Favorite Acoustic Guitars

[Elvis63]

What are the favorite acoustic guitars for OSG folks. I used to be a Martin fanatic, but then I got a Leo Posch 000 model and have hung onto it since. Posch works near my town of Lawrence, KS, and is an excellent luthier.

[stevejamsecono]

Guild D25s are my start and end. My parents have had a pair of them since they got married in the late 1970s (Ebony and Teal Blue), and I got a Brown 80s one a decade or so ago. They sound and play incredible and I've yet to play a Martin, Taylor, or Gibson that would convince me otherwise.

All that being said -- I met a Gretsch Jim Dandy at the studio a few weeks back and LOVED that, so I'm gonna nab one of those cheap beauties sooner rather than later...

[marqueemoon]

I was lucky to find a player grade 1949 00-17 at Guitar Center many years ago. That’s my #1.

The modern all-mahogany Martins are also quite good, and that’s what I’d get if starting over.

[PorkyPrimeCut]

Guild D25...They sound and play incredible and I've yet to play a Martin, Taylor, or Gibson that would convince me otherwise.

I don't see myself ever moving on from my '77 Guild D50. I love everything about it &, just like yourself, have never played anything since that feels close to it, except for a couple of insanely expensive Martins.

Gretsch Jim Dandy

I almost ended up getting one of these, before opting for a 6 year old Guild M-120. I'm still quite tempted, seeing as they're still very affordable little guitars.

[sal paradise]

Martin 000-15m suits me perfectly. I love it.

Have a hankering for a 2nd acoustic so I can keep one in a different turning. That’s a wildly ambitious extravagance given the cost vs how often I play acoustic. If I do, I’d very much like to try an OM21, or finally bite the bullet and buy myself a real J45 like I’ve wanted since forever. The crazy thing is that I really dig the smaller body shape of the Martin these days.

Also, this is a thread for Larry.

[Professor Bill]

I'm also a fan of smaller body guitars. I mostly play a 1967 Martin 0-18, and I also like my 1965 Guild M20. I'm generally not someone who prefers vintage electric guitars but I do like older acoustics. They often need work, though. The 0-18 has had a neck reset, and the M20 had one in the distant past and needs another at some point in the next few years.

I've also got an old (70s) Guild G37 (maple back and sides) that I've had since I was a teenager (like 40 years ago) and it's a monster. As a full -size dreadnaught it's a little big for me, but it sounds like cannon.

If I were starting fresh I'd probably look at the various Iris options, like their OO or OG.

I'd love to try a Waterloo, but I'm not sure they are still being made and prices have really gone up.

[Professor Bill]

Leo Posch 000 model

Those look really nice!

[F15hface]

I only have one. It is a limited edition Eastman E10OOSS/V in black. I like the 00 size a lot, though owning a Jumbo also appeals. It beat out a number of Gibsons and Audens and whatever other 00s I could find in London at a not unreasonable price. I have played an Iris 00 and it was lovely though well beyond my reach. I’d also like an old LG-2, but again not affordable.

[B.T.]

Higher tier Late 70’s early 80’s Japan/Taiwan made Yamaha acoustics are a lot of bang for the buck. For the era better made than Gibson/Martin, impeccable craftsmanship usually built by a single luthier, old growth wood, solid tops, backs, and sides. Decades of time opening up and loosening those tops. Amazing players. You can still get some of them for around and under a grand. These are not the “red labels” fwiw.

[JSett]

I played an old '73 Yamaha FG for a couple of decades until it got too far gone to justify repair (neck reset, regret, etc) so upgraded to a new Yamaha FSX5 which is basically a reissue but with a smaller body and some fancy electronics.

Sounds great and suits me fine

[GreenKnee]

Martin 000-15m suits me perfectly.

Seconded. Mine was an 18th birthday present from my parents, so it's getting pretty old now. Granted, it's pretty rare I play acoustic, but when I do it's the only one I ever want to play

[øøøøøøø]

Not exactly easy to just run out and buy, but 1930s Gibson Advanced Jumbo, hands-down

Banner-era (wartime) SJ/J45 also pretty good (but not quite as magical as an AJ)

I also once played a Bigsby-renecked 1940s Martin D28 that was unbelievable… glorious. I related to it miles beyond any other Martin I’ve ever tried… but very few of them exist and it was something ludicrous like $150k

But man was it good

I also like little Larson Bros parlor guitars, single-O size, etc. Never really spent much time with the larger Larsons

This is assuming we’re talking flat-tops only

[crianlarich]

If you say so, I 'm fine with that.
Otherwise I' m thrilled that I managed to find an Artur Lang archtop this year. Far too big for me, but the tone makes up for the little inconvenience.

What's the story behind Bigsby necks btw.?

[øøøøøøø]

What's the story behind Bigsby necks btw.?

Apparently PA Bigsby agreed to re-neck a few D28s back in the mid-20th century

I’m not sure the circumstances, but a few are out there

Maple necks, ebony board (at least the one I played, IIRC), and the signature six-on-a-side headstock that’s reminiscent of the later Stratocaster design

Pretty rare, but the one I played was the best Martin* I’ve ever played

*If you can still call it a “Martin”

[JSett]

I've heard they're on a other level. Looks nuts...