Acoustic Guitars
 

So, I own an electric guitar, (Epiphone SG) but eventually, I want to get an acoustic.

I am having trouble finding one that I like, however. I would like one with a cutaway, and the highest I'm willing to go, price-wise, is $500.

I saw the Yamaha FX370C F Series on Guitar Center's website, (damn post count won't let me post a link) and I like it, but I'm still not sure.

Would anyone suggest anything different?

Simply put, you're going to hate this advice.

Go into a guitar shop, sit down, and FORCE a sales rep to pick out guitars for you, one after the other. Play them all. Take at least half an hour in total, just picking up and playing various guitars. Preferably much longer. Go in when its quiet so the sales rep can't pull a fast one and walk off after giving you a guitar HE likes.

I can recommend things to you all day, but at the end of the day, acoustic guitars are definitely something where build quality is everything, and that varies from guitar to guitar, not just maker to maker. Better QC can ensure a good 'low' line, but every so often, guitar makers let a guitar slip out the door from a low end line, that is built much better than it really ought to be for the price. That was the case with my breedlove, and its the main reason I absolutely cannot recommend enough to go into a shop and annoy the sales staff by trying a hundred guitars, just to find the one really nice one.

I don't mind the "bad advice" thing. At this point, any advice is good advice, and I never really thought to do as you said. However, it will be a while before I get a new guitar, and I want to get a good idea of what I want now rather than just pick one.

Thanks again!

Acoustic guitars aren't like electrics, where you can look up the specs and make an informed decision, with the playtesting being something to do later. There are no pickups to compare quality of, no variations on bridges, no bolt-on vs necktrhough vs set-neck construction etc etc.

With acoustics, just about the only way to make an informed decision is to play a whole lot of them and pick the one that sounds and plays the best. You wont be just 'picking one', that makes it sound as though its an impulse buy. You'll be going into a shop and actively comparing multiple models. Its the best way of doing it.

When I bought my breedlove, I did exactly that. By the time I was finished I had 8 guitars on stands around me, all around the same pricerange, and I was sat playing the breedlove because it sounded the best by far.

As Guitarbizarre says, you really have to go into the guitar store, play them all and see which ones you want.

But that Yamaha your interested in seems fine.

Although, if you're looking for a guitar you'd want to keep for a long time, I'd try going for more expensive guitars. I'm not sure about what guitars are available in America, in Australia though most of us have Matons, Takamines, Taylors etc.

But its really down to personal preference.

I will make this concession - Try and find places that stock art+luthierie, or Godin Guitars, along with breedlove guitars. Those brands have a nice design philosophy that produces consistent results in the 'OK, Good guitar' kind of range.

Bear in mind though that the difference between a 'good' guitar, and a 'fantastic' guitar is entirely down to build quality, and in the case of acoustics, that really does mean trying a whole bunch of em.

You guys have helped a lot. I currently play a Yamaha for my Guitar course at school. Not exactly sure of the model name, but I love it nonetheless. It makes me think of buying that model for myself. But, I will try and get to a music store soon and try out as many guitars as possible.

For under 500 I would recommend trying a Seagull guitar. They are hand crafted in Quebec Canada and sound wonderful. I own the MiniJumbo Entourage and havnt looked back since.

I have an Ovation electric/acoustic.Its not only beautiful but the tone and action is superb with a nice skinny neck.About 500$(a few years ago).Yamaha also makes really good acoustics for a good value.I also have an Epiphone SG and I have to say I love that guitar.I went to the music store,picked it for 5 seconds and was sold.

Seagulls are also related to the Godin Brand, much the same way as Art+Luthierie are. All those companies share wood sources, design philosophy, and in some cases they have actually shared staff before. They all build guitars much the same way. This is good advice on a brand to check out, but remember, the 'special' guitar is the one you pick up that just has a mojo the others don't. If you don't spend some time looking for that, you could buy a plank of wood with strings nailed to it and not know what you were missing out on.