Electric-Acoustic

Real4Life89 · #1 May 24th, 2006

I've decided to get my first electric-acoustic guitar. I'm in the price range of $500 or less. I've taken a look at a couple of guitars, including Washburn, Takamine, and Ibanez. Do any of you have suggestions?

allthumbs · #2 May 25th, 2006

What do you intend to do with it? Playing gigs at loud volume or just with friends at low volume. They are two different animals because of feedback. I have a washburn folk for personal use while UGB has the next one up which works great for gigs at a louder volume.

Ultimate Garage Band · #3 May 25th, 2006

I would say don't skimp on the electronics. Just because one can buy an acoustic electric for under $200 new doesn't mean they sound that good plugged in OR unplugged. The Washburn D10SCE can usually be had for under $300 and it's a decent sounding guitar plugged in and it has a pleasant, smooth, albeit quiet tone unplugged. The guitars I perform with are made to play in very loud environments w/o feeding back. They are thin body guitars, one of all laminate maple and the other of all solid ash. They sound kinda nasty unplugged, but that's not why I bought them. They use the Bband electronics system, like Allthumbs has in his F32SCE, and they sound great.

Real4Life89 · #4 May 25th, 2006

i want mostly for a smaller setting

bluesguy · #5 May 25th, 2006

I went through the same thing. My first electric-acoustic was a $300 Yamaha APX-4a. It was a thin bodied guitar and it sounded 'thin'. I now own a Takamine EAN-15C. I would highly recommend saving your $s and go for a guitar in the ~$1k range. I think you will be much happier with the end result.

fly135 · #6 May 26th, 2006

Try and get to a store that lets you play the instruments. My local Sam Ash has a nice closed off room full of acoustics. It's really a quiet and cmfortable setting for trying out the guitars. Now, anytime I go in for anything I make a stop by the acoustic room and spend at least 15 mins to an hour just playing and comparing. I'm a beginner player and I don't feel the least bit intimidated.

krissovo · #7 May 28th, 2006

I have a Fender GA 43SCE and that is about 500, I love it and reveiws are great. Sounds great plugged or unplugged (in the right hands not mine). Its made in Korea but the build quality is very good and it looks great as well. The electrics are fishman that I am told are good.

Plays well strummed or finger picked

dEcember · #8 May 28th, 2006

Ok duck !

what the heck is a Western guitar !!!!!!.

PS to allthumbs
I went and got an electric-acoustic guitar..STAGG .Sounded good, now to get into shape.

Lcjones · #9 May 29th, 2006

While the acousto-lectrics obviously serve a purpose, I would rather spend my money on a great (i.e., Dean Markley) acoustic pick-up on a straight acoustic guitar.

Les

kbow · #10 May 30th, 2006

Hey everyone... I am a newbie to guitar and the board as well...
I would like to thow out there that Musician's Friend will let you buy one try it for 40 days and if you don't like it send it back.

I have a Washburn acoustic from MF and I really enjoy it. It was a clearance item.

USGold · #11 May 30th, 2006

I chose my Ibanez precisley because it is a thinner body--I knew i would be using it plugged and standing for performance and the thinner body size makes stand up playing much easier--the fishman electronics work great and plugged it had all the volume I ever need through my Fender Accousonic 30, yes unplugged it's a bit lacking in volume-but since i only do that for living rooms ect.--it's not a problem--if you want to see mine it's pictured in the show your gear list. Scott

allthumbs · #12 May 30th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by USGold

I chose my Ibanez precisley because it is a thinner body--I knew i would be using it plugged and standing for performance and the thinner body size makes stand up playing much easier--the fishman electronics work great and plugged it had all the volume I ever need through my Fender Accousonic 30, yes unplugged it's a bit lacking in volume-but since i only do that for living rooms ect.--it's not a problem--if you want to see mine it's pictured in the show your gear list. Scott

Get in the habit of damping unused strings with your picking hand and it will allow you to play louder before running into feedback problems.

Hilch · #13 May 31st, 2006

I have a Fender ..DG < I don't know a real lot about guitars but I love this one , especially when my teacher picks up my guitar and plays it for me ..
This has a real soothing sound to it , I'm just waiting til the day I can actually play like my teacher , so I can make this baby sing ....

Hilch

Todd · #14 June 17th, 2006

I started out with a Takemine EG-330, in fact still have it and it still plays good after 10 years of heavy traveling on planes, you know how they treat luggage. i believe it was around the $500 mark with a case then. I am a fan of Takemine, but have moved on to custom guitars, wow what a difference. If you have the money or time to save i would go that route just to keep you from doing it latter as you get better. Have fun shopping.

RickC · #15 June 28th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Real4Life89

I've decided to get my first electric-acoustic guitar. I'm in the price range of $500 or less. I've taken a look at a couple of guitars, including Washburn, Takamine, and Ibanez. Do any of you have suggestions?

Check out the Zager ZAD50CE which can be found at zagerguitar.com. I ordered one yesterday. It comes with a lifetime warranty and 100% money back guarantee.