Guitar purchase advice wanted.

oasismark

Hi all

Nice to see a music thread here on avf!

Ok so ive played guitar for years, used to be in a band but not played guitar so much since, well 'life' got in the way.

I currently have a YAMAHA F-310 acoustic guitar but when i feel the urge to have a play, it doesn't last long for a few reasons.

Big Body - can make it uncomfortable to holdHigh Action - hard to press strings down, cos im not playing very much i dont have hardened fingers, so cant play for longer than 15 mins
Because of these things i quickly give up playing and learning any new songs etc.

So i want to change it.

So 2 questions:

1. Where is the best place to sell a guitar and what do you think a Yamaha F-310 would fetch, its in good condition, no dents or scratches, (just alot of dust )

2. Any recommendations for a new guitar.

I'd like:

Round back or at least a small body- for comfortLow action - for easy of playing and not having to press down so hard saving fingersElectro-acoustic - not really to amplify it, but if i want to record it, into garageband in ipad for eg.
Budget is small, want to sell Yamaha, so whatever i can get for that plus £50-£100 on top.

Ive seen this Round Back Electro Acoustic Guitar by Gear4music at Gear4Music.com i know it will not be amazing quality, but that kind of look and features is what im after.

Thanks for having a read.

Mark

plarkster

Hi Mark, the Gear4Music guitar does look like what you're after, but I'd recommend searching for some reviews to see what it's like as cheaper guitars don't tend to have a low action or stay in tune very well.  However, budget guitars have got much better over the past 10 years or so, so it could be fine.  They do have a 14 day money back guarantee and a 3 year warranty (£7) so look into both of these - check the small print but I'd expect you'd have to pay the return postage if sending it back, but it would only be around a tenner so not much to lose if you don't like it.

I also used to have a Yamaha acoustic, possibly the same model in red, and it was massive!  I sold it to a friend and bought a Crafter bowl back electro acoustic for around £100 second hand on eBay and love it.  Plays like an electric with a great acoustic sound so I'd recommend looking at them.

It would be worth posting a for sale thread in the classifieds section, otherwise take it to your local music shop and see how much they'll offer.  Failing that, try eBay - but I'd suggest offering postage otherwise you'll limit your buyers.

charvelj

Have the Yamaha set up properly. Check the relief and reduce the bridge height if needed. There are some good guides if you search the net. You could also try a lighter gauge of strings. The F310 is a very capable guitar.

RBZ5416

Have a look at this thread (although the guitar he went for  in the end is way out of your budget).

Your F310 is a budget guitar & there's lots around, so is of little value used. Maybe £50-60 going by completed Ebay listings.

Ovation's budget Applause range seems plentiful & cheap on Ebay.

Another option may be a cheap semi-acoustic like the Epiphone Dot 335 but you'd probably need to up the budget a little even for used.

oasismark

All good advice guys thanks.

First thing im gonna do is go play some at my local store, have to feel em before buying, dont think i could buy over net without playing one.

My f310 has to go really, its always be hard to play, i also really want to be able to plug my guitar in for recording, AND a round back for comfort.

Used to have a Epiphone Sheraton 2 electric guitar and it was so much easier to play, due to not having to press the strings down as hard.

TBH if the Gear4music one is a nice play, id go for that, i just want to get playing again, instead of my guitar gathering dust.

RBZ5416

If he ever gets round to putting some strings on it, you could ask Steven.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/musicians-corner/1454132-so-i-found-guitar.html

oasismark

Yeah i saw that thread.

Just been to local shop had a play on a cheap (£129) electro-acoustic (chord made i think) then a more expensive one to see the differance (Crafter fx 550 - £329) (i know those prices are high, i wound not buy from there)

I thought the cheaper guitar was ok, nice to hold and play, but the more expensive was was a big difference.

advid

>>>>First thing im gonna do is go play some at my local store, have to feel em before buying, dont think i could buy over net without playing one <<<<

..that's the best advice anyone can give you.... pick it up, feel it , play it....does it do 'something' to you.... ???

Over the years I've had Gibsons (L5 / Super 400 / Byrdland / 175 / L50 and Les Pauls) .... My favourite - a 1960 Guild 'Slim Jim' (look it up - not many about)
£75-00 when I purchased it.. in 1985.... Beats the pants off a £2500-00 Gibbo...

Why - 'cause it FEELS RIGHT and plays just how I like it....

Good luck....

McLeodOfTheClan

I have a few guitars that I have bought on eBay. I buy guitars like my wife ( and every woman on planet Earth) buys handbags and shoes.

We only have a one bed bung so there is limited space as you can imagine! Tripping over guitars, handbags and shoes!

My favourite is my Washburn HB32, distressed mahogany. A real work of art. Plays real nice too.

amazing696968

Hi Mark
I bought a gear4music budget jobbie which looked and sounded beautiful on their website but when it arrived (next day) it was damaged. It took them 10days to refund my payment and their customer service was abysmal. Check out their Ebay shop to see the hundreds of damaged acoustic/electro acoustic guitars they're trying to flog, I was astounded at the number, price and the pics they are as thin as paper and cost £90 ! Anyway, I started looking on Ebay and 2 or 3 sellers were selling brand new Tanglewood guitars rrp £350-500 and I checked prices online and they were correct, I bought one of the £350 ones for £91.50 £17.50 p&p insured courier and boxed twice! When it turned up (next day) it was streets different to the gear4music cheap,thin crap! The Tanglewood is solid spruce top,zebrano(zebrawood) sides and back with a mahogany neck and fishman preamp and built in tuner... I will never buy gear4music branded stuff again.