Wanted: Booming Dreadnaught...ideas?

[nomad]

I  recently purchased an Epiphone AJ500M and to me it seems to really project the sound. Much louder than my Lv03re or my 410 Taylor

[pennerblue]

Maybe this one is a boomer

What gauge strings does it need...130's?!
I think that might be a tad too wide for my bum shoulder...

[AtlasHeating]

I would try a Martin D-16R vs a Larrivee D-03R VS a martin D-28 or HD-28.
The HD-28 has everything that you are looking for with a bluegrass guitar. I own one of these and it does deliver the bass.
You can probably buy a used HD-28 for close to your budget.
I also Owned an Epiphone AJ 500R and it was a great guitar for the money, but it did not boom.

[jeremy3220]

If money was no object, the SCGC TR Pro is one powerful guitar. You have to be careful though, don't aim it at anything you don't plan to kill.

[Dotneck]

Gibson AJ....I'e seen used ones listed as low as $1300.....

I think the best values in guitars are used guitars.

[kwakatak]

In response to the OP, I have to qualify by saying that I've been in search of a new dreadnought for playing while singing and I was blown away by a Martin HD-35. At $2600 (according to my local shop) that's way too much change, but then I've heard rave reviews of the plainer D-35 (no scalloped bracing, no herringbone) and how they open up well. The prices are also quite appealing; I've seen a few go recently for $1400-$1500.

The only thing that concerns me sometimes is that the 35s seem to be almost too boomy when fingerpicked. Still, I see a dread as a strummer first and foremost and the D-35 excels at it IMO.

BTW - honorable mention goes to the D-21 Special, which is not nearly as boomy but has a sweet tone and wider fretboard that make it oddly suited for fingerpicking. Also, even though it's rosewood, the tone is almost "hoggish" and "vintage" - all which are subjective terms, but view the following Youtube video and you be the judge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX2imolO5ZE

Pricey though - but worth it IMO. If I had the money to spend, that is.

[Randy_R]

I have a very nice Guild D-35 for sale on my list. http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=20393.0

[Southern Cross]

Pennerblue,
There is a 1995 D-18GE on Acoustic Guitar Forum for sale for $1350(no affiliation).  I will link it for you to check out.  It is a good deal because a forumite bought it from a friend to help him out.  It has apparently been mistreated somewhat, but if you read the whole thread it sounds as if it mostly cosmetic, except for a crack in the back which he had repaired.  I would take a look and see what you think, good luck on the search.

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139916&highlight=martin

Clifford

[teh]

My standard D-35 was built in 1977 and it was my go to guitar for everything from strumming to finger picking and here's one of the reasons I bought it. If you want to hear what a standard D-35 sounds like in the hands of a master, check this out and remember, it was recorded 30 years ago. Primitive technology by today's standards but it stands the test of time and John Fahey is probably one of the key reasons that solo finger style guitar enjoys the popularity it has. Follow the trail of people who were influenced by Fahey. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYDrkG2EGwg

I added an OM-35 (built in 2006) based on a little friendly advice from Jim Holler and it has a much more balanced tone and was a great addition to the family. There was a 2003 for sale at Elderly last week as well as both a 1975 and a 1976 D-35. The 76 sunburst came off the line a couple of months ahead of mine but is a lot worse for the wear. When I want to shake the pictures off the wall, I grab my D-35 or my 12 string Larrivee.

FWIW, I played a brand new HD-35 for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It was a set up perfectly and now that I have played one, I would order one sight unseen from Jim Holler to serve as the other bookend. Don't get the idea that I would trade either of my current 35's for a new one though.

[mikevernon]

Pennerblue, I think you're absolutely right about the importance of volume in an acoustic guitar.  A loud guitar with good sustain will always feel more responsive and more sensitive, and provided that it also has good intonation and a comfortably low action it will feel better than a quieter one.
I've now owned nearly 40 acoustics in my search for the perfect one, including a Larrivee, a Taylor, Simon & Patrick, Yamaha LL, various Faiths, Johnson Carolina, Framus, Walden, Vintage, lots of Tanglewoods and a Freshman FA400. Admittedly most have been secondhand and none has been mega-expensive, although I'm a firm believer that the Law of Diminishing Returns applies as much to guitars as anything else.
The guitar which has emerged as my overall favourite, and the one by which I judge all the others, is the Tanglewood TW15NS.  I have other more expensive Tanglewoods as well as some very nice and more expensive guitars of other makes, but for me the TW15NS has the best overall sound.  It may be that I prefer the spruce/mahogany combination to the spruce/rosewood combination, particularly in the middle and bass regions, but probably the main reason I like it the best is simply that it is the loudest.

[flatlander]

Pennerblue, I think you're absolutely right about the importance of volume in an acoustic guitar.  A loud guitar with good sustain will always feel more responsive and more sensitive, and provided that it also has good intonation and a comfortably low action it will feel better than a quieter one.

I hear what your saying and can totally understand Pennerblues situation as I've dealt with the same exact issue. My used
Gallagher, 1200.00 completely took care of that.
But to be sure, this is an indiviual taste and dependent on what kind of music you play. A good example on the sustain side is
anybody who wants to play (and has the ability!) to play Django type stuff. With that you'de specifically want a stucatto sound with not much sustain.  Other guitars have great tone but not a lot of volume. Just had to throw that in. Your suggestion sounds like a good idea of something for Pennerblue to check out. Pennerblue may also want to check out randy r's guild D-35 at a good price
if he hasn't changed his mind and decided to hold on to it.

[pennerblue]

Well folks...hopefully my saga has ended.  I bought a Guild DV-52 on eBay last night.  The folks at Letstalkguild.com rave about these babies as being on par with the fabled D-50s.  And yes, for you "in the know" about Guilds, it is a Westerly.  I'm very excited (also nervous as this is my first eBay purchase).

Keeping my fingers crossed for the next few days...

Penner

[flatlander]

 

[Randy_R]

I saw that on ebay. You did very good...   

[pennerblue]

Thanks for the reassurance!

[Bltprf502]

The cheapest, boomiest guitar I own is an Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500MVS.  It rocks!  You WILL NOT BE DISSAPPOINTED!

[rate800]

martin D-15 is in your price range and is a very loud dreadnought.

[Tony Burns]

Find yourself an original old Guild ( none of this Fender Guild garbage ) Mahogany is the best choice - hopefully not too beat up with decent frets and action - and you have a wondeful lifelong friend !  i recently found a D-25CH on another forum - and i cant put it down -one of the best sounding guitars ive ever played .

[beans]

If you want a cannon, you should try a Tacoma.  I've only tried a DM9 (mahogany) and a DR14 (rosewood).  Both are loud (esp, the DM9) and are good values.  I love Larrivees but in terms of volume, Tacomas are noticeably louder to me.  Sadly these models have been discontinued, but they can still be found.  For what they are, they're undervalued right now.  For less than $1000, sometimes significantly less, I can't imagine finding a louder, all solid wood guitar.  If you go to "Tacoma Guitar Forum" you'll be able to find more information.  Those guys know their Tacomas.