HELP! Looking for the perfect acoustic guitar

[ric]

Hi everybody!
this is my first post here, hope someone can help me.

I've played a really cheap classic guitar for about 6 years and now I want to take a serius acoustic guitar to play, but I don't want to spent so much money (under 400 euros), because it's my first acoustic.
First of all I'm looking for an electro-acoustic guitar, so I can play it everywhere if there is the opportunity. and obv a solid top.
I'm not an expert guitarist, mainly I play strumming, but I really love fingerpicking and in the last 2 years I'm practicing a lot with this techinque.
Than I I'd love a strong sound, deep and warm, with perfect low sounds. Notice that I'm not in a band, so I'd like a guitar with a low end, just to play and sing along.
So it seems that the perfect body shape for me is the grand auditorium, but maybe also a dreadnought can fit as well.

This is a list of the guitar I think are the best at their price:
- Cort ga 5f pf (this is my favourit at the moment, but it cost almost 2x of the HB CLG, please check it out and let me know what do you think, i couldn't find anything online)
- HB CLG 414 CE NT (I really LOVE taylor guitar and this seems to be a perfect copy) doktorsteve
- Cort mr 710F NS www.thomann.de/it/cort_mr_71f_ns2.htm?ref=search_prv_7 (this also seems to be a really really good guitar)
- HB CLD 41 SE (optically speacking this is so PERFECT omg, but from the audio demo I've listened to it seem to me too strong whith the high frequences) dodger
- HB CLJ 503 CE WN: this is a jumbo model, so a bit different from the other models, but from the pics it doesn't seems to be so big


PS: I'm sorry for the bad English, I'm Italian

 

[Deleted]

Have you looked at the LAG Tramontane range ric. I was really taken by them when I played them at a local music shop. They have a really original look that may or may not be your thing. They also take an interesting approach to their preamps, often using certain presets. Even their laminated tops sounded great to me.

[LeoThunder]

I cannot answer but maybe this thread about best Harley Benton acoustics from last year would be worth checking.

[jayjacque]

I can speak to a couple of those models you listed. Coincidentally, yesterday I just sold a Cort MR710F. When I first got it, it badly needed a set up. Once that was done, it has been one of my best for about 2 and 1/2 yrs. Tuning gears not great, but they work and it stays in tune nicely. Grade it 8 out of 10. Only sold it to help pay for a Harley Benton CLD-15M, which I had foolishly sold and wanted to get it back. You might consider adding that one to the list, as I absolutely loved it (CLD-15MCE is the acoustic electic version, probably equally good). Grade that one 8 and 1/2 out of 10. Still have the CLD-41 SE WN, and it's not going anywhere. Two of the bridge pin holes were carved out too large when I first got it, but Thomann credited me $20 if I remember right. Other than that, to me it's about as good as any acoustic I've played under $700. I'd grade that 9 out of 10.
One more thing: Off and on I've considered jumbo models, of which I think you have 1 or 2 listed. If you want more of a booming sound especially when playing not plugged in, they have that. For me, I decided against a jumbo, because being a little bigger, it's that much more cumbersome to lug around. So I guess it's a trade off. Also, the premier Harley Benton Jumbo highly recommended at Thomann is the HB Custom Line King CE. Lots of rave reviews, so you might take a look/listen at that one too.

[mattmilton]

I would advise against a jumbo - not so much for the size, it's more that if you are interested in fingerpicking in any way I have just found it's the wrong kind of sound. That's my experience anyway. The Rev Gary Davis is the only guitarist I've ever heard who's managed to fingerpick a jumbo and get it sounding good! Jumbos are good for strumming with a plectrum (especially quite hard) but I would go for a dreadnought or OM size personally - more versatile. I find for fingerstyle that OM, Grand Auditorium and parlours work well.

I'm a big big fan of mahogany somewhere in the guitar. The suggestion above for a CLD-15M sounds like a good idea. (Though I haven't played that model)

Last time I tried out a whole bunch of guitars in shops the ones that really struck me as good were the Cort Luce series (L100, L500 those models), and the Seagull S6 Folk Cedar.

I own several OM size acoustics by Recording King which I love. Never played a bad one yet. I don't think you could really go wrong with an OM or dreadnought Recording King - they are all eminently affordable. They are more 'Martin' design than 'Taylor'.

I own one Harley Benton - the CLP15M which I really like but that's a parlour and I don't think it would have enough bass for you (and doesn't sound that good strummed)

[Deleted]

Really good points mattmilton. I agree that for clarity in the finger picking too much bottom end can be distracting. Also quite unhelpful in any group setting. I like auditorium styles for a reasonable balance. Dreadnoughts increase the bass but sound big and full and still good strummed or fingerpicked if you find one that accentuates the top end well.

[dodger]

I love my CLD41SE and recently bought a Faith Naked Neptune as well. I also have the CLA28VE.
They all have different strengths. For me dreadnoughts are all rounders and great strummers. The CLD41SE has great bass and is quite bright too.
The auditorium is great for fingerpicking and has better not separation and sounds tighter and more focussed. For a small thin guitar there is still good volume though.

The Faith is a class all rounder too - it is a baby jumbo shape so very comfortable and can go loud but can do the intricate stuff well too.
The Faith is all solid wood too - I got mine for £350 in a sale.

These 3 guitars cover everything I need although I have been using the Faith exclusively recently I'll always go back to the HBs.
I have a couple of other guitars that don't get played at all - an Epiphone EJ160e and a J200 copy - they just don't sound anywhere near as good as the others.

[doktorsteve]

You probably know my opinion of the CLG414 by now! For me it is mellow or dull depending on your taste . I was always amazed that the unwound string sound similar to the wound strings - very much like a classical guitar. Mine sounds very dead compared to a Taylor 214. It is like the start of each note starts too slowly and loses attack. My CLG414 is built with rosewood sides. This may account for the tone so the new walnut CLG414 may be different.

I was looking to spend 700 GBP on a Taylor but then I had the chance to get a Faith naked Venus for 350GBP in a sale. The sound of the Faith is that was much closer to the sound of the Taylor but at a more sensible price. Much brighter than the CLG414, which was what I wanted, but still without the metallic fizz that can be annoying.

[dodger]

Jun 18, 2019 10:02:33 GMT doktorsteve said:

I was looking to spend 700 GBP on a Taylor but then I had the chance to get a Faith naked Venus for 350GBP in a sale. The sound of the Faith is that was much closer to the sound of the Taylor but at a more sensible price. Much brighter than the CLG414, which was what I wanted, but still without the metallic fizz that can be annoying.

doktorsteve - the Faith naked range is brilliant - my Neptune cost the same in a sale. A great price for an all solid guitar.

[Deleted]

Patrick Eggle seems to have a Messiah's touch. Those Faith acoustics are brilliant for the money. Wonder why he decided to stop doing his own acoustics? I also love his electrics but will never be able to even consider affording one. I am open to crowdfunding and gifting though.

[dodger]

Jun 18, 2019 12:14:48 GMT @defjef said:

Patrick Eggle seems to have a Messiah's touch. Those Faith acoustics are brilliant for the money. Wonder why he decided to stop doing his own acoustics? I also love his electrics but will never be able to even consider affording one. I am open to crowdfunding and gifting though.

@defjef - yeah he seems to have a great reputation and I bought the Faith without playing - had heard a couple played live and thought they sounded great.

The baby jumbo shape is brilliant too - seems to get the best features from a 000, Jumbo and Dreadnought squeezed into one guitar.

 

[easyrider]

Hi, ric! All the guitars you have listed are wonderful, but HB-s have best balance of price and quality. I'm the owner of CLD-41, CLA-28, CLF-200, CLP-15, CLD-30, CLJ-King. Only CLD-30 makes crappy sound, all the others are gorgeous and very playable instruments. If you are looking for a multiuse HB guitar, the best choice by my opinion is the dreadnough shape, CLD-41, 28, 10 or 15M (avoid others). Or CLJ-King and 503. King is amazing, but if you going for a HB 220.- and under, you may have to count more or less luthier works before getting it ready to rock. Although there's nothing overwhelming. But however, you will be the luckiest man in the world if you can get this