I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something 
of the acoustic persuasion.

I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires 
it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and 
treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and using 
the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.

At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts are 
therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup for band 
use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd appreciate 
some advice as to what to look for.

A few facts / limiting factors:

I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
bewildered by the choice.

Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.

Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through the 
band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good acoustic 
amp such as one of the AER models).

Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of the 
question, price-wise.

So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on 
electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?

Thanks in advance,

George

George Weston wrote:
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something 
> of the acoustic persuasion.
> 
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires 
> it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and 
> treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and using 
> the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
> 
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts are 
> therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup for band 
> use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd appreciate 
> some advice as to what to look for.
> 
> A few facts / limiting factors:
> 
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
> bewildered by the choice.
> 
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
> 
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through the 
> band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good acoustic 
> amp such as one of the AER models).
> 
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of the 
> question, price-wise.

Not necessarily, George.

Check out the Gibson Canadian-made models (they took over the Garrison 
factory and produce some of the Gibson acoustics there). OK, they're a bit 
more than £500 if you opt for a Fishman-type bug - but not that much more - 
and you get nowt for nowt.

See: <http://www.thomann.de/gb/gibson_dsm.htm>

That's £483 (yes - four hundred and eighty two English pounds) *delivered*, 
brand new. I expect that a decent bug will be £100 - £150 more.

Indidentally, there's a Taylor jumbo for about the same price (not the Baby 
or Big Baby).

PS: Non-magnetic electro-acoustics sound ATROCIOUS through an AC30. Don't do 
it. I played my Gibson J-50 through a vintage Vox during a jam at Tilburg 
<wince>.

On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 18:16:35 +0100, "George Weston"
 wrote:

>I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something 
>of the acoustic persuasion.
>
>I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires 
>it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and 
>treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and using 
>the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
>
>At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
>appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
>attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts are 
>therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup for band 
>use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd appreciate 
>some advice as to what to look for.
>
>A few facts / limiting factors:
>
>I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
>Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
>bewildered by the choice.
>
>Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>
>Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
>possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through the 
>band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good acoustic 
>amp such as one of the AER models).
>
>Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
>away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
>disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of the 
>question, price-wise.
>
>So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on 
>electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>George

I've been there and done all that. 

I hate to say so but for stage sound get a Tak. I hate them with a
vengeance bordering on obsession but the fact is they do sound well
amplified and the onboard electronics are O.K.

However, unplugged, they sound just like the dull, cardboard cutouts
of a guitar that they really are, and you're looking for something
which works both ways.

To solve this problem I ended up spending a lot more than you intend
to (I ended up with a Northworthy Ellastone - current RRP £2500 -
although I didn't pay that) and had an EMG undersaddle pickup
installed. The EMG is very cute. For one thing it's a straight through
endpin jack fitting so you don't have to carve up half the guitar to
fit it (there's a battery and a bit of wire and that's it), and the
other is that it's adjustable to the liveliness off the guitar (in
other words, there's a little screw in the fitting you can turn to
adjust the impedance from high to very low).

I use a Carvin Nomad for electric gigs and the Northworthy sounds fine
through it on the clean channel. Through a P.A. it sounds just like a
loud acoustic guitar - perfect.

As for the guitar you should buy - haven't a clue at £500, but best
results will come from finding an acoustic you like and retro-fitting
the electronics. All of the guitars I've ever played which were
designed for amplification have sounded like shite unamplified.

The reverse is also true - never try amplifying a Martin D16, for
instance - far too lively and loud. You might get away with a D35
(heavier built), but you're in for two grand there...:-)

You would also do well to ask the same question on
rec.music.makers.guitar.accoustic - there are people there with much
better technical knowledge than myself, and they will help you out.

Pete

"JNugent"  wrote in message 
news:IIydnScRAbNoONLXnZ2dnUVZ8u6dnZ2d@pipex.net...
> George Weston wrote:
>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire 
>> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>>
>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song 
>> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to 
>> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a 
>> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close 
>> but no cigar.
>>
>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
>> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
>> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts 
>> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup 
>> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) 
>> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>>
>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>>
>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
>> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
>> bewildered by the choice.
>>
>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>>
>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
>> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through 
>> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good 
>> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>>
>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
>> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
>> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of 
>> the question, price-wise.
>
> Not necessarily, George.
>
> Check out the Gibson Canadian-made models (they took over the Garrison 
> factory and produce some of the Gibson acoustics there). OK, they're a bit 
> more than £500 if you opt for a Fishman-type bug - but not that much 
> more - and you get nowt for nowt.
>
> See: <http://www.thomann.de/gb/gibson_dsm.htm>
>
> That's £483 (yes - four hundred and eighty two English pounds) 
> *delivered*, brand new. I expect that a decent bug will be £100 - £150 
> more.
>
> Indidentally, there's a Taylor jumbo for about the same price (not the 
> Baby or Big Baby).
>
> PS: Non-magnetic electro-acoustics sound ATROCIOUS through an AC30. Don't 
> do it. I played my Gibson J-50 through a vintage Vox during a jam at 
> Tilburg <wince>.

You may want a look at the Yamaha LL16.
http://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_ll16_westerngitarre.htm
Spruce top, rosewood back and sides, all solid. I got mine from GAK in 
Brighton and I'm very pleased with it. Good sound, good action. Sounds like 
a much more expensive guitar.
The gold tuners look a bit cheap though, and you'd have to take the price of 
a pickup into account.

Peter

"George Weston"  wrote in message 
news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something 
> of the acoustic persuasion.
>
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires 
> it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and 
> treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and 
> using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
>
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts 
> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup 
> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd 
> appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>
> A few facts / limiting factors:
>
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
> bewildered by the choice.
>
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through 
> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good 
> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of 
> the question, price-wise.
>
> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on 
> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> George
>

I was going to suggest a Yamaha APX900, but I don't think there is/at least 
can't see any references to: a left handed model.  The nearest I can find is 
the very similar Yamaha APX700L which is a left handed version.  I have an 
APX900 and find it very comfortable, and with both a good acoustic sound and 
a good plugged in sound provided it's plugged in to an acoustic amp or PA. 
The slightly smaller body makes the APX 900 comfortable and the internal 
pickup system, pre-amp and EQ is good.  I think I paid about £470 for my 
APX900 pre-credit crunch.

My second choice within your budget would probably be for a Takamine, or 
maybe a bowl back like a secondhand Ovation Custom Balladeer - although some 
people can't get on with these and their 'weird' back.

If you don't mind going a bit more off beam, you could look at a modelling 
guitar such as the Line 6 Variax 700 Acoustic, which sounds very good, is 
comfortable, is easy to play, looks like a thin acoustic, but being solid 
bodied it is not an acoustic - I'm not sure if there is a left handed model 
though, although I believe there were plans.  A left handed Variax 500 
electric would give you some very acceptable acoustic models as well as 
electric models though and you quite often see L/H Variax 500's.  IGNORE if 
you really want a proper acoustic though :-)

I wouldn't plug any acoustic in to the front of any standard guitar amp and 
expect a particularly good sound as others have said, although you *might* 
get a slightly better result going in via an 'acoustic' type FX 
pedal/pre-amp and some fairly heavy EQ into the amp's FX return.  An AER 
Compact 60 does make an acoustic or modelled acoustic such as the Variax 700 
Acoustic  guitar sound very nice plugged in, but as you say they aren't 
overly cheap.  You would probably find a little Marshall AS50D or AS100D 
acoustic amp which both have an XLR DI out to feed a PA would give you a 
decent enough sound for on-stage monitoring (about £200 new for the 50w 
version or less secondhand)

On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 18:16:35 +0100, "George Weston"
 wrote:


>
>So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on 
>electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>George
>
>
>
>

Watching with interest as I've decided that it's time for a new
acoustic, as this 'thing' I currently have doesn't inspire me to pick
it up any more!
No electro or pickup for me though - just something to strum on the
sofa. Budget = under £500.
Currently eyeing up cheapest Taylor and Martins, Mid range Yamaha and
Seagulls, High end Tanglewoods, etc.
Hmm, too much choice!


-
steve <AT> steveevans <DOT> org
-

"Steve Evans"  wrote in message 
news:0097fbd9$0$23849$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 18:16:35 +0100, "George Weston"
>  wrote:
>
>
>>
>>So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on
>>electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>>
>>Thanks in advance,
>>
>>George
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> Watching with interest as I've decided that it's time for a new
> acoustic, as this 'thing' I currently have doesn't inspire me to pick
> it up any more!
> No electro or pickup for me though - just something to strum on the
> sofa. Budget = under £500.
> Currently eyeing up cheapest Taylor and Martins, Mid range Yamaha and
> Seagulls, High end Tanglewoods, etc.
> Hmm, too much choice!

Yep - that's the problem.
Not wasting money on a "thing", as you put it but then trying to narrow down 
the search for what's left to spend the hard-earned on!

George

On Sun, 5 Jul 2009 16:25:23 +0100, "George Weston"
 wrote:

>
>"Steve Evans"  wrote in message 
>news:0097fbd9$0$23849$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
>> On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 18:16:35 +0100, "George Weston"
>>  wrote:
>>
>>
>>>
>>>So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on
>>>electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>>>
>>>Thanks in advance,
>>>
>>>George
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Watching with interest as I've decided that it's time for a new
>> acoustic, as this 'thing' I currently have doesn't inspire me to pick
>> it up any more!
>> No electro or pickup for me though - just something to strum on the
>> sofa. Budget = under £500.
>> Currently eyeing up cheapest Taylor and Martins, Mid range Yamaha and
>> Seagulls, High end Tanglewoods, etc.
>> Hmm, too much choice!
>
>Yep - that's the problem.
>Not wasting money on a "thing", as you put it but then trying to narrow down 
>the search for what's left to spend the hard-earned on!
>
>George 
>

Depends what you're going to use it for, I guess. If you're just going
to sit on the sofa and strum it then find a Yamaha-you-like. Even
cheap guitars have their own voice and a new anything will give you
some kind of inspiration.

I would (if you're thinking about fingerpicking) go for a Norman or a
simple Martin - eg a D15 or D16 which are both dreads but are equally
lively, relatively cheap and project well. They are also both very
firm when picking them, unlike some of the more expensive ones (D25's
35's etc) which can sound muddy.

Taylors? Only ever played expensive ones but the 3 and 5 series aren't
too expensive and they don't sound as thin and reedy as their
reputation.

The deal with acoustics is that the GAS thing gets worse and worse. I
have two handmade electrics and I know I can get anything I want out
of them because of the electronics and the relationship between the
guitar, the amp, and the room I'm playing in.

Acoustics? I have one for fingerpicking - an absolutely irreplaceable
Larrivee Parlour - No.1 of five, but it's got a Koa body so it's very
bright. Should I be thinking about a small-bodied OOO in Braz which
will give me more grunt? Should I be thinking about something with a
cedar top for a softer sound? Should I be thinking about something
with mahogany back & sides for richness with an Englemann or
Adirondack top to give me a bit of extra attack?

And that's just the fingerpicker.....

You should treble your budget and spend the money just once - just
make sure you pick your luthier carefully.

Simon Smidmore at Brook makes amazing dreads (I don't normally post
links but drool here):

www.brookguitars.com

Also Alan Marshall at Northworthy carves the best necks in the
country:

www.northworthy.com

Both makers start at three times your budget, but you'll get three
times the exitement..:-)

Have fun,

Pete

"George Weston"  wrote in message 
news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something 
> of the acoustic persuasion.
>
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires 
> it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and 
> treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and 
> using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
>
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts 
> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup 
> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd 
> appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>
> A few facts / limiting factors:
>
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
> bewildered by the choice.
>
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through 
> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good 
> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of 
> the question, price-wise.

That sounds like Yamaha APX/CPX territory. They do lefties.

On 4 July, 18:16, "George Weston" 
wrote:
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something
> of the acoustic persuasion.
>
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires
> it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and
> treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and using
> the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
>
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom
> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst
> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones.

Hmm. Well, putting electrics into a good acoustic doesn;t ruin
it. There *are* acoustically compromised electros out there,
you can usually spot them by their shallow bodeis, 6-in-arow
headstocks
and gaudy paint jobs.

>My thoughts are
> therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup for band
> use.

Add-on pickups vary a lot. The better ones, like the Fishman Blend
will be half your budget.
There's a reason why many guitatrs come with under-saddle piezo
pickups , they
are a good bang-for-bucks otpion.

>Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd appreciate
> some advice as to what to look for.
>
> A few facts / limiting factors:
>
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that
> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit
> bewildered by the choice.
>
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous

Yes.  like the superfolk/small Jumbo/grand auditorium shape

>either but which
> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through the
> band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good acoustic
> amp such as one of the AER models).

a poor acoustic amp (or a keybord amp) will still be a lot
better than an electric guitar amp. The principles involved are
completely different.

> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing
> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be
> disappointed later.

Don't write off asian-made guitars. I have been impressed by some of
them
(especailly the Tanglewoods, expecailly the TW45--available in left).
The
B-Band pickup it incorporates is good too.

>On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of the
> question, price-wise.
>
> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on
> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> George

On 4 July, 18:16, "George Weston" 
wrote:
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something
> of the acoustic persuasion.
>
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires
> it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and
> treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and using
> the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
>
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom
> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst
> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts are
> therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup for band
> use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd appreciate
> some advice as to what to look for.
>
> A few facts / limiting factors:
>
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that
> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit
> bewildered by the choice.
>
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which
> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through the
> band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good acoustic
> amp such as one of the AER models).
>
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing
> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be
> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of the
> question, price-wise.
>
> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on
> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> George

I did the same after years of electric playing I decided it was time
to get an acoustic...this was a couple of years ago mind but as I
wasn't a serious acoustic guy I wasn't going to do my usual badge
snobbery.... still I wanted something that souded good. I contemplated
a Simon and Patrick after playing Justins but I figured that was too
expensive and the neck was a bit thick.... to a guy used to playing
Ibanez electrics anyway.

I ended up getting a Vintage V300 as it was voted "Best acoustic
guitar under £1000" by some guitar mag and it was only 85 quid at the
time although the prices have taken a dramatic leap since then to
£159.....but I have to admit I think it sounds pretty nice. I haven't
heard that many acoustics in the flesh...most have been at Buxton and
I had a shot of Mark's Flyde Magician every now and again when i was
deciding so my reference tone bar was set pretty high and to the
untrained ear it's not a million miles away

They do a lefty version for £175  http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageacoustic.html

Although it depends if you want a cutaway etc


The other alternative is buy a Musicman JP6 with Piezo so you get a
great electric AND it does the acoustic stuff at the flick of a
switch. Although that's a tad more expensive ;-)

"Pablo"  wrote in message 
news:a0fc3885-a38a-459d-ad25-4ede224a8b11@24g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...


I ended up getting a Vintage V300 as it was voted "Best acoustic
guitar under £1000" by some guitar mag and it was only 85 quid at the
time although the prices have taken a dramatic leap since then to
£159.....but I have to admit I think it sounds pretty nice.


I have one of those too, nice little guitar - very, very nice when you 
consider the price, the solid top etc. Very versatile wee guitar it is too, 
sounds lovely picked - although not the loudest - its 'folk' sized 
dimensions limit it slightly here.



-- 
http://www.facebook.com/tomscotland

On 6 July, 20:19, Pablo  wrote:
> I haven't
> heard that many acoustics in the flesh...most have been at Buxton and
> I had a shot of Mark's Flyde Magician

Mmmmm...Fyyyyylde

On 4 July, 18:16, "George Weston" 
wrote:
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something
> of the acoustic persuasion.
<snip>
> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on
> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?


For the useage you're talking about, Takamine.
End of.

"Dave Benj"  wrote in message 
news:dec7e3d3-08b4-4bcb-ae9c-dfa82bac7fcd@o7g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
> On 4 July, 18:16, "George Weston" 
> wrote:
>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire 
>> something
>> of the acoustic persuasion.
> <snip>
>> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on
>> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>
>
> For the useage you're talking about, Takamine.
> End of.

OTOH, if you want a warm, responsive acoustic sound which pleases you then 
go ahead and try everything within your price-range (allowing budget for a 
p/u) and buy what feels right in your hands.  I use a Fishman Rare Earth 
Series soundhole pickup, which sounds fine to me and is easily transferred 
to other intruments if necessary.  Agreed about EQ, though - why not DI into 
the front-line and work off foldback for live gigs?

RM

wrote in message 
news:23t1551psgrelqr3cm24s0st5rv6leidoq@4ax.com...
>
> Both makers start at three times your budget, but you'll get three
> times the exitement..:-)

You know how you go off people real fast?

Steve
aka frustrated of Godalming
--
http://www.fivetrees.com

On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:23:48 +0100, "Steve at fivetrees"
 wrote:

> wrote in message 
>news:23t1551psgrelqr3cm24s0st5rv6leidoq@4ax.com...
>>
>> Both makers start at three times your budget, but you'll get three
>> times the exitement..:-)
>
>You know how you go off people real fast?
>
>Steve
>aka frustrated of Godalming

I can imagine...

I am speaking from experience though. I spent about £300 a year on
guitars for 10 years before deciding it was about time I spent some
really good ones, so whilst I still have about ten guitars, there's
only 4 that I've spent real money on and I don't feel I have to buy
any more.

It's very different buying acoustics from electrics. Playable
electrics start at about £120 so it's possible to treat them as almost
disposable, but good acoustics don't really exist for much less than a
grand, although there are plenty which are fit-for purpose.

We were looking for a guitar for our rhythm guitarist which would do
for amplified and unamplified work a few years ago. I think we played
something like 60 Takamines, which are the benchmark for stage use.
The cost went from about £500 to well over £1000 and not a single one
gave any real response unamplified. We ended up with a Martin D16H
which was £1200, and it's still a fantastic guitar now.

All I'm saying, really, is spend the money wisely now and save a
fortune in the future - it cost me £3k just to learn that. The
acoustic I ended up with cost me £1650 - to replace it would be more
like £2600. The acoustic world is full of GAS just like the electric
one, but I know an alwful lot of players who bought one good guitar a
long time ago and who have never felt the need to improve on them.

Pete

wrote in message 
news:euj855tpl3d4nbo9udk95d1hfauhmlfiuu@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:23:48 +0100, "Steve at fivetrees"
>  wrote:
>
>> wrote in message
>>news:23t1551psgrelqr3cm24s0st5rv6leidoq@4ax.com...
>>>
>>> Both makers start at three times your budget, but you'll get three
>>> times the exitement..:-)
>>
>>You know how you go off people real fast?
>>
>>Steve
>>aka frustrated of Godalming
>
> I can imagine...
>
> I am speaking from experience though. I spent about £300 a year on
> guitars for 10 years before deciding it was about time I spent some
> really good ones, so whilst I still have about ten guitars, there's
> only 4 that I've spent real money on and I don't feel I have to buy
> any more.
>
> It's very different buying acoustics from electrics. Playable
> electrics start at about £120 so it's possible to treat them as almost
> disposable, but good acoustics don't really exist for much less than a
> grand, although there are plenty which are fit-for purpose.
>
> We were looking for a guitar for our rhythm guitarist which would do
> for amplified and unamplified work a few years ago. I think we played
> something like 60 Takamines, which are the benchmark for stage use.
> The cost went from about £500 to well over £1000 and not a single one
> gave any real response unamplified. We ended up with a Martin D16H
> which was £1200, and it's still a fantastic guitar now.
>
> All I'm saying, really, is spend the money wisely now and save a
> fortune in the future - it cost me £3k just to learn that. The
> acoustic I ended up with cost me £1650 - to replace it would be more
> like £2600. The acoustic world is full of GAS just like the electric
> one, but I know an alwful lot of players who bought one good guitar a
> long time ago and who have never felt the need to improve on them.

I hear, understand and agree with everything above.
However, I'm in a part-time party band, whose giggage is unpredictable to 
say the least. We're not on any circuit and we're reliant upon word of mouth 
for bookings.
OK, this weekend marks our fourth gig in three weeks but this is exceptional 
for us. We probably won't get another gig until the autumn.
On that basis, I couldn't justify or afford buying anything over £500 as it 
will only get used a few times during each gig, (played through the PA with 
foldback) and will otherwise spend its life being strummed around the house 
or at rehearsals.
What I'm looking for is a decent "compromise" acoustic or electro-acoustic 
within my price range which plays and sounds *reasonably* well both plugged 
and unplugged - although from the replies I'm getting it would seem that "OK 
plugged and unplugged" are mutually exclusive?
My other constraint of course is the restricted choice of lefty guitars, 
although I see that Tony J at Strings Direct has a good selection and there 
are a few at present on eBay.
I'm currently thinking about either a Yamaha APX700 or a Norman B20 (both 
electro-acoustic). Or possibly a Taylor Big Baby (but would have to fit a 
separate pickup).
Difficult, innit!

George

"George Weston"  wrote in message 
news:7bjua8F23o4bpU1@mid.individual.net...
> What I'm looking for is a decent "compromise" acoustic or electro-acoustic 
> within my price range which plays and sounds *reasonably* well both 
> plugged and unplugged - although from the replies I'm getting it would 
> seem that "OK plugged and unplugged" are mutually exclusive?
> My other constraint of course is the restricted choice of lefty guitars, 
> although I see that Tony J at Strings Direct has a good selection and 
> there are a few at present on eBay.
> I'm currently thinking about either a Yamaha APX700 or a Norman B20 (both 
> electro-acoustic). Or possibly a Taylor Big Baby (but would have to fit a 
> separate pickup).
> Difficult, innit!

I've got a Yamha CPX-5 here. It's my main acoustic, it's only plugged in 
ever so very occasionally, but sounds fine when it is. More importantly 
there's a massive variation in tone available to me when it is.

It wasn't expensive by most people's standards, but I love it. As far as I'm 
concerned it's a cracking blend of acoustic and electro-acoustic.

I'm all for making the right choice first time when buying anything and 
buying the best you can, but applying a certain logic to buying, say for 
example, a car and we'd all be running around in 100k+ sports cars. It looks 
like our friend here is more in need of a Ford than a Bentley.

Not a criticism, just an observation.


-- 


The Great Poobarr

On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 17:03:13 +0100, George Weston wrote:

-------------------8><
> I'm currently thinking about either a Yamaha APX700 or a Norman B20 (both 
> electro-acoustic). Or possibly a Taylor Big Baby (but would have to fit a 
> separate pickup).
> Difficult, innit!

Whichever you go for means you forego all the others. FWIW I think the
APX700 I bought last year for a bit under £400 is rather fine. There's a
lot to be said for the bijou body unless, of course, you're looking for
full-on unamp'd volume.
I reckon, with the Newtone strings [1] I've fitted, it sounds really good.

http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Yamaha-APX-700-Left-Handed~ID~5572.asp

[1] The out-and-out "hardest" strings I've encountered since I gave up
playing in the mid-sixties.

"The Great Poobarr"  wrote in message 
news:V4SdnWeluLohZcnXnZ2dnUVZ8vCdnZ2d@pipex.net...
>
> "George Weston"  wrote in message 
> news:7bjua8F23o4bpU1@mid.individual.net...
>> What I'm looking for is a decent "compromise" acoustic or 
>> electro-acoustic within my price range which plays and sounds 
>> *reasonably* well both plugged and unplugged - although from the replies 
>> I'm getting it would seem that "OK plugged and unplugged" are mutually 
>> exclusive?
>> My other constraint of course is the restricted choice of lefty guitars, 
>> although I see that Tony J at Strings Direct has a good selection and 
>> there are a few at present on eBay.
>> I'm currently thinking about either a Yamaha APX700 or a Norman B20 (both 
>> electro-acoustic). Or possibly a Taylor Big Baby (but would have to fit a 
>> separate pickup).
>> Difficult, innit!
>
> I've got a Yamha CPX-5 here. It's my main acoustic, it's only plugged in 
> ever so very occasionally, but sounds fine when it is. More importantly 
> there's a massive variation in tone available to me when it is.
>
> It wasn't expensive by most people's standards, but I love it. As far as 
> I'm concerned it's a cracking blend of acoustic and electro-acoustic.
>
> I'm all for making the right choice first time when buying anything and 
> buying the best you can, but applying a certain logic to buying, say for 
> example, a car and we'd all be running around in 100k+ sports cars. It 
> looks like our friend here is more in need of a Ford than a Bentley.
>
> Not a criticism, just an observation.

You're pretty well spot on there - I can't afford a Bentley but don't want 
to buy a Skoda!
;-)

George

> 
> You're pretty well spot on there - I can't afford a Bentley but don't want 
> to buy a Skoda!
> ;-)
> 
> George 
> 
> 

Were you aware that škoda is both Czech and Slovak for the following: 
shame,pity; disadvantage, loss; injury, damage, harm?

James

On Jul 9, 12:55 am, "George Weston" 
wrote:
> "James Weston"  wrote in message
>
> news:RsadndgFUbjtvsjXnZ2dnUVZ8qKdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
>
>
>
> >> You're pretty well spot on there - I can't afford a Bentley but don't
> >> want to buy a Skoda!
> >> ;-)
>
> >> George
>
> > Were you aware that Å¡koda is both Czech and Slovak for the following:
> > shame,pity; disadvantage, loss; injury, damage, harm?
>
> I am now....
> ;-)

I've got two main lefty acoustics - one is a Yamaha FG series. It's
the beginner range but it came with a proper solid top. Well worth it.
Good machine-heads, very smooth, and it stays in tune excellently, and
sounds nice.  I usually use it for fingerpicking.

My main acoustic - and the one which gets (comedy) gigged*, due to the
nice tone from its Fishman pickup, is a late 90's black cutaway Hoyer,
built in Korea.  I got it for 700DM (350 Euros) in 2000.   I was so
impressed with it I went out and got the equivalent 12-string model.
The action is like an electric, stays in tune well, and I've been
complimented on it's tone by a local recording engineer.

DON'T go near Thomann's Harley Benton left-hander cheapies unless you
get a chance to play one first.  I got one 2nd hand through Ebay for
my "Nashville tuning" experiments.  Horrible plywood thing with a bad
action when I got it..  Just about usable once in Nashville tuning.

*It's doing Cologne Comedy Fest as "Philip Maurice and the Light
Americans" singing "The Only Smokeless Cowboy"

"George Weston"  wrote in message 
news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire something 
> of the acoustic persuasion.
>
> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song requires 
> it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to bass and 
> treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a little and 
> using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close but no cigar.
>
> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts 
> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup 
> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) I'd 
> appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>
> A few facts / limiting factors:
>
> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
> bewildered by the choice.
>
> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>
> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through 
> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good 
> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>
> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of 
> the question, price-wise.
>
> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on 
> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> George

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of any of 
them.... ;-)
Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha APX700 
acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond Street, 
who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have upped the 
price to £449 
http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!

George

"George Weston"  wrote in message 
news:7c3tf6F25bko1U1@mid.individual.net...
> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of any 
> of them.... ;-)
> Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha APX700 
> acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond 
> Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
> I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have upped 
> the price to £449 
> http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
> I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!

Good choice.

I preferred the deeper, traditional sized body of the CPX series, but the 
APX certainly does exactly what you want.


Enjoy!


-- 


The Great Poobarr

"George Weston"  wrote in message 
news:7c3tf6F25bko1U1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "George Weston"  wrote in message 
> news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire 
>> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>>
>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song 
>> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to 
>> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a 
>> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close 
>> but no cigar.
>>
>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
>> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
>> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts 
>> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup 
>> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) 
>> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>>
>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>>
>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
>> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
>> bewildered by the choice.
>>
>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>>
>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
>> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through 
>> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good 
>> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>>
>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
>> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
>> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of 
>> the question, price-wise.
>>
>> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on 
>> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> George
>
> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of any 
> of them.... ;-)
> Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha APX700 
> acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond 
> Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
> I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have upped 
> the price to £449 
> http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
> I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
>
> George
>
Good choice :-)

"George Weston"  wrote in message 
news:7c3tf6F25bko1U1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "George Weston"  wrote in message 
> news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire 
>> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>>
>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song 
>> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to 
>> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a 
>> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close 
>> but no cigar.
>>
>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
>> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
>> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts 
>> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup 
>> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) 
>> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>>
>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>>
>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
>> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
>> bewildered by the choice.
>>
>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>>
>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
>> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through 
>> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good 
>> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>>
>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
>> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
>> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of 
>> the question, price-wise.
>>
>> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on 
>> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> George
>
> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of any 
> of them.... ;-)
> Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha APX700 
> acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond 
> Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
> I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have upped 
> the price to £449 
> http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
> I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
>
> George

Thanks once again to Peter McC for his recommendation on string replacement
I changed the original Yamaha set to Newtone Masterclass 12-52s and the 
difference is amazing!
Played it in anger for the first time through the PA at last Saturday's gig 
and received quite a few compliments on the sound.
Happy bunny :-)
All I need now is a hard case for it.
Any suggestions?

George

On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:33:58 +0100, George Weston wrote:

> "George Weston"  wrote in message 
> news:7c3tf6F25bko1U1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>> "George Weston"  wrote in message 
>> news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
>>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire 
>>> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>>>
>>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song 
>>> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to 
>>> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a 
>>> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close 
>>> but no cigar.
>>>
>>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
>>> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
>>> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts 
>>> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup 
>>> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) 
>>> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>>>
>>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>>>
>>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
>>> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
>>> bewildered by the choice.
>>>
>>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>>>
>>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
>>> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through 
>>> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good 
>>> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>>>
>>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
>>> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
>>> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of 
>>> the question, price-wise.
>>>
>>> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on 
>>> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>
>>> George
>>
>> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of any 
>> of them.... ;-)
>> Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha APX700 
>> acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond 
>> Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
>> I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have upped 
>> the price to £449 
>> http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
>> I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
>>
>> George
> 
> Thanks once again to Peter McC for his recommendation on string replacement
> I changed the original Yamaha set to Newtone Masterclass 12-52s and the 
> difference is amazing!
> Played it in anger for the first time through the PA at last Saturday's gig 
> and received quite a few compliments on the sound.
> Happy bunny :-)
> All I need now is a hard case for it.
> Any suggestions?

Hiscox - if you go to the Hiscox web site you can watch Mr Hiscox telling
you why.
I bought mine from Strings Direct.

On Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:00:11 +0100, Peter McCormack 
wrote:

>On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:33:58 +0100, George Weston wrote:
>
>> "George Weston"  wrote in message 
>> news:7c3tf6F25bko1U1@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message 
>>> news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire 
>>>> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>>>>
>>>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song 
>>>> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, to 
>>>> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a 
>>>> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close 
>>>> but no cigar.
>>>>
>>>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom 
>>>> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the worst 
>>>> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My thoughts 
>>>> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on pickup 
>>>> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?) 
>>>> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>>>>
>>>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>>>>
>>>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see that 
>>>> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit 
>>>> bewildered by the choice.
>>>>
>>>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>>>>
>>>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but which 
>>>> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either through 
>>>> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good 
>>>> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>>>>
>>>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy throwing 
>>>> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be 
>>>> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out of 
>>>> the question, price-wise.
>>>>
>>>> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on 
>>>> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which pickup)?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>>
>>>> George
>>>
>>> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of any 
>>> of them.... ;-)
>>> Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha APX700 
>>> acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond 
>>> Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
>>> I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have upped 
>>> the price to £449 
>>> http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
>>> I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
>>>
>>> George
>> 
>> Thanks once again to Peter McC for his recommendation on string replacement
>> I changed the original Yamaha set to Newtone Masterclass 12-52s and the 
>> difference is amazing!
>> Played it in anger for the first time through the PA at last Saturday's gig 
>> and received quite a few compliments on the sound.
>> Happy bunny :-)
>> All I need now is a hard case for it.
>> Any suggestions?
>
>Hiscox - if you go to the Hiscox web site you can watch Mr Hiscox telling
>you why.
>I bought mine from Strings Direct.

Seconded on the Hiscox cases. Unless you're flying a lot and checking
your guitar (in which case you need a Calton). 

I have three guitars in Hiscox cases (combined value about six grand -
guitars, that is, not the cases) and they're pretty good unless you
want to spend more on the case than the guitar is worth.

They're tough, and light - perfect for slinging in the back of a car
for gigs. I've never jumped up and down on one though, but then
neither has anyone else..:-)

Pete

wrote in message 
news:sjje85dia72qrjdk7ld2a4ocbosnnij44s@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:00:11 +0100, Peter McCormack 
> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:33:58 +0100, George Weston wrote:
>>
>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message
>>> news:7c3tf6F25bko1U1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>
>>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message
>>>> news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire
>>>>> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song
>>>>> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, 
>>>>> to
>>>>> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a
>>>>> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close
>>>>> but no cigar.
>>>>>
>>>>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom
>>>>> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the 
>>>>> worst
>>>>> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My 
>>>>> thoughts
>>>>> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on 
>>>>> pickup
>>>>> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?)
>>>>> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>>>>>
>>>>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see 
>>>>> that
>>>>> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit
>>>>> bewildered by the choice.
>>>>>
>>>>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>>>>>
>>>>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but 
>>>>> which
>>>>> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either 
>>>>> through
>>>>> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good
>>>>> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>>>>>
>>>>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy 
>>>>> throwing
>>>>> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be
>>>>> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out 
>>>>> of
>>>>> the question, price-wise.
>>>>>
>>>>> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on
>>>>> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which 
>>>>> pickup)?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>>>
>>>>> George
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of 
>>>> any
>>>> of them.... ;-)
>>>> Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha APX700
>>>> acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond
>>>> Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
>>>> I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have 
>>>> upped
>>>> the price to £449
>>>> http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
>>>> I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
>>>>
>>>> George
>>>
>>> Thanks once again to Peter McC for his recommendation on string 
>>> replacement
>>> I changed the original Yamaha set to Newtone Masterclass 12-52s and the
>>> difference is amazing!
>>> Played it in anger for the first time through the PA at last Saturday's 
>>> gig
>>> and received quite a few compliments on the sound.
>>> Happy bunny :-)
>>> All I need now is a hard case for it.
>>> Any suggestions?
>>
>>Hiscox - if you go to the Hiscox web site you can watch Mr Hiscox telling
>>you why.
>>I bought mine from Strings Direct.
>
> Seconded on the Hiscox cases. Unless you're flying a lot and checking
> your guitar (in which case you need a Calton).
>
> I have three guitars in Hiscox cases (combined value about six grand -
> guitars, that is, not the cases) and they're pretty good unless you
> want to spend more on the case than the guitar is worth.
>
> They're tough, and light - perfect for slinging in the back of a car
> for gigs. I've never jumped up and down on one though, but then
> neither has anyone else..:-)
>
> Pete

I paid an abortive visit to a local-ish music shop last week and tried a 
couple of different cases, neither of which properly fitted the guitar - too 
big, too small, wrong shape, etc...
I came home and did a bit of googling - which I should have done in the 
first place - and found that there is a hard case specially made for the 
Yamaha APX series, made by Hiscox but with "Yamaha" embossed on the side.
http://www.chamberlainmusic.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=APXC
I ordered one and then got an email telling me that they were out of stock 
and it could be a month or so before they could get any more.
Rant follows: Why can't all online retailers have a "number in stock" field 
on their websites, or "out of stock" when appropriate? Grrrrr.
Order cancelled and eventually found another supplier, Digital Village. 
Order placed but no delivery date yet.
We'll see how it goes...

George

On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:43:07 +0100, "George Weston"
 wrote:

>
> wrote in message 
>news:sjje85dia72qrjdk7ld2a4ocbosnnij44s@4ax.com...
>> On Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:00:11 +0100, Peter McCormack 
>> wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:33:58 +0100, George Weston wrote:
>>>
>>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message
>>>> news:7c3tf6F25bko1U1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>
>>>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message
>>>>> news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire
>>>>>> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song
>>>>>> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James, 
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a
>>>>>> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty close
>>>>>> but no cigar.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received wisdom
>>>>>> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the 
>>>>>> worst
>>>>>> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My 
>>>>>> thoughts
>>>>>> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on 
>>>>>> pickup
>>>>>> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am I?)
>>>>>> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see 
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a bit
>>>>>> bewildered by the choice.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but 
>>>>>> which
>>>>>> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either 
>>>>>> through
>>>>>> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a good
>>>>>> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy 
>>>>>> throwing
>>>>>> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then be
>>>>>> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is out 
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> the question, price-wise.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on
>>>>>> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which 
>>>>>> pickup)?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> George
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of 
>>>>> any
>>>>> of them.... ;-)
>>>>> Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha APX700
>>>>> acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond
>>>>> Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
>>>>> I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have 
>>>>> upped
>>>>> the price to £449
>>>>> http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
>>>>> I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
>>>>>
>>>>> George
>>>>
>>>> Thanks once again to Peter McC for his recommendation on string 
>>>> replacement
>>>> I changed the original Yamaha set to Newtone Masterclass 12-52s and the
>>>> difference is amazing!
>>>> Played it in anger for the first time through the PA at last Saturday's 
>>>> gig
>>>> and received quite a few compliments on the sound.
>>>> Happy bunny :-)
>>>> All I need now is a hard case for it.
>>>> Any suggestions?
>>>
>>>Hiscox - if you go to the Hiscox web site you can watch Mr Hiscox telling
>>>you why.
>>>I bought mine from Strings Direct.
>>
>> Seconded on the Hiscox cases. Unless you're flying a lot and checking
>> your guitar (in which case you need a Calton).
>>
>> I have three guitars in Hiscox cases (combined value about six grand -
>> guitars, that is, not the cases) and they're pretty good unless you
>> want to spend more on the case than the guitar is worth.
>>
>> They're tough, and light - perfect for slinging in the back of a car
>> for gigs. I've never jumped up and down on one though, but then
>> neither has anyone else..:-)
>>
>> Pete
>
>I paid an abortive visit to a local-ish music shop last week and tried a 
>couple of different cases, neither of which properly fitted the guitar - too 
>big, too small, wrong shape, etc...
>I came home and did a bit of googling - which I should have done in the 
>first place - and found that there is a hard case specially made for the 
>Yamaha APX series, made by Hiscox but with "Yamaha" embossed on the side.
>http://www.chamberlainmusic.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=APXC
>I ordered one and then got an email telling me that they were out of stock 
>and it could be a month or so before they could get any more.
>Rant follows: Why can't all online retailers have a "number in stock" field 
>on their websites, or "out of stock" when appropriate? Grrrrr.
>Order cancelled and eventually found another supplier, Digital Village. 
>Order placed but no delivery date yet.
>We'll see how it goes...
>
>George 
>

Couldn't you have gone direct to Hiscox and ordered one from them?

Pete

wrote in message 
news:hkcg851s99b68ck3rho8hainp8eob0f4m0@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:43:07 +0100, "George Weston"
>  wrote:
>
>>
>> wrote in message
>>news:sjje85dia72qrjdk7ld2a4ocbosnnij44s@4ax.com...
>>> On Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:00:11 +0100, Peter McCormack 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:33:58 +0100, George Weston wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message
>>>>> news:7c3tf6F25bko1U1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message
>>>>>> news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire
>>>>>>> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song
>>>>>>> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James,
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a
>>>>>>> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty 
>>>>>>> close
>>>>>>> but no cigar.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received 
>>>>>>> wisdom
>>>>>>> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the
>>>>>>> worst
>>>>>>> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My
>>>>>>> thoughts
>>>>>>> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on
>>>>>>> pickup
>>>>>>> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am 
>>>>>>> I?)
>>>>>>> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a 
>>>>>>> bit
>>>>>>> bewildered by the choice.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but
>>>>>>> which
>>>>>>> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either
>>>>>>> through
>>>>>>> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a 
>>>>>>> good
>>>>>>> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy
>>>>>>> throwing
>>>>>>> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then 
>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is 
>>>>>>> out
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> the question, price-wise.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on
>>>>>>> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which
>>>>>>> pickup)?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> George
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of
>>>>>> any
>>>>>> of them.... ;-)
>>>>>> Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha 
>>>>>> APX700
>>>>>> acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond
>>>>>> Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
>>>>>> I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have
>>>>>> upped
>>>>>> the price to £449
>>>>>> http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
>>>>>> I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> George
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks once again to Peter McC for his recommendation on string
>>>>> replacement
>>>>> I changed the original Yamaha set to Newtone Masterclass 12-52s and 
>>>>> the
>>>>> difference is amazing!
>>>>> Played it in anger for the first time through the PA at last 
>>>>> Saturday's
>>>>> gig
>>>>> and received quite a few compliments on the sound.
>>>>> Happy bunny :-)
>>>>> All I need now is a hard case for it.
>>>>> Any suggestions?
>>>>
>>>>Hiscox - if you go to the Hiscox web site you can watch Mr Hiscox 
>>>>telling
>>>>you why.
>>>>I bought mine from Strings Direct.
>>>
>>> Seconded on the Hiscox cases. Unless you're flying a lot and checking
>>> your guitar (in which case you need a Calton).
>>>
>>> I have three guitars in Hiscox cases (combined value about six grand -
>>> guitars, that is, not the cases) and they're pretty good unless you
>>> want to spend more on the case than the guitar is worth.
>>>
>>> They're tough, and light - perfect for slinging in the back of a car
>>> for gigs. I've never jumped up and down on one though, but then
>>> neither has anyone else..:-)
>>>
>>> Pete
>>
>>I paid an abortive visit to a local-ish music shop last week and tried a
>>couple of different cases, neither of which properly fitted the guitar - 
>>too
>>big, too small, wrong shape, etc...
>>I came home and did a bit of googling - which I should have done in the
>>first place - and found that there is a hard case specially made for the
>>Yamaha APX series, made by Hiscox but with "Yamaha" embossed on the side.
>>http://www.chamberlainmusic.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=APXC
>>I ordered one and then got an email telling me that they were out of stock
>>and it could be a month or so before they could get any more.
>>Rant follows: Why can't all online retailers have a "number in stock" 
>>field
>>on their websites, or "out of stock" when appropriate? Grrrrr.
>>Order cancelled and eventually found another supplier, Digital Village.
>>Order placed but no delivery date yet.
>>We'll see how it goes...
>>
>>George
>>
>
> Couldn't you have gone direct to Hiscox and ordered one from them?
>
> Pete

I didn't know they sold directly.
If I don't get a delivery date from Digital Village in the next day or so, I 
may just cancel my order and do that.
Thanks for the tip.

George

On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:42:56 +0100, "George Weston"
 wrote:

>
> wrote in message 
>news:hkcg851s99b68ck3rho8hainp8eob0f4m0@4ax.com...
>> On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:43:07 +0100, "George Weston"
>>  wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> wrote in message
>>>news:sjje85dia72qrjdk7ld2a4ocbosnnij44s@4ax.com...
>>>> On Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:00:11 +0100, Peter McCormack 
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:33:58 +0100, George Weston wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message
>>>>>> news:7c3tf6F25bko1U1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>>>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire
>>>>>>>> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song
>>>>>>>> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son James,
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off a
>>>>>>>> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty 
>>>>>>>> close
>>>>>>>> but no cigar.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received 
>>>>>>>> wisdom
>>>>>>>> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing the
>>>>>>>> worst
>>>>>>>> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My
>>>>>>>> thoughts
>>>>>>>> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on
>>>>>>>> pickup
>>>>>>>> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am 
>>>>>>>> I?)
>>>>>>>> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see
>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a 
>>>>>>>> bit
>>>>>>>> bewildered by the choice.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either but
>>>>>>>> which
>>>>>>>> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either
>>>>>>>> through
>>>>>>>> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a 
>>>>>>>> good
>>>>>>>> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy
>>>>>>>> throwing
>>>>>>>> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then 
>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is 
>>>>>>>> out
>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>> the question, price-wise.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts on
>>>>>>>> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which
>>>>>>>> pickup)?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> George
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice of
>>>>>>> any
>>>>>>> of them.... ;-)
>>>>>>> Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha 
>>>>>>> APX700
>>>>>>> acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond
>>>>>>> Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
>>>>>>> I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have
>>>>>>> upped
>>>>>>> the price to £449
>>>>>>> http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
>>>>>>> I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> George
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks once again to Peter McC for his recommendation on string
>>>>>> replacement
>>>>>> I changed the original Yamaha set to Newtone Masterclass 12-52s and 
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> difference is amazing!
>>>>>> Played it in anger for the first time through the PA at last 
>>>>>> Saturday's
>>>>>> gig
>>>>>> and received quite a few compliments on the sound.
>>>>>> Happy bunny :-)
>>>>>> All I need now is a hard case for it.
>>>>>> Any suggestions?
>>>>>
>>>>>Hiscox - if you go to the Hiscox web site you can watch Mr Hiscox 
>>>>>telling
>>>>>you why.
>>>>>I bought mine from Strings Direct.
>>>>
>>>> Seconded on the Hiscox cases. Unless you're flying a lot and checking
>>>> your guitar (in which case you need a Calton).
>>>>
>>>> I have three guitars in Hiscox cases (combined value about six grand -
>>>> guitars, that is, not the cases) and they're pretty good unless you
>>>> want to spend more on the case than the guitar is worth.
>>>>
>>>> They're tough, and light - perfect for slinging in the back of a car
>>>> for gigs. I've never jumped up and down on one though, but then
>>>> neither has anyone else..:-)
>>>>
>>>> Pete
>>>
>>>I paid an abortive visit to a local-ish music shop last week and tried a
>>>couple of different cases, neither of which properly fitted the guitar - 
>>>too
>>>big, too small, wrong shape, etc...
>>>I came home and did a bit of googling - which I should have done in the
>>>first place - and found that there is a hard case specially made for the
>>>Yamaha APX series, made by Hiscox but with "Yamaha" embossed on the side.
>>>http://www.chamberlainmusic.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=APXC
>>>I ordered one and then got an email telling me that they were out of stock
>>>and it could be a month or so before they could get any more.
>>>Rant follows: Why can't all online retailers have a "number in stock" 
>>>field
>>>on their websites, or "out of stock" when appropriate? Grrrrr.
>>>Order cancelled and eventually found another supplier, Digital Village.
>>>Order placed but no delivery date yet.
>>>We'll see how it goes...
>>>
>>>George
>>>
>>
>> Couldn't you have gone direct to Hiscox and ordered one from them?
>>
>> Pete
>
>I didn't know they sold directly.
>If I don't get a delivery date from Digital Village in the next day or so, I 
>may just cancel my order and do that.
>Thanks for the tip.
>
>George 
>

Well, thanks backatcha.

It seems to me that there is a common perception that if something is
available retail then going direct is kind of infra dig.

Of course, if I wanted a pound of leeks, the farm would prolly charge
me more than Tesco, but when it comes to something as arcane as guitar
cases....

You know what I mean...:-)

Pete

wrote in message 
news:75sg851u7093lp8h7ns2af4858jaqjjqb6@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:42:56 +0100, "George Weston"
>  wrote:
>
>>
>> wrote in message
>>news:hkcg851s99b68ck3rho8hainp8eob0f4m0@4ax.com...
>>> On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:43:07 +0100, "George Weston"
>>>  wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> wrote in message
>>>>news:sjje85dia72qrjdk7ld2a4ocbosnnij44s@4ax.com...
>>>>> On Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:00:11 +0100, Peter McCormack 
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:33:58 +0100, George Weston wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:7c3tf6F25bko1U1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "George Weston"  wrote in message
>>>>>>>> news:7b9h3oF22plvrU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>>>>> I've almost decided, after years of playing electric, to acquire
>>>>>>>>> something of the acoustic persuasion.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I've so far managed to get an almost-acoustic sound when the song
>>>>>>>>> requires it with my Strat (with tone controls modified by son 
>>>>>>>>> James,
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> bass and treble operating on all pickups) with the bass rolled off 
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> little and using the "acoustic" patch on my Zoom G2. It's pretty
>>>>>>>>> close
>>>>>>>>> but no cigar.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> At first I was considering an electro-acoustic but the received
>>>>>>>>> wisdom
>>>>>>>>> appears to be that such instruments are compromises, possessing 
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> worst
>>>>>>>>> attributes of electrics and acoustics but not the best ones. My
>>>>>>>>> thoughts
>>>>>>>>> are therefore tending towards a "proper" acoustic with an add-on
>>>>>>>>> pickup
>>>>>>>>> for band use. Assuming that I'm heading in the right direction (am
>>>>>>>>> I?)
>>>>>>>>> I'd appreciate some advice as to what to look for.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> A few facts / limiting factors:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I'm a lefty, which may reduce the choice out there. However, I see
>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>> Strings Direct have a good selection of lefty acoustics but I'm a
>>>>>>>>> bit
>>>>>>>>> bewildered by the choice.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Use - mostly rhythm strummage in a pop covers band.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Size/sound - something which isn't too small or enormous either 
>>>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>>> which
>>>>>>>>> possesses a good tone when unplugged and also amplified, either
>>>>>>>>> through
>>>>>>>>> the band's PA or my AC30 (I can't really justify the expense of a
>>>>>>>>> good
>>>>>>>>> acoustic amp such as one of the AER models).
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Price? Mid-range, I'd say (perhaps £400 to 500?). I don't fancy
>>>>>>>>> throwing
>>>>>>>>> away a couple of hundred quid on a cheapo no-name Chinese and then
>>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>>> disappointed later. On the other hand, something like a Gibson is
>>>>>>>>> out
>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>> the question, price-wise.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> So - any suggestions/recommendations, please (including thoughts 
>>>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>>> electro-acoustic vs. acoustic with separate pickup; if so which
>>>>>>>>> pickup)?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> George
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. As usual, I took no notice 
>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>> any
>>>>>>>> of them.... ;-)
>>>>>>>> Following a heads-up from Peter McC, I settled on a lefty Yamaha
>>>>>>>> APX700
>>>>>>>> acoustic-electric at a very good price indeed from Chappell of Bond
>>>>>>>> Street, who had one on sale at a very silly £369.
>>>>>>>> I just checked their website and they're now out of stock and have
>>>>>>>> upped
>>>>>>>> the price to £449
>>>>>>>> http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/product.php?product_id=YAM-APX700L-NT
>>>>>>>> I owe you a pint or three at Buxton, Peter!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> George
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks once again to Peter McC for his recommendation on string
>>>>>>> replacement
>>>>>>> I changed the original Yamaha set to Newtone Masterclass 12-52s and
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> difference is amazing!
>>>>>>> Played it in anger for the first time through the PA at last
>>>>>>> Saturday's
>>>>>>> gig
>>>>>>> and received quite a few compliments on the sound.
>>>>>>> Happy bunny :-)
>>>>>>> All I need now is a hard case for it.
>>>>>>> Any suggestions?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Hiscox - if you go to the Hiscox web site you can watch Mr Hiscox
>>>>>>telling
>>>>>>you why.
>>>>>>I bought mine from Strings Direct.
>>>>>
>>>>> Seconded on the Hiscox cases. Unless you're flying a lot and checking
>>>>> your guitar (in which case you need a Calton).
>>>>>
>>>>> I have three guitars in Hiscox cases (combined value about six grand -
>>>>> guitars, that is, not the cases) and they're pretty good unless you
>>>>> want to spend more on the case than the guitar is worth.
>>>>>
>>>>> They're tough, and light - perfect for slinging in the back of a car
>>>>> for gigs. I've never jumped up and down on one though, but then
>>>>> neither has anyone else..:-)
>>>>>
>>>>> Pete
>>>>
>>>>I paid an abortive visit to a local-ish music shop last week and tried a
>>>>couple of different cases, neither of which properly fitted the guitar -
>>>>too
>>>>big, too small, wrong shape, etc...
>>>>I came home and did a bit of googling - which I should have done in the
>>>>first place - and found that there is a hard case specially made for the
>>>>Yamaha APX series, made by Hiscox but with "Yamaha" embossed on the 
>>>>side.
>>>>http://www.chamberlainmusic.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=APXC
>>>>I ordered one and then got an email telling me that they were out of 
>>>>stock
>>>>and it could be a month or so before they could get any more.
>>>>Rant follows: Why can't all online retailers have a "number in stock"
>>>>field
>>>>on their websites, or "out of stock" when appropriate? Grrrrr.
>>>>Order cancelled and eventually found another supplier, Digital Village.
>>>>Order placed but no delivery date yet.
>>>>We'll see how it goes...
>>>>
>>>>George
>>>>
>>>
>>> Couldn't you have gone direct to Hiscox and ordered one from them?
>>>
>>> Pete
>>
>>I didn't know they sold directly.
>>If I don't get a delivery date from Digital Village in the next day or so, 
>>I
>>may just cancel my order and do that.
>>Thanks for the tip.
>>
>>George
>>
>
> Well, thanks backatcha.
>
> It seems to me that there is a common perception that if something is
> available retail then going direct is kind of infra dig.
>
> Of course, if I wanted a pound of leeks, the farm would prolly charge
> me more than Tesco, but when it comes to something as arcane as guitar
> cases....
>
> You know what I mean...:-)

Final update:
Checked with Hiscox, who told me the one to go for (STD-CL) - but they don't 
sell direct.
Checked even more online retailers for the Hiscox one. Found two.
Phoned the first  - shown as available on website but out of stock. Where 
have I seen this sort of thing before?...
Finally ended up with Omega music of Cumbria, who actually had one in stock.
Ordered yesterday afternoon and delivered today. Pretty good service from 
Cumbria to south Wales in less than 24 hrs (Fedex).
I'm a happy bunny at last and will now shut up!

George