looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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Con-Tiki!
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looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by Con-Tiki! » Mon May 14, 2018 3:25 pm

i own no acoustics.
i really don't get excited about acoustics
i may get an acoustic.

today, i was at the local shop, and saw a few cheap guitars.
1) 1970 Epiphone w/ a bolt-on neck, about $200
2) 10 yr old Alvarez $150
3) 2 yr old Gretsch Rancher blk Falcon (tacky, but i like tacky) $300

I played all three, and although the Epi was less resonant than the other two, I still thought it was okay.
I'm not a tone snob.

Any of these the obvious buy? Right now, I'm leaning toward the Epi for it's weirdness, and very electric-guitar-like neck.
this shop is also a Martin and Yamaha dealer, so if you can recommend an inexpensive model from either of those two manufacturers, please do.
(Christopher, also)
I've been to one World's Fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing i ever heard come out a pair of headphones.

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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by oid » Tue May 15, 2018 2:09 am

I would just pick the one with the best high end and most volume. The volume will drop considerably once outside without the walls/ceiling to bounce off and the low end does not carry well anyways. Bright and loud does well out in the wild.
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Kinx
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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by Kinx » Tue May 15, 2018 2:48 am

I would suggest Yamaha FS800 for that kind of application. Yamaha acoustics have their specific sound, I found it a little bit too "timid" for my taste, however they have great high end and are very durable.

I've also had ibanez AVC9-OPN for about a year - great guitar for that kind of money, the neck was especially great (I like wide necks). Sound was nice, however it wasn't very loud - it may be attributed to wood choice, however Yamaha's of similar types tend to be louder in my experience.
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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by MKR » Tue May 15, 2018 3:26 am

i'm like you... i'm not an acoustic guy.

I do own one though. a gretsch jim dandy. It's a small parlor acoustic and very inexpensive. parlor guitars are cool.

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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by StevenO » Tue May 15, 2018 3:36 am

Get whatever has the best feel, volume, sound, and playability that your hands and ears enjoy as-is. Beyond that. Look at the current action height and then look at how much life is left in the saddle. Is there room to lower the action? Great! If not, look elsewhere. There are few things that are less fun than buying a cheap beater acoustic and realizing it needs a $400 neck reset.

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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by zhivago » Tue May 15, 2018 3:45 am

StevenO wrote:
Tue May 15, 2018 3:36 am
Get whatever has the best feel, volume, sound, and playability that your hands and ears enjoy as-is. Beyond that. Look at the current action height and then look at how much life is left in the saddle. Is there room to lower the action? Great! If not, look elsewhere. There are few things that are less fun than buying a cheap beater acoustic and realizing it needs a $400 neck reset.
^^^^^
Exactly this :)
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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by Con-Tiki! » Tue May 15, 2018 3:52 am

MKR wrote:
Tue May 15, 2018 3:26 am
i'm like you... i'm not an acoustic guy.

I do own one though. a gretsch jim dandy. It's a small parlor acoustic and very inexpensive. parlor guitars are cool.
i had forgotten about the jim dandy model.
i have to admit, a big fat acoustic like the Rancher might be a struggle.
i'll have to look around...
(Christopher, also)
I've been to one World's Fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing i ever heard come out a pair of headphones.

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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by StevenO » Tue May 15, 2018 5:46 am

I can't emphasize enough the importance of getting an acoustic that you ENJOY playing. A cheap, effortlessly playable acoustic will get more use and will inevitably sound better than an otherwise great acoustic that just does not play all that great. If you enjoy playing it, you will play better, and if you play better, you'll sound better.

This is the sole reason I have a $100 bolt-on neck acoustic and my acoustics that are worth 5-10 times as much sit in their cases.

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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by marqueemoon » Tue May 15, 2018 7:02 am

Con-Tiki! wrote:
Tue May 15, 2018 3:52 am
MKR wrote:
Tue May 15, 2018 3:26 am
i'm like you... i'm not an acoustic guy.

I do own one though. a gretsch jim dandy. It's a small parlor acoustic and very inexpensive. parlor guitars are cool.
i had forgotten about the jim dandy model.
i have to admit, a big fat acoustic like the Rancher might be a struggle.
i'll have to look around...
I’ve played a few Jim Dandys in stores. Pretty neat. Expect to do some setup work, but that’s going to be true for any cheapass guitar.

My beater is a Takamine lawsuit era F312. It doesn’t have the richness of my other acoustics, but it has a nice plunky sound to it.

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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by dezb1 » Tue May 15, 2018 8:05 am

Get a Yamaha... best advice you'll get all day.

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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by Don_Karnage » Tue May 15, 2018 8:43 am

I’m the same, acoustic rarely get me excited and when they do it’s usually parlour style guitars so I’d probably look into the Gretsch Jim Dandy too. I’ve played maybe three or so and they’ve always been a lot of fun :)

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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by MechaBulletBill » Tue May 15, 2018 1:34 pm

Having just gone through the exact same thing, I've ended up with a '66 epi caballero simply because it's so easy to play. The neck is really comfortable and small, like an electric, and it's easier to play than any other acoustic I've tried. Wasn't suuuuper cheap but if it stops me aimlessly strumming an electric then it's worth it to me.

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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by DrQuasar » Tue May 15, 2018 2:31 pm

I know you are probably looking only in the steel string arena, but a Yamaha C-40 or similar will almost always sound great. I've yet to encounter a bad one. If you only play electrics, the fingerboard may feel too wide and flat though.

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Re: looking for a cheap acoustic for the patio

Post by dezb1 » Wed May 16, 2018 1:57 pm

The C 40 is probably my next guitar as I've not had a nylon string guitar in about 25 years and have been on the look out for one for a wee while.

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