recommendation on guitar around $500...

[moga]

give me some idea for my nephew's first guitar..

he wants to have pickup installed one....

his parents don't want to buy him too expensive guitar..so $500 is the max ...(and I agree with that)..

looking through seagull, yamaha, aria..and so on..

takamine?..maybe?


let me know guys...

[sayheyjeff]

I am a fan of the Seagull Folk.  It is a really nice size and a nice player.  Neck could be a little wide for very small hands, but I can't recall seeing anyone say that before.  You and your nephew are more than welcome to try mine since you are in the Washington area.  I also have a Martin LX travel guitar you could consider if this is a very young man. 

jeff

[tuffythepug]

There are a number of guitars at that price point which would be good guitars for a young man to learn on.  As far as new guitars go, of course you aren't going to get a Larrivee, Taylor, Martin, Gibson or anything like that in that price category.   As sayheyjeff mentioned, Seagull is one option for a new guitar in that price range.  If you are willing to look at gently used guitars, the options open up quite a bit.   You probably could find some very good used guitars at that price.   I was just scanning the e-bay listings to get an idea of what is out there for $500 and ran across this Washburn Cumberland which  could be bought and shipped to your door for the price you menitoned.  There's got to be many, many more but I thought this looked like a killer deal for a solid spruce and quilted maple guitar.   I've never played a Washburn but I believe they are decent quality instruments.






Tuffythepug

[Calvin]

A nice yamaha FG720S or FS720S (get the Taiwan made ones), and then ask a tech to put in a pickup and do a setup along with a bone saddle (and a nut if you dont mind the extra 20 bucks).

[drathbun]

  on the Yamaha FG720S. This is an excellent guitar at this price range. I traded my Larrivee L03-12 ($1500) for a Yamaha FG720S-12 ($400) and I don't regret it at all. 

PS: I got other stuff for the Larrivee too.

[jeremy3220]

check out Blueridge, Epiphone and Guild; you could get a used one and install a pickup.

[Big Martin]

I would recommend a look at Epiphone's Masterbilt series.  All solid wood. Every one I have played has excellent intonation all the way up the neck and bone nuts and saddles.  They also come with a great case with a built in hygrometer.

I have a new maple one (DR-500P) available with full warranty.  It is a really nice sounding dreadnought with a 1 11/16 neck.  It doesnt have the pickup built in but IMO you can usually do much better installing one (or having one installed) that you can select for yourself.   The list for $925, street for $600;  this one is available for $425

[canoe65]

For my money, a Seagull S6+ Cedar is the finest choice for a guitar under $500 (and you might get one comfortably under $500).

I have been playing for years and, if I hadn't trade my Seagull in to get my Larrivée L-03, I'd be more than happy to continue playing the Seagull.

It was a very, very good guitar, at a really affordable price.

The Seagull had attributes and a sound that you would find on much more expensive guitars.   

[JohnM2001]

If I were you, I'd grab this Larrivee D-02E (already has pickup) on ebay, $470 shipped.  I have one, they are great, and are better than just about anything you can get for under $500 used.  You have to move fast though, it won't last I expect.

D-02E on ebay

[moga]

Thank you guys..

we bought Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500RCCE...it has undersaddle pick up installed...........i still can't believe this was under $500 guitar..

here's the spec of the guitar..

Pickups - LR Baggs

Natural Satin

Body Material - Solid Rosewood

Top - Solid Cedar

Hardware - Gold

Scale - 25.5"

Nut Width - 1.75"

Neck - Set

Neck Material - Mahogany

Fingerboard/Inlay - Rosewood/Pearl Diamond

Binding - B


happy buyer here

[grags]

Check out the Martin 0001x.  Great guitar and can be had for just under or a little over $500,  It has laminate backs and sides but a solid sitka spruce top and the guitar really sings.  I believe that I bought mine from Sam Ash for $499.  Check the reviews on the instrument.  I think they will sell you.  It is basic with no frills but Martin really did put some fine sound in the instrument.  I will never part with mine.

I've been lurking in the background.  Sorry that I did not come out before now.

Gargs

[bluesman67]

I like the Yamaha's in the $300-400 range.  To me, they sound just about as good as they get in the under $500 category.  Also, many folks love their Seagulls, which are in that $400 range.  The only Seagull I played was one that had old strings and the frets buzzed, so I don't really have an opinion one way or another on them since I know that I isn't supposed to sound like that!

[fado]

In that price range, look no futher than a Seagull S6. I'm always amazed at how good these guitars sound especially when I compare them with some of my more expensive guitars. I gave my S6 to my brother a little while back cause he wanted to start playing. I plan to buy another one as soon as I get clearance from the boss.

Rob

[moga]

Yeah Seagull was on the final list..

great one guitar that is..