Acoustic guitar option paralysis - Not paralysed anymore

SillyOctpuss said:
Funny you should say that, the guild I have on loan at the minute is actually really great. Super comfortable and sounds lovely. It's not for sale unfortunately and probably outside my budget even if it was.



I was making cinnamon rolls. It's a wonderful recipe but a serious investment of time. They didn't rise properly AND I managed to burn them! On top of that the cornbread I made with Chili for dinner was seriously lacklustre.



Yeah I think so but if I'm being honest with myself I'm almost certain it's going back. Even with new strings I don't think it will sound good enough to justify the amount I spent. Actually scratch that. The price I paid is irrelevant, I just don't think it sounds good enough. Period.
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Oh man! That's tough. Especially when you want to impress.

:hugitout

I cooked all last weekend for the Holidays. 11 people. I volunteered
as Kitchen Bitch. :bonkI was exhausted and could have slept for 3 days after.
It's stressful! "Did I make enough?" "Will it turn out?" "If it turns out well, then,
will everyone like it?"

:brick

I know they all love you, SO! That won't change. :cheers
 
SillyOctpuss said:
Yeah I think so but if I'm being honest with myself I'm almost certain it's going back. Even with new strings I don't think it will sound good enough to justify the amount I spent. Actually scratch that. The price I paid is irrelevant, I just don't think it sounds good enough. Period.
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If you don't instantly love it it is not "the one," is it? :idk

I don't "grow" into loving gear and guitars anymore. :rollsafe
 
la szum said:
If you don't instantly love it it is not "the one," is it? :idk

I don't "grow" into loving gear and guitars anymore. :rollsafe
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Absolutely. I had it out there for another go and it sounds decent but it's just not for me. They're closed tomorrow so I'll contact them on Friday to start a return. First time I've bought an acoustic sight unseen and it'll probably be the last.
 
Well the Furch went back and my refund came through today. Back on the hunt for something nice. I'm going to head out to some music stores next week and check some stuff out.
 
SillyOctpuss said:
Well the Furch went back and my refund came through today. Back on the hunt for something nice. I'm going to head out to some music stores next week and check some stuff out.
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That's the best approach.

I've had the same all solid wood Ibanez AW800 that I bought new in 2007.

I went through all my local stores, played a lot of acoustics in and out of my price range. I went in pretty sure I would buy a Yamaha of some sort, but the Ibanez was just instantly it. It had the bright yet full tone I liked, it played more like an electric guitar. It instantly felt right.
 
yeah- especially if youre looking for a smaller body, ive sure found playing acoustics is super necessary. if you really dig om's- theyre, in my mind, a niche of their own- and theyll need the right fit. dreadnaughts seem to be a little easier in the broad strokes to find a usable one if you want that broad a frequency response. triple os are a really nice middle ground!
 
laxu said:
That's the best approach.

I've had the same all solid wood Ibanez AW800 that I bought new in 2007.

I went through all my local stores, played a lot of acoustics in and out of my price range. I went in pretty sure I would buy a Yamaha of some sort, but the Ibanez was just instantly it. It had the bright yet full tone I liked, it played more like an electric guitar. It instantly felt right.
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I did the same thing when I bought my Taylor in 2008. The problem with N Ireland is the lack of decent guitar stores. There's only one which might have something suitable, I'll find out next week.

Tbh I'm thinking a cheap flight to England and a train to a larger retailer is in order.
 
So it's been a while since I posted in this thread. I've got a new (to me) acoustic that I'm bonding with and I thought I'd update some of journey and findings.

I visited three music stores in N Ireland, the first one deals primarily in Yamaha, Eastman and Bourgeois. The dude who runs the store was really great and he had a decent selection, however, some of the stock is pretty old and the strings were absolutely past it. I did realise a few things about Eastman acoustics.

A - they're definitely not Martin's on the cheap
B - they weren't as good as I hoped they'd be
C - They stink! Seriously, I couldn't believe how bad they smelled on the inside. I initially wondered if it was the glue they use to make them, however I also played two Antique Varnish models and they didn't smell at all. So now I wonder if it's their True Tone poly finish that stinks?

Having said that I did play one Eastman that I really liked and actually brought home with me. It was an Antique Varnish E10ooss, it played great and sounded fantastic for it's size.

1000171980.jpg


1000171984.jpg


After getting home I realised there was a clicking noise from the Low E and A Gotoh tuners. I won't get into it here but the stores response wasn't great so instead of waiting to see what Eastman were going to do I returned it.

I did really like that guitar and it definitely lit a fire in me to get another small bodied acoustic. I'd also be open to another Eastman but only the Antique Varnish models.
 
Store number two was a washout, all super budget stuff and nothing I even felt like trying.

Store number 3 was genuinely fantastic. I haven't been to this store in 15 years and I was genuinely surprised at how much better it is now.

I played a bunch of Martins and Taylors. I could have come home with at least 5 or 6 different acoustic that day. The standouts were a Martin D28, Taylor 810e, Taylor 414ce and a Martin OM which I can't remember the proper model of.

I know the Martins are a lot more money than Eastman but they're also much better guitars IMO. It was also nice to be in a store where all of the strings were in good shape.

As much as I liked the Martins I realised I'm definitely a Taylor player. I know some people don't like them but they really work for me. I like the extra presence and the neck shapes are really comfortable. Unfortunately I did come home empty handed, but I had realised I prefer the dreadnought to the grand auditorium and as great as it was I couldn't afford the 810e.

I found a pretty much mint 2015 ltd edition 410e (rosewood back and sides instead of ovangkol) on ebay for a good price and took a punt. I absolutely love it. It feels like the grown up version of the 210e I used to have 20 years ago.

We've done two gigs now and I'm also using it to finish writing some new songs with my singer. Should be doing some acoustic recordings in a few weeks, I'll post them after they're done.

1000174751.webp
 
SillyOctpuss said:
Store number two was a washout, all super budget stuff and nothing I even felt like trying.

Store number 3 was genuinely fantastic. I haven't been to this store in 15 years and I was genuinely surprised at how much better it is now.

I played a bunch of Martins and Taylors. I could have come home with at least 5 or 6 different acoustic that day. The standouts were a Martin D28, Taylor 810e, Taylor 414ce and a Martin OM which I can't remember the proper model of.

I know the Martins are a lot more money than Eastman but they're also much better guitars IMO. It was also nice to be in a store where all of the strings were in good shape.

As much as I liked the Martins I realised I'm definitely a Taylor player. I know some people don't like them but they really work for me. I like the extra presence and the neck shapes are really comfortable. Unfortunately I did come home empty handed, but I had realised I prefer the dreadnought to the grand auditorium and as great as it was I couldn't afford the 810e.

I found a pretty much mint 2015 ltd edition 410e (rosewood back and sides instead of ovangkol) on ebay for a good price and took a punt. I absolutely love it. It feels like the grown up version of the 210e I used to have 20 years ago.

We've done two gigs now and I'm also using it to finish writing some new songs with my singer. Should be doing some acoustic recordings in a few weeks, I'll post them after they're done.

View attachment 60964
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Congrats! Looks like a fine guitar ;~)) Congrats and enjoy!!
 
I used to dig nothing but 000.
la szum said:
If you don't instantly love it it is not "the one," is it? :idk

I don't "grow" into loving gear and guitars anymore. :rollsafe
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This so much.

As far as acoustics, I never was big on dreadnaughts. Always preferred 00 and 000.

Then came the vintage stuff like 60s Guardians and 30s Gibsons.

Now I dig palors.

But the acoustic stuff I have to grab n feel and it's either live at first lick or never.
 
SillyOctpuss said:
I have actually. I've been binge watching a bunch of their videos. It was also comments they'd made about taylors that semi pushed me into taking a punt on the 410 I ordered from ebay.
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Haha! Same. :LOL:

Congrats on the Taylor. She's a real Beauty. Bet she sounds great, too.
:chef
 
Ed DeGenaro said:
I used to dig nothing but 000.

This so much.

As far as acoustics, I never was big in dreadnaughts. Always preferred 00 and 000.

The I came the vintage stuff like 60s Guardians and 30s Gibsons.

Now I dig palors.

But the acoustic stuff I have to grab n feel and it's either live at first lick or never.
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I'm definitely going to get a small bodied acoustic soon. I really liked the oo I had briefly. The dreadnought works better (for me) in the acoustic duo I've got going at the minute.
 
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