General Music Chat

Whats the difference between cedar and spruce top?

Spruce - been around for ages, you've heard it lots of times, does quite a good job.

Cedar - Just started appearing as acoustic tops a few years ago, I haven't played or heard many, but judging by my Takamine, cedar has a nice full tone, good strong bottom end and loads of sustain. My guitar will sit there and ring longer than any acoustic I've heard. Listen to the end of "Silhouette of A Daydream". That last note was still audible when I shut off the recording because it was no longer registering on the record meter. The few cedar top guitars I've played all seemed to sustain well, and the tone is really nice and full.

The best thing to do is spend some time comparing them in a music store or two. It's difficult to describe, but the cedar just sounds great and sustain seems to be increased.

Any opinions on "applause" brand (ovation daughter company, same relationship as epiphone to gibson).. I found a $200 one that sounded decent and played well...

Be real picky with Applause. Same as Epiphone and Sigma, you'll find good ones and you'll find those that are just another guitar. Most Applause guitars I've played seem to sound too tinny for me, loads of highs and not much bottom end. They seem to be made pretty well, I don't like the ones with the aluminum neck though. Same for Sigma and Epiphone, although I do have a soft spot for Sigma, I owned one for several years and have played several that were really nice.

When I go out checking pawn shops (where most of my guitars usually come from) I always take a second look at Takamine, Sigma, Ovation, Washburn (older ones anyway), Oscar Schmidt and Guild. Older Epiphones are excellent, I played a FT-130 for around 15 years that would still be my favorite guitar right now if some lowlife in Austin hadn't stolen it...They don't have electronics, but a clip in pickup or under the bridge transducer can solve that. There's also a way to make a piezo pickup out of a fire alarm transducer, I'll have to see if I can find it.

I played a Yamaha (spelling) for years...cheap price, great sound...my fingers slid up and down the neck so smoothly (get your heads out of the gutter)....I loved that guitar...somebody stole it ....f'cker. it took me a long time to replace it with something I was just as happy with. I like playing with medium strings as well...that makes a big difference too.

Yes I love my Yammy with Bronze D'adario 13's

www.myspace.com/blunderingeye
www.myspace.com/445175001
http://ezfolk.com/audio/Hayden_King/
www.facebook.com/hayden.king.

"It is what it is"

Kramer.
What happened with your booking other bands project?

The only Taylor that ever really wowed me had a cedar top. Most of the cedar axes I've played had a nice warm tone, excellent low end without sacrificing the highs, & good sustain.

Spruce is brighter, & can be downright harsh in some axes.

NEVER EVEN BOTHER WITH A Rainsong! Those experimental carbon-fiber guitars sound nothing like a guitar, & are just too loud to work with on your average small stage. Horrid sounding things, they are!

Kramer, Im not really an acoustic player.

I bought a Washburn with built in pre and 3 band eq a few years ago. On Pinball Wizard on my player I used it. We didnt mic it just plugged it straight in the board. Ive had it for 15 yrs now and its been a good one. I dont even know what model it is or what top it has, I jsut remember that i played a lot of acoustics for a few monthes before I bought it. When I played it, it just sounded and felt good to me. I dont think I gave a lot of money for it.

Sorry I couldnt help more on this subject.

You might PM rythym man, I think a lot of his music was done with an acoustic, but I may be wrong.

Kramer.
What happened with your booking other bands project?

It's still there. In the last three months, three venues locally have closed permanently, and several others have stopped hosting bands, or stopped paying them, so there's not much to do... I'm just continuing to network and make connections and wait out the storm until better days come.

I do plan on expanding it (already started) into some training, mentoring, teaching, and other band services in hopes that I can help improve the music on both sides, booking better bands in venues, as well as helping bands improve themselves. And what else is there to do these days with bookings at an all time low? haha.

I've had a few good offers from bands and clubs for these services, but all so far were out of the region, and I really wanted to keep this in a 4-5 county area at max. I started out hoping just to do a two-county area, but everything is just too global anymore. So far, I've turned every offer down, just because of accessibility. If I can't be there to have my hands on it, I don't want to waste people's time.

thanks again for all the responses. I've tried the pawn shops, but they are always picked clean by the ebay sellers (whores) anymore. Haven't seen a LP or strat in two years at the local pawn shop.. only those crap $79 starter guitars like brownsville and stuff no ebay seller would touch. I'm really not finding much on CL or Ebay (locally) either. One ovation that might be a cheapo for too much $$... checking that one out tonight.

So.. at the local music store (I went to sam ash and georges) both stores carried the same brands and models for the most part. I played several and the reason I liked the applause model so much was the neck was thin like a tele neck, vs. the Ibanez models that all felt massive. My carpal tunnel has gotten worse lately, so the thinner necks are much more forgiving to my hand.

I never knew there were so many details to what makes a good acoustic, but I'm learning.. so thanks again.. I will let y'all know how I make out..

If you get a chance, check out the Yamaha APX series. The necks are more like Fenders.

Here's an APX-5 that's at $56 with 7 hrs to go on ebay.


http://auctionwagon.s3.amazonaws.com/G2 ... -25655.jpg

I have the 12-string version, and I play it more than my Ovation.

hey shredd.. that link is a JPG.. I couldn't find an auction at that price on ebay ending in that timeframe..

No biggie, I think I found one locally on CL, I'm hoping to look at it tonight.

Check out musicians friend you can get a good one there cheep. They also have good deals on scratch and dents for even less. Iv'e bought a lot of stuff from them over the year a never had a complaint. The new stuff is garunteed not sure about the other, Hope this help you Kramer. ray. musiciansfriend.com

hey shredd.. that link is a JPG.. I couldn't find an auction at that price on ebay ending in that timeframe..

No biggie, I think I found one locally on CL, I'm hoping to look at it tonight.

Sorry man. Posted the wrong url.. But Yamaha makes great mid level acoustics. I paid $450 for my 12-string, and it's never let me down. Great quality preamp too. I've written more songs on that guitar than any other I own.

Even Burn. Yep. Wrote it using my Yamaha.

Well, found this gem for $260 , happy NGD to me

Well, found this gem for $260 , happy NGD to me

Wow thats beautiful, I like how they air brushed the shoes on the body

Shore is a purdy won, Kramer! Have fun with it.

Please tell me that geetr sounds as good as it looks and you bought it. Im Jealouse but happy for you bro.