Showing posts with label Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide. Show all posts

How to buy an acoustic guitar -comparing guitars based on price range | Strumviews.com - complete acoustic, electric guitar product reviews and more

Monday, January 23, 2012

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How to buy an acoustic guitar -comparing guitars based on price range | Strumviews.com - complete acoustic, electric guitar product reviews and more

The Budget Intermediate Guitar Player $400-$750: In this range there is as much variance as in any other lower-budget to moderately priced range guitars. There are acutally some guitars on the market in this price range that do not hold up to some of the standards we mentioned in the $175 - $400 range, and we will steer you away from those disappointing models, yet one would expect to find most guitars in this Budget Intermediate Guitar Range to be better in quality and playability than those in less expensive price brackets. Some of the differences that distinguish guitars in this range from guitars in the "under $400" range include different features like:
  • cutaway options
  • rosewood sides and back
  • more ornate inlays (decoration)
  • more options with the lacquer finish
  • potentially higher quality tuners and keys
  • other tone wood options
Though there are plenty of quality guitars in the lower budget range, the guitars in the $400 - $750 range should be considered for the player who is a little more picky on the tone quality, the long-term playability, a few more tone wood options, acoustic electric options (with some), more sophistocated designs and ornaments and other subtleties.
In this beginner- intermediate range, we will divide them into two groups for more clarity: Acoustic and Acoustic Electric. Acoustic electric guitars come equipped with some kind of electrontic pick-up (various manufacturers) that allow the acoustic guitar to be played alone or plugged into an amp. Essentially, almost any acoustic guitar can later be fitted with on-board electronics to plug into an amp. Choosing the right kind of pick-up system for the truly picky guitar ear is another set of reviews in itself as differnt picku sytstems have different pros and cons. We will review pickus in a different section as most of these acoustic electric guitars come with a pickup that is fairly decent for a beginner or intermediate player. The more advanced player perhaps would be more specific when shopping around for different pickup systems as he or she would have a definite sense of the sound profile and versatility he or she would want from the pickup. For these following reviews, the pickup systems will be recommended as high quality for this price range of guitar.
The top 3 Acoustic Budget Intermediat guitars $400-$750 reviewed are:
Taylor Guitars 110, Dreadnought, Solid Sitka Spruce, Sapele Back/Sides


The Budget Professional Guitar Player $750-$1100:
Above the budget intermediate guitar range are the more bottom line high quality professional grade guitars. This is the range of guitars where my newbie friend almost blew $1100 dollard on an inferior model because of the great brand name. Fortunately, I was able to redirect him to a much finer instrument and he is happier today for having asked me before making the investment.
Although there is no clear cut line as to the exact cutoff for grading a guitar based on price in it's ability to support more advance players, these guitars will be similar to some in the previous price range, yet they may have more options, and perhaps different quality of tonewoods, more body styles and more "bells and whistles". While a player may be equally satisfied with perhaps a Taylor guitar in the previous price range, he or she may find the different sizes, options, electronics and the cutaway to be more suitable to advanced techniques, especially when playing scales further up the neck. Additionally in this next price ranger are some very high quality Left-Handed guitars for the much neglected southpaw. Every guitar suggested here will be comparable in quality. The differences will be based on body styles and more particular slections of the tonewoods used for the back and sides, as well as onboard electronics differences. You may want to review some of these guitars and compare them side by side to see the subtle differences.

The top acoustic guitars reviewed in the $750-$1100 range are:

Breedlove Atlas Stage C25/SR Acoustic-Electric Guitar


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Full article at:
http://www.strumviews.com/How-to-buy-acoustic-guitar-based-on-price
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Acoustic Guitar: Buying Guide

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English: A photo of a 3 4 acoustic guitar.Image via WikipediaSweetwater Store - Acoustic GuitarsImage by Sweetwater Sound via FlickrAcoustic Guitar: Buying Guide

Whether you're playing in front of a coffee house full of loyal fans, or your fireplace in your home, an Acoustic Guitar from Sweetwater is the perfect instrument! This Sweetwater Buying Guide includes information that can help you choose an Acoustic Guitar for your needs.


Acoustic Guitar

Body Style:
Acoustic guitars come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from small travel size, to jumbo, to dreadnought. The body style in an acoustic guitar determines sound projection and tonal emphasis. Things to consider are tonal quality vs. playing comfort. Some acoustic guitar bodies come in a single cutaway design like the shape of the Gibson Les Paul. This gives access to the higher frets.
Electronics:
Some acoustic guitars come with pickups and preamps built in for playing larger venues where your acoustic sound needs to fill the room. Some instruments have preamps mounted in a hole cut in the side of the instrument, while others mount inside the soundhole. There are systems that combine preamp, microphone, piezo pickups , EQ, and tuners.
Neck:
The concept for necks on acoustic guitars is the same as it is for electrics; the size of your hand is key. Generally the thickness and width of the neck is based on the size of the body of the instrument as well as how many frets the neck has. Usually, acoustic necks are listed as 12-fret or 14-fret. This refers to the number of frets clear of the body, not how many overall.
Intonation:
Intonation determines whether or not the notes play in tune as you move up the neck. If the distance between the frets (usually above the 12th fret) is off, the guitar will be incapable of playing in tune and therefore useless as a recording or performance instrument.
Tonewood:
The choice of wood determines the sound of an acoustic guitar. Different types of wood produce different tones, but most guitar makers believe that the top is the most important for determining tonal quality. Spruce is the standard material for tops with Sitka spruce being the most common. The cost of an acoustic guitar increases dramatically based on the rarity of the tonewoods, such as rosewood, but due to decreasing supplies of certain tonewoods, guitar makers are successfully finding alternative materials to make great sounding instruments.
Tuning Machines:
The type of tuning machine your guitar has is very important. This is what allows you to fine tune and hold pitch. Enclosed machine heads resist rust and airborne corrosives, and therefore don't require as much maintenance or replacement as open tuning machines.
Bridge and Fingerboard:
The materials used for bridge and fingerboard do have an effect on sound, but this is minimal compared to the body of the guitar. Put simply, the effects of bridge and fingerboard materials cannot make or break a guitar's sound.
Finish:
Different types of finish can affect the way the wood vibrates, but there is nothing you can do about this. These decisions are make by the guitar maker and they usually choose wisely.


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Read more at Sweetwater:
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/guitars/acoustic/buying-guide.php

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