Question for guitarists (off topic)

I know this isn't a Social Distortion topic, but I know there are quite a few guitarists on the board, and I need some help with a guitar decision. For a long time now, I've been planning on getting a Fender GDO 300 OM Acoustic Guitar. Click HERE for the link. I'm a beginner, and I like the way it feels and plays. Does anyone here have any experience with this particular guitar and/or recommend a similar yet better one for the same price range (under $300). Any suggestions would be appreciated, as I want to buy a guitar this weekend. Thanks.

Looks like it'd suit you just fine. When you're just starting out, it's more important that you like how it plays and feels more than anything else. I've got a 200 dollar takamine G-series acoustic that sounds better than the more expensive guitars I've owned or used.

agree with the Takamine, have one also and plays/sounds better than a lot of higher-priced acoustics. Guild for me personally had the nicest feeling/sound/action but is still a little out of my price range.

I really wanted to buy a Gibson hummingbird acoustic because I loved how it sounded and felt in my hands, but I couldnt afford it. I picked up an Epiphone Hummingbird one day to see how it compared and I was very pleasantly surprised. I loved it so much that I bought it and took it home. It needed a good set up, but once I had it to my liking, it was a very good sounding acoustic and it was less than $250

It looks like I'm going with that Fender, it's only $250, but the quality is well worth that price. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced acoustic guitar capo? I have no clue which one to get.

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Originally posted by Thy_Will_Not_Mine:
It looks like I'm going with that Fender, it's only $250, but the quality is well worth that price. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced acoustic guitar capo? I have no clue which one to get.

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<font size="2" face="verdana, arial">Good for you, you made a choice...we can still make this a Social D thread, 'I WANT WHAT I WANT'!!! Still, excellent calls by other posters' recommendations.

Capos-
You can't go wrong w/ either screw-on tension types like Shubb or spring-tensioned/trigger ones like Kyser or Dunlop. I currently use a shubb and have no regrets. If I didn't have that, I'd definitely try out a trigger-type capo. Price-wise pretty close, only few $'s difference.

Here are some pro's & cons:
<u>Pro's</u>: Screw-tension~smaller profile and variable tension (depending on how far you tighten), Spring-tension~easy on, easy off.
<u>Con's</u>: Screw-tension~some consider it a hassle to tighten a screw, costs a few dollars more. Spring-tension~over time, the spring will wear out and I heard the rubber pads on some don't last long. Also, some say the trigger types have a tendency to pull your strings out of key, but I am a bit skeptical with that reasoning, because while those capo types provide a stronger tension, I'd ask those musicians whether they properly stretched their strings when they last strung up their guitars. If you stetch your strings out when you put new ones on, you're less likely to have them go out of tune, even with some string bending, unless you leave the capo on indefinitely, which in that case, doesn't matter which type you have on because the strings will be less elastic over time.

You can't lose...either way. Just have fun with it!

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Originally posted by scuffed 8ball:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="verdana, arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="verdana, arial">Originally posted by Thy_Will_Not_Mine:
It looks like I'm going with that Fender, it's only $250, but the quality is well worth that price. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced acoustic guitar capo? I have no clue which one to get.

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<font size="2" face="verdana, arial">Good for you, you made a choice...we can still make this a Social D thread, 'I WANT WHAT I WANT'!!! Still, excellent calls by other posters' recommendations.

Capos-
You can't go wrong w/ either screw-on tension types like Shubb or spring-tensioned/trigger ones like Kyser or Dunlop. I currently use a shubb and have no regrets. If I didn't have that, I'd definitely try out a trigger-type capo. Price-wise pretty close, only few $'s difference.

Here are some pro's & cons:
<u>Pro's</u>: Screw-tension~smaller profile and variable tension (depending on how far you tighten), Spring-tension~easy on, easy off.
<u>Con's</u>: Screw-tension~some consider it a hassle to tighten a screw, costs a few dollars more. Spring-tension~over time, the spring will wear out and I heard the rubber pads on some don't last long. Also, some say the trigger types have a tendency to pull your strings out of key, but I am a bit skeptical with that reasoning, because while those capo types provide a stronger tension, I'd ask those musicians whether they properly stretched their strings when they last strung up their guitars. If you stetch your strings out when you put new ones on, you're less likely to have them go out of tune, even with some string bending, unless you leave the capo on indefinitely, which in that case, doesn't matter which type you have on because the strings will be less elastic over time.

You can't lose...either way. Just have fun with it!</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="verdana, arial">Thanks for the tips! I found a stainless steel Shubb screw-on for $20. The only downside will be those rubber pads, but other than that, looks like a good capo.

Also take a look into Alvarez and Seagull acoustics. Great bang for your buck right there. I played quite a few when I was shopping for an acoustic a few years back and liked them, but decided to buy a Breedlove. As for capos, I use a Kyser and it's great.

If i were you, i should buy a dunlop capo.
Good quality.

i forgot to mention, the old bluesmen(?women) often used a rubber band and pencil for a capo.

Pretty simple concept... give it a try and have fun!

i have a taylor big baby. you might want to check them out. they're cheap and sound excellent. as far as i know ness plays taylor acoustics too.

I like to run my SG through a Sotek mig60 head into Dez's Marshall cabinet, no effects. The TONE, it's all in my fingers. Plus, I had my Sovtek hot rodded to sound like a vintage Hiwatt, they rewired the high end grid plate and gave me back some of the grit, this baby SCREAMS. My band is like dirty rock'n'roll meets Drive Like Jehu. I'm currently using picks Reis gave me after the last Rocket show, they seem to be the best picks in the world, sorry but I can't tell you who makes them (secret weapon lol).

The SG is a 1968. Sovtek is back in the shop so I'm using a JCM 800. I gave back that cab because I got my marshall 1960TV cab... Jon didn't give me any pics and I missed the last show... ummm...The description of the band is somewhat accurate. Throw in some mid tempo punk...

I use orange tortex pics.

Again, get your obsessions correct.

STOP STALKING ME JEFF REESE

YOU CREEP ME OUT

The only Acoustic i've seen Mike Ness play is the acoustic that says "MIKE NESS" on the fretboard.

THat guitar is a Gibson. I've never heard or seen him play a taylor. Taylors have a more "lively" sound to them that is not as bluesy and dark sounding that mike usually goes for. He probably has a taylor or two, but i've never seen it played. Someone correct me if i'm wrong.

As for Capo's.....they do certainly pull the strings out of tune...like they are all being bent if you don't secure the capo correctly. This is more common on an Electric where the strings have much more give/stretch and can be pulled out of tune easily if your not careful when placing the capo. The problem with the spring design is that the back of the fret board is "rounded" so therefore the physics being applied to the strings are not perfect and can pull the strings up.

I've seen numerous pics of him playing a Taylor.

Is it a "taylor" with "mike ness" accross the fretboard? j/k......I guess if you've seen it, then i stand corrected. I've only seen him bust out the acoustic live a couple times and its the Old Gibson, and in videos, DvD's and all other appearances all i've seen is the Gibson.

Like i said, i'm sure Mike owns a few Taylors, but again i've never seen him play em live, or in a video or anything.

In my opinion....Taylors are fine guitars but the "happy" sound they put out isnt that great for a lot of genres. I know because i owned a Taylor T5. Pretty spendy little unit. I traded it in for an LP classic about a month later and lost a lot of money on that transaction, but it was well...well worth it.

Gibsons, and Martins are a different animal.

This is the Mike Ness Taylor:
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And Here's Another One:
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Man, I've been lookin for those pictures for ever now!!!! I knew his "mike ness" guitar was a Taylor, but I couldn't locate those pics.

Yeah me to, i found it on here in the fan pics section. Even on the easter egg of Story of My Life on the OC DVD he is playing this guitar. He plays that old Gibson on Bad Luck in the acoustic out house on the DVD. I believe that one is a Gibson J-45. I actually think Taylors have the best sound. Mike Ness signed my Taylor 410E when Social D was in San Antonio last time. MIKE YOU FUCKIN RULE!

I'll be damned....I certainly can't argue those pics......Unless......the headstock is PHOTOSHOP!!!!

J/k....Well then i have to ask.....does his Gibson have "MIKE NESS" on the fretboard then too?

nope

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Originally posted by raptorschild:

THat guitar is a Gibson. I've never heard or seen him play a taylor. Taylors have a more "lively" sound to them that is not as bluesy and dark sounding that mike usually goes for.

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<font size="2" face="verdana, arial">If you're wondering or curious, I think certain sounds are attributed to the the type of woods used in construction. Guitar size affects volume.

My experiences with different guitars are:
Maple-gives you the brighter, lively sound, the high's;
Ebony-bright;
Mahogany-dark, deep bass or low's;
Rosewood-cleaner punch, mid's and low's.

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Originally posted by raptorschild:
In my opinion....Taylors are fine guitars but the "happy" sound they put out isnt that great for a lot of genres. I know because i owned a Taylor T5. Pretty spendy little unit. I traded it in for an LP classic about a month later and lost a lot of money on that transaction, but it was well...well worth it.

Gibsons, and Martins are a different animal.

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<font size="2" face="verdana, arial">Huh?
I'm lost here!!!!

Let me recapture...you traded a Taylor acoustic for a Les Paul Classic which is an electric guitar because you didn't like its "happy sound"????
That's a totally different animal...basically like trading a fork for a spoon.
But I sure would love to know what you mean by "happy sound", especially since Taylors have a classic acoustic sound not much/any different to the way Gibson Acoustics, Martin Acoustics, Santa Cruz, Collings etc sound...

The only difference between Taylor and say Martin is that I've never ever tried out a Taylor that sounded bad but enough Martin's that were basically dogs. Taylor's are very consistent and always sport (contrary to Gibsons) the highest quality and "bang for the buck"...

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Originally posted by raptorschild:
I'll be damned....I certainly can't argue those pics......Unless......the headstock is PHOTOSHOP!!!!

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<font size="2" face="verdana, arial">Any why on earth should anyone Photoshop the headstock?
Are you a diehard Taylor hater? (just kiddin')

Check Taylor's site and see Mike's name among the artists who play Taylor guitars: http://www.taylorguitars.com/artists/awp/recording.html

<font color="#FFFF00" size="1">[ June 15, 2007 02:44 AM: Message edited by: lostheart ]</font>

i see where he's coming from tho, taylors have a very bright.. well, one may call it 'happy' sound. that's why i got a more bassy sounding martin too. need the best of noth worlds i guess.

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Originally posted by Thumpy:
i see where he's coming from tho, taylors have a very bright.. well, one may call it 'happy' sound. that's why i got a more bassy sounding martin too. need the best of noth worlds i guess.

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<font size="2" face="verdana, arial">Sorry, but I strongly disagree...

Taylors come in all kinds of "outfits"...with maple sides and back, rosewood sides and back, mahogany sides and back, koa sides and back, spruce tops, cedar tops, mahogany necks, rosewood fretboards, ebony fretboards, dreadnaught size, grand concert size, jumbo size, cutaways and non-cutaways...

And you guys say they ALL have a happy sound that lacks bass?

Gimme a break...

I seriously doubt that if you have a same-sized Taylor and a Martin with the same type of wood and same specs you could tell much (if any) difference.

Just MHO and of course YMMV...

The Taylor T5 is not a true acoustic though. It is an acoustic but an electric to. It has pickups under the top of the guitar and it is a whole different guitar compared to a 410 or 510. Those are true dreadnoughts.

My Taylor lacks no bass at all but it is brighter than the Martins. I,ve played them all and I think Taylor's are way better than Martin's. That's just my opinoin. Everyone is different and perfer different features and sounds. I will tell you I have played some cheapy guitars and some of them sound great. I played this one Ibanez and it sounded killer and it was only 200 bones. My point is it's not the brand you buy it's the guitar. Who cares if it's a cheap guitar if you like it and it works for you play it. For the beginers I do suggest buying a lower priced acoustic. I say this for two reasons 1. you may not like playing guitar or have the drive to keepp playing. 2.More advanced and expensive guitars are a little harder to play. In most cases you have to be right on. In other words you have to work your way up.

Acoustic guitars are very fickle instruments. They each have very unique tonal qualities. I've tried out 5 of the same exact guitar in one store and they all sounded different. I've tried many Taylors and some sounded bright, while others not so much. I think people that paint with such a broad brush when describing how a whole brand of guitars, acoustic at that, sounds are erroneous. There is simply too great of a chance that they will sound different.

alright, i may be wrong, but i'm not that much of a guitar nerd. it's just that i find on the whole martins sound a bit warmer than taylors.

<font color="#FFFF00" size="1">[ June 15, 2007 03:13 PM: Message edited by: Thumpy ]</font>