Acoustic guitar for shredder guitarists?

[polaris20]

Ive aways been a Martin guy. IMO they have the best combo of tone and playabilty. But if you really want it to play like an electric, Ovation tops the list. But they dont sound as good as a Martin or Taylor

The only thing I don't like about the ovations is that they don't want to stay put when I play them sitting down. The rounded backs slide off my leg

This was a total deal breaker for me. Couldnt stand that.

Ya, I would avoid Ovation. If an acoustic does not sound good acoustically, what good is it? I think Ovations play fairly good, but just sound like crap imho. Older Tacoma's are VERY nice. Then Fender bought and ruined them. The JK50CE is very nice.

Ovations sound great acoustically. Cheap ovations sound bad acoustically. Ask Kage, he has played mine. You can even get old CT made ones used for around $200-$300 these days, like I did. They sound and play awesome. Trust me, I had a Taylor 614 and a 610, I know tone. Ovation is capable of building guitars that sound fantastic. My Ovation definitely can hang with either of my old Taylors. It just has the back slip issue, which has work arounds. It also cost me a lot less.

I actually quite like the Ovation tone, always have. It's different, and it's a like it or hate it, deal, but I think they play and sound great. I'd love to check out one of their newer contoured bowl models.

 

[chunktone]

Ive aways been a Martin guy. IMO they have the best combo of tone and playabilty. But if you really want it to play like an electric, Ovation tops the list. But they dont sound as good as a Martin or Taylor

The only thing I don't like about the ovations is that they don't want to stay put when I play them sitting down. The rounded backs slide off my leg

This was a total deal breaker for me. Couldnt stand that.

Ya, I would avoid Ovation. If an acoustic does not sound good acoustically, what good is it? I think Ovations play fairly good, but just sound like crap imho. Older Tacoma's are VERY nice. Then Fender bought and ruined them. The JK50CE is very nice.

Ovations sound great acoustically. Cheap ovations sound bad acoustically. Ask Kage, he has played mine. You can even get old CT made ones used for around $200-$300 these days, like I did. They sound and play awesome. Trust me, I had a Taylor 614 and a 610, I know tone. Ovation is capable of building guitars that sound fantastic. My Ovation definitely can hang with either of my old Taylors. It just has the back slip issue, which has work arounds. It also cost me a lot less.

I actually quite like the Ovation tone, always have. It's different, and it's a like it or hate it, deal, but I think they play and sound great. I'd love to check out one of their newer contoured bowl models.

They sound ok plugged in, but acoustically can't compare to good guitars.

 

[bigdaddyd]

Ive aways been a Martin guy. IMO they have the best combo of tone and playabilty. But if you really want it to play like an electric, Ovation tops the list. But they dont sound as good as a Martin or Taylor

The only thing I don't like about the ovations is that they don't want to stay put when I play them sitting down. The rounded backs slide off my leg

This was a total deal breaker for me. Couldnt stand that.

Ya, I would avoid Ovation. If an acoustic does not sound good acoustically, what good is it? I think Ovations play fairly good, but just sound like crap imho. Older Tacoma's are VERY nice. Then Fender bought and ruined them. The JK50CE is very nice.

Ovations sound great acoustically. Cheap ovations sound bad acoustically. Ask Kage, he has played mine. You can even get old CT made ones used for around $200-$300 these days, like I did. They sound and play awesome. Trust me, I had a Taylor 614 and a 610, I know tone. Ovation is capable of building guitars that sound fantastic. My Ovation definitely can hang with either of my old Taylors. It just has the back slip issue, which has work arounds. It also cost me a lot less.

I actually quite like the Ovation tone, always have. It's different, and it's a like it or hate it, deal, but I think they play and sound great. I'd love to check out one of their newer contoured bowl models.

They sound ok plugged in, but acoustically can't compare to good guitars.

I guess you don't consider high end Taylors good guitars, because mine Ovation does and I don't use it plugged in. Not all ovation sound bad unplugged. The lower line ones don't sound as rich as the older USA mades ones. I can't speak for the newer ones, but I suspect they still sound great. Either way, the older can be snapped up all day for practically nothing. They have a big, full, beautiful ACOUSTIC sound. They also sound great plugged in. You can't make something that sounds shitty sound great magically. Good ovations sound great acoustically and then you plug them in and they still sound great.

 

[King Loudness]

Martin... I just bought an 00-15M and absolutely love it. I'm primarily a shred/electric player and I've found myself playing more acoustic than electric as of late.

 

[polaris20]

Ive aways been a Martin guy. IMO they have the best combo of tone and playabilty. But if you really want it to play like an electric, Ovation tops the list. But they dont sound as good as a Martin or Taylor

The only thing I don't like about the ovations is that they don't want to stay put when I play them sitting down. The rounded backs slide off my leg

This was a total deal breaker for me. Couldnt stand that.

Ya, I would avoid Ovation. If an acoustic does not sound good acoustically, what good is it? I think Ovations play fairly good, but just sound like crap imho. Older Tacoma's are VERY nice. Then Fender bought and ruined them. The JK50CE is very nice.

Ovations sound great acoustically. Cheap ovations sound bad acoustically. Ask Kage, he has played mine. You can even get old CT made ones used for around $200-$300 these days, like I did. They sound and play awesome. Trust me, I had a Taylor 614 and a 610, I know tone. Ovation is capable of building guitars that sound fantastic. My Ovation definitely can hang with either of my old Taylors. It just has the back slip issue, which has work arounds. It also cost me a lot less.

I actually quite like the Ovation tone, always have. It's different, and it's a like it or hate it, deal, but I think they play and sound great. I'd love to check out one of their newer contoured bowl models.

They sound ok plugged in, but acoustically can't compare to good guitars.

That's completely subjective. I've picked up $2500 Taylors that sound like cardboard to me.

 

[bigdaddyd]

The OP has tons of great choice in his range, especially at that used price point. My personal favorites in no particular order are Gibson, Taylor, and Ovation and Guild. Breedlove, and many others make beautiful high end acoustics that you should check out. Many of these can even be found new if you look harder enough and find the right dealers at the right time. I tend to like maple acoustics so for Taylors I like the 600 series and Gibson I like Doves and J200 types, but that is me. Ovations, I have my favorites. You really have to try them and see what fits you. Even the really cheap $200-$300 Chinese imports, such as Ibanez, these days are a far cry from what they used to be. They are actually quite nice. Not what you are looking for but, sound and play well with full electronics and everything. Imagine what you get for 2k from Gibson, Taylor, Martin, Ovation.

 

[Shatter_The_Silence]

Check out a breedlove Or Larivee. I like the taylor 700 series alot, and the new GS series is fantastic. And the New Dreadnaught might be right up your ally, but alas, no cutaway. I think you would really dig the upper end breedloves though. Great neck, Fast, and flat, and a HUGE access