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dukemelody
Aloha
USA
5 Posts |
 Posted - 03/24/2004 : 4:45:13 PM
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Aloha everybody, I just started playing slack key and I have some money saved up for a guitar but I do not know what to buy? I wanted something that will last and sound rich. Can everyone let me know what they play and what they think I should buy?
Mahalo,
duke
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trlau
Aloha
USA
29 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2004 : 5:00:47 PM
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Aloha Duke,
Can you give the group some info on:
1) price range?;
2) # years playing guitar?;
3) nylon vs. steel string?
Based on my limited experience on this forum there is no shortage of helpful folks here who would be willing to provide commentary and input.
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Ted Lau
(poina 'ole he Hawai'i 'oe)
mailto:trlau @ earthlink.net |
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dukemelody
Aloha
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2004 : 5:10:08 PM
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Price range $2600 - or less (my wife prefers I spend less, we have another keiki on the way)
been playing slack key only a few months I played mostly uke I have a martin and one appause uke and my guitar now is a Takamine G230
I think I like steel string but I am open to what ever
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2004 : 5:32:53 PM
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You have quite a few options in that price range and you'll probably get as many different suggestions as the people who respond. Your best bet is to find a good guitar store and sit down and play guitars from makers like Martin, Taylor, Tacoma, and Larrivee (my personal favorite) until you find one you like at a price that's within your range. (And bear in mind that different guitars of the same brand and model will vary slightly from each other.) What sounds best to your ear and feels best to your fingers may be different than what's best for me or the next person.
In other words, use the recommendations you get here to get a feel for which brands tend to be favored over others and then let your own hands-on experience with each guitar lead you to your final decision. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
Edited by - cpatch on 03/24/2004 5:35:34 PM |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2004 : 8:17:28 PM
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Duke, that's a very nice range to be in, but as Craig says, you have to play them. If you're willing to buy used, then in addition to the brands he mentions, you can choose from Santa Cruz, Goodall, and Huss and Dalton.
Where do you live? Do you have any serious acoustic guitar retailers near you? How far are you willing to travel?
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key Guitar in California - www.kaleponi.com
Slack Key on YouTube
Homebrewed Music Blog |
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dukemelody
Aloha
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2004 : 11:13:07 PM
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Aloha Fran, right now I live in Houston Tx the only place I know is guitar center. I am from Hilo so I asked my Dad to help me look for a good used guitar he told me there is not any goods deals. As far as traveling I never did think about that but if get good deals I no mind travling. aloha
duke |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2004 : 01:41:19 AM
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Well, with only Guitar Center you'll be limited to Martin, Taylor, Larrivee, Gibson, and Tacoma, I would suppose.
To answer your original question, I find my Martin OM-18V to be a very satisfying slack key instrument, but I've heard lovely music from lots of different instruments.
I did a search in Gbase (www.gbase.com) and found two dealers somewhat near Houston:
Rockin Robin Guitars and Music
Houston, TX 77098
713-529-5442 | Fax: 713-529-0850
Bart Wittrock (rockinrobintx @ aol.com)
www.rockinrobinguitars.com
RobertStringer.Com
1406 Shaver
Pasadena, TX 77502
713-477-6611 | Fax: none
Robert Stringer (Robert @ RobertStringer.com)
www.robertstringer.com
Otherwise perhaps a trip to San Diego to visit Buffalo Brothers, or the San Francisco Bay Area where there are several fine stores, or the New York/New Jersey area with several dealers.
Good luck in your search,
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key Guitar in California - www.kaleponi.com
Slack Key on YouTube
Homebrewed Music Blog |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
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enr1co
Aloha
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2004 : 03:02:02 AM
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Aloha Duke,
I been playing a Goodall Koa Grand Concert which I find nicely
balanced for slack key/fingerstyle. It is ~ OM size which
provides nice balance and comfort regardless of the wood it
is constructed from. I just sold off a Santa Cruz OM/PW which
sounded great and IMHO one of the best values today for a small shop
builder quality guitar- new($2200) or used ($1400-1600).
Should you find a specific new Taylor or Martin model you
prefer and you dont mind ordering sight unseen from another state ( no tax),I can provide you sources of a few very reputable/ authorized dealers where you can likely order for much less $$$ than GC. Additionally, they would be new in box condition vs Guitar center "shop worn and dinged" condition
enrico
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Edited by - enr1co on 03/25/2004 03:25:27 AM |
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Darin
Lokahi
USA
294 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2004 : 10:18:54 AM
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Hi Duke,
Buying an instrument sounds like great fun. I hope it works out well for you.
Taylors are my instrument of choice in that price range. The 714ce and 514ce are excellent fingerstyle/slack key instruments. The "ce" means they are cutaways with electronics. (Taylor 714 can be found at http://216.120.92.69/guitars/models/models.asp?id=714) (Taylor 514ce can be found at http://216.120.92.69/guitars/models/models.asp?id=514ce). Last years line of Taylors included a 714 (non-cutaway without electronics). They may be discontinuing that model. The 714ce has a cedar top and indian rosewood back and sides. The 514ce has a cedar top and mahogany back and sides. The Taylor factory puts out a couple hundred instruments a day, and they are very consistent.
I would be wary of purchasing an instrument from Guitar Center. My experience has been poor handling and care of instruments, and poor customer service.
Also, Lowden's make excellent slack key instruments. They handle slacked bass strings extremely well. The Lowden shop has gone through changes in the past couple of years. The same builders are now using Avalon as the brand name. Some of the Avalons are made in Europe, some in Asia. The instruments built in Europe are the upper line.
The Goodalls are also nice, and made in Hawaii. Their factory does excellent work with Koa.
If you are looking for another place to ask questions, Rudy's in New York City is wonderful. http://www.rudysmusic.com. The guy who runs the acoustic section is Gordon. Ask for him. He's very knowledgeable, and he's really nice. Gordon runs one of the two high end acoustic shops in New York City. The phone number is on the website.
Happy shopping! |
Darin
http://www.hawaiiguitar.com/ |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2004 : 1:32:12 PM
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| http://www.rudysmusic.com should work...the above link has an extra period at the end. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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dukemelody
Aloha
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2004 : 6:24:01 PM
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Wow, Mahalo Craig, Fran, Ted, Darin, enrico and everybody else so much for all the research that you guys did. I really appreciate the links and will check it out.
Mahalo,
Braddah duke |
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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2004 : 8:31:43 PM
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Duke,
I am a dyed in the woll Taylor fan myself, but if you are going to be going back to the islands, or anywhere there is great humidity fluctuation from where you are, you might try one of the composite guitars from Rainsong. They used to be made in hawaii, but are now a mainland outfit. I have heard a coule of pros, including Leo Kottke last time he was here in Fairbanks, and have played a couple in a local dealership. They sound full and rich, and their amplified sound, if that turns you on at all, is quite nice, too. I think they are around your price range new. Don;t know of any dealers there but you might check out this list I got from rainsong.com. Guitar Resurrection
Austin, TX 78705
512 478-0095
sales @ guitarrez.com
Sound Vibrations, Inc.
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
361 884-8981
soundvibrations @ interconnect.net
Cool Music
Gainesville, TX 76240
940 612-6800
BillyGardner @ webtv.net
Evans Music City
Houston, TX 77057
713 781-2100
emc @ wt.net
McCamey Music Mart
McCamey, TX 79752
915 652-3703
The House of Guitars
San Antonio, TX 78250
210 682-1219
houseofgtr @ aol.com
Hope this helps. They are cool looking, in a wierd sort of way, and gray and black go well with all the colors in a lei :>
Karl
Frozen North |
Karl
Frozen North |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2004 : 01:19:10 AM
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| CA Guitars (http://www.caguitars.com) has a new line of composite guitars as well. And if you go to the TaroPatch page on SoundClick (http://www.soundclick.com/taropatch) and play any of Keith Marzullo's songs you can hear what a Rainsong sounds like (Keith's tracks have been brightened slightly but you'll get the idea). |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
Edited by - cpatch on 03/26/2004 01:21:38 AM |
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richard
Aloha
USA
28 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2004 : 9:16:35 PM
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Welcome, Duke
Just to add to the Houston list, SouthPaw Guitars (Belaire Music). They handle only left-handed instruments and are a Taylor dealer.
Richard |
Edited by - richard on 03/26/2004 9:20:11 PM |
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kapua
Aloha
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2004 : 11:24:10 AM
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I have a Larrivee OM10K, spruce with Koa. It was $1400 used. A similar Talyor guitar was $2400 new. It also sounded nice, more even but less volume. I think Larrivee is better if you want to spend less, Taylor's can be nice though. I would find a shop with alot of different brands and play them all to see which sounds best to you. Also have somebody play the guitar for you. I was going to buy Spruce / Rosewood because the the Koa did not impress while I was playing it, but it sounded better than the rosewood when I heard it played by somebody else. Sound is perceived different by the player vs. the listener. Steel string is most common for slack key, but I actually enjoy songs played on nylon string better, especially Keola Beamer. Good Luck.
Joel |
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