[Rob S.]

Hi guys,

I'm working on a short list of acoustic/ electric guitars for my son.  Looking to spend under $400.  Can be used or new.  My son (13yrs) seems to like the thinner style body, but I'm not ruling out the regular size ones.

Would appreciate some suggestions.

Thanks,

Rob S.

[woodsyi]

I picked up one of these used at a pawn shop for less then $500.  It's a thin body. http://www.guitarshop.net/yairicy127ce.htm Carlos Santana reportedly uses it.  I think it comes up now and then on E-bay if you look around.

[Wayne1]

I bought my 20 yr old son one of these for his birthday.

Ovation GC057 Celebrity

It is a super shallow body that seem to fit a smaller person's body easier. It makes things a bit simpler for a beginner.

Sonically, I liked the way the super shallow body sounded over the deeper body Ovation at the same price point.

I am now working on a DIY tube guitar amp for him 

[Russell Dawkins]

these sound bigger than any other parlour guitar and are reasonably priced:

http://www.go-guitars.com/guitars.html

they fit in overhead storage on planes, I'm told.

[Rob S.]

Thanks so far,  his search and his hard earned money are leaning towards this one:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-APX500-Thinline-Acoustic-Electric-Cutaway-Guitar-with-Piezo?sku=512948

I'm not wanting him to waste his money without my input.  You know how teenagers think they're soooo smart.

Would it be similar in quality to the ovation, Wayne?

Rob S.

[Russell Dawkins]

That's a pretty sweet looking Yamaha, Rob, seems like a very good price for a solid spruce top and electronics.
I bought a Yamaha FG 180 back in 1968 for $89 and still have it. Sounds good, even with a plywood top.

I fiddled with the action just a few years after I got it and now it has the lowest, easiest action of any acoustic I've played, although the tone isn't what it was before I messed with it! I later learned that the angle of the string over the bridge is critical to the tone, and I must have reduced the angle too much in the interest of lowering the strings.

Point is, I still have it and have got my money back out of that guitar X10.

I think Yamahas can sound great.

Next step is an open back speaker cabinet for something like this:  http://tinyurl.com/35gqnm