Money well spent?

gr82882 · Unread post by **gr82882** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:15 am

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to get a new guitar within the next year. For the past 3 years or so I've been playing a Fender DG10CE Acoustic. It's actually not half bad for the price, but I'm looking for something better that I will be able to keep as I continue to progress. I haven't gotten out and started playing guitars yet, but hope to when I get back to school. I haven't ruled anything out (since I haven't played anything), but I would like to look primarily at Larrivee, Taylor, and Martin guitars. I don't know exactly what my budget will be, but probably somewhere around $1000.

My big question is... Is spending that much money on a guitar money well spent? I realize that the answer is in the ear of the beholder (so to speak), but do guitars really get better (sonically) as the price goes up, or are you paying mostly for cosmetic benefits?

I look forward to your responses,
-Greg

firedancer86 · Unread post by **firedancer86** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:24 am

it is worth it if your return (or the joy) you get out of it dictates...so if you think you will persue music and get your moneys worth out of it and it won't break the bank, go for it

for the range of $1000, I would stick with Martins...(ha...the funny thing is, I just put down my DG10ce before reading the post...it has become the guitar I play when I don't want to get the others out of the case =)

if treated right, a guitar can last a lifetime...I know a guy who has had his Gibson Gospel Acoustic for almost 40 years and it sounds so beautiful...with acoustics, the wood opens as it ages - like wine gets better with age...

so if you can get a lifelong guitar and enjoyment from playing it for $1000, I say go for it

I think the Martin DXME is the best for around that price...good luck

isaac · Unread post by **isaac** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:30 am

definitely what fire said. it's all up to what you do with it. i haven't even planned it, but i play my 414 for at least 3 hours a day and love every second of it, then i knew a few people with 914's that play their's once a week.

my parents think that my 414 was a horrid investment, and i'm just provin' 'em wrong everytime i play and have a blast and forget about everything. it's my kinda therapy, and that validates all of the money i spent on it, i think.

so like fire said, it's up to you to really. if you're unsure about it, which it seems like you are now, hold off on it a bit. go play a guitar in that price range...and if you keep coming back to it? go for it. before i got my 414 i would just go in there weekly to play it...i became a bit of a regular. heh.

most of all? best of luck with what you do decide, all right?

Unread post by **jkanter** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:34 am

D-16RGT
D-16RGT
D-16RGT
D-16RGT
D-16RGT
D-16RGT
D-16RGT
D-16RGT

Best Guitar for the money...anywhere(if you want a dread)... http://www.elderly.com ENJOY!!!

gr82882 · Unread post by **gr82882** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:37 am

Thanks for the replies guys.

Fire - Just wondering why you would choose a martin over a taylor (since you play a taylor)? If my budget were say... 1500, would you be more apt to recommend the taylor? This is complete speculation at this point, but the Larrivee's look really nice to me at this point. I really like my cutaway and electronics (actually I HATE the electronics in my fender), so I think I want my next guitar to have that. The larrivee's seem to be a bit cheaper than the taylors, I can't wait to see how they sound.

-Greg

isaac · Unread post by **isaac** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:40 am

find a store and play, dang it. that's the best way you can decide.

Unread post by **jkanter** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:42 am

I you want a cutaway....then go with a Taylor. Maybe Elliot can give you some suggestions on Martin cutaways....but if I was to get a cutaway...it would probably be a Taylor. You can get a D-16RGT and put a B-Band in it for $1,000 exactly($900 for guitar...a little less..., and $90 for pickup). It won't have a cutaway...but it will knock you on your ass.

As for $1,500.....you can go with a higher end Martin.

I'm a Marting guy.....honestly, play them all and decide what you like.

gr82882 · Unread post by **gr82882** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:44 am

I wish I could. There really aren't any good places around me, and I'm at work all day. I go to RPI in Troy, NY, and I'm within walking distance of this place...

http://www.cathedralmusic.com/

Check out the products page for a list of his inventory (not sure how up to date it is)

He's got a lot of nice (non martin/taylor) guitars there that I can't wait to try out. Hopefully I'll be able to find a place around there that carries martins and taylors as well.

Unread post by **jkanter** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:45 am

Too bad you can't get a Lakewood..or the HD-28V. Just search around, find out what sound you want...then buy!!!

gr82882 · Unread post by **gr82882** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:51 am

The guy at the above link carries lakewoods, as well as...

Breedlove
Froggy Bottom
Goodall
Larrivee
Lowden
Bourgeois
Webber

I'm lucky to have a shop so close with all of those hard to find guitars... I can hardly contain my excitement

Unread post by **jkanter** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:51 am

Yeah, I saw em all.....they are just out of your price range

gr82882 · Unread post by **gr82882** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:56 am

Not necessarily... most of those prices are list. And who knows, if I find one I REALLY love, i may just have to blow my tax return on it

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 11:03 am

it doesn't matter how much a guitar costs, just as long as you like to play and you like the sound :wink:

firedancer86 · Unread post by **firedancer86** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 11:09 am

well the reason I say Martin is because I truely think that Taylors on the low end (unless it is a 414 ltd

) are pricey...once you break into the 500 series Taylors I think they beat a Martin...I wouldn't say I am a Tayor freak...because I have played both...I like Martins too...

if you hear the arguement that Martins have the low end that Taylors can't match, the new (2003 dreads and jumbos) have the new bracing system inside the guitar to deeply open up and enrich the low end response (bassier sounds) of the Taylors...

are you looking for any woods in particular, or are you mearly just upgrading yourself from the Fender?

if you really want to invest, I would go for maybe a

2003 Tayloe 510ces (with the new bracing)...
1.that would give you the new bracing to add a great bass sound
2.the new ES (expression system pickups - electronics)

which control the high and low end and a master volume control (Taylors own system) - I have it and it is so much better than the Fishman pickups IMO... http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/fe ... ssion.html (check out how discreate these controls for the electronics are)
3. Tropical Grade Mohagony back and sides (Mahogany gives a real rich deep sound...good for dreads)
4. solid engelman spruce top...you even get some Hawaiian Koa around the soundhole
5. even new tuners with a 18:1 ratio...better than the grovers! http://www.taylorguitars.com/news/products.html#prod2

here is the link to that guitar...
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/mo ... p?id=510ce

do yourself a favor and go here also and right under the 514 in front, click the zoom button and get as close as you can...take a look at how beautiful it looks...
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/models/500.html

not only does it look great, but being a dread...having the new expression system controls....AND having the new bracing makes it a real good buy for the money...comes with its own cool herdshell and everything...

isaac · Unread post by **isaac** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 11:12 am

firedancer86 wrote:unless it is a 414 ltd

thanks for getting my back there, fire.

anyway...seems like fire knows what he's talking about.

are you sure there isn't a store around you that carries Taylors or Martins?

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