BrunoBass Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Morning all. I haven't touched acoustic guitar for ages, but with a bunch of song ideas bubbling away and an invitation to collaborate with a singer for some open mic assaults I'm in the market for something to strum. I've got around £250 to spend, acoustic tone isn't a massive consideration as most of the time it'll be plugged in to a PA, but most important is feel. I want something with an electric type neck, easy to play! Can anyone recommend anything? I hear good things about Tanglewood guitars, the Epiphone EJ200 and Yamaha's APX range. Any advice gratefully received - thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 have a look at freshman guitars, the last one I played was astonishing for the 190 quid price tag ( I thought it was a 500 quid guitar) yamaha, epiphone and tanglewood are good choices as well. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Crafter are also good, I bought one for £175 which was up there with several more expensive instruments. Or get a Variax 300 solid-body and use the acoustic patches, that's what I use for gigging purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 I have a Crafter SA which combines characteristics of an electro-acoustic with a neck more like an electric ... http://youtu.be/nvLyQFvbKu0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1461332733' post='3033795'] I have a Crafter SA which combines characteristics of an electro-acoustic with a neck more like an electric ... http://youtu.be/nvLyQFvbKu0 [/quote] Thanks, looks great - slightly out of my budget though unfortunately ☺ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 [quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1461338104' post='3033850'] Thanks, looks great - slightly out of my budget though unfortunately ☺ [/quote] I have seen them second hand for £250-280. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted April 23, 2016 Author Share Posted April 23, 2016 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1461342247' post='3033889'] I have seen them second hand for £250-280. [/quote] Thanks you, I will investigate further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 Crafter is a good call, but also Cort and Aria both make good guitars at that price point, and, as they are not "name" brands (same with Crafter) their secondhand price will often plummet, making your 3250 go a very long way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Vintage V300. Superb quality and sound for under £150. One day I hope to get mine back from my son, who walked off with it at Xmas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edstraker123 Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Ibanez Talman has an awesome neck - just like an electric. Played acoustically its lacking a bit of low end as it has quite a small body but amped up it is great. I had the Crafter before it and liked the Ibanez a lot more. Definitely worth considering for the money. http://www.dawsons.co.uk/ibanez-tcm50e-electro-acoustic-guitar-sunburst?gclid=CPqWmJvrp8wCFdgaGwodS9kGdw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Have a look at Freshman guitars too. You'll pick up a decent one 2nd hand well within your budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 Thanks everyone - plenty to go at here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 `i have had a Washburn D10SCE for years and its great. A recent upgrade includes a fishman preamp. Sells for just over £200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony p Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Yamaha apx, I gig a 500, sounds lovely plugged in and most importantly stays in tune Pretty robust too, it's been knocked off it's stand a few times and still ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony p Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 I've just realised how old this thread is! Whoops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 My wife bought me a Harley Benton electric acoustic for Christmas. It's great. I am really enjoying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 (edited) If you've got a reasonable acoustic already, why not just by a quality piezo pickup and install it. L.R.Baggs are brilliant, they make an alternative to the piezo that is actually a microphone which sticks under the top and does require removing the bridge saddle. It has a volume control that fits neatly on the edge of the sound hole. All you need to do is drill a hope where the rear strap button fits and insert the jack. Called the Lyric it's excellent. I have one in my Taylor acoustic. Edited February 6, 2017 by Grahambythesea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Seeing as this thread is almost a year old may I ask for a slight hijack? [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/ovation_ce48p_koab_elite_plus.htm"]I think I want this Ovation[/url]. What say you all? Situation is exactly the same as the OP's, me and the singer doing coffee shop/restaurant type stuff. Is something like this worth the extra over the cheaper instruments mentioned here? Main concerns are an electric-type neck and ideally a thin body but still looking traditional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 [quote name='Jack' timestamp='1490532549' post='3265713'] Seeing as this thread is almost a year old may I ask for a slight hijack? [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/ovation_ce48p_koab_elite_plus.htm"]I think I want this Ovation[/url]. What say you all? Situation is exactly the same as the OP's, me and the singer doing coffee shop/restaurant type stuff. Is something like this worth the extra over the cheaper instruments mentioned here? Main concerns are an electric-type neck and ideally a thin body but still looking traditional. [/quote] Have you played Ovation-style instruments before? i find they tend to be a bit marmite, some people love them but many cannot get on with the body shape at all, personally i'm in the loathe them group, i've played a few at various prices and cannot get on with the bowl back, they just don't seem to sit right against my body and every time i've tried to play one sitting down they slip off my knee. (mind you i have a similar dislike for taylors and takamines!) i'd suggest a trip into toon and play all the guitars in you budget, if you know the guitar shop on old george yard (opposite RPM records) then i'd look in there, he was selling Mayson Guitars which i found very good for the money, (Windows and PMT would be my other choices, and i'd avoid GuitarGuitar as they just don't seem to care in there at all) Matt PS Thanks for letting me try out your barefaced cabs all those years ago, i bought a pair of midgets and it has cured my amp GAS completely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Thanks Matt! No I haven't played Ovation before. It was the thin body that attracted me but I hadn't thought about the bowl aspect. I need to go play but the choice in the usual shops is dire as you're aware. I will check out the shops you mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 no problem, if you're looking for slimmer bodied then one of my favorites is the Aria sandpiper, not easy to come by but i could get you a try on one as my best friend has one (a few years old and a bit battle scarred but a really lovely guitar) the shop on old george yard used to sell them but is more selling secondhand guitars now. the sandpiper is akin to the Yamaha APX but the sound quality is on another level (judging by the ones i've played form both ranges) Fender make some very slim acoustics but they're strat or tele shaped rather than traditional shaped. i tend to buy most of my guitar stuff from the shop on old george yard, the owner Bryan has become a friend over the years (and the thousands of pounds i've spent in there!) Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Just to add, the Harley Benton HBO 850 SB e acoustic guitar costs £98, I can't recommend it enough as an entry level option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 [quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1490709319' post='3267246'] no problem, if you're looking for slimmer bodied then one of my favorites is the Aria sandpiper, not easy to come by but i could get you a try on one as my best friend has one (a few years old and a bit battle scarred but a really lovely guitar) the shop on old george yard used to sell them but is more selling secondhand guitars now. the sandpiper is akin to the Yamaha APX but the sound quality is on another level (judging by the ones i've played form both ranges) Fender make some very slim acoustics but they're strat or tele shaped rather than traditional shaped. i tend to buy most of my guitar stuff from the shop on old george yard, the owner Bryan has become a friend over the years (and the thousands of pounds i've spent in there!) Matt [/quote] My guitar teacher when i was at school had a sandpiper and i remember it being one of the nicest things i've played. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 [quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1490980891' post='3269619'] My guitar teacher when i was at school had a sandpiper and i remember it being one of the nicest things i've played. [/quote] the Sandpiper really is a gem, I've always said that if I was heading out on the road i'd take a pair of sandpipers over my McIlroy. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blank20 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 you should look at used guitar. If you need new, check these https://musicsquare.co.uk/126557_Fender-CD-60-CE-SB-electro-acoustic-guitar-with-EQ.html https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AW50ECENT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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