The other acoustics

[Justpickin]

Ok, I'm going to be in the market for a nice acoustic at the end of the year (my work bonus), and I've been wanting a high end acoustic, but I'm not looking at Martins and Taylors (ok, looking, but there are so many others), and I've narrowed myself down to two guitars that I based my selection from hearing some favorite artists perform on them, and really like the tone and sound of these two instruments. The artists are Warren Haynes, Anne DiFranco, Monte Montgomery, Stephen Stills, Ritchie Havens, Santana, and a few others. The problem is that not many shops stock these, and so getting to play them is tough. We all get caught up in Gibson, Martins, and Taylors because we can play them, GC stocks them. But the two I'm interested in hearing about from anyone who has any experience (perhaps NBTB or Tex) are :
1) Alvarez WY1 - Warren makes this model sing
2) Guild D55 - beautiful sounding guitar

[TexMexMike]

Here! Here! Just!!!

Good 4U! Myself, I get stuck sometimes. Have to have one of the "BIG 3." To be honest, though, there are many great guitars out there. And many great manufacturers. Look, does anything in the 70's sound better than the Eagles? They played Takamines.

Comes down to this. INMYHOP. Find a guitar that you like. Sounds like you want. Buy it, play it and enjoy the "HECK" out of it!

Played a few Guilds. Reminded me more of Gibson Jumbo's than any other manufactuer, but not. I mean, if I had to compair. Great guitars. Have not had the pleasure to play the model that you mentioned.

Washburns, besides a few electric models, I have not played an acoustic of their's. I will look for one! Most places only carry their lower end models. And, as of such, have avoided them.

Speaking of which, I must be a "SNOB." I do avoid playing less expensive acoustics. I just figure that they will not be what I am looking for. I would have been the guy to pass up a great Kalamazoo, because it was not a "Gibson," in the '30's. My LOSS!!!!!!

No...Not going for a "Esteban" but the Seagull line of guitars are rather nice. The S6 or Folk line is REALLY nice. Thinking of getting one to keep at my Mom's in the "High Desert." No way would I keep a $1,000 dollar plus guitar there, but a $300, I'd consider it.

Okie, Just...........I'll keep looking for the Guild's and Washburn's(CORRECTED....ALVEREZ). Let us know what you end up with...and if us "BIG 3" guys can change your mind! :Loco:

EDIT: EDIT:

BTW...Just is not looking at a "LOW END" models.....But...Very "EXPENSIVE" top of the line models at un "TOP 3" manufacturers!!!

[Justpickin]

Here! Here! Just!!!


Washburns, besides a few electric models, I have not played an acoustic of their's. I will look for one! Most places only carry their lower end models. And, as of such, have avoided them.

!!

Tex...I'm looking at Alvarez, not Washburn...the one I'm looking at is about $2000.00, so it's defintely not low end.

[TexMexMike]

I messed up....on the "Washburn." But, I knew from the start that you were looking at very expensive guitars.......Infact, I made an "EDIT" EDIT" to point that fact out....Did you read to the end of my post????


>>>I had "Washburn" on my mind....due to a guitar I played earier today...was electric...and sounded rather "good" btw!

[TexMexMike]

This post brings to mind...much for me. There are many great guitars out there. Made by many manufactuers. High to low end. Something for everyone. Infact, some of the Korean and China models are far superior to what I had available when I was starting in the 70's. And cost much less at today's prices.

Back then you had guitars made in the USA or Japan. USA built, ofcourse, was felt to be the best. My parents were not going to spend the money to buy me a Martin or Gibson. I ended up with a Yamaha FG-75. I was 10. As I grew older, many of my friends had various models of Japanese made guitar's. I knew nobody who had a Martin. Or a Gibson, for that matter. We played what our parents were willing to spend. And no. I didn't live in Beverly Hills or Malibu. Perhaps their children had the Martin and Gibson's.

Comes down to this. In the age we live, we have a huge amount of choices. For 1/2 of what my parents spent on my first guitar, in todays money, one can buy a truly great guitar. One that far surpases the sonic and build quality of my first FG-75. But then, the "red" label Yamaha guitars are highly sought now. I don't feel for their "sonic" ability but more of a "baby boomer" rememberance factor. I owned one...TRUST me!!!

OK. Guess, what I am trying to say is this. Play every guitar you can. LISTEN. Don't think a high price , or name means everything. Play, listen and decide. Does it feel and sound great to you? The individuals playing style makes a HUGE difference in what is best for them. A $150 dollar guitar may sound and feel better for you than a $1,500 dollar guitar. It happened alot in the '30's. And we will probably read about it happening again today...many years later.

Buy what you...and you alone, can only decide...sounds best for you...In your price range. And you will have a life long winner!!!

[WireNWood]

Yup.

Like I've said before, choose a guitar with your ears and hands - NOT your envy bone or label-sense.

Seagulls are pretty impressive for those low prices.

As far as the axes you mentioned, I'm not familiar with those models specifically. I've seen some awesome Alvarez stuff, but I've always been a sucker for a Guild.

[Slowhand]

Well check this out! I have been gassing for an acoustic for a while now.. my old Guild has seen its day and I knew I was ready. I made my purchase yesterday at GC.. a WASHBURN (slightly used) but looked nearly mint. I played as many acoustics as I could get my hands on without looking at price (well, trying my best not to), played Yamahas, Taylors, Guilds, Epiphones, Fenders, and alot of Martins! What's interesting is that I was not taken by the sound of many of the Martins.. the range was $450 upwards of more than $3,000. I honestly found them to sound a bit muddy and too bassy. Now the 0015 is a guitar that I love and I know I will have one day. I was not ready to plunk down $800 for an acoustic yesterday (besides there were no 0015s in sight.

Anyway, I kept coming back to this (what appeared to me as a jumbo) Washburn. It had a brightness to it that was lacking in the Martins I picked up.. the Taylors were more in line of what I was liking but then there was the sticker shock.. The strings on this guitar were shot and I was so impressed with the clarity and volume despite the dead strings. Long story short (yeah right) I walked out with it and got a GREAT deal on the price. I truly would have paid double for one of those Martins or other if it blew me away but it didn't. Not knocking Martin in the least, they felt superior in my hands over all other guitars I played.. the craftmanship is unbeatable.

So this will be my knock-around guitar. I will get my 0015 down the road but I agree that you cannot judge by price or by name. A diamond in the rough, maybe... I've never played an acoustice Washburn before but I'm happy with my choice.

Grand Auditorium
Grover 18:1 gear ratio machine heads
Hand-selected solid spruce top
carved wooden inlays
Aged Rosewood back and sides
Mahogany neck
Rosewood fingerboard
Pearl snowflake inlay
Rosewood butterfly bridge
Exclusive Grover

A few pics (not of mine but of the exact model) Washburn J12SN -

http://i24.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/8c/f3/e9_12_sb.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:void(null))

http://i16.ebayimg.com/04/i/04/86/95/ca_12_sb.JPG (http://javascript<b></b>:void(null))

:smiling s

[TexMexMike]

1 "UP" on my Washburn comments!!!!

Nice looking find!!!

ENJOY!!! :batman:

[Justpickin]

Nice looking guitar Dave... :thumbsup:

[Bytor1975]

Beutiful guitar Dave. Congrats!

I've had alot of experience playing Washburn guitars over the past. One of my Uncle's plays them exclusively. And a friend of mine that owns a local music store has been a Washburn Dealer now for about 15 years. He tells me that their customer service and dealing with them can't touch Fender, Gibson, or Martin, which were the lines he had carried in the past.

[WireNWood]

Cool!

LOVE Jumbos.

[romdos]

First off, I own 2 Guilds, and I think they are great, and i have heard very good things about the new Guild instruments... I also have a local shop dealing in Washburn instrumnets, and from what I've see, they are very nice instruments... played several over there and they are very nice... have my eye on a Washburn bass which needs to wait awhile, but I may do it within 6 months... it'll either be the Washburn, which is beautiful, or a Ric which I've jonesed for for a very long time now...

[jimihalen]

I'm courting a Seagull S6+ Cedar GT. Man, they are amazing. Which reminds me, if anyone wants to buy a phaser, email me!