https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-buying-first-acoustic-electric-guitar/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:13:35 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-buying-first-acoustic-electric-guitar/#post-337105 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:27:58 +0000 a few years ago I went acoustic guitar shopping. after years of looking and looking I decided it was time.
once decided all the looking changed and became serious. that's when I got nervous. so many brands and prices.
I classified guitars by price range in the end. I measured quality of sound, feel or playability and craftsmanship by the price they were in.
100-300$....ok guitars. sound ok, craftsmanship plain but ok, playability..terrible. well, maybe not terrible. that may be reserved for those 30 dollar no name guitars that someone gave you.
300-500$....the sound is improved noticeably, build looks good, spruce top and mahogany back and sides. the feel is good but the frets are rough on the ends. darn it.
600-900$...beautiful looking guitars, purfling around the soundhole is real inlay not paint. strings close to the frets and no buzzing. great smooth feel and full complex sounds. craftsmanship is nice. nothing visibly wrong. more options, like electronics.
900-1300$...amazing quality. these guitars feel so nice. they have complex tones and characters. each brand becomes distinct from one another. fancier woods are used.

the brands you mention are very good in in that 600-900$ range. you can't go wrong with any. at this price range the guitar you chose will be a matter of how it feels to you; does it fit right when you pick it up; the tone appeals to you. that kind of thing.

the day I went to buy I walked into the store, told the salesperson, had him set up the quiet room with about seven guitars in my buy range. I played the same song on each guitar. after a good forty minutes I found my guitar.]]> Opinions and Polls dogbite https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-buying-first-acoustic-electric-guitar/#post-337105 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-buying-first-acoustic-electric-guitar/#post-36938 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:10:29 +0000
I was wondering if i could get some help picking out an acoustic-electric guitar in my price range.

I'm looking to spend around $500-700, preferably on the lower end of this range but if its going to make a huge difference in the quality of guitar then i might be willing to go to 700.

I love the look of dreadnaught cutaways, and have been limiting my search to this style of guitar only. I've been reading up quite a bit on some of the different brands available and have heard that Takamine's and Seagull's have some really good mid ranged priced guitars

What do you guys recommend?

Thanks!]]> Opinions and Polls mkelly09 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/help-buying-first-acoustic-electric-guitar/#post-36938