Question for guitar players

I've been playing with the idea of getting a really high end acoustic lately, something that I will have until the day I die. While there are tons of good options out there--new or vintage, Martin or Gibson or something else, rosewood or mahogany--the part that I'm having the trouble deciding is the shape. Dreadnought or OM or 000 or Jumbo...

So I pose this question to anybody on this forum who plays acoustic guitar: What guitar would you get if you could only have one for the rest of your life? (assume you have a beater guitar to) and why that one?

And since I'm also considering waiting on the acoustic and getting a mid-quality electric, what electric would you get and why?

There are tons of good options, but I think you need to try the ones you like, and see what feels best to you. You'll know it when you feel it. I always wanted an SG, but hated it when I got a chance to play one. The best feeling electric I ever played was a $200 Ibanez that I picked up in a music store, while waiting for a warranty repair. I should have bought it. It felt perfectly natural in my hands.

Problem is that when I'm playing the guitars I'm talking about, I really can't feel it. By this I mean that I'll go to a high end guitar shop and play their best 20 guitars (this is the type of shop that they have to buzz you in the door in downtown Chicago), and I can immediately weed out about 17 of them. And then I'm left with three entirely different guitars (when this happened, I ended up with a dreadnought, jumbo, and 000).

I do find it funny how each and every guitar has a personality. I played two D-28's (or maybe HD-28's) last year that were 3 numbers off on the serial number. Exactly the same guitar other than the tuners. Completely different feel and tone, one was clearly the better guitar.

On your SG experience... I've enjoyed every Epiphone SG that I've played and don't like any of the Gibsons. I don't know why. I also don't like any Les Pauls, even though I should.

Everything depends on your playing style. A friend of mine who played a wonderful D28 for years bought a collings that I couldn't make a decent noise out of yet in his hands it was some kind of luthiers magic. I sat and tried out everything on the wall of a high end music shop looking for the "one" for me and Bob who worked there walked past me, paused for perhaps 15 seconds to listen to what I was playing, grabbed a Santa Cruz dreadnought handed it to me and said "This is what you are looking for"

He was right. I still haven't come up with the 2800 for that guitar though.

Picked a GUILD narrow body about 10 years ago. While not really high end, it was about$1300 ten years ago. It felt right, played great, and still love it.

mtn wrote: I've been playing with the idea of getting a really high end acoustic lately, something that I will have until the day I die. While there are tons of good options out there--new or vintage, Martin or Gibson or something else, rosewood or mahogany--the part that I'm having the trouble deciding is the shape.

Shape: Whatever feels and sounds right for you. I like Dreadnoughts.

Brand:
Major Manufacturer - If you want a high end guitar from a major manufacturer, the Martin or Gibson is hard to go wrong with. I'd also consider Taylor; all the high end ones are made in California, they are much easier to repair 20 years down the road when your kid breaks the guitar neck (bolt on necks, unlike most other acoustics), good sound even when they use innovative/non-traditional woods, etc.

Independent Luthiers - Famous brands hold their value better as they age. If you are not planning to resell it later, and can afford to throw several thousand dollars at a guitar maker nobody has heard of, scroll down to the "individual luthiers" at Frets.com. There are guys there who can build anything you can imagine. Here are some photos that the Frets.com guys took at the 1999 Acoustic Guitar Festival in Healdsburg that give you an idea of the range of options that are available.

Bruce Petros is a high end luthier and is local to me. I've even toured his shop. http://www.petrosguitars.com/

On the other end of the spectrum, I have a Yamaha FG 160-2 that plays beautifully and has a great sound. It is about 35 years old. When I bought it I compared it to the Martin and couldn't tell the difference. Everyone who has ever played it was impressed with the quality of the sound and its feel.

JoeyM wrote: I'd also consider Taylor

No thank you. Never found a Taylor that I like. They all sound thin and tinny. They don't feel right, it feels manufactured. I even get that with a lot of Martins and Gibson's, but I get it with every single Taylor. They are innovators, but this is a field where innovation isn't what I want. It is also why I am considering independent luthiers. As hokey as it sounds, you can feel the love in them. The only guitar I regret selling (or my dad selling) was a D-18 made in some guy's basement in Kentucky. It was rough, but it sounded awesome.

JoeyM wrote:

Keep your Mandola's out of my thread!

mtn wrote: No thank you. Never found a Taylor that I like. They all sound thin and tinny.

Quoted for truth. Taylors sound like undersaddle piezo pickups.

They sound better than they used to.....a couple years ago they thinned the soundboard bracing in the lower bought in an effort to get more mid/low range resonance. (i.e. to sound more Martin-like, although they could not say that in their marketing literature.)

FWIW, I don't have a horse in this race; the better of my two acoustics is a low end alvarez. After the datsun is done I might try to build an acoustic...bend my own sides and everything.

+1 for Yamaha. I've got a cheap bolt-on neck one I was given by a friend about 15-years ago(I think it's 230?). Even with 10-year old strings, it still sounds great & plays wonderfully!

Shame I'm a bass player...

mtn wrote:

JoeyM wrote:

Keep your Mandola's out of my thread!

LOL -- I was just thinking the same thing. Looks like he went to build an F5 while tripping on acid: along the way, things got strange...

On-topic: I like cedar jumbos. They're warm and can be played loud, if you want. But that's just what I like. So I'll jump on the "get what feels right" bandwagon.

petegossett wrote: +1 for Yamaha. I've got a cheap bolt-on neck one I was given by a friend about 15-years ago(I think it's 230?). Even with 10-year old strings, it still sounds great & plays wonderfully! Shame I'm a bass player...

I've got two! Well, I had one, sold it, Dad has a 1976ish entry level dreadnought, little brother has a solid 12 string, and then there are two more semi-hollow electrics that were in the family but are gone now. I think the one was bought by dad, sold to me, sold to brother, back to dad, back to me, back to dad before we sold it out of the family.

They are really good, and I do believe that Yamaha and Guild offer the best value for your guitars as far as mainstream ones go... But I'm looking at better guitars than Yamaha has.

Whenever I find myself locked into the playing room at the guitar store, I always end up with a Martin in my hands. They usually sound warm but crisp, and play like butter. Eventually I'll be able to justify buying one. I prefer the simple. (no mother of pearl & other adornments) That is just my preference though.

Like others have said, it depends on your ear, playing style and even body shape. I'd visit a bunch of shops, play as many guitars as you can, and buy the one that feels "just right"

If you are going to keep this one forever, you may as well make sure it is the right one.

Gibson Jumbo. So nice and thumpy and responsive. A couple of friends have them and I think they're spectacular instruments.

I have the same crappy $250 Applause roundback that I've had since 1989.

I put more focus into my electrics, back when I was an active musician, though. Now I just hack around here and there.

As for electrics, I dunno. Too subjective. So many people say "get a Strat". I can't play one to save my life and so many people who do sound horrible on them.

I like Gibsons (I have a '74 SG and a '93 Les Paul Special)

Keep playing 'em. The right one will find you. Always does.

Relevant song that you probably know...

I have a Tacoma I bought back in the 90's. Then left it in the case for good 5 years. I sounds and play pretty well, although the clear coat lifted in a few places.

Personally, I regret passing on a Taylor at a local shop a number of years ago. It sounded better and played better than any Gibson or Martin I've ever tried.

I understand what you mean about SG's. A friend loves them but I've played Les Paul's for years and they just feel wrong to me. That said, I've developed quite a love for my Strat.