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Hey all, 

We spend lots of time talking about playing electric and the whole spectrum of gear that goes along with it, but I wonder what you guys are playing 'unplugged'. What's in your stable? 

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My favorite in my collection is a Takamine EAN 40C ( Solid cedar tops, solid mahogany backs, a thin satin finish and no pickguard) that an old time forum poster turned many of us onto as they were being closed out at MF. I also have a 20 plus year Washburn D-10 that plays fantastic. I also purchased a Fender CD 60 SCE. I use that for my travel guitar and bought it a ridiculous price at SW being a demo but looks like new.  Maybe one day a Taylor or Martin or maybe even a Collins 

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I have 2 favorite acoustic guitars.  1980 Martin D25K koa dreadnought and 2013 Taylor 416CE Fall SE rosewood back and sides with a red cedar top.

They sound very different, the Martin has a very bright tone and the Taylor has a very dark tone.  So it kind of depends on the song as to which I play.

The Martin leaves more room for my voice if I am going to sing. 

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My faithful companion for many years has been my 1975 Rhode Island Guild D-35. She was only about six months old when I bought her directly from the owner of a music store in Durham, North Carolina, for the then-princely sum of $200. My long arms seemed to fit around her perfectly. She is a warm voiced, full-throated dread that can fill the room. I had not encountered another like her until 2014, when at my monthly jam, a new guy pulled her sister from his case. We were both amazed; the serial numbers were about 90 apart.

2014-11-03 Skip & Diane Jam edit2.jpg

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That's a great story Diane! The music store near me carries some Guilds now, I saw a D-20 there the other day although I didn't have time to play with it. I hope to have a long romance with an acoustic yet ?

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Funny you should ask today as I had just finished a session with my faithful acoustic. 

My Godin 5th Av archtop is kind  of my go to guitar, but for a pure acoustic I still really like my 1968 Ovation Balladeer Model 1111. 

I've owned it since 1969.  It was made in Hartford Connecticut USA  in the fall of that year and is one of the first production run models which were hand made. It has a Sitka spruce top, 5 ply binding, large rossette, mahogany neck with maple stripe, pure black (Madagasgar? ) ebony fingerboad and of couse, the famous "Lyracord" deep bowl shaped back.  I found it slightly used in a small shop in Toronto as a teenager. I had very little  money but i guess the owner liked me and let me put $25 down and come back and pay the rest of the $200 whenever i could.  New ones where about double the price so I was very fortunate.  Every Friday i brought in my $25 part time earnings till it was paid off..  To think Ive had it almost 50 yrs.! 

It was wonderful projection and clarity, a sweet slightly bright yet mellow tone which has only improved with age. Its slimmer neck profile was designed to accomodate electric players snd is very easy to play. 

(I know the rounded back isnt everyone cup of tea, but to me it was never an issue. ) 

I have tried dozens of high end Gibsons Martins Taylors etc . and so far I have yet to find one where I like the tone better.  Even if I did find another acoustic , the Ovation will be with me until my playing days are through.

(wow that was long... ? lol)

 

 

1968 Ovation Balladeer.jpg

Edited by NeilES335
apology for verbosity! add photo
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No favorites here . Have two Martins and two Blueridges Two Fenders. One Yamaha  one Hondo. And they all have there jobs They all sounds different. and play different . Some are picking some are strumming and one is finger picking. all get equal time. all i can say is the Martins and Blueridges are Great Guitars, and i would not ever part with them.

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My Taylor 712-ce, which I've had for--must be ten years. It's opened up as it's aged. Lotsa luck.

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Larrivee L02 - No frills, but amazing tone and projection, very comfortable and versatile. Put a LL Baggs pickup up in and use it for playing out.  I have two other acoustics which cost more and sound good but not as good as the Larrivee.

 

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Ovation Standard Balladeer in glossy black. Mid-depth contour bowl. This has been an excellent guitar and always comes out of the case in tune. I play this one most because it is my full size steel string.

Taylor NS24ce a beautiful nylon string in it's second incarnation. I purchased this guitar with a cedar top. I took it to Pat DiBurro a preferred Taylor luthier in the area. He warned me that the small spot that looked like extra glue was in fact delaminating and would get worse. It was covered by warranty. For the price of $39 the guitar came back with a beautiful new Sitka top. It still plays sweet sounds. It has become a summer tradition to play nylon often if not ever day.  

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany - The sweet instrument I grab when I want to play a "little guitar". ?

 

 

Ovation Standard Balladeer (4).JPG

Taylor NS24ce V2.JPG

Taylor GS Mini.jpg

Edited by Randy120
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Here's a fine fine guitar that I just acquired about a month ago. Always wanted an OM :) It's currently my favorite... but ask me tomorrow and I might have a different answer for ya ;)

IMG_9888.jpg

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What beauties! One friend who has played all his life (he's 60+) swears by Guilds. "Pros play Guilds." My other friend who can play well loves his budget priced Ovation.

My acoustic is a Larrivee DV-05. I was looking for a D-02 or -03 at a good price but made an offer on this when I came across it on Reverb. They took my offer! Such a sweet sound, feel, smell and look. I don't need flash, but I sure enjoy it now that it's here. It's like acoustically speaking I'm "full." I look at Larrivee 12-strings now and then for someday and I'll surely get a Yamaha for beating around once I can play some songs well, but I'm acoustically sated.

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Hard to call which of my acoustics are the best...I have different wood combinations, sizes, and different luthiers.  Pardon the pun, but they all manage to "steel my heart"!  I must refer to Stephen Stills again when he penned, Love the one you're with.  

Enjoy the ride,

Bryan

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I'm with Bryan - my favorite is whatever I happen to be holding at any given time!

So many guitars, so little time... 🙂

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@colder's original post that started this thread reflects exactly where I'm at.  I "spend lots of time talking about playing electric and the whole spectrum of gear that goes along with it" and I have largely ignored my acoustic needs.  I've got some nice electrics and will always be an electric guy.  But I have come to realize if and when I invest in another guitar it really should be an acoustic.  So I'm definitely watching this thread.  @colder thanks for starting it and @pkotof thanks for revitalizing it!

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I'm with Dave, the one which I am playing will be my favourite. I started learning with a Seagull Natural Elements 6 string with a spruce top and mahogany sides/back. Absolutely loved the 1.8" neck for my big fingers. Two years later as I learned to play a little, I started looking for a different sound. I eventually purchased another Seagull but a 12 string (Have to support the Canadian manufacturers).  The S12 has a cedar top with cherry sides/back. The S12 was very bright sounding initially but after two years it has become much more mellow. I love to play Gordon Lightfoot songs with the S12. The sustain with this guitar is very impressive, a single hard strum at the end of the song seems to continue forever.

I also have a PRS SE Santana, so with the acoustics I am happy to have the complete set. Although, like Ron, in the back of my mind I can hear the call of a PRS SH McCarty 594 Koa.

Henk

IMG_1738 (2).JPG

Guitar 3.JPG

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On 5/6/2018 at 11:27 PM, DianeB said:

My faithful companion for many years has been my 1975 Rhode Island Guild D-35. She was only about six months old when I bought her directly from the owner of a music store in Durham, North Carolina, for the then-princely sum of $200. My long arms seemed to fit around her perfectly. She is a warm voiced, full-throated dread that can fill the room. I had not encountered another like her until 2014, when at my monthly jam, a new guy pulled her sister from his case. We were both amazed; the serial numbers were about 90 apart.

2014-11-03 Skip & Diane Jam edit2.jpg

I so love your stories!

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My favorite is my new Maton SRS808C.   It was hand made in Australia and has an amazing smooth tone.  

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I play a Takamine TF 340s BG and a Takamine P6JC BSB.  They have earned their place after playing a lot of others - Martins, Taylors, Gibsons, etc.  I have a Guild DCE-1 that a grandson has and I can't get it back - durn it!   Interesting thread.

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Purchased a 2000 Taylor 310 in January 2001.  It keeps sounding better with age.  In 2015 decided to add a Taylor 322CE, but only kept it for 3 years.  Missed the full sound of the 310 and found myself playing the 322 only because it was there.  Still thinking about adding a small body guitar and looking at the Martin OOO-15M.  

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Taylor Grand PacificIMG_20200905_121950443.thumb.jpg.622d468bba5fcf30af22d81f17a4eecb.jpg

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Breedlove Pro Series D25/SRh - Sadly its pretty much a case queen as my playing is about 99.9% electric.

I was really drawn to the Martin D28, but knew  I didn't play acoustic enough to warrant that level of investment, so I looked long and hard for something that came close in tone for around $500 (this was several years ago).  This was over my budget, but less than a  1/3 of a D28's price and is a really, really nice guitar.

14E89701-A101-44CE-B813-F2F73F26078F.thumb.jpeg.6b147a8a3c3e124565d3cff5a2c4a71a.jpeg

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Breedloves are very good guitars. Living in the NW, I've had ample opportunity to play several at local shops, bought a concert model myself.  I play it weekly with an acoustic jam group, cuts through nicely on leads.

Greg

Edited by gotto
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Thanks to @Fred B for resuscitating this thread.  I'd be interested in what other acoustics people are now playing years later (after the original post).  I hope some more people join in and share.  

It should be pretty obvious to you my favorite acoustic if you saw my recent NGD post.   I am still loving this Martin M36.

1279251622_MartinM-36.thumb.jpg.6c95fe608039d54af098fa3274b6675c.jpg

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Yesterday I had a pleasure to play Yamaha CSF3 and it was a great experience. Probably will buy it.

https://www.awkwardsound.com/yamaha-csf3m-tbs-old-violin-sunburst-review/

 

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