Expensive guitars

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globex
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Expensive guitars

Unread post by globex » Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:46 am

What makes the Taylor's so much more expensive (generally) than some other guitar? What exactly should I look for when buying a good guitar? I've played guitars at a store where one was $300 and another was $2000 and to me they sounded very similar, however the $2000 was a little easier to play. Maybe someone can help me out on this.
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mattinbeloit
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Unread post by mattinbeloit » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:19 am

well, i'm guessing you have not been playing too long. When i started out, i had the same problem, the cheep and expensive ones sounded the same to me. If this is the case, buy the cheep one. Given a little more time, you will get a little better at distinguishing sounds and start to hear bigger differences. But for now if they sound the same, buy the cheep one and wait a year or 2. Now in some cases you will find guitars out there that are alot cheeper than the Taylors and sound just like them, i've found a few like that. But, like you said, the Taylor was alot eaasier to play. In the end, for the most part, you are going to get what you pay for. There is more to the guitar than the sound that you have to take into account. Quality = $$$$ (for the most part...).

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Unread post by c_tietze » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:14 am

Good instruments are more playable, sound better and will age with time (that's a good thing).

Depends on your committment level and budget.

You can get a very nice solid wood Martin for around $1,100.00 or possibly less.
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Unread post by juineaux » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:50 am

I've been playing a $300 guitar for the last 6 years or so, and I love it. I think owning *the right* $300-$600 guitar will make you happy, & will be comparable to many $1000-$1500 guitars.

After you reach the $2000 mark, things start get interesting with wood choices, more handmade parts, & different custom brands. I'm looking at a very nice lowden that will certainly set me back for a while-

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Unread post by Grachi » Tue Aug 09, 2005 3:25 pm

think you can get a taylor or a martin used for an awesome price too especially if it has like "a knick" in it where no one else would buy it but otherwise it is in perfect condition.

After I bought my most recent guitar like a month later there was a martin in there that had like a rather large scratch/scrape in the bottom of it (where u would connect your strap) and it was like 750 dollars where one upstairs brand new was like 1,500 dollars. It still sounded awesome and nothing else was wrong with it... Man if i had money i would have bought it too!!! :lol:
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globex
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Unread post by globex » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:30 pm

Well for example, Dave uses that black one with the stars.. I forget the name Chet something. He uses it super often, which must mean he likes it for some reason, anyone know what the reason would be?
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Unread post by bassman462 » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:37 pm

globex wrote:Well for example, Dave uses that black one with the stars.. I forget the name Chet something. He uses it super often, which must mean he likes it for some reason, anyone know what the reason would be?
Chet Atkins SST by Gibson, and he use to use it super often like a few years ago but it went disappear and theres going to be no return according to the road crew. and he used it because it is a super nice guitar.
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Unread post by sunglassesatnight » Wed Aug 10, 2005 8:31 am

juineaux wrote:I've been playing a $300 guitar for the last 6 years or so, and I love it. I think owning *the right* $300-$600 guitar will make you happy, & will be comparable to many $1000-$1500 guitars.
This would be the truth. I have a $600 guitar that I absolutely adore.

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Grachi
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Unread post by Grachi » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:30 am

thats true... man if i bought a 1000+ guitar, i don't think I would do it justice anyway. I would rather stick with my alvarez ($450) and just play it for years and let it age, cause it will only grow old with me 8-)
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charliemike
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Unread post by charliemike » Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:11 pm

I think part of it is the name ... Same reason people pay more for a BMW than an Acura. Both are good but while there are differences in the driving experience the BMW is going to have more cachet than the Acura.

As far as guitars go, there are a lot of guitars in the $300-600 range that don't have solid wood sides or backs ... They use laminates ... Taylors and Martins (depending on the model ... I think the 300s and up on the Taylors) use solid wood. Huge difference in tone.

If I was playing for $$ I'd have a Taylor. I sold my 912c because I really wasn't playing it enough to justify owning a $2000 guitar.
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