About to Buy a new guitar

[Michael C Williams]

Hey friends, hello. I am about to drop a few grand on a new Guitar. I am torn between a new Taylor (3-4 grand) or sticking with Takamine (2 grand, which I currently play and like). I like both brands (taylor + tak) very much...do you guys have any recommendations/experiences?

thanks!

mike

[Steve Blanchard]

Mike,

Shop more guitars before you buy. You will probably discover a better guitar and maybe a t a more affordable price. Plus it gives you a real idea of what all the manufactures have out there. Don't forget Martin, Collings, Bourgeois. Taylors tend to be brighter sounding. I only played a few Taks that I liked. Blueridge, Recording King offer really nice boxes for the $$. Your ear and hands will tell you what you like, but I would still play as many guitars possible before deciding. If you find a guitar that you love, wait a week or so and play it again and see if you still find it to your liking....good luck....Steve

[Michael C Williams]

Steve, thanks for the advice man. I have been shopping for a while now and hate to "commit" unless I'm certain it will be the right one for me, for years to come. I find I've liked the Taylors more than the Martins, especially by price. Never tried a Collings...might check that out.

Thanks again,
Mike

[Dave Engel]

Hey Michael,

Has the search stopped at those two? If so why? No mention of Gibson or Martin. I looked at all these, but didn't go with Tak simply because I couldn't get a dealer to order a Bluegrass model without paying full price sight unseen. NOT!
If your going to lay down the money, give them all a fare shake, you might surprise yourself. I did. I was absolutely sure I'd end up with a Gibson and after giving the Martins and Taylors a ride I ended up with a Martin D18V. If your a guitar player, your goal should be to own and play the best playing and sounding guitar to your hands and ears. Just my .02. Good hunting.

Dave

[Phil Waites]

Have owned all sorts, from Martins to Taks and some very sassy boutique guitars along the way and have decided that "MY" best flatpicking guitar is a Collings D1 or D1-A (I own both). Collings don't seem to make a bad dread and I am convinced that in most cases they can be bought without playing.

For the money you are going to spend you could buy a new D1 for just over $3k, or used for around $2k which would be my choice - they come up all the time on the Collings forum and at dealers like Elderly. In fact a great D1 was for sale there last week for about $2100 - a gift.
They are perfect for playing melody as they are clear and loud with a beautiful balance from Bass to Treble. If you want the ultimate in volume for loud jams go for the D1-A, otherwise the sitka topped D1 is great.
They have their own voice and don't sound like Martins but I like them more. I also own a really nice Bourgeois DB signature dread, but both of my Collings are better for fiddle tunes - much cleaner.

[Michael Simpson]

Hi Mike
I went through the same process a year ago and spent six months learning about guitars in your price range.
My goal was to invest in a guitar that was better than I was so that I could grow into it and have it for a lifetime all the while being inspired by it and learning to play better. It's a lot of money to spend but if you can swing it I think it is well worth it. My advice echos a thought below - spend $2,000 to $2,500 on a used guitar hand crafted by one of the small independent builders. The workmanship, material quality, playability, finish and tone can not come close to being matched by the mass manufacturers. In my opinion, a new Martin HD28V at Guitar Center for $2700 just does not compete with a used Collings at the same price. This is because I found that all American made acoustic guitars lose up to a third of their value once you walk out of the store (which is not the case with American made electrics at $1000+) so you can trade up a third just like that by buying used. $2.0 to 2.5K can get you an entry level Collings, Huss & Dalton or a bit higher level Santa Cruz (my three favorite brands), etc maybe even with a Red Spruce top. Next you have to find a place where you can play them all new to decide what you like - it's the only way. After that, I put aside three months to watch Ebay and patiently wait for my used guitar to show up and then I jumped on it - I "bought with total confidence" from a shop in Florida, but also found that individuals selling this level guitar on Ebay are trustworthy - I also concluded that buying without playing the specific guitar at this level is much less risky because the quality and consistency of a handmade guitar is far greater than what comes out of a factory. Lastly, now is the time to buy - - prices have come down a couple hundred bucks on Ebay during the last six months - - A year ago I paid $2600 for a 2004 Huss & Dalton TDM with Red Spruce and today it can be had for $2100-$2500. That's my 2 cents. Hope it helps and good luck. Michael

[Blake Thomas]

Michael Simpson's advice is remarkably astute and I'd heed that if I were you. Clearly, the man has done his homework and had the patience and wisdom to hold out for the best guitar at the best price. I dig this site because it enriches my guitar education for free. I'd never even heard of Collings, Huss & Dalton or Santa Cruz guitars, but now thanks to Michael I've got some signposts to follow and can't wait to start researching, as I too am looking to make an significant investment in a quality acoustic. I recently finally got around to buying a Gibson Les Paul, something I've wanted for years and years. I bided my time and bought it off eBay at a great price and couldn't be happier ... it's a 1960 Classic, a real beauty and sounds great. I totally agree with Michael also on the quality of Guitar Center instruments ... there's no good excuse for buying there. Thanks to all who share their expertise. Now I want to go play some blues.

[Michael C Williams]

Yeah, thanks guys for all the advice. It really gives me pause before I leap and drop 3K on a new guitar. I've not heard of Collings either, but I'm willing to check it out. I've looked for a Collings at a few guitar stores and they don't seem to have them...perhaps just harder to find?

Regardless, before I buy a new Taylor, I will try a few other brands. Thanks a ton for the advice!

Mike

[Phil Waites]

Check out the sales and wanted section of the Collings forum, D1's and D1-A's come up all the time at good prices. These guitars are almost always sold by enthusiasts who really look after them and are pretty safe buys. Negotiate a trial period of say a few days (most are happy to do this). Play it in 'your environment', If you don't like it pay the shipping back - saves a lot of time.
You will be hard pressed for the money you are talking about to better a D1-A, many, myself included, think it is the best "factory" (hence affordable) bluegrass flatpicking guitar made today.

[Jed C]

http://youtube.com/guitarman446

Check these out. I have 1(#009) and I have played it next to several bourgeois' and 1 collings and it (I.M.H.O.) out played em'. Check this guy out. And if you want his phone number, call me - 501-281-5134

[Phil Waites]

Listened to his you tube clips - nice playing and they certainly look really nice guitars, can't really tell how good they sound over computer monitors - but i'm sure they are excellent. What kind of price for a plain mahogany/adi D18 style guitar?
There are a few very good Kansas based builders - Leo Posch comes to mind for making great pre-war style martin clones.

The only risk with a new builder is not whether the guitars are good - thats pretty easy to determine, but whether they are able to survive in business long enough to become established and hence be around in 5 years if you do need any warranty work doing (it happens I know from experience). its also easier to make a powerful guitar if its built and braced very lightly - but not always the best for a long trouble free life - I am in no way suggesting that this is the case here - I don't know one way or the other - just a consideration.

I know that my own D1-A is an amazing and powerful flatpicking guitar and as good as anything I have tried, either by small independent luthiers or the bigger boys, its also backed up by Collings warranty and i'm pretty sure they will be around in years to come. I've never yet heard a dud Collings - in fact they are remarkably consistent and I'm pretty sure you could buy one unseen and un-played (although that isn't ideal) and be sure of getting a great guitar.

That said its great to see good small independent Luthiers producing lovely instruments, and supporting them should be encouraged, whichever way you go once you get to this end of the scale you should get a nice guitar - then its down to the real work - playing.

[Terry McManus]

A few weeks ago I was in Texas (I live in Maine) and I went to Redbone Guitars in San Antonio and they had a left-handed Collings D2H. I played it and it was nice, just nice - not too much bottom to it. The next day I was in Austin and took the tour of the Factory store and it was outstanding. I got a free t-shirt because I had come from so far away (big whoop) and the tour was quite interesting. (If you ever have the chance take the tour - go to their site for info)

At the end of the tour there was a CW MHa sitting there awaiting a pickguard before going out to conquer the world. Steve McReary (I got his autograph and Bills' I am so thrilled!) picked it up, hit a G and said "now that's how a flat-top is SUPPOSED to sound.!" He was right.

Right now it seems that used Collings' are much cheaper than the original. When my time comes to get a D1 and that will be at least 2 years, I might start there. We'll see. They hold their value better than recent Martins. Bill Collings patterned his Dreads after the Martins of the 30s and 40s and last winter I was in Louisville and met George Gruhn and he had some of those pre-war dreads, both d-28 and D-18 and they sounded awesome. Nothing like them. I think that that will be the case with Collings in about 40 more years.

Right now I am in the grip of an obsession to have a Collings. I'll never be able to afford a CW but I don't really think I'll do too bad with a D1 - I want just a plain Jane D1, sitka spruce top, that's it. I have a friend in a BlueGrass band who has a D-18V with a sitka spruce top and that thing is a cannon.

Thanks for reading this and happy picking. BTW - Next month (8/22) there will be a reunion of sorts of NewGrass Revival in Bowling Green Kentucky. Be there.

[Making Sawdust]

I am torn between a new Taylor (3-4 grand) or sticking with Takamine (2 grand, which I currently play and like). I like both brands (taylor + tak) very much..

But it's not about the brands, it's about the tone, I love Martins, not because of the brand, but because of the tone. You have to play, hear them side by side, and each is different, having a soul of their own....

pick on my brother, pick on