Acoustic

[S. Cane]

So, friends...

I'm seriously considering buying myself an acoustic for Folk songs and general plucking...Just for fun, I mean. Not to use with the band.

Lately I have been feeling the need for a steel strung acoustic for those lonely bourbon or coffee moments. A companion for the road that I don't need to plug in or bring a rig along when I'm not doing a job with the band.

I don't want to break the bank either, I'm about to get engaged and a wedding costs the wazoo.

I'm aiming at something like a Washburn Parlor. It's the perfect size and shape (I don't want a big guitar). Any thoughts?

Pics of your own acoustics will definitely be of great help too!

[ch willie]

I'm a huge fan of Martins. I have an HD-28V lefty from the 90s, and it's my greatest treasure.

But you don't have to buy a MIA Martin to get a good guitar. Their off shore line is relatively inexpensive: they sound great, and the necks are wonderful. They sell for about $500 in the States, but you might be able to find a used one on Reverb for a good deal, good enough to be worth it, even with the duties you'd have to pay on it.

[Don]

I bought a Martin 000-15 when I was in the mood for a nice little acoustic for the kind of moments that you described.

[S. Cane]

Thanks for the quick replies, brothers!

Hey, I just LOVE Martins. Thing is, they are really expensive down here, even the Mexican made ones. Not too expensive for my range, but definitely expensive for my personal needs regarding an acoustic.

But I will indeed take a good look.

Btw the Washburn model I was thinking of is this one:

[Bill Moore]

I have never owned an expensive acoustic. My sister in law has an old Hummingbird that really sounds great.
My acoustic guitar is a Schecter round back I bought for my oldest grand daughter when she was a teenager. Nice neck, and beautiful sound, sounds great plugged in too!
(I still see them on the Bay).

[VibroCount]

I have a few acoustic guitars. The best bargain I got is a Yamaha (APX series). Mine is built much like the Taylor 414ce, with the biggest difference is the Yamaha has more than one pickup, with a blend knob to pan from one to the other. If there are Yamaha guitars where you are, they are worth the look and play. (My guitarist's acoustic is the 414ce Taylor, and he sold his Washburn to get it. In this photo, I'm the bearded one with the Yamaha.)



Another fine acoustic is the Epiphone Masterbilt series. Both the round hold flattops and the f-hole archtops are amazingly good. I have an archtop Zenith I love.

[Don]

Here's my 000-15M. I bought it 3 years ago. It was my second new acoustic guitar and my first nice one. The other new one was the 3/4 size Harmony that my parents bought me in 1971. I received a hand me down Yamaha dreadnought from my sister in 1978/79. That's pretty much my history with acoustic guitars.

[OldStrummer]

Take a look at Taylor! I have a Big Baby Taylor E that is a 15/16 guitar, has electro-acoustic capabiity, a built-in tuner (meh). Taylor is one of, if not THE largest vendor of acoustic guitars. I don't know about availability in Brazil, though...

[KayLane]

I just listed a 68' Gibson South Jumbo SJN square shouldered acoustic$2,200 https://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-so...bacco-sunburst

[DanTheBluesMan]

I've heard really good things about Blueridge and have been trying to track down one second hand. Not a lot of them around here, though. They can be had for 3-350 although the word is getting out about them and the prices are starting to drift ever upwards.

I actually bought one from GC but it arrived with a caved-in top, so I did not accept it.

[gibsonjunkie]

I'm more of an a coustic guy than electric... I love "G" guitars - Guild and Gibson. Here's one bunch...



a couple more...



and my latest aquisition...



some of the Korean-made Guilds are really nice and my stepson got a really nice Epiphone Masterbuilt...

[Offshore Angler]

I'd say that modern Taylor guitars are pretty sketchy. Bolt-on necks, plywood, etc.

Can't beat Yamaha or Takamine for value. Martins are nice but you pay a huge fee for that name.

I gues al things considered if I wanted a "player" I'd get the Yamaha because I know it will be nice and that they'll stand behind it if it develops any issues. Acoustics can be fickle little beasties. I play Ovations live since they're basically bullet-poof.

Chuck

[renderit]

Bolt on necks are pretty much accepted by many high end connoisseurs. Collings does it. I don't think they are sketchy. But I gotta admit, the first time I heard it I was shocked! I used to have a number of Ovations. Great stage guitars!

[gibsonjunkie]

This is the one my stepson got - it was miles away the best sounding and playing of all we tried.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...SAAEgIf-fD_BwE

[S. Cane]

Well, since I wanted a simple and inexpensive acoustic, and I really liked the reviews, I pulled the trigger on the Washburn Parlor.



Ordered it online and it'll be home by February 5 to 7.

I'll share pics and make my own review here...

I think it'll be nice to have an acoustic.

[S. Cane]

It's made in China, which made me frown a bit at first, but I liked the specs and reviews, and I wanted a cheap guitar after all so...



GENERAL
MODEL: WP11SNS
SHAPE: Parlor
TOP: Solid Cedar
BACK: Mahogany
SIDES: Mahogany
BRACING: Quarter Sawn Scalloped Sitka Spruce bracing
ROSETTE: Abalone
NECK
MATERIAL: Satin Mahogany with 2 way Trussrod
FRETBOARD: Rosewood with 20 Frets
INLAYS: dots
NUT: Bone
NUT WIDTH: 44mm
SCALE: 24.75
ELECTRONICS
PREAMP SYSTEM: n/a
HARDWARE
BRIDGE: Rosewood
TUNERS: Gold open gear
OTHER
STRINGS: D'Addario EXP-16 light set phospher bronze
CASE: GC141- SOLD SEPERATELY

[OldStrummer]

Looks nice, Sérgio. I'm unable to figure out a 44mm nut, but acoustics generally tend to run wider at the nut than do electrics, so this is probably a nonsense issue. Fretboards on acoustics tend to run flatter (e.g., 12" radius) anyway. I did note that the strings were a light gauge; I've always found acoustics sound better with a heaver (i.e., medium) gauge. You'll have to find out for yourself.

You beat me to it, so I'll only mention in passing that you could also consider a 12-string, which is what I played for many years. At times, I'd get tired of the need for double tuning, and remove the upper strings, turning it into a six-string. Two guitars in one!

But that was just me. Good for you, and by all means, we want pics and a review!

[CoyotesGator]

Very cool man.

Please do share your impressions.

[DanTheBluesMan]

This is the one my stepson got - it was miles away the best sounding and playing of all we tried.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...SAAEgIf-fD_BwE

this really has my interest piqued. going to look into it at my local GC if they have any

[Don]

That's a great looking guitar!

[S. Cane]

By the way, what do you guys think of Parlor sized guitars?

I never gave much thought to acoustics since I am mostly an electric man, but being 5'5" a big frame guitar ain't quite comfortable on me. The smaller parlors suit me just fine. I guess they are roughly like one of the smaller Antonio Torres classical guitars...

As I ordered the Washburn online, I started browsing the web for artists who used these and had some nice surprises. Bob Dylan himself played Parlor sized fiddles for a while and many modern players fancy them.

I especially liked John Mayer's recordings and live jobs with his Martin 00-42SC, his "stage coach" signature model.

[gibsonjunkie]

this really has my interest piqued. going to look into it at my local GC if they have any

That is where he got it. It has a nice rich sound and plays nice, too. We tried every acoustic in that price range and there was no comparison!

[DanTheBluesMan]

I might stop in at GC if I go down to the cable company office to haggle over the bill (just went up 45 dollars on an already outrageous amount).

[chuckocaster]

Check out Pawn Shops, Flea Markets and Thrift Stores! My main acoustic is an Arbor (Washburn’s cheap line), it sounds FANTASTIC!!! I also have a couple crappy ones that are cool for layering and whatnot. Also check out the 70’s Japanese clones, they used to be decently priced. More so than electronics, I HIGHLY recommend that you play as many guitars as you can and find the one that speaks to you.

[S. Cane]

Got the guitar today.

Here are some pics:



My impressions:

The guitar is very well built and finished for a Chinese mass produced product. The binding is smooth, the wood looks good (especially the top and the mahogany neck). It has a very pleasant matte finish that will probably look killer as the guitar gets the obligatory dings and fades throughout the years...


I was surprised to see that all it needed was tuning. It came with light gauge D'addarios, and played good right out of the box. Smooth action (for an acoustic) and no fret buzz as far as I could play it. Anyway it has a two-way truss rod and comes with the proper allen wrench, so minor adjustments are very easy to do if necessary.


The donwsides are the size (it is REALLY small. If you want a guitar for gigs with a drummer, forget it. Or get a real good mic), and the tuning machines, which can easily be replaced but I won't bother for now.

Nice headstock inlays and binding, and the nut and saddle are actually made of real bone:







I liked the abalone rosette as well. I don't know if it's real abalone or synthetic stuff, but definitely looks cool.




In a sum, it is a real good guitar for home use, writing music, travelling, campfires and lonely coffee/bourbon moments when you want to cowboy up a little bit. Not a gigging tool, but that I already knew.

I'm pretty satisfied with what Washburn delivers for the money they charge.

Since I didn't want to spend $10,000 on a Martin 0042SC, this one will suit my needs just fine.

[S. Cane]

btw I was happy to notice that the model I got is not the WP11SNS, but the WP21SNS, which has Rosewood back and sides, not mahogany.

[Don]

That's beautiful!

[S. Cane]

Just started shooting some porn...

[chuckocaster]

That’s a beauty!!! I have a cheap parlor guitar and it’s great to layer with full sized guitars. Sounds kinda weird on its own, all top end. But play some chords or suspensions on the top strings while someone else fills out the low end and it’s perfect.

Hope you enjoy your new guitar! 👍 Take care amigo

[ch willie]

Congrats, Sergio.

[S. Cane]

Yup!!!

And if he's really feeling adventurous, he might want to throw a set of Nashville tuning strings on it, every now and again... That body size is perfect for that...

I'll consider that!!

[S. Cane]

Btw, should I add a pickguard? Do you think it would dull the resonance?

If yay, tortoise or black?

[Jeffp]

I like👍🏻. Smooth looking too...Enjoy!

[ch willie]

I’m partial to tortoise on acoustics of that color

[dirtdog]

Interesting Washburn there Sergio - in the first smaller pic, I expected it to have nylon strings like a classical guitar. Perhaps the neck width and string spacing is an artefact of that?

I was gonna suggest an entry level Taylor as well. I owned a 115ce many moons ago and really liked it. The only bolt on Taylor I own is a Baby Taylor (B72) I bought for $200 (with case) from a dude in Afghanistan that was redeploying home. I brought it back home with me for my daughter, but she has not shown any interest in guitar to this point!! More of a piano girl.

[S. Cane]

Interesting Washburn there Sergio - in the first smaller pic, I expected it to have nylon strings like a classical guitar. Perhaps the neck width and string spacing is an artefact of that?

I was gonna suggest an entry level Taylor as well. I owned a 115ce many moons ago and really liked it. The only bolt on Taylor I own is a Baby Taylor (B72) I bought for $200 (with case) from a dude in Afghanistan that was redeploying home. I brought it back home with me for my daughter, but she has not shown any interest in guitar to this point!! More of a piano girl.

The pic doesn't really give you an idea of the width of the neck, because it's a parlor guitar, the body is very small and makes the neck look wider than it really is. It does have a 44mm nut but it's not much wider than my Gibson SG's in fact. The neck is quite comfortable to play folk and rock songs. It definitely doesn't feel like a classical guitar's.

[VibroCount]

Btw, should I add a pickguard? Do you think it would dull the resonance?

If yay, tortoise or black?

If you fingerpick, I say zero pickguard.
If you flatpick, do you strum hard where you will scratch the finish? Then add a pickguard.
If not, why add something to hide the wood?

[S. Cane]

If you fingerpick, I say zero pickguard.
If you flatpick, do you strum hard where you will scratch the finish? Then add a pickguard.
If not, why add something to hide the wood?

Though I come from classical guitar, I don’t really fingerpick. I don’t like to fingerpick steel strings.

Anyway, I decided to just leave it alone, the eventual scratches will add character

[OldStrummer]

Anyway, I decided to just leave it alone, the eventual scratches will add character

Like Willie Nelson's "Trigger."

[FrankJohnson]

Though I come from classical guitar, I don’t really fingerpick. I don’t like to fingerpick steel strings.

Anyway, I decided to just leave it alone, the eventual scratches will add character

yes - looking for like button - pretend I Leaned on it