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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 21, 2023 17:34:40 GMT -5
I have been looking around for a few weeks. Today I went to the House of Guitars in Rochester NY. I played a bunch of Gibson acoustics...3 J 45's, 1 Hummingbird, 1 Hummingbird Studio, and 1 Dove. WOW. The Dove was SO good...$5k.
Edited to add I did not buy any. Still looking. 5 grand is a bit much.
Hope this does not look like some kind of boasting or something. I have been looking for a better flat top and looked at Gibson knowing I was not likely to spend that much but I just wanted to play really upscale
Played a Rain Song awhile back. I may go investigate some Taylor guitars.
At 69 years old if I want one I better do it.
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jeffscott
Wholenote
Rickenbacker Guru..............
Posts: 139
Age: GOF
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Post by jeffscott on Sept 22, 2023 16:11:12 GMT -5
I have been looking around for a few weeks. Today I went to the House of Guitars in Rochester NY. I played a bunch of Gibson acoustics...3 J 45's, 1 Hummingbird, 1 Hummingbird Studio, and 1 Dove. WOW. The Dove was SO good...$5k. Edited to add I did not buy any. Still looking. 5 grand is a bit much. Hope this does not look like some kind of boasting or something. I have been looking for a better flat top and looked at Gibson knowing I was not likely to spend that much but I just wanted to play really upscale Played a Rain Song awhile back. I may go investigate some Taylor guitars. At 69 years old if I want one I better do it. To me, a high end acoustic guitar is one built by an independent luthier, not one of the biggest guitar factories. I love my custom Martin, but it is no match for the two Yamamotos I have. JMHO. |
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 22, 2023 21:27:42 GMT -5
Out of my price range.
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Post by windmill on Sept 22, 2023 22:00:34 GMT -5
You only live once.
Buy the high end guitar.
You can always sell it if money gets tight.
At least then,you wont die wondering.
HTH
☺
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Post by Ragtop on Sept 24, 2023 4:41:19 GMT -5
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 24, 2023 16:40:28 GMT -5
I had never heard of Yamamoto. COnsidering he makes 5 guitars a year I was surprised to see them going for 5k each.
I have played a number of Guild's, newer and older. Generally nice guitars. I was unable to open the pics.
I think I will hit Guitar Center in the next week or two and see what higher level Taylor guitars are like.
I am not in a serious rush
...slow gas attack I guess.
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jeffscott
Wholenote
Rickenbacker Guru..............
Posts: 139
Age: GOF
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Post by jeffscott on Sept 24, 2023 19:40:15 GMT -5
I had never heard of Yamamoto. COnsidering he makes 5 guitars a year I was surprised to see them going for 5k each. I have played a number of Guild's, newer and older. Generally nice guitars. I was unable to open the pics. I think I will hit Guitar Center in the next week or two and see what higher level Taylor guitars are like. I am not in a serious rush ...slow gas attack I guess. Tony retired a few years ago and moved back to Japan. I visited him at his shop (in the back of his home) in March 2015. Superb craftsmanship and the finest materials, he is a true master in what he built over the years. One I bought used, the other I bought new from him. You don't state what price range you are looking at; are the prices of a new Guild higher than you are considering. They are excellent guitars (I'm thinking here of the USA made ones). If Taylor has the tone you like, they, too, are very well made, for a factory guitar. I have a NS62ce. You can find a lot of very nice Martins that are reasonably priced; I bought mine used and consider it a relative bargain given what the original owner specified for this custom instrument. |
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 24, 2023 21:36:22 GMT -5
Well, the 5k for the Dove is an issue.
In a few months this may be more doable.
Prolly under 5k.
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Post by langford on Sept 27, 2023 21:51:44 GMT -5
Are you in Rochester? You should check out some Canadian luthiers. You might save a bundle on the exchange rate.
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 28, 2023 6:53:52 GMT -5
Interesting idea Langford. Do you have any names?
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 28, 2023 12:09:15 GMT -5
I have never heard of swamp ash used on acoustic guitars. I have a G&L with a swamp ash body and it sounds great. I bet your does too. I was unable to open your pics tho. |
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Post by Ragtop on Sept 29, 2023 5:09:37 GMT -5
Here's my Reverb ad, maybe these photos will work for you. Hope so, it's a cool looking guitar. First time I played our local open mic with it, I had three guys waiting to look close at it when I came down off the stage. And the sound guy loved it for its tone. He said, "A Guild, eh? You got one of the good ones." reverb.com/item/73142106-1981-guild-d-46 |
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Post by langford on Sept 30, 2023 10:27:41 GMT -5
Interesting idea Langford. Do you have any names? Let me have a look around. FYI. The 12th Fret is always a good place to check out. Bear in mind, the sales tax here 13%, so add that to any price. www.12fret.com/ |
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Post by langford on Sept 30, 2023 10:31:50 GMT -5
Hey Rick... Here are some early suggestions from friends here in Toronto:
Joseph Yanuziello
yanuziello.com/instruments#/flat-tops/
Jeremy Nicks
He doesn't seem to have a webpage, but he does have an Instagram account.
I have no idea how much these guys charge, but worth a look. Also, the 12thFret has connections into the guitar-builder scene. They're nice guys and might be helpful in pointing you toward makers who are in your budget zone.
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 30, 2023 14:19:34 GMT -5
Ragtop, that is a great looking guitar! Thanks for setting me up with the pics.
Langford thanks for the leads.
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Post by Opie on Oct 3, 2023 5:40:50 GMT -5
If I had the scratch laying around I wouldn't pay an unknown luthier( as in the majority of guitar buying public) that kind of money as I doubt I could sell it for half what I paid. I'd instead find a classic in good shape, figuring my kids will be happy when they find out dad's old beater is worth a small fortune.
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Post by LesTele on Oct 3, 2023 13:21:57 GMT -5
I console myself by acknowledging that I’m not a high end player.
My acoustics are mid-market, my mandos and banjos are just above entry level. That’s almost an accurate description of my abilities in those areas.
My violins and electrics are up a notch, as are my skills on those instruments.
I , personally, can’t say that I miss any of the advantages of a really expensive acoustic guitar.
I would be too scared to leave it sitting in a bar at break time. 😀
Edit - I would love to have pasted in Lesterstrats - you deserve it speech here.
You really do deserve it.
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Post by rickyguitar on Oct 4, 2023 12:20:59 GMT -5
I console myself by acknowledging that I’m not a high end player. My acoustics are mid-market, my mandos and banjos are just above entry level. That’s almost an accurate description of my abilities in those areas. My violins and electrics are up a notch, as are my skills on those instruments. I , personally, can’t say that I miss any of the advantages of a really expensive acoustic guitar. I would be too scared to leave it sitting in a bar at break time. 😀 Edit - I would love to have pasted in Lesterstrats - you deserve it speech here. You really do deserve it. I get what you are saying. I have 4 very nice guitars and a good bass , each under $1K. Banjo and mandolin a little less each for the reasons you stated. If I bought a Dove I would not take it out and about without having someone with me to make sure it was always guarded. But I would play the heck out of it at home, recording, practicing, recording...and feeling special I guess. I am torn as there are other studio items that would not happen if I blew the wad on a guitar, but.. |
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Post by langford on Oct 6, 2023 21:09:50 GMT -5
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Post by Ragtop on Oct 8, 2023 6:09:22 GMT -5
I'd be curious to know what you thought of any Taylors that you were able to try.
I gave up on Taylor guitars 20 years ago. Beautifully built and lovely woods, but I thought the tone was sort of sterile and the necks were too slender.
But I took a chance on an all-mahogany 516 about a year ago, used at Gryphon, and bought it long-distance. Turns out the tone is absolutely lovely and the neck is just right for me. It has become perhaps my favorite guitar. And I've played a couple of 6xx and 8xx models recently, and they are stellar.
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Post by rickyguitar on Oct 8, 2023 14:11:24 GMT -5
The 1st time I tried Taylor guitars was maybe 10 years ago. I thought were very good. Played nice, sounded good. I have not played any recently but have been planning to go to Guitar Center and do some investigating. I have heard people run them down for their new tech approach but personally I have no problem with that, should cause increased consistency IMHO. I am still gassing but am really in no hurry. No big hurry anyway.
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Post by langford on Oct 8, 2023 22:42:57 GMT -5
I'd be curious to know what you thought of any Taylors that you were able to try. I gave up on Taylor guitars 20 years ago. Beautifully built and lovely woods, but I thought the tone was sort of sterile and the necks were too slender. But I took a chance on an all-mahogany 516 about a year ago, used at Gryphon, and bought it long-distance. Turns out the tone is absolutely lovely and the neck is just right for me. It has become perhaps my favorite guitar. And I've played a couple of 6xx and 8xx models recently, and they are stellar. I have mixed feelings about Taylors. I really like they way they are built and the neck profile. But the ones I've played/owned (bascially in the lower ranges of the number system) seemed to lack mids. I can see why people like them, but they weren't for me. I've always wondered about the higher level instruments. We don't see them much in the shops around here. |
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Post by Ragtop on Oct 9, 2023 9:02:37 GMT -5
My Taylor is all mahogany, so it's going to sound different from the get/go. I've had a few all-hog guitars, loved them all, but this one is the best of the bunch. Very rich tone, and each string rings out nicely.
And the neck is about perfect. The nut is 1 3/4", and it is thick enough that it fills my hand nicely.
Seems Taylor is moving away from the slender necks of the early days. Martin seems to be doing the opposite.
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Post by langford on Oct 9, 2023 20:33:13 GMT -5
Seems Taylor is moving away from the slender necks of the early days. Martin seems to be doing the opposite. Haha. It's the slender necks that drew me toward them in the first place. I have a theory that we gravitate toward the neck profiles of the first decent guitars we owned (presumably the same ones we started getting halfway decent on.) Mine was an Epiphone dreadnaught, which had the slenderest next I've ever encountered. Over the years, I've come to appreciate different neck profiles. But put a slim neck in my hands and, well, my hearts flutters. |
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