wide neck fingerstyle guitars under 600

[mkriley]

anybody have any ideas for a inexpensive fingerstyle guitar with a WIDE bridge spacing?
Seagull has a nice wide neck then they ruin it with a skinny bridge.
needs to be inexpensive as it will live in a desert climate with climate control ~ 20% RH
thanks
mike

[Calvin]

Seagulls sound okay, but they are so very ugly to me.

Did you try one of the other godin brands?  Simon & Patrick, Norman, A&L.

I think the new yamaha solid top ones has decent nut spacing if I remember right.

[Tycho]

I think we had this conversation a while ago and determined that the necks on the other Godin acoustics are bit narrower than Seagull.

[mkriley]

the BRIDGES are too narrow on the godin products.
I would like 2-1/4" for the old fat fingers.
hard to figure a wide nut with a 2-1/8 bridge 
mike

[bleumax]

in addition to the masterbilt ef-500, you might want to try the guild gad-30s. the only caveat on the guild gad-30s is that you may want to check it out in person first. i had to send two back as they had significant finish flaws.

[JasonA]

The Guild GAD30 I had was pretty good. No finish flaws, although some of the binding looked like it had some burn marks on it that weren't sanded off before finish was put on.

I like 2-1/4" bridge spacing myself. The GAD30 was actualy 2-3/8", like a Martin OM18V, which is wider than I prefer. Still, pretty nice for the money.

[av8torjim]

I really like the bridge spacing on my Martin OM-1 for fingerstyle, although I haven't measured it.  If you look hard, you can find one for close to your budget.  It's a discontinued model, but there are some NOS available.  Do a Google search.  There used to be a dealer who had two available for about $25 above your budget.  They are pretty nice for low-end Martins.  Solid spruce top and mahogany back (laminated sides), rosewood fingerboard (instead to the Micarta used on other low-end Martins), mortise and tenon neck, hard shell case.  Nothing fancy, but a nice, inexpensive Martin.  Good luck.

[mkriley]

anybody have any experiance with the tacoma orpheum OD24SWR ?
seems like it might be a good deal?

[mkriley]

well I just pulled the trigger on a guild GAD-30r on the basis of the reviews here,
Thanks for the help!!
mike

[schubert4]

I'm looking at that same guitar, let us know how you like it!

[mkriley]

ok hope to have it by the weekend
mike

[bleumax]

congrats! you will like the tone on this guitar...it's very nice.  :GRN>

[mkriley]

did a todd on it!
come and gone guess i'll look for a om-15 or 000-15s
mike