best acoustic 6 string for £500 or less

[roland_rat]

Hi,

We have had  the best electric for £500 thread which was great.  On a similar theme I wondered what choose for best 6 string acoustic with a price tag of £500 or less.

[Sifu Ben]

I've got one of these
http://www.totalmusicsupply.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=2&ModelID=97131
and it's excellent

[sambo]

^Yep I was going to suggest Tanglewood's in general.


Also my dad has an old 'Sigma'- a division of either Martin or Taylor I can't remember, which is very nice, and only cost him about £200 I think.

[38thBeatle]

My Brother bought a Tanglewood for around thta kind of cash and it is a lovely guitar-great tone and playability. Frankly there are lots in that price range that would suit and whilst I can make one or two suggestions, I would say try them but whatever you do, get one with a solid, not laminated, top and give it a few months the play in.

[Philly Q]

My only acoustic was a Lakewood D-1 which cost exactly £500, so I'll have to say that.  I just sold it.

[AndyR]

I've got a Freshman FA300D - that was about £450, 3 or 4 years ago. Doesn't seem to exist anymore in their product range, there's an FA350D, doesn't seem to say what the top is though. Mine is very close to the FA400D spec, which appears to be £550 - but there's cheaper ones.

Anyway, it's a Dreadnought type, no electrics, and when I bought it I tried all the others in the shop in my price range - Takamines, Tanglewoods, etc. All the Freshmans blew them away, but this one in particular sounded gorgeous, even though it has slight blemishes in the wood, and there's some foreign object stuck under the scratchplate...

I would severely recommend trying these (unless they've gone downhill...?) 

[TheDev01dOne]

Being a Takamine fanboy I would have to say if you can get anything from the Natural series (EN10 40 20 etc.) under £500 then you've got a great guitar. They can be easily had used on eBay for <500 and it helps you get a better guitar since they'll be played in a bit aswell. I got my EN40c for like £320 used and its about 13 years old now and just sounds great, really open tone.

[Sollophonic]

I have a Simon and Patrick dreadnought. Sure I got it used, but I think that the Canadian made acoustics like S & P, Norman, and Art and Lutherie, are really nice guitars for the money, and also for once they are not made in China or Korea, (not that I'm against guitars made in those countries). made from good timbers, this guitar has a huge sound, and right across the range as well.

The thing that Simon Patricks have is that they have a thin finish, which IMO improves the tone, but the downside is that they get dents and scratches easier. My 2000 guitar looks really nice and worn, but other folks might not like this.

[Spitfire]

+1 for tanglewood..

my stepdad has a beautiful 12 string acoustic from them.. it plays and sounds amazing.

[sgmypod]

Simon and Patrick's have a wonderful tone..well rounded, also have the bband electrics on the electro acoustics....been just lately with a mate to look at guitars tried all the Takamine(ahh), Tanglewood(not bad guitars), fenders, etc...simon & Patricks (or others made similar place factory.....normans, art & luth, Seagulls( I have one of these beautiful) seem to sound the best to us....)....even the lower priced ones

[Elliot]

I've been impressed with the Blueridge BR range when I've played them - worth a look and £1 off the £500 mark.