cheap guitars just keep getting better

[pastorharry]

Yesterday i was on the hunt for Christmas guitars for a couple kids and I played a couple of the new hohner essential series guitars. Now hohner is not usually a name that gets any oooh's and aaah's, especially on a guitar forum, but hey, these were great!They are made similar to some other guitars we know that have very thin satin finish, instead of the thick asian tone killer finishes I was used to with cheap guitars (we're talking well under 500). They have some type of frequency tested solid tops,(aka tap tuned), and very intresting compensated nut and saddle and are touted as having, get this, perfect intonation. All hype aside , I was amazed at how open they were, and extreamly well set up, I especially liked the parlor model.Check them out,great Christmas stocking stuffers!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPT647H_UjU         
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iixyaNq_ZA   This second vid is the parlor, they also have a slightly larger folk style, a dred and a jumbo cutaway with pickup onboard. 

[mas music]

 Welcome to the forum.
I picked up a $75.00 Makala Baritone ukulele. It sounds great, holds it's tune and has made a great contribution in my leading children's worship. Best $75.00 I've ever spent.

[Dotneck]

I agree that cheap guitars are way better than when I was a kid. I have a Takamine that was in the $100 range that is worlds better than anything I could put my hands on when I was a kid. So much easier to play...its almost unbelievable.

I think this one is going to be donated to my church's angel tree this holiday season....

[Strings4Him]

Yes, I had my eye on the cheap Hohner Essential Mini-Jumbo with electronics.

Glad to hear your favorable feedback.

[pastorharry]

I agree that cheap guitars are way better than when I was a kid. I have a Takamine that was in the $100 range that is worlds better than anything I could put my hands on when I was a kid. So much easier to play...its almost unbelievable.

I think this one is going to be donated to my church's angel tree this holiday season....

Good for you Dotneck, There's a young lady in deep Mexico playing an old red lable Yamaha of mine that I passed to her through some missionaries, and a martin LX in the Phillipines that I left with a Pastor there, our youth Pastor plays my old Epiphone, it surely IS more blessed to give than recieve, (however the recieving ain't bad either)!! God bless and aloha, PH  

[cc407]

In spite of some gloss that's a wee bit thick, my Cort Earth 200 dread (solid top and back) is a really great sounding and playing guitar.
I wouldn't part with it.

[ducktrapper]

I disagree. I think good guitars are getting cheaper. 

[cke]

Yesterday i was on the hunt for Christmas guitars for a couple kids and I played a couple of the new hohner essential series guitars. Now hohner is not usually a name that gets any oooh's and aaah's, especially on a guitar forum, but hey, these were great!They are made similar to some other guitars we know that have very thin satin finish, instead of the thick asian tone killer finishes I was used to with cheap guitars (we're talking well under 500). They have some type of frequency tested solid tops,(aka tap tuned), and very intresting compensated nut and saddle and are touted as having, get this, perfect intonation. All hype aside , I was amazed at how open they were, and extreamly well set up, I especially liked the parlor model.Check them out,great Christmas stocking stuffers!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPT647H_UjU         
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iixyaNq_ZA   This second vid is the parlor, they also have a slightly larger folk style, a dred and a jumbo cutaway with pickup onboard. 

[count savage]

This is the Golden Age of acoustic guitar building and the trickle down raises the bar on 'cheap' guitars, too.  Amazing times for acoustic guitar fanatics.

[bearsville0]

It seems to be true for steel string guitars but I haven't tried any decent nylon strings for under a grand, and some, like the Taylor nylons ain't worth more than 500 and they ask for close to 15 hundred.

[ducktrapper]

It seems to be true for steel string guitars but I haven't tried any decent nylon strings for under a grand, and some, like the Taylor nylons ain't worth more than 500 and they ask for close to 15 hundred.

And ordinary guitars sometimes become more expensive. Keeps one on their toes, eh?

[AZLiberty]

Amazing times for acoustic guitar fanatics.

Agreed.  I played a Korean made Breedlove the other day that was simply outstanding.  (and under $500)

[jasbart]

I played a brand new Washburn Parlor model guitar a few weeks ago.  Aside from the fact that it was embarrassingly "distressed" it played and sounded quite good.  Has a "V" style neck which takes a little getting used to.  And the case was incredible...more like a tiny coffin than a guitar case.

All for around $450.

Jim

[cke]

It seems to be true for steel string guitars but I haven't tried any decent nylon strings for under a grand, and some, like the Taylor nylons ain't worth more than 500 and they ask for close to 15 hundred.

Recently I played a Guild GAD nylon  that was OK, and a Ramierez that was 'on sale' that was really disappointing. Both not far under 1K. So I take your point.

But the Aria's, Hohner Essentials, Blueridge's. Recording King's,  Republic's, and Regal's I tried were all good tone and easy playing. The Godin's have impressed me  too. So much better than that dreck that passed for cheap guitars when I was a boy. The only Asian git I have tried that I thought rose to the height set by the top North American luthiers was the Eastman I just got.

Still I agree that this is the Golden Age of lutherie. So many great builders so many great guitars.

[willfo]

 I have been seriously impressed with the Seagul maritime mini-jumbo , and am planning on getting an Art & Lutherie AMI to be my main gigging axe. I play in a top 40 country band to pay the bills and currently use my D-03RE for all of the guitar stuff I  play. I also play banjo , mandolin , and lap steel and it ends up being a lot of load in & out after all the instruments and amplification are added in. My gear over the last 3-4 yrs has also taken a horrendous beating. The A&L is a great sounding comfortable little guitar that could be a lot easier replaced if anything happened to it. I play in places (and with a drummer) that demand I amplify everything , and with the sound not being really all that acoustic in nature it seems to be the best and most sensible alternative due to circumstance , and am very thankful that such cheap and well made instruments are available now. Maybe with enough decent affordable gear hitting the marke,t live music may win back much of the ground that DJ's and karaoke have taken over in the last decade.
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving where applicable!!!

[broKen]

Hi Willfo, I have an A&L Ami all plywood guitar that sounds great for the $. Actually, is sounds good regardless of the cost. It stays in tune, has decent tone and plays quite well. For a mite over $200.

[pastorharry]

Regarding nylon strings,the Hohner essential series has a classical model out. I have a La Patrie etude that is amazing and was about 250.00!! If you want a really, really good classical guitar check out Candelas guitars....I had several from grandpa and pappa in the 50's and early 60's and now the grandson is making them-reasonable, and fantastic!! Check out this video link of Candelas everyone,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vRcHEIawP8   

[mas music]

Kremona has been making stringed instruments out of Bulgaria since 1926. Orpheus Valley is there classical guitar division. Mine is all solid wood, has a bone nut and saddle. It sounds beautiful and set me back about $600.00.

[petevee]

I don't think todays "cheap" guitars are any better than say the Yamaha red labels which were the "cheap" guitars of previous generations. There are garbage guitars today same as before. IMO we have always had some decent options when working with a sparse budget..

[madoclake]

I have been seriously impressed with the Seagul maritime mini-jumbo ,

I found a very good condition used Maritime Mini-Jumbo. I think it is all solid wood(?). It played nice. I am thinking about getting for my daughter. Any thoughts on this guitar?