I've been practicing on an old guitar I have here, and am looking to get a nice sounding, nice playing middle class guitar, and at the shop here in town, they seem to be selling Hagstrom and tanglewood guitars. Anyone have any experience with these models and can offer some details or advice?
Shame on you, sir, for wanting to play the music of the people on a middle-class guitar !
But, seriously, it all depends what you want.
Your ears are a first good judge. A second party with some experience you can take along to play themselves, and listen to the instrument as you play it, and vice versa, is also a help, as instruments sound different to the player and the audience.
Also, what are you loooking for; a bright trebley instrument for lead playing, one with good string sound seperation for fingerpicking ala Richard Thompson, one with a good bass end for the bottom of the rhythm ?
Also remember that, straight out of the shop, these guitars are often not well set-up; both nut and bridge heights are frequently too high, plus the stringing is usually too heavy for comfortable playing.
As to the choice in town; well, I would advise always play before you buy anyway; Hagstrom are a long-established firm, Tanglewood are newer, and also turn out good-sounding guitars.
In the end, you have to make your own choice; it's the sound, and the feel, and, if you're narcissistic, the looks too.
look at Tanglewood's TW73 I'd have given my right arm for something like that in the days when I played guitar - parlour body, neck 12f to body, and slotted peghead.
A friend of mine has recently started working in a music shop, and turned up at the weekly eclectic ( not only ITM ) session with a brand-new Tanglewood, stroking it gently, and murmuring .."cost price".
But she said, always to check through the stock available, because all guitars vary within a manufacturers production line, all wood varies, etc. If you find a good one, go for it.
On the link above someone said Larrivee are the best cheap guitars. The guitar I recommended is $180, or £90. The cheapest Larrivee is about £700 or $1,400.
For someone looking for a session guitar, Yamaha 310.
If you are backing James Taylor or Dylan on a world tour, get a larrivee or something else.
Buying a Guitar
Buying a Guitar
I've been practicing on an old guitar I have here, and am looking to get a nice sounding, nice playing middle class guitar, and at the shop here in town, they seem to be selling Hagstrom and tanglewood guitars. Anyone have any experience with these models and can offer some details or advice?
# Posted on June 29th 2008 by hibbs21
Re: Buying a Guitar
Shame on you, sir, for wanting to play the music of the people on a middle-class guitar !
But, seriously, it all depends what you want.
Your ears are a first good judge. A second party with some experience you can take along to play themselves, and listen to the instrument as you play it, and vice versa, is also a help, as instruments sound different to the player and the audience.
Also, what are you loooking for; a bright trebley instrument for lead playing, one with good string sound seperation for fingerpicking ala Richard Thompson, one with a good bass end for the bottom of the rhythm ?
Also remember that, straight out of the shop, these guitars are often not well set-up; both nut and bridge heights are frequently too high, plus the stringing is usually too heavy for comfortable playing.
As to the choice in town; well, I would advise always play before you buy anyway; Hagstrom are a long-established firm, Tanglewood are newer, and also turn out good-sounding guitars.
In the end, you have to make your own choice; it's the sound, and the feel, and, if you're narcissistic, the looks too.
# Posted on June 29th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Buying a Guitar
look at Tanglewood's TW73 I'd have given my right arm for something like that in the days when I played guitar - parlour body, neck 12f to body, and slotted peghead.
# Posted on June 29th 2008 by millionyears_bc
Re: Buying a Guitar
recently
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/18190
# Posted on June 29th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: Buying a Guitar
A friend of mine has recently started working in a music shop, and turned up at the weekly eclectic ( not only ITM ) session with a brand-new Tanglewood, stroking it gently, and murmuring .."cost price".
But she said, always to check through the stock available, because all guitars vary within a manufacturers production line, all wood varies, etc. If you find a good one, go for it.
# Posted on June 29th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Buying a Guitar
On the link above someone said Larrivee are the best cheap guitars. The guitar I recommended is $180, or £90. The cheapest Larrivee is about £700 or $1,400.
For someone looking for a session guitar, Yamaha 310.
If you are backing James Taylor or Dylan on a world tour, get a larrivee or something else.
# Posted on July 1st 2008 by bodhran bliss