Buying a New Guitar

[Redback]

OK after years of off and on off and on playing the Guitar, over the last few months I have been practicing every arvo now.

So I think I'm at that stage where I should have a decent Guitar, I have been looking at two makes, Cole Clarke and Maton, my budget no more than $1500.

What say you Guitar masters, is $1500 too much or not enough, should I wait and spend a bit more.

Baz.

[d2dave]

Baz, if you don't get a reply from Fluids(Kev) send him a PM. He is a bit of a guru on this subject.

[Redback]

Baz, if you don't get a reply from Fluids(Kev) send him a PM. He is a bit of a guru on this subject.

Thanks mate, will do.

Baz.

[ramblingboy42]

Baz, you've played long enough to know what's good.

If I were you I'd go into guitar shops and play everything that is within your budget.

Action and sound are an individual thing and by playing them you'll find one jumps out at you.

Dont feel self conscious in front of everyone in the shop.....play a few songs you know and like well.

My son recently bought a Fender acoustic which sounds great through an amp as well, but I don't like playing it.

Btw, I've been playing for over 45yrs and still happily play a 12 string acoustic which I've had since 1980.

[TasD90]

Hi Redback, having been a guitar teacher for 35 years I have heard a few and recommended a few to students over the years.
Currently I reckon the best value guitar is the Maton 225.
RRP about $1100 but I got the last one for a student from the local supplier for $900 including a hard case. The guitar has a matt finish which isn't quite as shiney as others BUT the sound is exceptional.
You can get them in pure acoustic, electro-acoustic normal shape or with a cut-away. My preference is for the normal shape, no pick-up. If you want an electric guitar buy a cheap electric guitar but don't mess with the traditional shape.
Next jump is to a Martin at some thousands of dollars. I do own a 1976 Martin D18 but can hear virtually no difference between it and the Maton.
Cheers, Peter.

[ramblingboy42]

hmmm, I've been considering a new one myself....Maton 225.....might go and play one just for the hell of it.

been wanting to play slide and the 12 string is a pain to keep changing tune on.

[Cobber]

I'd recommend either of those. Just after Christmas I went along the 'pick a few off the wall and have a go' method and ended up with an Epiphone Dave Navarro signature model, with hard case and strap for a shade under a grand. I'd been eyeing off a few for a while and didn't really expect to like the Epiphone but for whatever reason it felt like I'd been playing it for years :BigThumb:

So I guess the advice here is have a short list in your head, and when you get I the shop, try a couple others you didn't plan but think look ok. You might be surprised :BigThumb:

[Keithy P38]

I have a Maton 6 string which I love, and a 12 string which I love even more! The best sound ever!

[Redback]

Beauty, I'm off this Friday, might go down to the shop and have a brouse and play, they also have the Maton EM225C on special at the moment, 25% off.

Thanks everyone

Baz.

[mikehzz]

Baz, I've always wanted to try an Ovation. I've lost track of what's good and what's not now.....and don't forget, when you are trying one out, play Stairway to Heaven, the sales guys love that. :)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Beauty, I'm off this Friday, might go down to the shop and have a brouse and play, they also have the Maton EM225C on special at the moment, 25% off.

Thanks everyone

Baz.

is this it?
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[Redback]

Baz, I've always wanted to try an Ovation. I've lost track of what's good and what's not now.....and don't forget, when you are trying one out, play Stairway to Heaven, the sales guys love that. :)

I was thinking Smoke on the Water instead:D




is this it?
http://www.kosmic.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/a/maem325c.jpg

Yeah that's it, same size as my cheapy Samick I have now.

Baz.

[Cobber]

I've always wanted to try an OvationI've played an Ovation Viper and loved it - to hold and play it reminds me a little bit of a Telecaster (which I adore! :D) but I've always wanted to play an Ovation acoustic too. I'd probably be more inclined to go with an older one but I've met a few people who still rate them :BigThumb:

[ramblingboy42]

ok you guitar freaks.....who knows what the black thin bodied acoustic guitar is that Leonard Cohen uses?

[Redback]

I Googled it, Godin, made in Canada, I'm looking at the Maton because they are made in Australia from Australian timber and Tommy Emanuel swears by them;)

Baz.

[rover-56]

Ok guitar gurus - what level is an Eston Model 063?
Italian, made 11/1978.

Bought it years ago to learn to play, found I can't:(.
Been sitting in a cupboard since.

Terry

[Redback]

Ok guitar gurus - what level is an Eston Model 063?
Italian, made 11/1978.

Bought it years ago to learn to play, found I can't:(.
Been sitting in a cupboard since.

Terry

Found this.
Fetishguitars.com - Italian Guitars of the Sixties: EKO (http://old.fetishguitars.com/html/eko/index/eston.html)

[rover-56]

Thanks Baz, that was an interesting read. Mine is still in tune, been in that cupboard since I moved here 6 years ago. (I can tune a guitar, that seems to be the limit if my skills):)

Hopefully one of the grandkids will turn out to be musical.
if one of them is, the gene didn't come from me.:D

Cheers,
Terry

[Redback]

I'm not that musical either, it's hard work for me, and why it's taken me so long to get to where I am now, I gotta practice the simplest things over and over, bar chords are my worst thing, my saving grace is I can hold a beat(from learning the drums)

1 2 11 2:D:MileStone:

[ramblingboy42]

I had an Eston 12 string which I bought in about 1973.

I loved it's sound , it had a nice action, it had a pickup.

But it suffered, frets fell out, the bridge came off, the pickup failed.

It was like an Alfa GTV. Or a Land Rover.

Anyway I sold it, and bought the Yamaha I have now.

[mikehzz]

I Googled it, Godin, made in Canada, I'm looking at the Maton because they are made in Australia from Australian timber and Tommy Emanuel swears by them;)

Baz.

The best guitar I ever had was a Maton AX5 shaped like a Les Paul...but that was a 100 years ago. :D. Speaking of TE, forget Smoke on the Water or Stairway to Heaven, just play Guitar Boogie for testing purposes? I'd like to see that.

[rover-56]

I'm not that musical either, it's hard work for me, and why it's taken me so long to get to where I am now, I gotta practice the simplest things over and over, bar chords are my worst thing, my saving grace is I can hold a beat(from learning the drums)

1 2 11 2:D:MileStone:

It was hard work for me, I managed to master basic chords ok, I like blues mostly, but listening to recordings of me playing put me off, there was none of the passion and feeling there. Just mechanical sounding.

Guess that's why I ended up a fitter/mech engineer, not a musician.

Anyway, hands and fingers are no longer as flexible as they were....

Terry

[Redback]

The best guitar I ever had was a Maton AX5 shaped like a Les Paul...but that was a 100 years ago. :D. Speaking of TE, forget Smoke on the Water or Stairway to Heaven, just play Guitar Boogie for testing purposes? I'd like to see that.

:eek2:I wish, I could tap my foot and hum a few bars:cool:

[TD50WA]

I had an Eston 12 string which I bought in about 1973.

I loved it's sound , it had a nice action, it had a pickup.

But it suffered, frets fell out, the bridge came off, the pickup failed.

It was like an Alfa GTV. Or a Land Rover.

Anyway I sold it, and bought the Yamaha I have now.

Are you saying that the Yamaha is like a Toyota or Nissan?:wasntme:

[Redback]

It was hard work for me, I managed to master basic chords ok, I like blues mostly, but listening to recordings of me playing put me off, there was none of the passion and feeling there. Just mechanical sounding.

Guess that's why I ended up a fitter/mech engineer, not a musician.

Anyway, hands and fingers are no longer as flexible as they were....

Terry

Yeah I'm a bit like that, not as flexable, a bit mechanical, have just started mastering the nut chords, bar chords next, I've been slack and never really sat down a stuck it out, but I'm determined to get better this time around and it's really only for my personal satisfaction/acheivement.

Anyway thanks everyone for your thoughts, good listening about the different Guitars also.

Baz.