any guitar players here?

i've been playing my takamine pluggin for 4 years, now i'm planning to get another accoustic steel pluggin guitar (with better microphone, pickup, amp, wood, overall quality)

my budget's around $1200 US, any suggestion?
i'm thinking about getting an ovation since i've tried out some really great ones (custom legend) @ tom lee awhile ago...


what guitars do you own, let's share some thoughts.

also, do you shop online?
any good online shops besides www.music123.com?

Gibson's CA is very tempting to me although it's a classical guitar


thanks

 

I play a Gibson "Fretless Wonder":



Otherwise known as the Les Paul Custom. Mine is 15 years old, but still plays beautifully.

I actually don't know if it will fit in the trunk of the s2k when I go to my lessons! (i just got the car).

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by foolio
[B]I play a Gibson "Fretless Wonder":

 

Unfortunately I think acoustic guitars are one product where it's hard to really save money. Unlike electrics, I think that cheap(er) acoustics really do sound cheaper, and more expensive ones really do sound noticably better. I becomes a matter of what you're used to. If you want to save money, don't pick up any of the really nices ones when you're in the guitar shop because you'll have a hard time settling for something less expensive!

I have a Taylor 714ce, which I think was around $2999 when I bought it a couple years ago. I travelled all over and played lots of guitars before settling on that one. There were many more expensive models that I didn't like as much, but there were no cheaper models that were better. I even played several other 714s, and for some reason this particular one sounded better to me that the others. It's really hard to define, but the chime-like quality of this particular instrument made it sound very unique to me.

When I was in one shop, another guy was picking up a new guitar which was priced at around $8,000. I can't remember the make right now, but it will come to me later. It's a moderately well known manufacturer from Austin, TX that makes what are essentially vintage Martin reproductions. The shop owner and the new buyer both played the instrument, and they even let me try it as well. I have to say... YES it really did sound awesome. No lie, the difference WAS very noticable. Now the only question I'd ask myself would be... is the difference worth $5,000 more than what I paid for my guitar? In my situation, no it wasn't. But I can see where if I had the money lying around, I might have convinced myself otherwise. It really did sound that good. Use caution, because guitar collecting can become an expensive hobby.

 

I personally am not too crazy about ovations. The shallow plastic body makes for a really weak and empty sound.

My acoustic is a piece of garbage...sort of, but I like my electric, which is an American Strat.

 

I do agree with the views on aucoustic dollars, however every now and then I pick up a nice sounding Yamaha that is under 400 bucks. Two that are the same model will sound differently, even with fresh strings that are the same - at least to me, and I don't have ears that are that sensitive to tone.

But tone is what its all about, which is why I dont think I could ever buy one off the net. However, my pride and joy - the wife - was ordered and delivered some 8 weeks after ordering it nearly 11 years ago. She's a Tobias Basic 6 - picked out the woods and all for the tone I wanted.

Acoustic - while living in Houston ages ago - mine fell apart. I hope to get another one soon. But for the time being, one other bass (5/fretless) and an electric (custom/Jagnaux) keep me occupied. =)

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CBeyond
[B]
When I was in one shop, another guy was picking up a new guitar which was priced at around $8,000.

 

Re: money laying around -

That's what happened when I ordered my Tobias - at that age, I did have that much money laying around and came across a dealer who would deal at just a hair above his cost. So.. I went for it, knowing I could resell the bass for actually more than I purchased it for. And now that Tobias Basses were bought out by Gibson, went into semi-mass production, and then reduced to nothing - its worth quite a bit now. And that's just rare for anything these days!

Tone - ooooh yes. Quality - ooooh yes. A few quirky things, and I've gone through I believe three bridges, but the support is always there... or was, when I needed it.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sonusfaber
[B]I think you're referring to a Collings guitar.

 

nice, i agree with you cbeyond, schatten.

we dont have many to try out here in vancouver, only a few ovations, taylors, yamahas, guild...
that's why i have to shop online.

do u have experience on that gibon's CA (pic posted above) classical?
I would really love to get one of those (i love classical).

cbeyond: i'm not sure if i've ever tried a taylor 714ce, but sure i tried some really great taylors @ some local stores. I really want to purchase a nice guitar like yours but as you know I havent been trying out great guitars (like you) for years and finally settled on the taylor.
Also, i've been playing guitar for just few years and now I think it's time for me to get a better one. around $1200 sounds reasonable to me