Recommend a bright, inexpensive acoustic?

geetarguy85

Hi all,

I'll be looking to buy an acoustic in a couple of months and would be interested in hearing your opinions on guitars that fit my preferences below.

Tone:
I like bright, slightly "jangly" tones, and I'm going to be playing most with someone who has quite a bassy acoustic so it'd be good to have something that complements it. Pickup/preamp and tuner would be a plus but not essential.

Playability:
My electrics all have low action so I like the idea of an acoustic with relatively low action. I would also prefer a single cutaway for easy access to higher frets.

Budget:
Approx £250-£400, might be able to stretch to £500 but it would have to be a fantastic guitar to persuade me to part with that much as most of my playing is electric.

I like the Godin A6 but this is a bit out of my budget. I can't justify spending more than £500 for something that'll get played a few times a month.

I'm happy to buy a good condition used or new.

Thanks!

richardhomer

Apart from the lack of cutaway, it sounds like you need a Taylor GS Mini.

geetarguy85

Thanks, that's definitely one that seems to crop up a lot!

At a slightly lower price point, any thoughts on the Yamaha APX500/700, the Ibanez AEG24ii or Takamine GX18ce?

guitarfishbay

Bright and jangly - use a thin plectrum. A .60 or .50 for strumming, even thinner if you like. It will sound noticeably more jangly and less bassy than a thicker pick.

ICBM

Yamaha APX, whichever is the best model you can afford. All the bright and thin you will ever need, and usually have a nice low electric-like action. (Or can be set up to make it so.)

Winny_Pooh

richardhomer said:

Apart from the lack of cutaway, it sounds like you need a Taylor GS Mini.

Agreed, the spruce model is clear and crisp

Gassage

I was about to suggest the APX.

If you google, you can get blow outs on the discontinued ones- like the APX1000

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=APX1000&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=zmbdVvLFGaSiyAPnvLm4BQ#q=APX1000&tbm=shop

geetarguy85

Thanks all.

What's the consensus on the spruce Baby Taylor? I think that's the BT1.

Gassage

geetarguy85 said:

Thanks all.

What's the consensus on the spruce Baby Taylor? I think that's the BT1.

Depends on what you want it for; if you're going to play live and di or amp, the Yamaha's are a much better bet.

If you just want a grab n go strummer, BT1

BigLicks67

geetarguy85 said:

Thanks all.

What's the consensus on the spruce Baby Taylor? I think that's the BT1.

I've owned a Baby Taylor and when you get past the initial enthusiasm after purchase what you are left with a poor quality guitar which looks like it was thrown together. 

you'd be better off with a L series Yamaha with the passive piezo which is just within budget.