FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Acoustic Fg720s Guitar Yamaha

Question:
Having come to the conclusion that I don't get along with my current accoustic guitar (Ovation Applause shallow bowl back) I'm now looking for a replacement. What do folk reccomend? I'll probably have a budget of £175 max. While I've bought many electric guitars on ebay, I'm not sure if I'll buy an acoustic guitar this way. I'm not at all bothered about it having a pickup.

Answer:
Best choices: new Norman B-18 (this used ot be a laminate top instrument but isn't anymore) or Art & Lutherie Cedar (from Mercheant City Music), both about what you're wanting to pay unless you're lefthanded like me. They have cedar tops which I've been slightly dismayed to see don't survive being hit by strings or nails (fingernails that is, I'm not that bad) as well as spruce. The Yamaha FG720s is something I'll be buying soon too, and the righthanded one of that can be bought for £159 from GAK - mine will likely cost me £200. I've read that this sounds best with medium 13-56 gauge strings on it, and having played two I can see what they mean. It's action is low enough that that wouldn't inconveneience anyone anyway. Most other Far East guitars sound a bit repressed (like a really good acoustic guitar does if you put your hand firmly on the top) which the Norman and Art & Lutherie definitely don't - they're basically professional quality guitars assembled by the less experienced staff and slightly less pretty woods. I have a Crafter Lite-T which I was on the verge of selling before I found that it sounds great with 14-59 gauge D'addario strings on it - the top or its bracing are too sturdy to vibrate well with slimmer strings - but maybe the neck's going to fly off and knock me out in about a year.