Help, my acoustic is dying

brojangles

My ancient Tanglewood cheapie is reaching the end of its lifespan and I need a new acoustic guitar. What to get? 

Budget round 300, preference for full size dreads, for strumming and picking. Don't care if it has a pickup or not. Don't like cutaways. Prefer sunburst or more yellowed tops to the super pale look, but having tried a bottom of the line Martin that busted most of those preferences yet blew everything else I tried in the shop away, but was out of my price range at 550, I'm less fussed about that than I thought. 

sev112

The Epiphone Hummingbird copy is in your range 

ICBM

What's wrong with your Tanglewood? Most of them are nice guitars and unless it's starting to fall apart in a structural way it will be cheaper and probably better to get it fixed.

brojangles

The top seems to be caving in at the top of the sound hole. 

ICBM

brojangles said:

The top seems to be caving in at the top of the sound hole. 

Ah. That sounds quite structural . In that case you do need a new guitar .

You can do a lot worse than a newer Tanglewood, actually - I've always thought they were good value for money and sound decent for their price point.

brojangles

Yeah I might take a look at some, I've been very happy with it and it was a present from my girlfriend years ago - in fact caused me to get back into playing after a ravey hiatus in the 90s. 

Lewy

Ibanez have a new acoustic range - Artwood or something like that? The demos look good.

Winny_Pooh

Epiphone & blueridge good in that range. You should really take a trip to a couple of shops

daveww

Yep, get yourself to a shop. Quite a lot to choose from. Also try Vintage, Sigma and Bristol if you can. 

Rocker

I heard a guy making some very nice sounds from a Sigma Guitars model in a music shop in Dublin recently.  No idea how good they are or anything but the sound was good......

bluechargeboy

With acoustics try before you buy if you can. Buy the one you like.

Don't try any more guitars that are out of your price range, big mistake!!

Jez6345789

Again there is a massive choice in the budget end of the market every time  i get Acoustic gas I think of blowing big bucks on something exotic and end up coming away with a sub 500 quid bargain. I really believe there is probably never been as much choice, quality and value. 

BigLicks67

Try a Yamaha LL6 or a Sigma DR28.

brojangles

Found something called a Carvin Cobalt for 200 quid on Gumtree, will check it out this afternoon and take people's advice in some shops while I'm at it. 

RandallFlagg

A Faith will serve you well

earwighoney

I'd recommend looking to get a all solid guitar, which you are able to do so in the price bracket. 

IMO, the Recording King RD-10 can't be beaten for just over £200.  Thomann have it in stock, which rules out trying it before but they have a decent returns policy. 

stimpsonslostson

RandallFlagg said:

A Faith will serve you well

I landed a used Faith Naked Mercury for under your stated budget. It's a stunningly good guitar. I'd never appreciated the jump in quality from sub £250 to the £300+ range before, but it's MUCH more pronounced than in electric guitars. It's a parlour sized body though, so not what you're after. 
Id take a look at Seagull guitars- their cedar topped dread is awesome & around your price range. 

brojangles

Thanks very much everyone for the advice. Tried a bunch of stuff this afternoon. Impressed by the Faiths. Suspect I'm going to have to raise my budget a bit.  

brojangles

So Faith... Every one I've tried has kicked the ass of the similarly priced stuff in terms of sound and staying in tune (one from a high rack in a shop was completely coated with dust but still in tune). But those headstocks! That Yes-album-meets-Celtic-fayre logo! I just don't think I could live with that... 

stimpsonslostson

brojangles said:

So Faith... Every one I've tried has kicked the ass of the similarly priced stuff in terms of sound and staying in tune (one from a high rack in a shop was completely coated with dust but still in tune). But those headstocks! That Yes-album-meets-Celtic-fayre logo! I just don't think I could live with that... 

Funny you should say that, MrsLostSons immediate comment on mine was exactly the same! 
I responded with a tactful comment along the lines of "you don't look at the mantelpiece..."

the extra time I've been spending on the sofa is giving me ample practice opportunities