Getting a nice acoustic...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kiteboarder
  • Start date Start date
using a decent mic is WAY better then any acoustics pickup system for recording. it just will sound more natural without any oddities that often times are inevitable with a pickup system

personally, I love using mics in conjunction with my taylor 414's expression system for recording, very detailed and great recording. I really have been happy with most taylors I have used for recording, very even tone.

Gibby's also sound great, but feel and sound a little different. Higher priced taylors are really hard to beat imo.
 
I have heard the Aura, its a nice sounding guitar. One thing I've found with Martins is their less expensive guitars dont sound very good acoustically. For me it has to blow me away acoustic before I'll worry about how it sounds plugged it. I think the wood is way more important than the electronics. I tried Taylors and Martins but the Gibson really sounded better. I really like the Breedloves also!
 
get a used breedlove. Killer Acoustic and a nice blend of Martin and Taylor tones.

I had a gibson L4 and sogwriter deluxe and this breedlove smoked them.
 
FixXxer":3ohg21gk said:
get a used breedlove. Killer Acoustic and a nice blend of Martin and Taylor tones.

I had a gibson L4 and sogwriter deluxe and this breedlove smoked them.
Click to expand...


Yup ;)
 
The Breedloves are great sounding guitars!! They also cost a lot!! Either way you wont go wrong!
 
Audioholic":2n6pw9g6 said:
using a decent mic is WAY better then any acoustics pickup system for recording. it just will sound more natural without any oddities that often times are inevitable with a pickup system

personally, I love using mics in conjunction with my taylor 414's expression system for recording, very detailed and great recording. I really have been happy with most taylors I have used for recording, very even tone.

Gibby's also sound great, but feel and sound a little different. Higher priced taylors are really hard to beat imo.
Click to expand...

I was never crazy about Gibson acoustics- Until I got a hold of my cousin's 1965 J-50! (She never used it and it needed work, so I have become its caretaker) That's a great guitar if you can find one and afford it. It's the same instrument that Dylan used on his early records (model, not literally) and it just screams out EARLY 60'S GREENWICH VILLAGE FOLK MUSIC! Sweeter and brighter than the Martin, which is a little boomy to record.

Another thing to think about: If this is mostly for recording, don't get a built in pickup. If it is mostly live, get a built in pickup. If it's both- no built in pick up- Get a removable one.

:D ;) :D ;)
 
Dread = louder and a lot more bass

See if you can find an Alvarez-Yairi WY1 guitar. It's a smaller body, cutaway, and has the best neck and action for an acoustic that I've come across (and I've owned a few nice guitars, currently my other acoustic is a Martin D-41S).

The guitar was designed by Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead for live performance; it's fully laminated (btw a laminate is real wood) because it makes the guitar much more resistant to feedback using it live. I've played it live with a monitor cranked up way loud and never had a howl out of it. Ani DeFranco and Warren Haynes use them live, as well, they are very good for loud stages.

The electronics are very good, too, built in tuner, piezo at the bridge and an aux input on the controls so you can put an internal mic inside the guitar if you want.

Mine is a lefty koa model, it's a beautiful instrument and just perfect for playing live and recording, too. You put a nice condenser mic about 12-18 inches away from the body/neck joint and a second mic about two feet back from the soundhole and it sounds terrific. Don't use the internal pickup for recording.

Here's a size comparison with the D41 and my custom Tiger electric.

groupsm.jpg
 
Thanks for all the tips and recommendations. If there is something I've learned from reading all the posts is: Use a good condenser mic to record, not the internal electronics!

-Danny
 
Kiteboarder":1445i2iz said:
Thanks for all the tips and recommendations. If there is something I've learned from reading all the posts is: Use a good condenser mic to record, not the internal electronics!

-Danny
Click to expand...


yup, I use 2. I place a good LD slightly above the sound hole facing towards it, and another SD condenser closer to the 12th fret, and pan out a bit, combined with the guitars pickup in the middle, I get a really good sounding acoustic recording.
 
Taylors with the Expression System sound great when plugged in and you can't beat a Taylor for playability, but for pure acoustic tone, I have yet to play a Taylor that sounded good to me...very "zingy" and new age sounding with no balls.

The best combo of great playability and big tone that I have found are the US Breedloves. Not cheap, but worth it IMO.
 
Kiteboarder":6jil1743 said:
I also want a cutaway, and pretty good electronics.
Click to expand...

Check out Larrivee. I tried many Taylors (and really liked many of them), but IMHO overall the Larrivee DV-03 I ended up with sounded and played better for the $. I found it more 'woody' and 'midrangey' and less 'scooped' than most similarly priced acoustics with cutaway and electronics (I really dislike that scooped percussive sound so many players have on acoustic where all you hear is percussive string noise and some low bass :no: ).
 
+1 on the Larivee, I have a Taylor, I much prefer the Larivee. I liked the 6 string so much, I got a 12 string. Been very happy with them. They have middle of the road electronics, more than adequate for live, but I would much rather mike 'em up for recording. The built-in stuff isint even close to a great mike or two in the right spot(s), into a good mic-pre :thumbsup:
 
buy used, play everything you can get your hands on. I had a nice taylor (lost it in a divorce) - best guitar I could find after that was a Guild. Great guitar, I still have it.

Pete
 
Guys! I need a final piece of advice. I'm headed to the shop with my wife in a few minutes...

I don't think I'm ready to spend $1,600 on an acoustic at the moment. I'm really busy with the band, and there are way too many other things I need to buy for the project...

So, having said that, I still need an acoustic for some songs and recordings. Is it worth going with an entry level Martin such as the DX1 or DCX1E with the plan of eventually changing it in the near future? I mean, you guys know very well that once a guitar is recorded, mix and compressed, almost no one can tell the difference. What do you think? If I go with the entry-level one am I going to regret it? It could be fully acoustic too. I have a good condenser I could use to record it.

-Danny
 
OK guys... I finished my research and put everything into perspective... Here are the results...

So I went to GC with my wife (who's my singer and has a golden ear). I figured I should take her along to help me compare. With a fresh ear I went back to the Taylors I had tried a few days before. I started with the 214CE that I had liked the first time around. I wasn't impressed, it sounded a lot thinner this time. So then I tried the 414CE. There we go! Much better. So, then I figured I'd try the 314CE. Good. But the 414CE is clearly better. Actually... much better.

Now, I had been thinking. I'm working very hard to get my new band going. I need lots of cash for that right now. Do I really need a $1700 guitar. So I decided to really give the lower end guitars a chance. I new I didn't like the sound of the anything Taylor under 300 series. So... Let's check out the Martins...

Let me start of by saying that the one I preferred the most in terms of sound was the XC1T Ellipse ($900) and then the DC-16GTE Premium ($1400). But I don't like the top of the Ellipse. Seems too delicate.

So, that's when I decided to really pay some serious attention to the DX1. Yeah, I know. It's the $500 model. But, I was REALLY impressed! Guys, this guitar sounds awesome. I don't care what anybody says. Made in Mexico. Yes, I know. HPL, who cares? I'm sure it's more stable to climate changes anyway! For $500!! No-brainer!!

Here's what my wife and I noticed. I compared the DX1 to DC-16GTE Premium and the Taylor 414 and we found that the DX1 lacks some of the very faint and sweet harmonics that the other 2 guitars have. But, what's left is a very solid and deep fundamental tone that is extremely pleasing. We we back and forth, and the back a forth again between guitars and decided that it's absolutely great. Yes, the more expensive ones have very distinct and unique harmonics and tone, but guys, for $500 the DX1 can't be beat.

So in perspective, in our recordings there's no way anybody will be able to tell the difference. Plus, for live playing, well, unless it's a perfect acoustic room where everyone is quiet, no one will be any wiser. And, guess what? If I go for this one I'll have $1000 left for some mics that I need, an audio interface, the violinist I need to hire for one of my new songs, etc. etc. Also remember, I need to feed the drums too. I could possibly have even cooler guitar gear if I didn't have to maintain my drumming side as well.

So, what did I end up doing? Well, I decided wanted a DX1 with a cutaway with no electronics (I would add those in later - thanks to the suggestion of some good forum members). But guess what? Martin doesn't make it! They make the DCX1E which is essentially the exact same guitar but with a cutaway and a simple Fishman Classic 4. I would've preferred it with no electronics, but the cutaway is kind of important for me and my style of playing. I compared them both (DX1 and DCX1E) and they sounded almost the same. The DCX1E given the cutaway and the electronics inside, in theory has less air space, but the difference in tone is negligible. The DCX1E is $200 more, but I've got it inside my shopping cart right now, with a 20% off for the holiday weekend. That's $560!

When I have more money to spare I'll be happy to go spend $2000 on an acoustic. Right now, I need to stretch it in order to do more. I'm happy with this deal.

Comments appreciated...!

Regards, Danny
 
You did the research that really matters (playing different guitars and seeing what you like and don't like). Awesome that you were able to get something that suits your needs for way under your budget. I'm also glad that you got onboard electronics for now simply because you might not have liked the feeling of paying about $600 for the guitar and then having to shell out about $300 for the electronics and install! Enjoy!
 
To give this thread some closure... I'm posting some pics. I should rename it, "Getting a nice acoustic and saving a chunk of change!"

Quick note: A few things changed while I was getting ready to purchase the DCX1E. I was looking on Craigslist and found a DM a great price. So I went to see it. I plays and sounds very similar to the DX1 and DCX1E. No electronics or cutout though. But it's USA made on laminated mahogany at the back instead of HPL. The neck is solid, not laminate.

The bottom line... I paid $375 for it! :thumbsup: With a good Martin TKL case! I did the research and I can put some pretty good electronics for about $100-$150. I'm pretty happy with the deal!

martin_1.jpg


martin_2.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top