Good inexpensive guitars???

[Charles Long]

From briefly perusing here, it seems a lot of you play high end expensive guitars. I don't. What I'm looking for is good guitar for 500 or less. I live in a rural area and will have to order over the internet so no option to head to a music store and try a bunch out. If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them. An Epiphone Texan looks pretty good. I'm not a very good player but I'm practicing and learning and trying to get better. The guitar I have now is pretty cheap and I really would like to upgrade and 500 is about the upper limit of what I want to spend at this point.

[Chris]

sorry been out of touch for a bit, is this your new guitar? if so how is it, how does it sound?

cheers Chris

[Charles Long]

Yeah that's the new one. It sounds great. It's a very nice guitar.

[Chris]

great news, is that a satin finish on it? nice looking guitar also!

[Charles Long]

Gloss finish. There's a satin finish on the cedar top models but gloss on the spruce.

[Peter Giffin]

Hi Charles; Greetings from Canada. I have many guitars both acoustic and electric, from the affordable (Crafter, Fender, Yamaha, old Goya G-450 (D41 knockoff) to the higher end (McPherson, Gibson, Guild) and do appreciate your limitations as I've been there...small town, no stores, no choice, budget pains. So most of my stuff is old and bought used at affordable prices. At least you are able to use the power of the web to find yours which wasn't an option for me back in the day.
So if I may suggest a couple guitars to consider. I agree with "diamondguy" below and definitely would suggest a Godin product, especially the Simon and Patrick line dreadnought. Godin's Seagulls are a bit more suited to fingerstyle. Godin's offerings are well made, all solid woods and in your budget range...great value for the dough.
Also, have a look at the Crafter dreadnoughts...I have a 12-fret 000 which I use for blues and slide. It was one that I couldn't put down in the store. Such great tone, volume and build quality for a mass-produced instrument (Korean). The dreads were great sounding too.
Check out one of our great Canadian stores, the famous "Twelfth Fret" in Toronto, Ontario. Great folks, wonderful stock and very helpful. Here's their link: www.12fret.com
Hope this helps. Good luck and many happy musical hours

[G Matthews]

I was looking for new guitars awhile back and drifted into a local music store that carries just about every brand from cheap to way upper scale.

After playing Martin's and Gibson's, I picked up an Epiphone DR-500. It had such a mellow tone that I just couldn't put it down.

An Epi EL-00 caught my eye as well, since I like to pick acoustic blues.

They both sounded great in the store.

I bought the DR-500 and my wife bought me the EL-00 for Christmas.

Both are great sounding guitars.

I also found a really good deal on a Martin 000-28 (Clapton's fave) that was 2 months old. Can't beat that one for "smooth".

Anyway, I decided that I wanted to take the Epi's to a guitar shop and have a bone nut and bridge saddle installed on them.

Imagine my surprise when the tech called me and told the guitars already had bone! Both of these are new, from the factory, guitars. That made me think Epiphone is building some really good stuff! Even some of the higher priced Martin's and Gibson's don't come with bone.

I know you already have your guitar, but for anyone looking for a quality guitar without spending a chunk of change; give Epiphone a look!

[G Matthews]

I saw one of those when i was looking at my Epi's. There was one available for 250 bucks. That wouldn't take a lotta groveling, would it?? LOL

[Chris]

I have had an Epiphone Elect/acous PRE 5, its 13 years old now. Its a slim bodied guitar great strumming guitar , plus its cutaway so good for those high solo notes. Its a great guitar well made and has nice tone. (maybe a wee bit thin due to the slim body but got a good balance of bass/mid /treb)

[Duane Galensky]

I recommended an Epiphone Masterbilt AJ500 in mahogany to a student and it's pretty nice!

So nice bought myself one in rosewood with the electronics, and I already own a Gibson Advanced Jumbo. I wanted something similar that had a pickup and a tuner built in for performing, something that I won't cry too much if it gets a little banged up. I play it all the time.

It did need a setup: deepening of the nut slots, leveling a fret or two, truss adjustment, and a new compensated bone saddle (the stock compensated saddle and nut are bone, BTW - nice!)

The mahogany AJ500ME with pickups and tuner built in is available for like $549 street price.

[thomas doran]

I have been reading your emails ,lots of good input.I am new to flat picking and decided to go with a recording king rd-26.
It seemed to have the most value for my dollar . I will let you know my final thoughts when mine comes in/

[thomas doran]

Received the Recording King RD-26. Terrific sound for the price .GREAT VALUE $440. WITH CASE.
I have no reservations recommending this guitar

[lcarr]

Love my rk's. Cheap, relatively speaking, but they sound great!