software

Ok well lets see who wins this battle royal of wooden instruments!

I own a Yamaha...and I love it to death...but a Taylor or a Martin would be real nice, if you know what I mean... *wink* *wink*

Although I voted Taylor, because they're the shizznit.

IMO, it would be hard to surpass Martin. I respect the efforts of Larivee, Taylor, Guild, etc., but for sound quality, give me a Martin.

No Tacoma ? , No Ramirez? No Oviation? No Dean? No Rickenbacker, No Santacruz? No Rainsong? No Larivee ? Seagull at least Oviatio shld have been in that list.

I love my Adamas, but its mostly not wood

I *heart* Seagull Acoustic Guitars.

i have played a ton of acoustic guitars and the three best i've played are the following...and in order of how much i liked them...all imho's of course...

1. Taylor 514ce

2. Gibson Hummingbird

3. Martin HD-35I voted for Martin 'cuz that what I have. I went from a cheap $100 Epi acoustic to my Martin. I'm addicted to that tone. Each time I pick it up, I fall in love with it all over again...

Here is what I own.

1. Guild D55
2. Martin J40
3. Alvarez Classical
4. mid 60's Dobro (metal)
5. Regal Dobro (wood)
6. Martin Sigma D18
7. Takamine 340
8. Santa Cruz OM
9. Santa Cruz Tony Rice
10. Tacoma Archtop

Obviously I have played many guitars in the pursuit of a real fine acoustic guitar. The best sounding acoustic that I have ever played was a 1936 Gibson Advanced Jumbo. I have also played some amazing pre war Martins that have a very high price tag. As far as the best made and sounding acoustics around today I would say there are 3 or 4 brands that are not on the list

1. Santa Cruz. They make IMO the best acoustics out there. They sell for a little more than a high end Martin, but they sound like a 50 year old guitar.

2. Collings. Collings guitars are also amazing guitars. The only thing that I don't like about them is they use a bolt on neck. Great guitars.

3. Goodall. These guitars are also made with some of the best quality woods I have seen. They are made in Hawaii and because of there location they have access to some of the best Koa I have ever seen.

4. Olson. Olson builds guitar literally one at a time and because of this the wait to get one is somewhere in the 2 to 3 year period. I have never played one, but James Taylor has been using one as well as Leo Kotke for quite some time.

5. Mirabella: My dear friend Cris Mirabella has made what I believe the best sounding Parlor guitar I have ever played. He is building me an OM sized guitar out of quilted Mahogony and a spruce top. I can't wait to see and hear what this thing is going to sound like.

As far as the guitars I own my Santa Cruz OM is by far the best sounding quot;NEWquot; guitar I have ever played. I feel privedged to be able to play such a fine guitar every day!! the Tony Rice model is also an extreme guitar in a different way. The OM has a wider fingerboard and is better suited for finger style, where the Tony Rice is a cannon when you strum hard on it. I love all of my guitars, but these two are just so much better than the others


Originally Posted by JocelynNo Tacoma ? , No Ramirez? No Oviation? No Dean? No Rickenbacker, No Santacruz? No Rainsong? No Larivee ? at least Oviatio shld have been in that list.

Why? None of those is the best!

I voted for Taylor. #2 would be Martin. I love 'em both but I think the odds of getting a great guitar are better with Taylor.

Lew


Originally Posted by B2DI *heart* Seagull Acoustic Guitars.

same here

I think Martin are the more enduring of the bunch, although Taylor comes in number two. It's tough to beat a well made (Gibson) J-200, though. My personal favorite wasn't included, though, probably 'cuz there's not a lot of wood in them, and that's Ovation. Those sound the most even to me.

i voted other, Breedlove all the way!!!

I think Larivee's are amazing. I have played some Taylors that I've loved (the Expression System is awesome) and some that I thought were overpriced junk. I've played very few Martins that were worth a darn (probably due to shop owners not knowing how to take care of instruments).

I've heard great things about Collings, but to be honest, I really can't comment outside of these because I don't have enough experience with highend acoustics. While not the quot;bestquot; acoustics out there, I think Alvarez sound great (some I'd say sound better than Taylors or Martins, believe it or not) especially for the money.

taylors are the only acoustics that i'd buy at the moment.

none of the acoustics that i've played so far match the power of taylor's 614 model.

1 for other.

Out of your selection I think Taylor's have a good sound with great playability.

For the money in solid woods I would say Larrivee.

For best sound though Santa Cruz, Goodall, Collings and Breedlove are great. (Wish I could afford them.)

ya i missed quite a few brands my apologies, but i only had ten spaces! lol Today i played a taylor 510 and was BLOWN AWAY! PEREFCT GUITAR! to hell with the cheaper guitars i want that guitar! Everything just sprung out of it when i play it from the first chord!

Damn, it was hard choosing Taylor over Martin...

Larrivee

alright, Larrivee was already mentioned so let me mention the ABSOLUTE BEST ACOUSTIC GUITARS YOU CAN BUY!!! They dont' get better than this, but don't take my word for it, check them out!

Bourgeois ..there it is..they're the best..all handmade, the founder still has a hand in every guitar that leaves his shop....

Dana Bourgeois, look him up