What is more important price or sound? (Page 1 of 2)

Sound, feel and materials, which generally correlate to a few brands but every once in a while you get a surprise

You have posed a rather complex question. In my own personal experience, I have found that sound and playability, rank first and second. Depending on how the instrument is used, concert or for personal enjoyment, amplified or not, miked or not, size of the venue, I always want to hear what my instrument sounds as a member of the audience. I will often have a friend who plays, play my instrument while I sit in the listener's seat...it may make a difference in your instrument selection. I also find that certain guitars, play and sound better for certain pieces, thus I often have more than one instrument on stage with me. I have a great instrument that plays great and sounds fantastic...as long as you don't go down to the higher frets...so until I can have my guitar set-up do some work on the instrument, that instrument is relegated to certain pieces. You may have a great guitar and play really well, but who controls your sound, you or someone from the venue? Price may or may not be an indicator of quality...try a blind "taste" test...don't look at the price...play the different available instruments and select the one that suits you best. Each guitar, even in the same model is unique...find the "keeper" and hang on to it.

In all my years of active playing and turning over instruments, there are those "keepers", that I just won't part with...play many, keep a few...

Just a few thoughts... Hope they help.

Best Regards,
Upstate bob

Mostly I agree with TF...... with the caveat that not everyone has the inclination, time, or interest to study all the stuff that goes into that assemblage of what we call a Guitar.  As for the verdict, I would vote Not Guilty for the following reasons.  The Modern Production Instrument is a product of Science and Mechanics, years of research and data, pieces chosen by more learned specialists, cut and formed by digitally controlled machines within tight tolerances, assembled by technicians well trained to do their specific operation(s) with skill and consistency.

Gone are the days of Stradavari when making a quality instrument was a mixture of some "dark Magic" and the artistry/skills of the craftsman. Although those folks are still out there and some might say are among the "overpriced" group of hand builders, and for those who can afford that level of "tool" well worth the investment.

My skill does not justify "tools" that are that good.  So I look for quality and consistency across the entire product line. Fondle as many examples as I can get my hands on, and check the reviews of others that have owned the brand (knowing that most of the guesswork of manufacture has been removed from the equation by technology), compare many, and choose that which plays well and "sings" the songs my ears enjoy hearing.

I do not consider myself loyal to any particular brand per-se and will consider anything in my price range.... because even the "good guys" goof, and Diamonds are sometimes found in a Mud Hole.

Ya know, I don't know much about much.    I did visit the Martin factory, so I know how much hand work goes into their guitars and how much of it is automated.  For me, I figured that was enough to make me want that brand.  They know what I don't, and appear to do things "right".  I still don't know a whole lot about bracing.  I also really don't know if a messy glue job on the inside is going to really make a difference in sound.

I just played a made in China all mahogany Ibenez artwood series guitar yesterday.  It was selling for somewhere in the $300 range.  With my eyes closed off to the name and the price tag, I would have easily said it was comparable to my Martin 000-15M that cost $1000 more!  It may have even fret cleaner.  The neck is not as wide as my Martin, but the mellow tone was there (a little more dark than mellow), and it was LOUD.  I did my research when I got my Martin, so I know they use a difference species of wood when they say mahogany (on the year guitar I own that is).  I know Martin does most of their work by hand not factory.  I presume Ibenez made in China is mostly factory work.  I expect if one inspected INSIDE the guitar the build would be different, maybe there'd be some glue spill inside or something.  I don't know.  BUT - I do know that I could LOVE that guitar just as well - maybe even more - than my Martin.

There's a lot to be said for how a guitar plays and sounds when it's in your hands, vs. how it sounds in someone else's hands! Do come back and let us know how it goes CG!

Topdown's Rule #1 applies.  "If it sounds good, it is good."

I was asking the question for what each of you thought and from the answers of large part of how any guitar plays is how it feels and sounds and that is how it should be.

I received the two guitars I ordered and studied each of them. Pleased to no end of the fit and finish of each of them, they are flawless. It will be a few days for the strings to settle in to know how they will sound.  I will post more on them in just a few days.

For whatever reason - when it comes to acoustics - I find a solid spruce top sounds better when picked with a piece of plastic, and a solid cedar top sounds better when finger-picked. A cedar top tends to react better to hammering / pulling as well, which is probably why most classical and fingerstyle players seem to have cedar top guitars. I haven't heard a laminated-top guitar that had much life in it, so there seems to be a point where too cheap compromises the sound.

I am in the "Does it feel, sound, and play good?" category. Not even worried about what kind of wood.

Just this past weekend while I was waiting for my sons drum lesson to be over, I wandered into the Acoustic room.  Although I am not a classical player, I have a sound and feel that is my own and I only know it when  I play a guitar.  That being said, I picked up a mid priced Martin (the $700 range) and played it.  Once again I have to say,, not a fan, was not inspired.  walked to the other side of the room and picked up a $300 Fender with cutaway, BOOM it had the tone and the action was where I liked it.

So as is with Beer and Coffee, Its all up to your own taste

Cheers!

Here is a link to the two CG192 guitars I have been mentioning: http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical- … 38_220137_

Good question and glad you mentioned it.  It often depend on the acoustics of where you are playing. When needed  I have a pair of C12VR’s  set to omni so background noise isnot picked up. Overall their sound is accurate to what the guitar actually sounds like and they do not alter the sound.

That's great.

Thank you dino48 and mekidsmom, and I had more fun and enjoyment than playing at anywhere else I have played.

When I was introduce she told them I had agreed to play the same morning.  All the chairs were full and I could talk with them about each song I was to play next and could talk in a normal voice. The guitars I used played very nicely and not one of those there asked about them at all, except one  who owned the local music store and recognized the guitars. We talked privately afterwards and I explained why used them tonight. Also the event was organized for the proceeds to go to a specific charity and I returned the check they had written to me.

I plan to continue to use them in in reality they sound the same  as my hand made guitars. Enough so that I am thinking of selling my  hand made classical guitars to the upper end guitar store who offered me more for my collection than I paid over the years. If I sell them I will order two more of the Yamaha CG192's and stop there.