Acoustic guitar advise

I'm going to be buying a acoustic in the £250-£400 range in April when retail here opens up again and would like some suggestions and advice. Brand isn't really important to me but two guitars have stood out to me and that is the Ibanez AW54CE and the Takamine GD11MCENS. Also I've seen a Framus acoustic that I like the sound of in clips but I've never heard of Framus until recently and am unsure what the quality is like

Framus makes good kit. Ibanez is my go to brand (if you look at my page, you'll see I own quite a few), and their guitars in that price range are better equipped than most (in my opinion), but I'm not loving the AW54CE. It really just depends on what it is you're wanting to sound like, as from what I'm hearing in clips, have very different sounds. The Takamine has a darker, warmer sound, while the Ibanez is brighter (acoustic mic'd). DI'd, I actually don't love the sound of the Ibanez, though that could just be the cat playing it was playing awful close to the bridge, and it had an almost banjo like brightness to it.

So at the end of the day, it does come down to what sound you prefer, but acoustically, they have very different sounds, and their electronics have very different sounds.

One's bright, and projects, one's dark, and has a warmth to it not unlike my Kay KDG70 (which is my go-to Acoustic for literally everything but 12-string work--it's the acoustic guitar pictured under my name over there in the sidebar).

Of the two options, I think you can divine which one I'd go with (the Takamine, I'm saying go with the Takamine--but again, it's all up to what kind of sound you personally are looking for).

I always say this, get a used 1998 25th anniversary Epi dreadnought. Should be a 300 quid (?)

Or get a Seagull, every model is great and affordable. The mini jumbo has a great Bowie campfire rhythm sound for recording at a concert size... portable and big. Fun to play.

I also like old Takamines but they're getting less affordable. Don't get a new one unless you cna play it in person which i don't recommend in this viral situation.

Ibanez quality control on budget acoustics is garbage, they're rapacious.... everyone from Philly has worked for them as their USA headquarters is right up the street from my house. They will pass ANYT GARBAGE through an inspection if its going to retail for under $500 USD. They patch it up to seem okay and send it out. This is true in any country, caveat emptor. Hoshino is a business and they don't even make these guitars, never have. No pride in their product.... like modern Takamine, play it in person.

if you're not spending more than 250 pounds or whatever money you guys have? be careful or go old.

I'll keep that in mind. From mid April our retail should be open as usual again so I'm going to try a few out before I buy at a few different stores. £250 is the minimum I'm going to spend and around £400 max maybe stretch to £500 depends on if I have to buying anything in the mean time that's more important.

It's a shame to hear that Ibanez are let down by poor QC on the lower value instruments as all the models I've owned previously have been great guitars.

I'll be sure to look out for seagull too and to keep an eye out for a good used acoustic. Ideally I'm wanting a solid top as they typically have a better tone than laminated

It's a shame to hear that Ibanez are let down by poor QC on the lower value instruments as all the models I've owned previously have been great guitars.

its mainly the acoustics, the electrics are a bit spotty but they're generally better QC... I don't wanna rag on Ibanez in general, theya re still value for dollar (or quid?) but there's a reason no one says Ibanez when you say 'quality intermediate dreadnought'... they just don't put as much effort into their grandpa guitars as their pointy super strats

My advice would be to buy an Acoustic around the $700-$750 range (I belive that would be around £500 in your currency), I belive you shouldn't cheap out on Acoustics because you can buy a $180 Electric and plug it into a good Amp+Effects setup and make it sound great, while with an Acoustic, you can't alter the sound mutch, what you have is what you got. So I would recommend buying a nice Acoustic with good tonewoods (there are no bad tonewoods really, it just depends what you're looking for).

I might just leave a link to a tonewood guide so you can get a good idea of things to look for.

My advice would be to buy an Acoustic around the $700-$750 range (I belive that would be around £500 in your currency), I belive you shouldn't cheap out on Acoustics because you can buy a $180 Electric and plug it into a good Amp+Effects setup and make it sound great, while with an Acoustic, you can't alter the sound mutch, what you have is what you got. So I would recommend buying a nice Acoustic with good tonewoods (there are no bad tonewoods really, it just depends what you're looking for).

Everything you said is spot the f__k on Cliff

Thanks Jim!

The fee models by Framus I've looked at do seem to sound decent. I definitely prefer the tone of the Takamine over the Ibanez after watching a few more clips of them both. I think ultimately I've decided I'm going to spend a bit more and get something on a good deal say on offer for £500 instead of £850 as there does seem to be a few decent deals like that on some acoustics I've looked at

I see. Still ashame none the less. I think I'm learning towards the Alverez Artist Elite ADE90CAER. It's got a solid AA Stika Spruce top with Ebony back and sides, a Mahogany neck and a real bone nut and saddle. It's also contoured on the corner so it's more comfortable on your arm. It seems to fit in with the tone I'm expecting and wanting from an acoustic. I've found one on offer for £540 instead of £700. I've had a look for the Epiphone model you suggested too but the only one I found needed a refret and I'm not willing to pay for the cost of that if I'm honest

I've heard good things about Alverez, I hear they play real fast kinda like a Les Paul.

Me too. They seem like a decent company. Can't wait to try a few out in 6 weeks time now. Lockdown sucks in that sense but it is what it is.

Thank you for your advise too and about the tone woods and that obviously besides strings you can't do a great deal to make an acoustic sound better

one of my friends had an alvarez for years, it played pretty poorly even after we worked on the nut etc.... but it wasn't UNplayable... it sounded great