good entry level guitar $150-$200 ???
