I'm at the tail end of recording a CD of original songs and I need a couple grand to complete it. I can't wait too long as I have a label ready to take me on as an artist and my CD as a product.
I've come to the conclusion that I can only afford to own only one acoustic guitar, selling any others to raise the funds I need fast. But I'm not willing to settle for anything but excellence, and I have very specific requirements. I have exactly $2800 to spend. The instrument must be as good a responsive fingerstyle guitar as it is a medium-hard strummer. It must have very good dynamic range and a full range of tone, from rolling thunder to sparkling upper partials:
• Rosewood body
• Spruce soundboard
• Mahogany neck
• Ebony fretboard
• 25.5-inch scale
• 1-3/4-inch nut
• Medium-low profile neck
• Medium-low action using Elixir Nano 80/20 Lights
• Venetian cutaway
• No electronics of any kind
• Pickguard, clear or colored
• No excessive inlays or other bling
• OM, Grand Concert, or Small Jumbo size
The closest I've been able to find is a new Lowden F32c, a great guitar that I love the looks and sound of. I'm also seriously considering a used Martin OM-28C Lawrence Juber but I'm not sure it would be a powerful strummer, and I'd have to get a clear pickguard for it. My third candidate is a used Collings CJ with a 1-3/4 nut.
Any suggestions?
Another Collings to recommend: The OM2Hc would be a very nice one to consider. It would be withing your price range. I own one (no cutaway) and it works for fingerstyle and picking.
Have you checked dream guitars? They have a flamed maple/cedar Goodall that sounds awesome. That one is in your price range. Or you can check with John at Shoreline, he will give a suggestion or two. Hope you find what you are looking for.
That's a great looking guitar, but it has no cutaway.
seems like Acoustic Pro Musician had a couple of Goodall RGCC's used in your price range last time I looked
Not real keen on their other body styles, I've owned a few CJ's......the GC's that I have played have been super though.
LV-09
http://www.larrivee.com/data/products/guitars/LV-09/LV-09.htm
My search would start and stop with a Santa Cruz OM. Here's one from the SCGC forum (I don't know the seller) that seems to fit your specs:
http://santacruzguitarplayers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=92
The seller seems motivated!
I love my SCGC OM, responds beautifully to a light touch, but can be strummed hard. Sounds like a piano... Good luck with your search.
Hmmmm, that does meet my requirements. I sent the owner an email but that is a pretty old post -- it's probably long gone.
Other than the fretboard width, a Larravee OMV-60 should fit the bill.
LeonD
I would say check out a Breedlove Focus. Yes, it has electronics, but you don't have to use them, I guess.
You may want to see if you can find one of these, Breedlove SC15 Custom in Engleman/Madagascar. Fits all of your requirements to a T with the exception of a clear pickguard, which you can get from Breedlove for nottin, as I did. There were only 3 of these made, and I know there was one listed by Oklahoma Guitar (I believe that is the name, on ebay they go by brother bobbie) on ebay awhile back. Here are some pictures of mine if it helps to give you an idea: http://community.webshots.com/user/tiff1947
There's deals currently going on NOS Larrivee LV19's + Alot money in the bank?
-OR-
If one had some time... i would look at the Ex-Larrivee guys @ Paragon, they are in your price range and have made some awesome mini jumbo's.... i had my hands on an Engelman over Maple MJ that might be a good one for you.....but there's a bit of a wait time.
good luck!
d.
Hi David,
I wish I had your dilemma $2800 for guitar budget. You may want to consider a Northwood. John Mcquarrie is one of the many former Larrivee luthiers out there. I was discussing his pricing with one of our Forum dealers a few months ago. A guitar with the specs you mention would be in that price range I believe. Enjoy your quest and congratulation on the album deal!
He's an option: Avalon Jacques Stotzem Signature
http://www.avalonguitars.com/gold.htm
There is one for sale in Englewood Colorado that I've played - super! Spruce/rosewood, GA body, slightly thinner, ebony, nondescript decor. Impeccable tone. I think they want well under your target $2800 at www.acousticmusicrevival.com (http://www.acousticmusicrevival.com). Call them and ask for JC -
I have no affiliation with them other than being a customer.
Ditto on the Santa Cruz OM/PW.
Strong second on Guild D-40 when the mahogany mood hits.
A Huss and Dalton CM fits your description perfectly. It will outperform any OM or 000 I've played fingerstyle or flatpicked and has more dynamic range and headroom than most dreads. If you ordered one with a natural finish you should meet your budget requirement.
I'm looking at a Goodall RCJC that matches my requirements precisely. Anyone have experience with this model?
Quote from: davidmacneill on January 12, 2006, 05:14:29 PM
I'm looking at a Goodall RCJC that matches my requirements precisely. Anyone have experience with this model?
I've played a few, El McMeen plays one. Very nice guitar, highly regarded. You could do much, much worse.
I am ecstatic to announce that my quest is complete. This morning I took possession of Horace Kwan's stunning 2002 Goodall Rosewood Grand Concert Cutaway, with the master grade Englemann Spruce soundboard. This RGCC is everything I had hoped for and more. We met halfway between Cameron Park and San Francisco, saving him PayPal fees, shipping expenses, and time. Thus, I was able to stay within my budget and he stayed within his -- plus we got to meet in person!
My heartfelt gratitude goes out to all of you that participated in my quest. All of your suggestions were extremely valuable and led me to as satisfying a conclusion as anyone could hope for. I highly recommend this method: list the specs you desire, put it out there on the forums, and wait to be guided to the right instrument for you. Works for me!
wow, that was quick David.....see, I told you that you would find a Goody in your price range.....
Quote from: jimmyd on January 12, 2006, 03:38:04 PM
A Huss and Dalton CM fits your description perfectly. It will outperform any OM or 000 I've played fingerstyle or flatpicked and has more dynamic range and headroom than most dreads. If you ordered one with a natural finish you should meet your budget requirement.
The H&D CM is not discussed much. It is a wonderful guitar, certainly as described, and more. Ditto on its recommendation.
Here's a quick and dirty photo album:
http://homepage.mac.com/davidmacneill/PhotoAlbum36.html
Looks great.
I think that's possibly the most glossiest gloss I have ever seen!
Congrats.
Mike
And here's my Impossible Dream Guitar, a Ryan Mission Grand Concert:
http://homepage.mac.com/davidmacneill/PhotoAlbum37.html
I came pretty darn close, eh? I'm as happy as a little girl!
Goodalls are fantastic.
Quote from: davidmacneill on January 13, 2006, 04:19:49 PM
I'm as happy as a little girl!
David,
That puts me in mind of a certain Robyn Hitchcock song... :wacko: Glad you're quest was successful! Please let us know when your project is finished!
I had exactly the same requirements, not because I needed to sell my other guitars, but because I'm a hybrid picker who needs to be able to go from double dropped D fingerpicking to acoustic rock strumming to lead picking with a pretty heavy pick. I went through quite a few guitars looking for it and finally found my bliss here:
(http://homepage.mac.com/tfarney/.Pictures/Thompson%20T1C/thompson_t1c.jpg)
It's a Thompson T1c. You won't find one new with a cutaway for $2800, but with a little digging, you should be able to pick one up used a lot less than that. I think there are a couple of tricks that make this guitar work the way it does. It's very lightly built, and even though it is the shape of a Larrivee L, it is the depth of an OM, giving it a very quick response. What gives it the headroom, I'm not sure, but it's got it. I worked a little song circle jam a couple of weeks ago and a large, hard room, competing with two dreds, a jumbo and a banjo, and when I took a solo, it cut right through.
Tim
Yep, that would do the trick! Gorgeous looking instrument.
Thanks. They aren't easy to find. Ted Thompson only makes about 50 a year. To get mine, I took a great leap of faith and ordered it, ever so slightly used, from a shop in Canada, sight unseen. There is nothing disappointing about it. the bass notes are almost as big and clear as a maple jumbo. The mids are huge. The trebles are round and bell-like, and it has a very broad dynamic range. The maples are pretty uncommon. Rosewood and mahogany are a lot easier to find.
About the only problem I can think of is that the string/note separation is so acute that it can really show off my sloppy technique. I have to me careful and precise.
Here's a T1 in mahogany and Engleman at the Guitar Gallery. Just barely in your range. I'd give them a call and ask them about that Engleman top though. It may not have the headroom you need.
(http://www.guitargal.com/gifs/ttm1close.jpg)
Tim
I'm supremely satisfied with my "new" 2002 Goodall RGCC. Its Englemann soundboard has all the headroom I require. Both Englemann guitars I've owned left nothing to be desired in this regard, so either I got lucky with my woods or my pick attack is controlled enough to make the question moot. I like to think it's the latter, of course. 8-)
By the way David, with the lovely, lovely acquisitions you are making lately, should the word "recovering" still be in your profile? :POL>
Quote from: Sordello on January 18, 2006, 12:18:12 AM
By the way David, with the lovely, lovely acquisitions you are making lately, should the word "recovering" still be in your profile? :POL>
LOL! Well actually, I'm recovering from my former life as an 80's rocker. As far as the guitar addiction, well, that's another story!
Sweet looking guitars! The L style body seems made for the Florentine cutaway.
David,
So is that the big hair, pointy headstock guitar type of 80s rocker you're recovering from? :rolleyes: