New acoustic up to £500 (possibly £750)

zepp76

Could any of you fine chaps recommend a full size acoustic with a budget of up to £500 please? I only have a parlour size guitar and would like something bigger with more projection (if that's the correct terminology). I'm not interested in electro-acoustics so what's the best bang for buck guitar please? I could possibly stretch to £750 for the right guitar. Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

BigLicks67

New probably a Taylor 110 if you search around you will probably find one without electronics. Or used a Yamaha LL16 an all solid wood guitar for around £400.00. 

BahHumbug

The newish Taylor Academy range.  Or Faith guitars.

545454

I agree with @BigLicks67 about the Yamaha LL16 - I'm always surprised at just how good they are when I've played them.

Kilgore

New, you can get an Eastman E1D for £500. All solid woods.

Andy79

Dads guitars has a Yamaha FG300 for £350. That is what you must buy I guarantee no dissatisfaction 

Andy79

Oops sorry. It’s nowhere near new. 

brojangles

Eastman E1D is a good call. 

meltedbuzzbox

Faith's are always worth looking at

And anything used you can get your hands on

roberty

I got my Martin D16 with aftermarket fishman pickup for £700 used on eBay FWIW

Phil_aka_Pip

meltedbuzzbox said:

Faith's are always worth looking at

And anything used you can get your hands on

^ This ^

Faith are excellent.

Just a quick plug for the Epiphone Century Masterbilt archtops (if you like that sort of thing). Truly excellent instruments in your budget with tone and projection, if you like f-holes and archtops.

EDIT projection is what archtops were designed for!

Teyeplayer

My money would be on either an Eastman, low end Maton or secondhand larrivee. All of these make some cracking acoustics and have models in your price range.

jimmyguitar

From experience the only way is to go and try a load. I spent a good few hours in Andertons and Guitar Village the other day and there were some absolute gems in all price points along with some absolute duds. Until you get to £2k plus the price doesn’t seem to dictate sound and build quality at all.

zepp76

jimmyguitar said:

From experience the only way is to go and try a load. I spent a good few hours in Andertons and Guitar Village the other day and there were some absolute gems in all price points along with some absolute duds. Until you get to £2k plus the price doesn’t seem to dictate sound and build quality at all.

Thank you for all your replies, I went to my local guitar store and tried all sorts but came away with a Tanglewood Sundance dreadnought, it's a lovely sounding guitar, the best out of the bunch so I'm very happy. I tried a few Martins with laminate bodies and richlite fretboards and was very underwhelmed. I definitely made the right choice and I got fifty quid off and a hard case so mustn't grumble!

roberty

@zepp76 congrats mate, actually playing the things makes it so much easier, right?