Guitars Advice

[Morfeen75]

Does anyone have any experience in this world? I'm looking to buy my Nephew a Semi Acoustic Guitar as a christmas gift and its a minefield. He currently uses a standard Fender acoustic but is looking to venture into gigging over the next few months on his days off from college so will need a semi acoustic.

He has showed me these 2 he likes the look of.

Takamine EF508KC

The EF508KC NEX is handcrafted in our pro series facility that has been building precision quality instruments over five decades. Beneath the

www.projectmusic.net

Takamine GN75CEWR

Acoustic guitar with pickup NEX body shape, Top: Solid spruce, Back and sides: Quilted maple, Neck: Maple, Fingerboard and bridge: Rosewood (Dalbergia Latifolia), Nut width: 42.5 mm, Scale: 644 mm, 20 frets, Pickup: Takamine TK-40 D system, Colour:...

www.thomann.co.uk

Is there any other brands/model i should be considering?

I dont have a clue what im buying!!
The ideal budget is £1200

Thanks in advance

 

[Aztecs27]

TWELVE HUNDRED POUNDS?! Wish you were my uncle

you can get a LOT of guitar for that money.

Acoustics are very much a personal choice and you're right, it IS a minefield... as different woods, sizes, shapes all produce different tones and will be setup differently. Anything you get will be an upgrade on the budget acoustics Fender offer and Takamine make lovely guitars.

personally, I hate finished acoustics., so the second one would be out for me.

I'm also partial to Taylor acoustics - this one is in budget https://www.projectmusic.net/taylor...electro-acoustic-shaded-edgeburst-37106-p.asp

and comes with electrics onboard (historically the Taylor pre-amps built in are really good - means he can gig straight out the box and plug straight in)

the 2 series are lovely too: https://www.thomann.co.uk/taylor_212ce_plus.htm

If you want actual advice - I would recommend taking him to a an acoustic guitar specialist and get him to play a bunch of guitars in the price range (and below) you're looking at and let the guitar pick him.

 

[Aztecs27]

Other brands like Lowden and Martin are worth a shout too.

 

[SatchFan]

Agree with what Aztecs27 has posted. You will get an excellent guitar for that budget. Sticking with Fender is an option and Epiphone, Taylor, Martin and Yamaha are alternatives. If he can't get to try them first then the safest bet is to go with one of the two your nephew has picked out because he'd clearly be pleased to get one of them. I own a Takamine and absolutely love it.

 

[Morfeen75]

TWELVE HUNDRED POUNDS?! Wish you were my uncle

you can get a LOT of guitar for that money.

Acoustics are very much a personal choice and you're right, it IS a minefield... as different woods, sizes, shapes all produce different tones and will be setup differently. Anything you get will be an upgrade on the budget acoustics Fender offer and Takamine make lovely guitars.

personally, I hate finished acoustics., so the second one would be out for me.

I'm also partial to Taylor acoustics - this one is in budget https://www.projectmusic.net/taylor...electro-acoustic-shaded-edgeburst-37106-p.asp

and comes with electrics onboard (historically the Taylor pre-amps built in are really good - means he can gig straight out the box and plug straight in)

the 2 series are lovely too: https://www.thomann.co.uk/taylor_212ce_plus.htm

If you want actual advice - I would recommend taking him to a an acoustic guitar specialist and get him to play a bunch of guitars in the price range (and below) you're looking at and let the guitar pick him.

Thank you @Aztecs27 it's a logistical nightmare for me to get him into a shop to try it before i buy it.

I will take a look at what you've recommended. We're away for christmas and new year and ideally i want him to have it for christmas.

 

[AmandaJR]

TWELVE HUNDRED POUNDS?! Wish you were my uncle

you can get a LOT of guitar for that money.

Acoustics are very much a personal choice and you're right, it IS a minefield... as different woods, sizes, shapes all produce different tones and will be setup differently. Anything you get will be an upgrade on the budget acoustics Fender offer and Takamine make lovely guitars.

personally, I hate finished acoustics., so the second one would be out for me.

I'm also partial to Taylor acoustics - this one is in budget https://www.projectmusic.net/taylor...electro-acoustic-shaded-edgeburst-37106-p.asp

and comes with electrics onboard (historically the Taylor pre-amps built in are really good - means he can gig straight out the box and plug straight in)

the 2 series are lovely too: https://www.thomann.co.uk/taylor_212ce_plus.htm

If you want actual advice - I would recommend taking him to a an acoustic guitar specialist and get him to play a bunch of guitars in the price range (and below) you're looking at and let the guitar pick him.

I was going to ask if he wanted to adopt a niece for Christmas - but that sounded all wrong!

 

[Morfeen75]

I was going to ask if he wanted to adopt a niece for Christmas - but that sounded all wrong!

1 little madam (my niece) is enough, i couldnt handle another

 

[clubchamp98]

I was going to ask if he wanted to adopt a niece for Christmas - but that sounded all wrong!

A niece isn’t just for Christmas!

It’s best if he chooses his own.
Hand size is important so he needs to play it first before buying.
It’s like picking a driver for someone else.
I have a Tanglewood TW is a great guitar .
But as said for £1200 that’s top money but if he’s gigging he’s going to need something robust and easily repaired.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

Has he not yet handled/tried one?
If I were about to spend £1200 I'd really want to be assured you understood and really desired what you were getting and didn't just "fancy" the look and the reviews, and I certainly wouldn't choose an alternative on your behalf.

 

[KenL]

Is a guitar not almost like a living being and everyone is different? Definitely needs to be tested.

 

[Orikoru]

I think guitars are very much like golf clubs - you wouldn't buy someone a new driver that they hadn't hand-picked themself, and the same applies here.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

I think guitars are very much like golf clubs - you wouldn't buy someone a new driver that they hadn't hand-picked themself, and the same applies here.

I almost used that analogy. It's like trading up to a high end set of clubs and expecting a huge improvement in your game.
I "traded up" from a Tanglewood to a Martin. Im not a better player for it, I'm just happy to have one (but then I don't perform).

 

[Orikoru]

I almost used that analogy. It's like trading up to a high end set of clubs and expecting a huge improvement in your game.
I "traded up" from a Tanglewood to a Martin. Im not a better player for it, I'm just happy to have one (but then I don't perform).

It is very similar. They may look, sound and perform better but they don't improve your technique.

 

[patricks148]

as others have said its a very personal thing, ideally you would want to try a few or at least know what sort of sound you like or prefer. i find most of the modern makes sound very warm and i prefer bright,

oh and its not semi acoustic you are looking for, Semi is something like a Gretsch or Gibson hollow body with F holes. what you want is an acoustic with a contact mic.

 

[Morfeen75]

Has he not yet handled/tried one?
If I were about to spend £1200 I'd really want to be assured you understood and really desired what you were getting and didn't just "fancy" the look and the reviews, and I certainly wouldn't choose an alternative on your behalf.

Not that i'm aware of.

I was talking to my sister about the kids christmas presents and she said she was struggling to afford it so after a bit of thought i rang her back and offered to pay for it. Asked her to send me what hes asked for and i'd arrange it from there.

Before i buy anything i always like to research and know what im buying is value for the money or if theres a better alternative regardless whether its cheaper/more expensive.

I have no knowledge of Guitars so was hoping for some advice from you guys

I will speak to him this weekend and make arrangements to take him to try them in a store in the new year.

Thanks for your advice

 

[clubchamp98]

Not that i'm aware of.

I was talking to my sister about the kids christmas presents and she said she was struggling to afford it so after a bit of thought i rang her back and offered to pay for it. Asked her to send me what hes asked for and i'd arrange it from there.

Before i buy anything i always like to research and know what im buying is value for the money or if theres a better alternative regardless whether its cheaper/more expensive.

I have no knowledge of Guitars so was hoping for some advice from you guys

I will speak to him this weekend and make arrangements to take him to try them in a store in the new year.

Thanks for your advice

That’s a good plan.
Give him a Christmas card with an invitation to a day out choosing a guitar.
He’s a lucky boy.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

Morfeen75,
I didnt open the links in your OP and I've just noticed that one of the guitars he showed you is £500+ so why are you thinking around a £1200 budget?
I'm not being a grinch, Id be delighted if you were my uncle but there's a heck of a leap between those price ranges.
If he tries that guitar (and likes it) I'd go with that.
If he becomes confident and capable gigging he can progress to even greater heights later and ask you for the extra £700 then!

 

[Morfeen75]

Morfeen75,
I didnt open the links in your OP and I've just noticed that one of the guitars he showed you is £500+ so why are you thinking around a £1200 budget?
I'm not being a grinch, Id be delighted if you were my uncle but there's a heck of a leap between those price ranges.
If he tries that guitar (and likes it) I'd go with that.
If he becomes confident and capable gigging he can progress to even greater heights later and ask you for the extra £700 then!

One Guitar is £555 and the other is £995. The budget was a maximum, not a minimum. If there was a better spec'd guitar that is slightly more expensive than the £995 one then i'm prepared to go higher upto £1200.

 

[Aztecs27]

One Guitar is £555 and the other is £995. The budget was a maximum, not a minimum. If there was a better spec'd guitar that is slightly more expensive than the £995 one then i'm prepared to go higher upto £1200.

Sounds like he’s very lucky to have you.

A Christmas card with a ‘voucher’ or invite to a guitar shop in the new year is definitely a great shout. Let him spend some time handling and playing a bunch and it’ll become clear which one is right for him.

Whereabouts would you be shopping? I’m a member of a guitar forum who has some very knowledgeable people so can ask for recommendations for shops to consider as not all guitar/music shops are built the same. You’ll get a much better experience in some than you will others

 

[Morfeen75]

Sounds like he’s very lucky to have you.

A Christmas card with a ‘voucher’ or invite to a guitar shop in the new year is definitely a great shout. Let him spend some time handling and playing a bunch and it’ll become clear which one is right for him.

Whereabouts would you be shopping? I’m a member of a guitar forum who has some very knowledgeable people so can ask for recommendations for shops to consider as not all guitar/music shops are built the same. You’ll get a much better experience in some than you will others

If you cant help family in times of need what is the point.

I'm in Surrey and they're near Manchester i'll suggest meeting him in London and we'll go from there.

If you have a link to the forum you use or some recomendations of places in London that would be cool. Thanks again for your help.