Korean Guitars

crazyseoulsister · #1 October 10th, 2007

Okay- I will be the first to admit that I have the fever. I bought a guitar a few months ago on a trip to the Philippines. I bought it there- spent 120 US dollars- because I wanted to make sure I would stick with this. I don't regret that at all.

As time passes, I am surrounded by those in my guitar class and they have great guitars. Great- ie- better then mine.

The guitars they have aren't an American brannd since we are here in Korea but they have wonderful tonal quality and I have this terrible fever. I WANT A NEW ONE! Even when my guitar is tuned up and I compare my playing on theirs it sounds SO MUCH BETTER. I really don't care for a 'name' brand I just want the best bang for my buck with the greatest sound I can possibly get. I was thinking about spending 700 bucks and getting an acoustic electric and that comes with a case.

I would greatly appreciate any comments on what everyone thinks. I was going to buy one for 300ish bucks but thought that if I already have a guitar I might as well suffer until I can really get something I would really like.

Opinions Welcome!

Aunt Doty · #2 October 10th, 2007

I did the same thing. I bought a cheap student guitar to start with. In about 5 months I was ready for a better one. I got an acoustic/electric and I love it. Do it, you'll be glad you did. Mine is a Takamine. It's best to go to a shop and play different ones until you find the one you like best! Good luck!

allthumbs · #3 October 10th, 2007

Korean guitars have come a long way in the last 10 years. There are some nice guitars being produced in the factories there. I don't know if the guitars built for the American market are actually sold in Korea too.

mattz196 · #4 October 10th, 2007

Cort and Crafter are both Korean brands that seem to offer lots of bang for your buck and whose reviews are usually very postive , eddiez owns a small body Cort Earth which if I remember correctly he was impressed with it.
I would presume you are in the right place for a great deal on one of those brands.
Cort
Play a Crafter Today!

scott58 · #5 October 11th, 2007

Never tried a korean acoustic, but my Dean electric is made in korea and it's one of the nicest sounding 80's type metal guitars i've heard. based on it I wouldn't be afraid to check out anything made there.

crazyseoulsister · #6 October 11th, 2007

Yes, The Cort and Crafters are the brands i am looking at. I think leaning towards a Cort as it has been reccomended as the better of the two.

mattz196 · #7 October 11th, 2007

I think Crafter may be better known brand in the UK not many people stock the brand here and most stores only stock Cort dreadnoughts, If you are after a 000 size have look at that Cort Earth 900 , I have not played one but it is a very nice looking guitar.
Be interested to hear the prices you are able to get buying in the country of origin.
http://www.guitar.com.au/guitars/aco...%20900.htm

starsailor · #8 October 11th, 2007

Cort do get good reviews crazysoulsister, I think you'll end up with a nice guitar at a reasonable price

P-90 · #9 October 11th, 2007

Lots of really good guitars are (or were) made in Korea, both well known names like Agile, Epiphone, Peavey, Washburn, Ibanez, Schecter, Charvel, ESP, even a few Fenders were made there... and Kramers... but there are also unsung heroes like Unsung, Peerless, and Tokai, who (along with Samick, who have moved most manufacturing out of Korea) made most of those US and Japanese brands under contract.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Korean guitar. Reviews will be available in some cases, and, of course, play before buying.

Doug · #10 October 11th, 2007

To add to the list of Korean made guitars, both Breedlove and Avalon offer afordable Korean made models.

Noodler · #11 October 12th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aunt Doty

I did the same thing. I bought a cheap student guitar to start with. In about 5 months I was ready for a better one. I got an acoustic/electric and I love it. Do it, you'll be glad you did. Mine is a Takamine. It's best to go to a shop and play different ones until you find the one you like best! Good luck!

Totally agree. It doesn't cost anything to try different ones.

I had a Korean Fender acoustic once that lived forever, played great and eventually the frets wore out.

It is all in the ear of the beholder. I'd trust Korean made over chinese anyway.

GotDeeBlues · #12 October 12th, 2007

My first guitatr was a Samick solid spruce dread for US $200, bought a nice little Samick mahogany for my nephew for $129, and recently picked up a solid cedar top A/E from them for $329. I gave the original one to a friend and regret getting rid of it, it was a great guitar to take to the park, and I won't take the Martin that replaced it.

Brad** · #13 October 13th, 2007

I own a Korean made Ovation 'Celebrity' nylon string and paid $700 Australian for it. It's the guitar I pick up more than any other. Great sound especially plugged in. It looks awesome, feels great and sounds fantastic.

crazyseoulsister · #14 December 28th, 2007

I went looking today- I know I originally started this thread a while back...

There aren't many Cort's in Korea- hard to believe. But the ones I did play I really didnt like the sound tho they were incredibly beautiful ( mother of pearl inlay yadda yadda) I did find two Crafter's that I like. The first is here-

Crafter Guitars - Play your dream, Play a Crafter!

If the link doesnt come up you can click on Platinum Plus. It has a great sound and I think I would be pleased. I believe this is a Grand Auditorium.

For some reason I cannot find the first one I looked at. I would appreciate any and all feedback on this model. Please don't spare me- I really want to know if I am making a mistake or good choice. The fella at the guitar store ( I went to about 6 in Taegu) said he would give me this model for 620 including a hard shell case.

crazyseoulsister · #15 December 28th, 2007

OOps- Edit that-

Click on Guitar Gallery then on acoustic. Then you can click on platinum plus.

TIA!