Cheap Guitar Recomendations?

[Paul]

I lust for a hd28 but my accountant and financial advisor (wife) says it cant happen for a long time. Anything close under a grand? I want a nice spruce top and rosewood back and sides and would love a ebony fretboard with nice large frets. The closest thing I have found is the Taylor 210 it is a bit brighter than a d28. It's the closest one so far.
Thanks from the new guy!

[Stefan Jadefjord]

It is hard to find the real HD-28 tone if you´re on a budget. I have been very impressed with this brand though: http://www.furch.cz/ and these are also great if you want a good, cheap guitar: Blueridge

[Tom Voessing]

I don't know furch guitars, but I agree on "blueridge"...
Tom

[Paul]

So the Blueridge will hold its on in a jam setting? I am specifically looking the BR60

[Monty Smith]

My neighbor has a BR-160 that is great. Sounds good, feels good, and looks good. Hard for me to imagine a better guitar for the money he paid.

I've also played a few other Blueridge model in stores, and they've all been nice instruments.

[GhostPicker]

I'll second Monty's thoughts. I have a Blueridge BR-160 and a BG-160. Both are as loud as my 16 year old Martin HD 28. The BR has a Martin look/feel/sound while the BG has a Gibson look/feel/sound. While close in volume, the Martin's tone is a step above but for the difference in price, the Blueridges are an outstanding value at a fraction of the cost.

[Dave Engel]

Hey Paul,

For $600-$800, you can get an Epiphone Masterbuilt Dred. I own one and it was my mainstay until I saved up and got my D-18. Now, does the Masterbuilt hold up to the D-18, no. However, it is far superior in my eyes and ears than most any music store guitar in the same price range. However all that being said, spend some time at the stores and try em out. You just may find one that grabs you and the price tag may be OK.

Dave

[Paul]

I already own a custom shop Martin, but it is a mahogany back and sides. It's a boomer and a cannon. I was just wanting a rosewood side and back to kind of offset and take to jams.

[Paul]

Thanks everyone for the posts and opinions. I just went ahead and pulled the trigger and got another Martin Custom D. I got the rosewood back and sides this time. I have owned a Custom D mahagony for about a year and it has been my main guitar. For the money, all solid woods and they are both cannons with a clear clean tone. I will still one day have my HD though.....

[Ty]

Hey Paul,

In the future you might want to do what I did....buy a used guitar.
A little while back...I bought a used TF360S BG Takamine and let me tell you
that thing is an absolute cannon! and it is really easy playin' too!
To my mind it is easily the best sounding guitar under $3000.
I got mine in excellent condition with a 'cool tube' preamp for $1000 which would have just fit
your budget.

Ty

[Paul]

Thanks Ty, that is exactly what I did. And I am glad I did. I got another Martin D. And where the other Martin D I already owned is just now starting to open up after a year, the one I just purchased started to change 3-4 days after I started playing. Got it cheap too!

[Ty]

That's the way to do it Paul ! I'm glad you were able to find what you wanted at a
very good price! Have fun getting your new Martin opened up....!

Ty

[Lane Rudiger]

On the acoustic guitar forum they recently had a thread about Stanford performer guitars (Czech guitar made in Asia). The reviews are on the great side and the guitar is less than a grand. Do a search for it on their forum. I think the shop in the US that sells them is gypsyjazz guitar.