[UdonPower99]

Hi, I've been playing guitar for almost a year now my first guitar was the cheapest Denver full sized acoustic one could buy from Long and McQuade. I was thinking about upgrading to something better... Is a decent acoustic under 400 even feasible? Should I even upgrade? Please share your thoughts/good guitars under 400 or right at the 400 mark... Thanks!

 

[Guncho]

No one can really answer this question but you. How you like a guitar to feel and sound is a very personal thing. If I were you, I would go to a guitar store with a good selection of acoustics and play every acoustic for $400 and under. I did this with a budget of $1000 and bought a Yamaha FG830 for $450.

For $400 I would look at a Yamaha FG800 and save some money or an FG820 for an upgrade.

Get a guitar with a solid top.

 

[Wardo]

I think it can be done for 400 but you’d have to look around quite a bit and maybe buy used.

I have some expensive guitars and I also have a Sigma DR28V which I paid 650 for new. It would probably go for 400 used. If the Sigma was the only guitar that I had I wouldn’t complain. It sounds good and I’m using it a bit for recording because it records well and is easier to EQ than my Martins.

 

[Latole]

I'll look at second hand market. I'll never buy a new one. I have enough experience to know how and what I buy.

Write in you profile where you live, some member may see good deals ?

 

[laristotle]

You can usually find a good used Godin family acoustic (Norman, Seagull, Art & Luthier, Simon & Patrick) for under $400.

 

[Budda]

Look for a seagull S6.

 

[Duntov]

Method #1 (the most important method) "The wand chooses the magician" from Harry Potter.
As a previous poster mentioned, try a lot of guitars within your budget and find the one that speaks to you.

Method #2 Play a guitar of a much higher caliber, then find the one if your budget that most closely matches the feel and sound of the most expensive instrument.

* If you have a budget for $400, but $600 opens the doors to a lot more possibilities, do yourself a favour and spend the extra money, or just wait until you can afford. A great instrument will inspire you to play and one you don't bond with will sit and collect dust.

The previous suggestions of Yamaha or Seagull S6 are worth checking into...those two came to my mind..

 

[bw66]

I would echo the recommendations so far and add Tanglewood to the list. You don't see a lot of them, but you should be able to pick up a nice solid-top for under $400 used.

 

[teleboli]

Look for a seagull S6.

This.

 

[silvertonebetty]

Hi, I've been playing guitar for almost a year now my first guitar was the cheapest Denver full sized acoustic one could buy from Long and McQuade. I was thinking about upgrading to something better... Is a decent acoustic under 400 even feasible? Should I even upgrade? Please share your thoughts/good guitars under 400 or right at the 400 mark... Thanks!

May I suggest looking at a used seagull. If you can get by the big neck they are really amazing


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[Guncho]

Look for a seagull S6.

Those are well over $400.

 

[Budda]

Those are well over $400.

On the used market?

 

[Guncho]

On the used market?

The OP never mentioned looking in the used market so I would assume they are not.

 

[silvertonebetty]

The OP never mentioned looking in the used market so I would assume they are not.

I think a lot of people shy away from the used market. I was like that for years but after meeting a fella I soon learned the used market is better than new. A lot of times if the guitar was actually played all the little bugs are worked out of them . And not to mention how much cheaper it is


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[Guncho]

I think a lot of people shy away from the used market. I was like that for years but after meeting a fella I soon learned the used market is better than new. A lot of times if the guitar was actually played all the little bugs are worked out of them . And not to mention how much cheaper it is


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Absolutely. The used market is the first place I look especially if you can do setups yourself. If you don't know how to adjust a guitar then I don't know if I would recommend the used market for a $400 guitar. Even a $270 guitar at L&M comes with a free setup which is an $75+ value. Let's say you find that guitar used for $200 but it needs a setup. Now that used guitar just cost you $275. Also nice to have a warranty.

 

[nman]

Lots of nice used guitars for that price a bit lower and one setup per year should do. Check carefully before you buy for bridge stability, solid tuners, finish cracks from dryness, and the joint where the heel meets the body. Lots of youtube vids on this topic. And if the guitar has old strings, count on it to sound much better with new ones.

 

[Guncho]

Love this group.

"What's the best way to do A?"
"Do B!"

 

[Kerry Brown]

Denver guitars can be setup to play OK but the sound is not there. I wouldn't spend money to get it setup. Unless you are experienced with acoustic guitars you should look at new and get them to throw in a setup after you've played it for a couple of weeks. There are many things that can go wrong with an acoustic. If you don't know what to look for you should stay away from used in that price range. I agree you should look at the Godin family of acoustics. You should also look at Yamaha acoustics. You should be able to get something that sounds better and with a decent setup plays better than the Denver in your price range.

 

[Budda]

Love this group.

"What's the best way to do A?"
"Do B!"

They never asked what the best new guitar for $400 is, just which guitar for $400.

 

[Guncho]

They never asked what the best new guitar for $400 is, just which guitar for $400.

You are 100% correct.

I am using what my children call inference.