Guitar Thread

Nightmare Walking said:
I got the Eastman E20 SS.
I went to Project Music in Exeter and tried a few different ones in that price range. This one sounds far nicer than the other Eastman I was looking at and it feels a lot nicer than the Taylor ones at that price point. My PRS electric feels really cheap and cumbersome, in comparison.
Next on the list is a Les Paul. But, that will be this time next year. Hopefully I will be a better player by then.

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I'm thinking of a trip to Project Music to try out the Taylor and other acoustics. Is it worth a trip would you say?
 
I'm lookingnfor a new Acoustic too. I've got a cheap Epiphone and tonbe fair,it sounds quite nice but it's a Dreadnaught and just too big really.

My plan is to do the same and go int9 a few shops and try some but I'm not too sure what I'm looking at as I've only been playing a couple of years.
 
HolisticJim said:
I'm lookingnfor a new Acoustic too. I've got a cheap Epiphone and tonbe fair,it sounds quite nice but it's a Dreadnaught and just too big really.

My plan is to do the same and go int9 a few shops and try some but I'm not too sure what I'm looking at as I've only been playing a couple of years.
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You have just said exactly the right things. You're going to go try some. Even the the not being sure what you're looking at is really a positive as you have no real preconceived ideas. Just go, explain to the shop that you've only been playing a couple of years and they will help you, not judge you.
For what it's worth my dreadnaughts get picked up and played the least- I love small bodied guitars so my 0 and 000 are my main go-tos
 
HolisticJim said:
I'm lookingnfor a new Acoustic too. I've got a cheap Epiphone and tonbe fair,it sounds quite nice but it's a Dreadnaught and just too big really.

My plan is to do the same and go int9 a few shops and try some but I'm not too sure what I'm looking at as I've only been playing a couple of years.
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Read about guitars, read reviews, watch YouTube videos.
Do research. Go into shops and ask and try out.
Once you buy it you're kind of stuck with it unless you sell it and lose money, so make sure you're buying the one that's right for you.

For example I've learned over the years that Ovation acoustics are right for me, I love the round back when sitting and the sound they give, but they're not for everybody, I feel very comfortable playing with Ovation, they have slim necks almost like an electric guitar neck, which I feel very comfortable with.
 
Bill Walker said:
Read about guitars, read reviews, watch YouTube videos.
Do research. Go into shops and ask and try out.
Once you buy it you're kind of stuck with it unless you sell it and lose money, so make sure you're buying the one that's right for you.

For example I've learned over the years that Ovation acoustics are right for me, I love the round back when sitting and the sound they give, but they're not for everybody, I feel very comfortable playing with Ovation, they have slim necks almost like an electric guitar neck, which I feel very comfortable with.
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Funny isn't it - the round back doesn't work for me at all sat down.

Been a while but it used to slip from position whilst playing............ :-)
 
Bill Walker said:
Read about guitars, read reviews, watch YouTube videos.
Do research. Go into shops and ask and try out.
Once you buy it you're kind of stuck with it unless you sell it and lose money, so make sure you're buying the one that's right for you.

For example I've learned over the years that Ovation acoustics are right for me, I love the round back when sitting and the sound they give, but they're not for everybody, I feel very comfortable playing with Ovation, they have slim necks almost like an electric guitar neck, which I feel very comfortable with.
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I'm the same as @Onholiday(somemightsay) - I hate Ovations for exactly the same reasons as you love them. I hate the round back, the sound, the narrow neck....

It's a good job we're all different and like different things :-)
 
I see that the Jim Irsay guitar collection is up for sale at Christie's today.
They are selling for absolute millions.
Not sure of all of them but Jerry Garcias was dold for about $11m and David Gilmours even more than that.
 
1961_vintage said:
Cornwall - a couple of hours away but I have an "up country" trip coming up so will include some time to pay them a visit. Thanks a lot for getting back to me.
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I never got an alert for some reason, mate. It was purely luck how I seen your post.

I live near Glastonbury (currently in process of moving back to Manchester), so Exeter is not too far away. Its a nice little shop with plenty of choice. They did not pressurise me in any way and gave me some good advice. They seemed to be a lot cheaper than other places.

I really do love my Eastman. I am still useless at playing it. But, I am glad I got it.
 
Nightmare Walking said:
I never got an alert for some reason, mate. It was purely luck how I seen your post.

I live near Glastonbury (currently in process of moving back to Manchester), so Exeter is not too far away. Its a nice little shop with plenty of choice. They did not pressurise me in any way and gave me some good advice. They seemed to be a lot cheaper than other places.

I really do love my Eastman. I am still useless at playing it. But, I am glad I got it.
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Perfect. Thanks again and best of luck with the move.
 
I’ve had a peerless pgc-65 acoustic that I bought about 15 yrs ago, never got into it but about 6 month ago I picked it up and started tryin to play. Still not good at all but I’m sticking with it. Anyway, my daughter wants to learn so I took her to Forsyths last week to get her a decent acoustic (she is doing music on her school options, and we’re planning on private lessons), so while she was deciding I had a little play on a Martin, just to compare with what I noodle on. £3500 for this Martin and I can honestly say it really didn’t sound any better than my peerless, maybe the bass notes were a little richer but that was about it. Think I was expecting more for something within that price range, but talkin to one of the sales guys in there he said there’s not a massive difference in a lot of guitars from cheapish (£400-£500) to really expensive.
 
Big mals fedora said:
I’ve had a peerless pgc-65 acoustic that I bought about 15 yrs ago, never got into it but about 6 month ago I picked it up and started tryin to play. Still not good at all but I’m sticking with it. Anyway, my daughter wants to learn so I took her to Forsyths last week to get her a decent acoustic (she is doing music on her school options, and we’re planning on private lessons), so while she was deciding I had a little play on a Martin, just to compare with what I noodle on. £3500 for this Martin and I can honestly say it really didn’t sound any better than my peerless, maybe the bass notes were a little richer but that was about it. Think I was expecting more for something within that price range, but talkin to one of the sales guys in there he said there’s not a massive difference in a lot of guitars from cheapish (£400-£500) to really expensive.
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@NZBlue wont like this :-)
 
Big mals fedora said:
I’ve had a peerless pgc-65 acoustic that I bought about 15 yrs ago, never got into it but about 6 month ago I picked it up and started tryin to play. Still not good at all but I’m sticking with it. Anyway, my daughter wants to learn so I took her to Forsyths last week to get her a decent acoustic (she is doing music on her school options, and we’re planning on private lessons), so while she was deciding I had a little play on a Martin, just to compare with what I noodle on. £3500 for this Martin and I can honestly say it really didn’t sound any better than my peerless, maybe the bass notes were a little richer but that was about it. Think I was expecting more for something within that price range, but talkin to one of the sales guys in there he said there’s not a massive difference in a lot of guitars from cheapish (£400-£500) to really expensive.
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Heresy

Not really. A beginner will sound like a beginner on any guitar. It takes a certain level of ability to get enough from a guitar to justify paying stupid money. I know, I've paid stupid money!
I always say though (as a learner) don't buy a guitar by how it sounds, it is how it plays that counts. A good action, good intonation and comfortable for you is what you need. If you do this, the player will be the weakest link for quite a few years, by which time you could be ready for something better.

Is a £3500 Martin better than a £500 Yamaha? Undoubtedly it is. Which would I recommend for a beginner? The Yamaha every time.
Which would sound better with a good player? Almost certainly the Martin but it's surprising what a good player can get out of a half decent guitar
 
NZBlue said:
Heresy

Not really. A beginner will sound like a beginner on any guitar. It takes a certain level of ability to get enough from a guitar to justify paying stupid money. I know, I've paid stupid money!
I always say though (as a learner) don't buy a guitar by how it sounds, it is how it plays that counts. A good action, good intonation and comfortable for you is what you need. If you do this, the player will be the weakest link for quite a few years, by which time you could be ready for something better.

Is a £3500 Martin better than a £500 Yamaha? Undoubtedly it is. Which would I recommend for a beginner? The Yamaha every time.
Which would sound better with a good player? Almost certainly the Martin but it's surprising what a good player can get out of a half decent guitar
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I never realised how much easier it is to play a very good guitar with a good set up till I bought one.

I really should bite the bullet with an upgraded acoustic.
 
NZBlue said:
Heresy

Not really. A beginner will sound like a beginner on any guitar. It takes a certain level of ability to get enough from a guitar to justify paying stupid money. I know, I've paid stupid money!
I always say though (as a learner) don't buy a guitar by how it sounds, it is how it plays that counts. A good action, good intonation and comfortable for you is what you need. If you do this, the player will be the weakest link for quite a few years, by which time you could be ready for something better.

Is a £3500 Martin better than a £500 Yamaha? Undoubtedly it is. Which would I recommend for a beginner? The Yamaha every time.
Which would sound better with a good player? Almost certainly the Martin but it's surprising what a good player can get out of a half decent guitar
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Yeh I can fully understand that. Just by way of interest, have any of you more experienced guitar players played the peerless pgc-65?? I only ask cos to my untrained ear, it sounds beautiful and rich, but I’m intesrested to know what you guys think , maybe to understand how far off my untrained ear is!!!!
 
Bill Walker said:
Read about guitars, read reviews, watch YouTube videos.
Do research. Go into shops and ask and try out.
Once you buy it you're kind of stuck with it unless you sell it and lose money, so make sure you're buying the one that's right for you.

For example I've learned over the years that Ovation acoustics are right for me, I love the round back when sitting and the sound they give, but they're not for everybody, I feel very comfortable playing with Ovation, they have slim necks almost like an electric guitar neck, which I feel very comfortable with.
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I’ve got a ’70s Ovation Viper electric — an absolute killer of a guitar and criminally underrated.
 
Big mals fedora said:
Yeh I can fully understand that. Just by way of interest, have any of you more experienced guitar players played the peerless pgc-65?? I only ask cos to my untrained ear, it sounds beautiful and rich, but I’m intesrested to know what you guys think , maybe to understand how far off my untrained ear is!!!!
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I haven't played the Peerless but I've looked it up. I've also looked at Forsyth's website to see what Martin she would have played at 3500.

Firstly the Peerless- it's all solid wood which is good, made in Korea which is OK. The wood is mahogany including the top and it is a jumbo size. Mahogany isn't a bright topwood and its a big body so I would expect it to sound quite bassy, almost boomy. The closest Martin would be their D15.

The Martin she played it seems would be the 000-28. This is a lovely guitar and many levels better than the Peerless. It has a smaller body, with rosewood back and sides and a spruce top. It would be bell-like in comparison with clear trebles and a bright midrange. There wouldn't be the same bass as the Peerless but what there is would be tight and controlled. This is basically the same guitar Eric Clapton played on his famous MTV unplugged concert, it is that good.

So why couldn't you tell the difference? Lots of reasons. You used the word untrained and that is a large part of it. You didn't have the Peerless with you to do an A/B comparison so that makes it harder and as I said earlier, a beginner will always sound like a beginner, no matter how good the instrument.
There are also things like the larger body of the Peerless could make it sound louder than the smaller Martin (depending on how it's played) and even the room you were in.

The other thing to bear in mind is a 000-28 shouldn't really be lugged around by a young kid. It is a delicate, professional level instrument.
Martin's cheaper, laminated x series is a better option for being able to cope with the likely abuse it will get, but in my opinion the Yamahas of this world are better at producing entry (and slightly higher) level guitars
 
NZBlue said:
I haven't played the Peerless but I've looked it up. I've also looked at Forsyth's website to see what Martin she would have played at 3500.

Firstly the Peerless- it's all solid wood which is good, made in Korea which is OK. The wood is mahogany including the top and it is a jumbo size. Mahogany isn't a bright topwood and its a big body so I would expect it to sound quite bassy, almost boomy. The closest Martin would be their D15.

The Martin she played it seems would be the 000-28. This is a lovely guitar and many levels better than the Peerless. It has a smaller body, with rosewood back and sides and a spruce top. It would be bell-like in comparison with clear trebles and a bright midrange. There wouldn't be the same bass as the Peerless but what there is would be tight and controlled. This is basically the same guitar Eric Clapton played on his famous MTV unplugged concert, it is that good.

So why couldn't you tell the difference? Lots of reasons. You used the word untrained and that is a large part of it. You didn't have the Peerless with you to do an A/B comparison so that makes it harder and as I said earlier, a beginner will always sound like a beginner, no matter how good the instrument.
There are also things like the larger body of the Peerless could make it sound louder than the smaller Martin (depending on how it's played) and even the room you were in.

The other thing to bear in mind is a 000-28 shouldn't really be lugged around by a young kid. It is a delicate, professional level instrument.
Martin's cheaper, laminated x series is a better option for being able to cope with the likely abuse it will get, but in my opinion the Yamahas of this world are better at producing entry (and slightly higher) level guitars
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Thank you NZB. Excellent ‘review’ . But just to be clear, I was never gonna buy her the £3.5k Martin, I wanted to play it myself just as a comparison with my peerless. We ended up with a fender electro acoustic, cost £400.
Once again thanks for your excellent review :-)
 
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