Hi guys, I've played guitar for more than a decade now and I've been using cheapo acoustic guitar all these while. The most expensive acoustic guitar I own was rm400. I've finally decided to buy a decent acoustic guitar for myself. But I have no idea which to choose. My budget is below rm3000.

Ok, I know this is what I want

1. Grand auditorium
2. preferably solid top, if not full solid.
3. With pickup
4. Standard size, no baby or travel size

My list of choices would be

1. Martin 000x1AE - solid top, laminated mahogany side and back - rm2999
2. Taylor 114ce - laminated top, side and back (if not mistaken) - around rm3000

Or I'll go for not so famous brands but full solid

3. Farida R-52e - solid spruce top, solid mahogany side and back - the non electric version is priced at rm2080 so I assume the electric version would be around rm2800
4. L.luthier - solid spruce top, solid mahogany side and back - rm2800

My question is, is brand really that important? Should I go for a branded entry level or a not so branded but with high specs...
Any suggestion would be much appreciated. Thanks

Go for Taylor, I have GsMini its pretty small, but gotta say I'm satisfied,,

Yamaha is not in the list ?

Don't u think that the Taylor 114ce a bit over price for its non solid specs?

I never try Yamaha high end acoustic b4. Only tried those cheapo ones and I don't really like it. What Yamaha model do u suggest? I can google it out.

check out yamaha first

those are all good. ultimately only you can make the decision. martin, taylor, yamaha, blueridge, all good sounding guitar and high quality

TS, its better for you to just go to the shop and test stuff out first. U might actually even end up with a more affordable no-name guitar that sounds and feels great. Even if the guitar you like playing turns out to be above ur price range, thats knowledge under your belt - you can learn what it is about the guitar that is nice for you, and try find similar specs in other builds. Go experiment!

Thanks guys. Yea, will do... I'll go test it out this weekend. Btw, another question. Is brand a factor for u guy? My friend adviced me to go for brands such as Martin or Taylor coz they r more reliable and they r within my price range. It'll be valuable if I keep it long. Who knows, I might wanna sell it in the future. What I guys think?

for me , brand is a factor.....

Hmm.. So u'll go for Martin or Taylor in this case?

any well known brand

yamaha made in japan, excellent. it's your choice. they all sound different

just don't buy a brand which no one has heard of , ya know what i mean

True that... Any specific Yamaha model? Can't find much spec info from their website.

yamaha APX1200 or YAMAHA AC3R for example

or check out www.blueridge.com.my for their "historic" series

all so different. blueridge has that nashville sound, yamaha has that sparkling brightness. just prepare your money, go to a shop with most guitar selection and buy the one that makes your heart melt

Thank.. Never heard of blueridge. I'll check em out..

Try considering Breedlove.
Between the two I'd go for Taylor. However the price is really steep for its spec.
I've tried some really amazing Farida guitars thatll beat the 114ce

between ur 1st 2 choices...
i'll choose martin...tho its still over-priced.
but not as grossly over-priced as the taylor.

Really? Do u know the model?

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Added on July 11, 2012, 2:44 pmDo u mean over price for only a solid top? For l.luthier, I can get solid top for only rm1090.

This post has been edited by hey_there: Jul 11 2012, 02:44 PM

cant remember the model
gotta try it out yourself

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Added on July 11, 2012, 2:51 pmits better u try it out yourself. Guitars vary from each other. with China made products, QA might vary even more.


This post has been edited by echobrainproject: Jul 11 2012, 02:51 PM

Yeah, will do. Will make up my mind once I try them. Thanks merlvyn....

Go to bentley shop, try every acoustic there,, they wont bother u either,, u can try taylor, fender, martin, some Malaysian made guitar (my opinion the guitar is nice),, but they dont have yamaha

Oh, they have Martin? I thought I saw Martin in guitar collection.. Guess I'll have to shop around...