Guitar

I have a seagull and love it. There is no comparison between it and other guitars for the same price. It actually sounds better than my Alavarez Yairi and you can get one for around $350.
I have played martins, guilds and the like and they are great guitars but for the money the seagull cant be beat.
Plus that cool little seagull looks cool.

 

If the budget is limited I'd definitely look used and not new!!!!!!

The older Martins are great but usually pretty pricey. I'd look at some of the older Gibsons. You could probably get a small Gibson from the 70s for $500 or less. The sound of the smaller bodied mahogany guitars is probably not quite right for most bluegrass but something like an LGO would do great for Norman Blake style stuff.

Taylor is also a good brand. They are no match for a Martin, Collings, Bourgeois, or something of that ilk for REAL TONE. But for a basic guitar with nice balance and quality workmanship they are very solid.

 

Ken,

Blueridge is the brand name. They have an entire line of guitars. I have a BR160. Its an exceptional guitar. They are made by the Saga company.

Here they are...

http://www.sagamusic.com/catalog/products.asp?CategoryID=2&FamilyID=2&BrandID=5

Mike

 

Solid spruce top guitars are always preferable to laminates, or other woods. In the spruce family, you have Adirondak spruce, red spruce, sitka spruce, and plain ole' spruce tops.

 

I would sure get a solid spruce top if possible. The standard is sitka. Most guitar gurus will say that Adirondack (also called red spruce) is the best - but this certainly varies from guitar to guitar. You'll pay out the nose for Adirondack however!

Some smaller guitars have other top woods like cedar. In general these softer woods will sound OK with fingerpicking but will not project nearly as well as spruce - especially when played hard.

Just another eason to look for a trustworthy USED guitar. You'll get much more guitar for your money. A used Martin or Gibson will have been hand-made from quality materials. A brand new Takamine, Seagull or something else like that simply cannot compare in the quality category - or in the SOUND category.

 

The good thing about guitars is you don't have to marry them. If you get one, and later decide you like another, it's ok.

 

Try out http://www.wholenote.com/ and http://www.theguitarsuite.com/.

 

Yup, I do.

Yup. I did.

Spruce is the wood for bluegrass.

You could pick up a nice, used D-18 for about $1200. Not completely out of reach.

 

Maybe not for you guys, but for me that seems like buying a Porsche to learn how to drive. For a beginner, tone is the least of your concerns. IMO, getting a good straight neck and easy action is more important. Learn how to play it, then find an instrument that sounds good.

 

Ah, but, like a Porsche, A Martin D-18 would hold it's value. You'll always be able to sell it for about what you paid, if not, more. That's not the case with the lesser models.

 

Unless you wreck it learning how to drive!

 

Blasphemy!!! I'm married to each and every one. I just happen to think guitar polygamy is ok. Check this link. This is exactly like my PRS. (Color, year model, birds, and all! They are long lost twins)

http://www.mindcrime.com/studiospecial/

 

Spruce is punchier. Cedar sounds real mellow and nice with open string chords. The only problem with the Seagull cedar is it dents real easy.
Playability is a key. Make sure the neck width is good for you and the action also. The action can be adjusted most of the time unless its a real cheap made or lemon guitar.
Just go to a store and try a bunch in your price range.
Price doesnt always mean better. Your big names are going to always cost more like Gibson etc.. I once played a $10,000 guitar in Ca and it didn't sound that good. That was back in 93.

 

But sometimes a good used one will NOT be that expensive.

I think the thing Curtis said about solid wood is key. If you can get a solid wood (not laminated wood) guitar you will be much better off. That is where I'd take an old Gibson (like my old fav LGO) any day over a new Seagull, Takamine, Alvarez.

I started with a $40 Harmony which was junk - but I stuck with it. I traded up through Alvarez, Takamine, Ovation, Guild, and a nice (but still laminated wood) Martin Shenandoah. I now have a Martin HD 28 and a Gibson L-00.

I WOULD agree with Steveo on the price thing regarding NEW Martins or Gibsons - which I have found to be not quite as good as the old ones and much much pricier. One could however find a nice old D-18 for under $1500 and perhaps an old small body Gibson for $500-700.

And the small body Gibsons have a nice quality that would approximate the Norman Blake sound fairly decently if miked correctly.

 

Thats what makes the seagull better than the others, it is a solid top for around $500. I got mine for $350.
Here is a link: http://www.seagullguitars.com/seagullstory.htm
I agree buying a used good guitar is a good idea too, if you know what your doing or of not take someone with you.

 

oh, one more thing. The newer pickups sound much better in the newer acoustics. My old Yairi had a basic system with volume and tone but my seagull has the new active pickup (godin) system and there is no comparison. You can get a new pickup sytem installed but with price fpr labor you have about another $200 in it.
If you dont need a pickup or you mike, I guess this wont matter anyway.