What guitar should I get?

Question

hi,

I have been playing for over 3 years now and I do lots of gigs so I decided I would save up to buy a really good acoustic e.g. Martin, Gibson, nick Benjamin or Taylor. I really like Newton Faulkner at the moment so I am interested in getting a Jumbo Orchestra Model or Orchestra Model (both nick Benjamin) but my dad said that for that kind of money I should consider all the options e.g. Play a Gibson acoustic, a martin acoustic etc. etc. My dad also went to America recently and played a Gibson J45 and said it was lovely. One day I might go to Sussex with my dad to play a nick Benjamin guitar.

here are questions :

What UK stores stock expensive acoustic guitars?

What models would you recommend and how much are they?

Please try to answer as many as possible.

Thanks much

Harry

Answer 1

if there are sam ash's, guitar centers, or big music stores like that. you should be fine. they have all kinds of options and cann order options they dont have. personally, taylor make sthe best acoustics ive ever played. especiallty if you dont plan on plugging it into an amp much. for electric/acoustics. i reccomend martin.... gibson and fender make solid acoustics that are great but martin and taylor are considered teh most prestigous

Answer 2

I don't know why these guys are talking electrics when you clearly want an acoustic.  I don't know much about different acoustic models and have to see one to tell if it's any good, but some sites of places in UK with acoustics"

http://www.ukguitars.com/  

---They have Martins

http://www.guitarjunction.com/  

---You've got to try Collings guitars before you decide on which to buy.  They are out of Austin TX and make amazing axes.  I own 2 of their electrics, and they are my favorite guitars, but they are really known for their work on acoustics.

Guitarjunction looks like a high-end acoustic store.  The Santa Cruz acoustics are also highly prized.

Answer 3

h**l, buy a B.C. Rich warlock... you'll feel stronger just by holding it.

Answer 4

Forgive me but I'm on the left side of the pond and not as familiar with British luthiers and stores as I am with US equivalents.

Martin and Taylor make a full line of wonderful acoustic guitars but they're still not the same as buying one made to order from Nick Benjamin (whose guitars I have not played nor heard).  I own two high end Martins (an OM-45 and an M-38) but I'd still rather have a custom made one.  (Martin does indeed offer a custom service.)  Also, Taylor now has a "boutique" line called "R. Taylor" that are supposed to be wonderful.

I have never played a Gibson acoustic that I thought compared in any way to the better Martins and Taylors.  The Gibson J45 is a fairly ho-hum round-shouldered dreadnought so if you're primarily interested in an OM or JOM I can't imagine that it would be to your liking.

There are several smaller ("boutique") guitar companies in the US including Santa Cruz, Goodall, Collings, Breedlove, and Froggy Bottom.  All of these are in general fantastic guitars but I have no idea to what extent, if at all, they are available in the U.K.

It looks like the Benjamin is not carried in stores at all; this is quite common with many custom builders.  You would have to deal directly with the luthier and, by the way, be prepared to specify each and every detail of your guitar.

If you're considering Benjamin you might want to consider other high-end English luthiers like Fylde and Peter Barton.  I have heard their guitars and they're splendid.  The Fylde web site lists dealers - these are likely to be high-end dealers with other desirable instruments.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Find a shop that stocks a very wide selection of electric guitars (expensive isn't always the best) and try all the ones you are interested in. If necessary go back to some you're not sure about after all you need to be sure you get the right one.

Whatever you do don't get a B C Rich Warlock, they're for girls.

Good Luck