Hi sifu-sifu sekalian,

I currently have a Yamaha FX370C, but I'm thinking of selling it (I move around a lot nowadays, if anyone's interested can ask me) to get something slightly smaller in size (I like the GS Mini but it's a bit pricey and somehow I feel like there are some guitars out there that can match it at a lower price). What I'm looking for is:

Budget: Less than RM1.5k
Preferred type of sound: Mellow-ish, something like those mahogany top guitars produce (The Yamaha was really too bright for me)
Action: LOW (This is important to me, I have very short fingers, lol, and I'm trying to improve my riffs)
Pick-up: Not necessary, but if got, then it'll be great for jamming sessions

Any recommendations? Apart from those high-end and famous Taylor, Martin, Takamine, I know there are some "unsung heroes" that are still to be discovered.

On a second note, how much should I price my current Yamaha for? I got it for about RM1.2k few years ago, and it's still in good condition. A few minor chips at the edge of the headstock, but still sounds beautiful, especially with the pick-up.

Appreciate all your incoming feedback!!!

This post has been edited by kip2212: Aug 2 2014, 04:13 PM

Why u wanna sell that lovely yammie, just go do an action setup at any luthiers, easy process and don't burn a hole in yer pocket buying a new one

Thanks for the suggestion, I have thought of that too. I'm not sure if these are valid reasons, but:
1. The full size body of the Yamaha causes my right shoulder to ache if I play in a sitting position (cos I'm really just a very small person, lol). And I travel quite a bit so I would like something a little more compact.
2. I want to try a new guitar?

Oh well, I think only taylor baby and martin backpacker and another washburn travel guitar (forgot the name) suits your budget for travel size guitars. Not sure about other brands, but I think yammie has a guitalele model, u might wanna check it out.

Any comments on the Cort Earth Mini?

mahogany will be bright la bro. you want mellow you should choose rosewood. i like mini guitar also.. Yamaha has one.. Solit top for RM700+ but doesnt sound too nice for me.. too pricey for the quality. If rm300-400 still will consider.. Tried before tanglewood mini.. better than yamaha at around RM600 if not mistaken.. but still macam kurang abit for me... hahaha.

your guitar solid top oh.. wood season already or not? bazir la u sell. i truly feel you should keep it

the only mahogany top travel guitar is the taylor baby.
everyone else has some form of spruce, and that one got lots of choices for below rm1.5k.
branded names got martin, tanglewood, taylor, cort, washburn, fender, yamaha...

i guess best value is cort earth mini...but cort as a company kinda sux as evident in youtube videos etc.
and best value with electronics is tanglewood, rm768 retail...but the unplugged tone abit lacking in sustain.

the fender one is cheap, below rm500 but laminated top.

best sounding to me is the martin LX1 - arguably on par with baby taylor, even tho some ppl say LXM better as it they say it sounds fuller...but to me it just sounds more boxier...better for strumming but tone kinda sux for finger picking...for better general use the lx1 shines thru especially in finger picking...
just that little martin retail already almost rm1.7k...which is stupid as in the states the little martin can usually be found cheaper than the baby taylor.

This post has been edited by Everdying: Aug 2 2014, 05:48 PM

I've had it for a long time d, more than 5 years. How to tell if wood season liao?

Actually, I feel quite sayang wanna sell it too. It's not a sure thing though, I might still keep it (or put it at my brother's so I can still pay a visit from time to time ) - it's just that now I move around a bit so I wanna get a value-for-money travel-sized guitar to play around with. I hear some good reviews about the Cort Earth Mini, wonder if anyone's tried it?

never try cort mia mini guitar before. when u do try lemme know how it sounds like ya. i advice to get solid top mini guitar also. if not sound very hollow.

Cort earth mini +1
Little martin +1

I give u another option. Change the nut and saddle material. In fact, other than string, the only way to significantly manipulate the tone is the saddle and the nut.

The right material will give you fuller midrange and less piercy treble.

different picks.
different playing methods.

Care to elaborate?

I've never done any modifications on guitars before, may I know what kind of materials will yield what kind of results for the saddle and nut?

Normally saddle/nut that made by plastic/tusq/micarta or similar plastic material, tend to sound piercy bright.

Bone, it will takes time to break in. Piercy treble when newly installed. Once breakin, it will sound fuller and pure.

Fossilised ivory, it will basically warm up the guitar. U hear better bass respond and more midrange while loose some bringht trebles.

no need elaborate much la.
common sense can sometimes dictate la...but in essence one word is dynamics.
use harder pick, softer pick can change the way u play.
play the same as u always do but with diff picks also get diff tones...brighter...less brighter etc etc depending on softer / thicker / harder / whatever weird material picks are out there.
heck, use fingers / thumb for strumming also obviously different sound.

IMO only once u get ur playing style and tone that u like down, then only bother about changing nuts / saddles etc to fine tune the sound u hear in ur head more.
else u just change nuts / saddle just for the sake of changing, which is obviously extremely pointless.

This post has been edited by Everdying: Aug 3 2014, 05:55 PM

I have personally tried a Cort Earth Mini before...compared to my friend's Taylor Baby I'd say the Cort's build isn't as good with a lot of setups needed after buying whereas the Taylor's just needed to lower the action (it was initially low enough already but my friend having short fingers as well wanted it to be even lower so the tech helped him to lowered it till the minimum action already...some slight buzz if strummed too hard). But in terms of sound I still prefer the Cort because I personally am not a fan of all mahogany guitars...they are just way too bright...the Cort Earth Mini i tried sounds not too bad...just the volume is not there (common case for 3/4 guitars) however I still (probably everyone here would) advice you to try one yourself...the one i tried may sound ok to me but when you try another piece it may sound different and you may like it or don't like it...

There's someone selling his Cort Earth Mini in the garage sales section for RM470 you might wanna check it out if you haven't know about it...

This post has been edited by ptrfaith91: Aug 9 2014, 09:47 AM

Fender CD-60CE Mahogany.. Last time tested so many guitars kaw2.. End up with this one.. Try it..

Else.. Try washburn D10S..