Acoustic-Electric or strictly Acoustic?

whatshername · Unread post by **whatshername** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:37 pm

Okay, so I'm on the market for a new guitar. My parents pretty much said that they'll get me a new guitar as a combined Christmas/birthday present. Well, actually that was my suggestion..they said for Christmas but I suggested combining my birthday too (Jan. 6th) because I'm going to want a pretty decent guitar. It's time, I've had my Martin DX-1 for almost five years now and it was the best beginning guitar I could have asked for. I've been playing for almost 7 years now and I think it's time for an upgrade. Anyways, I'm going to start looking now...browsing around, playing a bunch of different guitars..Martin, Taylor, Larrivee, and I remember Jason having a Garrison guitar that looked very nice. Anyways, I guess what I'm saying is that I want to explore all my options. The one thing I'm hung up on is deciding to get an acoustic-electric or just an acoustic. I've always thought that getting an acoustic-electric takes away from the full sound if you're playing unplugged. That's what would lead me away from getting the acoustic-electric. On the other hand, I'd like to possibly start doing coffeehouse shows and light gigging with a friend of mine in the near future..and having an acoustic electric would be nice. I don't know, can you guys help me weigh out the situation a bit? Thoughts on playing an acoustic-electric unplugged would also be appreciated.

Easy E · Unread post by **Easy E** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:57 pm

correct me if i wrong but isnt an acoustic-electric just an acoustic with a pickup installed in it?

Thats not really gonna change the sound of it that much

Sciaracastro · Unread post by **Sciaracastro** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:06 pm

consider that u'll pay for the electrics...
if u dont need the electrics now, u can buy a scritcly acoustic and then buy the pickup/mic later when u need it. btw u'll pay more this way.
if u need to play plugged now, then go for the acoustic-electric.
btw electrics dont change the sound while playing unplugged.

EnFuego · Unread post by **EnFuego** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:19 pm

I haven't played one myself, but I hear good things about the Martin Aura pickup, but guitars with it are pretty pricey.

Any thoughts on a particular body type or wood combinations you are looking at?

CWMCALL · Unread post by **CWMCALL** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:14 pm

EnFuego wrote:I haven't played one myself, but I hear good things about the Martin Aura pickup, but guitars with it are pretty pricey.

Any thoughts on a particular body type or wood combinations you are looking at?

there is a Martin 000-16rce Aura (spruce/rosewood) at the local Guitar Center that sounds great. I think they are asking about $1,600 for it.

checkii · Unread post by **checkii** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:22 pm

do you hate paragraphs or something?

Andre_GT7 · Unread post by **Andre_GT7** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:28 pm

Whit,

Get a Larrivee.

Sincerely,
Andre

Cor · Unread post by **Cor** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:12 pm

I don't think if an acoustic has a pick-up system the sound is changed.

checkii · Unread post by **checkii** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:26 pm

Cor wrote:I don't think if an acoustic has a pick-up system the sound is changed.

if a cutaway doesnt effect sound, i highly doubt electronics are.

but i also suggest gettign the best guitar you can, and if you cant afford it with electronics, then dont ge them and add them on later.

RunsWithBuffalo · Unread post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:15 pm

If you are going to play live i would highly recommend getting a takamine with their cool tube pre amp. One of the best sounding live guitars i have ever heard. The problem with adding electronics later is that it will cost you an arm and a leg if you want something decent. For live play i like having my eq, volume control, contour, and tuner right in my guitar, makes things go a lot smoother. I can adjust my sound levels very quickly if i have too. When you add a pickup to a guitar without one, typically you see people not cut a hole in their guitar, but then you need a volume pedal, a tuner, and possibly an eq pedal just to sound good live.

The Takamine natural series is a great bang for the buck, you can usually find them for under 1000 and they sound great mic'd too! I am pretty sure they are solid wood (Mohagany/Cedar) so it should age well.

Good Luck in your hunt!

whatshername · Unread post by **whatshername** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:08 pm

CWMCALL wrote:
EnFuego wrote:I haven't played one myself, but I hear good things about the Martin Aura pickup, but guitars with it are pretty pricey.

Any thoughts on a particular body type or wood combinations you are looking at?
there is a Martin 000-16rce Aura (spruce/rosewood) at the local Guitar Center that sounds great. I think they are asking about $1,600 for it.

yeah i played that today..it does sound very nice

mangold · Unread post by **mangold** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:12 pm

Dear Whit,

Buy the guitar you want pure acoustic. Make sure you play some Taylors, Larrivees, and Martins. I like the Larrivee's best, by a pretty long shot, but everyone has a prefered sound.

The reason you should buy the guitar pure acoustic is you cannot trust anything that comes in an acoustic electric to match your style. I think most acous/elecs come with pretty shitty electronics. You're much better off buying an acoustic then playing all the pickups you can get your hands on. Make sure you play one piezo, one soundboard transducer, and one magnetic soundhole pickup. They have very different sounds and you need to find the one that matches your playing style.

If you're going to play live i would suggest aslo purchasing a lr baggs para acoustic DI its fairly cheap and converts your unbalanced 1/4 inch out into a nice balanced xlr, perfect for pa systems not to mention giving you an output boost.

go whit!

whatshername · Unread post by **whatshername** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:14 pm

yeah i'm sure the sound isn't really affected if there's electronics in the guitar. it's just something i've always thought for some reason.

today i played like 5 different martins, maybe 4 taylors, 1 used larrivee, a gibson, and a 12-string..don't remember the brand. i ended up really liking the 314 taylor and 2 or 3 of the martins too. i don't know, this is going to be a really hard decision. i think i decided on getting an acoustic-electric..just have to figure out which one. i think i'm going to first talk to my parents and see how much they're willing to spend. hopefully over 2k.

mangold · Unread post by **mangold** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:32 pm

i would just add that I HATE onboard eq's i think they mess up the sound. look like shit, and weigh the instrument down.

RunsWithBuffalo · Unread post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:03 pm

praisedave wrote:i would just add that I HATE onboard eq's i think they mess up the sound. look like shit, and weigh the instrument down.

lift weights, they weigh less than a jr bacon cheeseburger :lol:

An onboard Eq can be very helpful if you have to be your own soundman and you are playing in different types of venues. Also an onboard tuner is gold. But to each his own or her own. I agree that i dont like the look of them, but sound is infinitely more important than looks.

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