Acoustic guitar

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by corsair74

Look at it this way. MJ (one of the greatest basketball players of all time) would perform a lot better wearing the latest Jordans than he would wearing a pair of old school Chuck Taylors (Converse).

Vince.

But he'd still run circles around you barefoot no matter what shoes YOU were wearing.

Good equipment is helpful in every field, but talent and ability far outweigh equipment in determining likelihood of success.

P.S. I recently plunked down 3g's and some change for a Taylor 814-CE so I appreciate a quality instrument, but I also know it doesn't make me a better player by itself, thought the fact that it is so much fun to play does make me practice harder.

[windeguy]

An excellent point was made about the humidity and salt air and the problems this can cause.

There are a few manufacturers of guitar strings that make coated strings to increase their life time. Some examples (from Musician's Friend, I might add) are

Musician's Friend - Cleartone Guitar Strings Hands-On Review at Musician's Friend

another brand called Elixir is at

Musician's Friend - Search Results


Happy playing regardless of the guitar you end up purchasing.

[reese_in_va]

Sounds like you are a bit of a guitar snob.
Young, Cash, Sting, Hendrix all "seasoned". These guy's could even make a coke bottle sound good.
You take an amatuer and give him a top end Martin and you think that just because it's a solid sounding acoustic that it will sound better????
C'mon, go ahead and give Michael Jordan his "Jordans", Les Paul his "Les Paul" and Leo Fender his "Broadcaster" and it's no wonder how good they will be.
For me, a broken B-string on a no name piece is all I need. In fact, it will be a great learning experience and sound great, as well as different.
Yes, I can afford a better guitar, but my music will not change just because I pay a premium price on a new guitar.

[corsair74]

Originally Posted by MrMike

P.S. I recently plunked down 3g's and some change for a Taylor 814-CE so I appreciate a quality instrument, but I also know it doesn't make me a better player by itself, thought the fact that it is so much fun to play does make me practice harder.

Oooooooooh nice. Played one of those at Guitar Center (the only reason I ever go to that place). The action was so smooth and light, and the ebony fret board so slick, that chord changes were a breeze. And this is my point. Quality guitars are easier to play than the crappy ones. The action on my old fender was so tight that my fingers always got sore from having to press down so hard on the fret board. Even getting it adjusted and developing callouses didn't help. My Martin was easier to play. Thus, it was easier for me to learn. Sigh... a Taylor. I'm jealous.

I'm not saying that skill isn't important. Of course it is. But so is a quality instrument. I'd just hate to see the OP go online and purchase a crappy pink guitar for thirty bucks. When it would be better, in the long run, to spend a bit more on a quality new or used guitar. One that will not only last longer, but will actually sound better the older it gets.

A solution to the humidity issue is to get a classical guitar. The nylon strings won't rust like steel or brass. Especially if the OP is into the latin american styles, most of which are finger-styles instead strumming. Get a good quality hard case, and the problem should be solved.


Vince.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by windeguy

An excellent point was made about the humidity and salt air and the problems this can cause.

There are a few manufacturers of guitar strings that make coated strings to increase their life time. Some examples (from Musician's Friend, I might add) are

Musician's Friend - Cleartone Guitar Strings Hands-On Review at Musician's Friend

another brand called Elixir is at

Musician's Friend - Search Results


Happy playing regardless of the guitar you end up purchasing.

I agree 100% about the elixir strings, they are perfect for this climate, for me they mean the diference between changing strings twice a year or twice a month as would be the case with regular uncoated strings, just from rust and corrosion.

[J D Sauser]

I have yet to fine a dedicated music store in Santiago... but then, I have by far not seen it all there. I have however run into a street with several music stores in Santo Domingo a couple of years ago. I don't remember the exact address but it must have been somewhere close North to the Plaza Lama above the Colonial district... certainly below 27 de Febrero... maybe close to Parque Enriquillo (Caution! This can be a somewhat "hot" zone... and is not recommendable after dusk). They had everything from acoustic to electric guitars, amps, PA systems, percussion and drum kits as well as some electronic key board instruments and accessories.


Speaking of prices. Nowadays, it's hard to say you'd get what you paid for. The Asians have become very adept at building precise quality instruments for next to nothing and importers, wholesalers and super market like outlets have, because of competition chosen to hand those deep discounts to the end user. Some European and American builders still make unique instruments but some just sell the "Made in..." sticker for a premium.
Fender has been often criticized because their Jap editions seem to turn out better musical instruments. I had to return an all American Tele twice and finally found my happiness with a Mexican Tele for a quarter of the price.
Gettin' what you pay for is a thing of the past.

Buying here, you will most likely pay top dollar for the not so great instruments. From what I seem to have seem in Santo Domingo thou, there are some "Spanish"-style guitar builders around...
As some have mentioned, stores like Plaza Lama and similar sometimes carry a few acoustics and electric sets... I would also not be surprised to see PriceMart carrying them around Christmas time as Costco does regularly around that time.


... J-D.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by windeguy

Hello,

My friends and I have purchased various instruments from this company:

rondomusic.com

Rondo Music Acoustics

We have purchased mainly the electric guitars and basses that they import to the US from Asia to resell and they are very good for the price.

You should be able to order a guitar and a case from them, have it shipped here via TransExpress/Western Union/Vimenca and come out ahead on the deal compared to what you can find here.

Good luck.

I can't believe their prices... I just ordered a Macaferi copy acoustic... guitars which even as copies and imitations traded well over USD 500.oo, when available at all.

Thanks for the link!

... J-D.

PS: I'll let everybody know if it arrives here in one piece and what the reaction at the customs was (using Transexpress/Vimenca).

[windeguy]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

I can't believe their prices... I just ordered a Macaferi copy acoustic... guitars which even as copies and imitations traded well over USD 500.oo, when available at all.

Thanks for the link!

... J-D.

PS: I'll let everybody know if it arrives here in one piece and what the reaction at the customs was (using Transexpress/Vimenca).

I hope the guitar works out!. I take it you ordered the Gypsy guitar at $199 with the case? For that price there should be no duty owed since it is under $200 US.

SX DJG1 Gypsy Jazz Acoustic With Case at HomeOld


Here is a review of that guitar

SX DJG1: Harmony Central User Reviews

[corsair74]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

I can't believe their prices... I just ordered a Macaferi copy acoustic... guitars which even as copies and imitations traded well over USD 500.oo, when available at all.

Thanks for the link!

... J-D.

PS: I'll let everybody know if it arrives here in one piece and what the reaction at the customs was (using Transexpress/Vimenca).

Perhaps I spoke too soon. This actually looks like a pretty good guitar, and seems to be made from quality materials.

I'd be interested in knowing how it sounds.

Please keep us posted.

Vince.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by windeguy

I hope the guitar works out!. I take it you ordered the Gypsy guitar at $199 with the case? For that price there should be no duty owed since it is under $200 US.

SX DJG1 Gypsy Jazz Acoustic With Case at HomeOld


Here is a review of that guitar

SX DJG1: Harmony Central User Reviews

Yup! That's the one... I only hope Transexpress won't convert it into a Gypsy WAFER on the way on down here!

Actually these guitars were never Gypsy made. Maccaferri and Selmer, two French guitar makers in the 30's developed that style and it was only later associated with Gypsy swing... a spin off of Manoush Swing and later Jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and non-Gypsy violinist Stephane Grappelli (Hot Club de France) styles, with Reinhardt playing the "pettite bouche" (small mouth) model (which is what I ordered) and his brother the D-hole models. They are essentially Spanish style acoustics with steel strings.

Luthier (hand-) built copies now sell in the thousands or Euros. Commercial imitations used to sell in the USD 600 and up range... so, we'll see what we'll get for one-ninety-nine-ninety-nine.


... J-D.