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8/16/2010
Best acoustic guitar?
Serenades. Tears in Heaven. Country & Bluegrass. Let's admit it: acoustic guitars are unreplaceable on certain aspects. They still have their advantages, despite the advent of electricity on the 6 string instrument. They are portable and need nothing else to be playable and heard. They are versatile. They may have its unique sweet, romantic, spanish, countryish, or other tone.
Of course there are good acoustic guitars and bad acoustic guitars. And, quite frankly, there are almost as many brands as there are players. So, which guitars on the shop are worth your 30-seconds "test-play"? Maybe my metanalysis will help you out...
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Original Post Date: July 2006
Original Poster Question: Best acoustic guitar for 1000-1500$
- Martin: 4
- Ovation: 3
- Taylor Grand Auditorium: 2
- Alvarez: 1
- Atlas Series AD25: 1
- Blueridge BR160: 1
- Breedlove: 1
- Carvin C: 1
- Elderly: 1
- Gibson: 1
- Harley Davidson: 1
- Ibanez AEF: 1
- Tacoma: 1
- Takamine: EAN10CE: 1
- Washburn: 1
- Yamaha FG: 1
- Ovation: 3
- Taylor Grand Auditorium: 2
- Alvarez: 1
- Atlas Series AD25: 1
- Blueridge BR160: 1
- Breedlove: 1
- Carvin C: 1
- Elderly: 1
- Gibson: 1
- Harley Davidson: 1
- Ibanez AEF: 1
- Tacoma: 1
- Takamine: EAN10CE: 1
- Washburn: 1
- Yamaha FG: 1
Original Post Date: November 2006
Original Poster Question: Best acoustic guitar for 450 with good looks, easy action and smaller scale
- Yamaha: 7
- Washburn: 5- Cort: 4
- Maton: 3
- Greg Bennett: 1
- Ibanez: 1
Original Post Date: May 2008
Original Poster Question: Best acoustic guitar for under 1000$
- Seagull S6: 6
- Blueridge: 4- Godin Norman: 4
- Martin (most mentioned: S): 4
- Taylor: 4
- Faith: 3
- Breedlove: 2
- Lakewood: 2
- Yairi: 2
- Alvarez: 1
- Avalon: 1
- Elderly: 1
- Epiphone Masterbuilt: 1
- Harmony Sovereign: 1
Original Post Date: October 2008
Original Poster Question: Best acoustic guitar for under 500$
- Seagull: 3
- Silver Creek: 2- Taylor 110: 2
- Yamaha: 2
- Alvarez: 1
- Breedlove: 1
- Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500M: 1
- Takamine EG440SC: 1
- Woodsong K-100: 1
Mentions Seagull S6, Washburn D10S, Epiphone Hummingbird, Fender DG100, two Takamines, Yamaha FG7305, Alvarez RG8 and Ibanez AEL20E.
Mentions Seagull S6, Yamaha FG700S, Takamine G-340, two Fenders, Epiphone DR-100, Ibanez AC30NT, Taylor Baby Taylor and Martin LX1.
Mentions Epiphone, Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, Taylor, Takamine and Seagull.
Here's the podium:
1 - Seagull S6: 12



2 - Yamaha: 12


3 - Martin: 9



Even though I already underlined this on the "This site explained" page, I'll say it again: this podium is NOT meant to be an absolute dogmatic score of the different brands. Instead, it is meant to be a good way to provide you the names of the most debated/acclaimed brands on the "guitar community". Use this list as a rough rule of thumb - by this I mean: hit the shop and, when you see one of these brands on a shelf, think "Here is one of the brands mentioned by the Guitar Oracle... Let's check out what this is all about" instead of "That is the one I'll be taking home, sir. How much is it?". You have been warned, I have been "disclaimed". Twice ;).
Seagull S6 impressed me a bit, since it was mentioned on various forums and sites, whether beginner guitars or professional guitars were being debated. I would pay more attention to the Seagull S6 than to a Yamaha in case I hit the shop also because it was almost always the S6 model that was mentioned. Yamahas were, on the other hand, mentioned almost always as a general brand.
Here's the podium:
1 - Seagull S6: 12
2 - Yamaha: 12
3 - Martin: 9
Even though I already underlined this on the "This site explained" page, I'll say it again: this podium is NOT meant to be an absolute dogmatic score of the different brands. Instead, it is meant to be a good way to provide you the names of the most debated/acclaimed brands on the "guitar community". Use this list as a rough rule of thumb - by this I mean: hit the shop and, when you see one of these brands on a shelf, think "Here is one of the brands mentioned by the Guitar Oracle... Let's check out what this is all about" instead of "That is the one I'll be taking home, sir. How much is it?". You have been warned, I have been "disclaimed". Twice ;).
Seagull S6 impressed me a bit, since it was mentioned on various forums and sites, whether beginner guitars or professional guitars were being debated. I would pay more attention to the Seagull S6 than to a Yamaha in case I hit the shop also because it was almost always the S6 model that was mentioned. Yamahas were, on the other hand, mentioned almost always as a general brand.
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8/15/2010
The Ultimate Guitar Amp Shootout (100-250 euros)
Taking a look at the options between 100 and 250 euros on european shops, I leaned over the most common names out there and decided to give you a list with the most useful information about each model I found, in an organized and compact fashion. I also included the direct link to the official site of the model and a link to a quality video demo on youtube so you can check out the sound by yourselves, without getting annoyed by lousy amateur-recorded youtube videos. I hope it's useful ;).
Orange Crush PIX 35 LDX
Solid State
Watts: 35
Cabinet: 1x12''
FX: 16 Digital Effects
Other: Built in tuner
FX: 16 Digital Effects
Other: Built in tuner
Solid State
Watts: 30
Cabinet: 1x10''
Other: No effects
Valve/Tube
Watts: 5
Cabinet: 1x8''
Other: Class A single ended
No effects
No footswitch
No FX loop
Two knobs: Tone and Volume
No effects
No footswitch
No FX loop
Two knobs: Tone and Volume
Laney Linebacker LR35
--
Solid State
Watts: 35
Cabinet: 1x10''
Other: 4 modulation effects + delay/reverb; 22 amp models
2 channels
Master Presence knob; EQ recalled with each amp model
2 channels
Master Presence knob; EQ recalled with each amp model
Headphone socket, Record Out, 1 Jackup input + 1 AUX input
Built in tuner
Laney Prism P35
Solid State
Watts: 30
Watts: 30
Cabinet: 1x10''
Other: Multi FX (?)
4 user channels
EQ; Adjustable boost switch
2 footswitches, Headphone socket and CD input
Built in tuner
EQ; Adjustable boost switch
2 footswitches, Headphone socket and CD input
Built in tuner
Solid State
Watts: 30
Cabinet: 1x10''
Other: Up to 5 effects simultaneously; 11 editable rack effects; 11 editable stompbox effects; 12 amp presets
EQ, master volume + pre / post gain controls; Tap Tempo button
Sanpera footswitch adds up to 400 presets
MIDI In/Out; headphone output; FX looper
Built in tuner
Comes with demo of REAPER and Revalver HP
EQ, master volume + pre / post gain controls; Tap Tempo button
Sanpera footswitch adds up to 400 presets
MIDI In/Out; headphone output; FX looper
Built in tuner
Comes with demo of REAPER and Revalver HP
Solid State
Watts: 25
Cabinet: 1x8''
Other: 3 position voicing switch
2 channels; EQ
Tape/CD input; headphone jack
2 channels; EQ
Tape/CD input; headphone jack
Valve/Tube
Watts: 5
Cabinet: 1x8''
Other: Class A single ended
Gain, Tone and Level controls
High and Low Gain inputs
Gain, Tone and Level controls
High and Low Gain inputs
Peavey Transtube Envoy 110
Solid State
Watts: 40
Cabinet: 1x10''
Other: 3-position voicing switches for each of the 2 channels; Boost; Speaker Simulated Direct Output
EQ on each channel
High and Low Gain inputs; Heaphone output
EQ on each channel
High and Low Gain inputs; Heaphone output
Solid State
Watts: 30
Cabinet: 1x10''
Solid State
Watts: 15
Cabinet: 1x8''
Other: 100 factory + user presets; Digital amp modeling + DSP effects
Guitar Tone, Band Level and Volume knobs; screen + buttons for digital settings
Heaphone output; USB connection
Guitar Tone, Band Level and Volume knobs; screen + buttons for digital settings
Heaphone output; USB connection
Built in tuner; onboard phrase sampler
Valve/Tube
Watts: 5
Cabinet: 1x6''
Other: No effects
Volume control
High and Low Gain inputs (Instrument and Microphone); External Speaker output
Volume control
High and Low Gain inputs (Instrument and Microphone); External Speaker output
Valve/Tube
Watts: 15
Cabinet: 1x10''
Other: Class AB
16 Voicings + 16 DSP effects
2 Channels (Normal; Amp Voice); EQ, channel Volume, Gain and FX level knobs; Footswitch
External Speaker Output
16 Voicings + 16 DSP effects
2 Channels (Normal; Amp Voice); EQ, channel Volume, Gain and FX level knobs; Footswitch
External Speaker Output
Valve/Tube
Watts: 5
Cabinet: 1x10''
Other: Class A
16 Voicings + 16 DSP effects
One Channel; EQ, Volume, Gain and FX level knobs; No footswitch
External Speaker Output
16 Voicings + 16 DSP effects
One Channel; EQ, Volume, Gain and FX level knobs; No footswitch
External Speaker Output
Fender Mustang I


Official Site
Demo
Solid State
Watts: 20
Cabinet; 1x8''
Other: 24 editable presets + 24 DSP effects;
One Channel; EQ, Gain, Volume, Master + buttons for digital settings;
Headphone output/Line out; USB connection; footswitch to switch between two presets;
Built in tuner
Fender Mustang II


Official Site
Demo
Solid State
Watts: 40
Cabinet: 1x12''
Other: 24 editable presets + 24 DSP effects;
One Channel; EQ, Gain, Volume, Master + buttons for digital settings;
Headphone output/Line out; USB connection; footswitch to switch between two presets;
Built in tuner
Official Site
Demo
Solid State
Watts: 20
Cabinet; 1x8''
Other: 24 editable presets + 24 DSP effects;
One Channel; EQ, Gain, Volume, Master + buttons for digital settings;
Headphone output/Line out; USB connection; footswitch to switch between two presets;
Built in tuner
Fender Mustang II
Official Site
Demo
Solid State
Watts: 40
Cabinet: 1x12''
Other: 24 editable presets + 24 DSP effects;
One Channel; EQ, Gain, Volume, Master + buttons for digital settings;
Headphone output/Line out; USB connection; footswitch to switch between two presets;
Built in tuner
Solid State
Watts: 15
Cabinet: 1x8''
Other: Tremolo and Reverb effects
Gain, Volume, Tremolo Speed / Depth and Reverb knobs; Boost switch
Line output; External Speaker output; Headphone output; Footswitch
Other: Tremolo and Reverb effects
Gain, Volume, Tremolo Speed / Depth and Reverb knobs; Boost switch
Line output; External Speaker output; Headphone output; Footswitch
Valve/Tube
Watts: 15
Cabinet: 1x8''
Other: 12 effects; 22 amp models with 3 preset slots each; 8 additional user preset slots
Power Level control (control wattage without affecting tone); Master volume control
Headphone output; Phone jack
Power Level control (control wattage without affecting tone); Master volume control
Headphone output; Phone jack
--
--
Solid State
Watts: 15
Cabinet: 1x6.5''
Other: No effects
2 Channels; volume knob for each channel; Drive knob for overdrive channel; EQ; Master volume
Headphones output; AUX In
2 Channels; volume knob for each channel; Drive knob for overdrive channel; EQ; Master volume
Headphones output; AUX In
Valve/Tube
Watts: 5
Cabinet: 1x10''
Other: Class A
No effects
Volume and Tone knobs
No effects
Volume and Tone knobs
--
Solid State
Watts: 65
Cabinet: 1x12''
Other: DSP Effects
3 Channels
EQ for each channel;
CD output; Effects loop; External speaker output; footswitch included!
Built in tuner
3 Channels
EQ for each channel;
CD output; Effects loop; External speaker output; footswitch included!
Built in tuner
Hughes £ Kettner Edition Blue 15-R
Solid State
Watts: 15
Cabinet: 1x8''
Other: Reverb
EQ
CD input; Heaphone output; Line Out
EQ
CD input; Heaphone output; Line Out
Solid State
Watts: 30
Cabinet:
Other: 8 amp models; DSP effects
2 Channels
CD input; Recording/Headphone output
2 Channels
CD input; Recording/Headphone output
Valve/Tube
Watts: 5
Cabinet: 1x8''
Other: Class A single ended
No effects, footswitch, headphones output...
Only volume knob, guitar input and power switch
No effects, footswitch, headphones output...
Only volume knob, guitar input and power switch
Solid State
Watts: 30
Cabinet: 1x10''
Other: 12 amp models; 7 DSP effects (up to 3 at once) + noise gate
4 user-programmable channels
CD input; Headphone/Direct out
Built in tuner
Bugera V22


Official Site
Demo
Valve/Tube
Watts: 22
Cabinet: 1x12''
Other: Reverb
2 Channels; EQ + Presence knobs; Footswitch; triode/pentode switch; Impedance switch (4/8/16 ohms)
2 Inputs (Normal and Bright)
PS: I didn't include an image on the amps that didn't show up on amazon.
I also didn't give the link to the official site/demo when it was not found.
Happy string pulling!
Other: 12 amp models; 7 DSP effects (up to 3 at once) + noise gate
4 user-programmable channels
CD input; Headphone/Direct out
Built in tuner
Bugera V22
Official Site
Demo
Valve/Tube
Watts: 22
Cabinet: 1x12''
Other: Reverb
2 Channels; EQ + Presence knobs; Footswitch; triode/pentode switch; Impedance switch (4/8/16 ohms)
2 Inputs (Normal and Bright)
PS: I didn't include an image on the amps that didn't show up on amazon.
I also didn't give the link to the official site/demo when it was not found.
Happy string pulling!
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