New Guitar Decision

[Unsettled 1]

Good evening All,
I know there are quite a few guitar players in this forum, so I thought I'd ask for some input. I am about to purchase a new guitar, and am torn between the following;
A) A Gibson Hummingbird Artist
B) A Gibson J 45
C) A Taylor GS8

I would also like to check out an older USA made Guild, but they are hard to find down here. I am primarily a finger picker, and would appreciate any feedback. All 3 sound great, and I'm having a tough time deciding.
Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
BE

[DawnsMinstrel]

Hi BE,

Though I've never had the opportunity to try any of these guitars, I have a few thoughts:

If this is to be your only guitar and you are primarily but not exclusively a fingerpicker then I'd go with one of the Gibsons because they are designed to be played either way. The Taylor is evidently designed to be a fingerstylist's guitar. Unless you have a very light hand, you don't want to strum a guitar that doesn't have a pick guard. I learned this the hard way - and with someone else's guitar!

If you are looking for a guitar that is specifically designed for fingerstyle playing, and considering how much money you're obviously willing to spend I think you owe it to yourself to consider other brands in addition to these two (assuming you haven't already of course). In particular I would encourage you to give Breedlove, Lowden, and Bourgeoise guitars a try as well.

I also thought I'd point out that the Taylor has a cutaway while the Gibsons you mention do not. This is a non-trivial distinction to me because there are some pieces that can be played on cutaways that are not easily played on non-cutaway guitars. If you have plans to work on fingerstyle instrumentals then this is something to think about too.

[fezo]

<i>Unless you have a very light hand, you don't want to strum a guitar that doesn't have a pick guard. I learned this the hard way - and with someone else's guitar!</i>

Now if the someone else was Willie Nelson you'd be OK...

Good advice.

In my experience there will come a point when a particular guitar will speak to you - "Me! Me! Me!" At that point it's time to open the wallet.

I have a serious jones for a Gibson Advanced Jumbo (which is really a fancy J-45 mostly). pretty guitar with a wonderful sound.

[Unsettled 1]

Thanks for the suggestions Gentlemen. The Taylor GS8 I looked at has no cutaway (not a fan) and does play well. I have not tried any of the 3 mentioned by Dawns Minstrel, but I hope to soon. I also agree that when I find "the one", I'll know it. Unfortunately, I have been looking for a time now and have only found "the 3". The only reason I may act is because the price on the Hummingbird Artist is hard to pass up, at $1599.00 new (shop worn). I have a friend that actually may get a discount on that price. It plays well, although I prefer the finish color of the true Hummingbird. I hope to look around a bit more this weekend, so any further thoughts are welcome.

Thanks again,

Brian

[DawnsMinstrel]

Originally Posted by Unsettled 1

... The Taylor GS8 I looked at has no cutaway (not a fan) and does play well. ...

Brian

Huh, that's odd. When I googled it yesterday I got cutaways, this morning I don't. Evidently the same model number serves for both. Looks like a pretty guitar.

That price does sound hard to beat. Have fun shopping.

Tim

[Bill]

Taylors will be the easiest to play, and probably most stable...but they are an aquired taste. I'm trying to save up for either one of their nylon string guitars (NS34ce)or the short scale, slot head grand auditorium (GC5 maybe?).

Gibsons have had a resugence (due in part to Sheryl Crow's prominent use of them). Martin OMs took off after Clapton's Unplugged show.

I've found that Gibsons are good to strum, not to finger pick...of course Leo Kottke used a J45 (old one) for years.

I play a Mossman (www.mossman-guitars.com) out of Sulpher Springs TX. Handbuilt by two guys down there, Bob Casey and his nephew. (They bought out previous own some twenty years ago, who had bought it from Stuart Mossman). Mine's walnut.

Of course, some of the greatest guitars have simple pedigrees: Harmony Sovereign 1260 will run around $500 on eBay. Good enough for Jimmy Paige and Mance Lipscomb. Often called the "Poor man's Martin D18).

Check out Gruhn Guitars online -- Nashville vintage/new dealer who is an author and widely acknowledged as the most knowledgable person in the world on fretted instruments. I've bought and sold guitars through his shop and his crew is fair, honest, and to be trusted.

But there is no replacement for hands on playing...I bought a Martin HD 28 in 1980 from Gruhn and played 5 different guitars (all the same model) to pick the right one, then had the shop set up the action to suit me (it had been high for Bluegrass). People aften make the mistake of buying based on action, which is an easy fix. (Interesting note, Scott Baxendale, who was an owner and eventually owner of MOSSMAN guitars was working there at the time and did the set up on my guitar....small world).

Other greats, but not so cheap: Collings, Santa Cruz, Huss & Dalton, etc. There are a ton of small builders.

Epiphone Texan is good too (just ask Paul McCartney).

Have fun choosing, I'm envious!

[Unsettled 1]

Thank you Bill. I am going to check out Gruhn Guitars. I don't think I could ever buy a guitar without playing it, but I do enjoy seeing what's out there. I have played a Huss and Dalton, and it was nice, but as is the case with Collings and others, beyond what I would spend. Keep pickin'.

Brian

[Patti]

Good thread. Let us know how it's going.

[Unsettled 1]

Well, no decision as of yet. I am trying to avoid the lure of buying something just for the brand name. It seems the more I look, the more confused I become. This will likely be the last guitar I buy, so I hope to get it right. I do like a Martin HD 35 that is reasonably priced, and I am going to look at a 1979 Guild G 37 on Friday. I am still hoping that "I'll know it when I play it". I am told that some guitars are more suited for finger style than others but..
The search goes on. All thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks,

Brian

[Bill]

I'm sure a guitar will speak to you and say, "Take me home". Play a lot, play in as quiet a setting as possible, and play in whayever different tuning you use (if any). I found a sweet Taylor GC5, but when I tuned it down to an Open C tuning it lost the bass ring.

Of course guitars are loose women, they all say, "Take me home!".

[Bill]

I'm sure a guitar will speak to you and say, "Take me home". Play a lot, play in as quiet a setting as possible, and play in whatever different tuning you use (if any).

A pet peeve of mine is going to a music store and inariably there is someone there trying every guitar and showing off by playing what little they know -- loudly.

I found a sweet Taylor GC5, but when I tuned it down to an Open C tuning it lost the bass ring.

Of course guitars are loose women, they all say, "Take me home!".

[Unsettled 1]

Thanks Bill. My wife frowns on me bringing home loose women, but she's allright with the guitar. I think it keeps me out of her hair. But I do recall when one would beget the other...

Brian

[Patti]

I got my guitar out of the repair shop last Saturday. The improvements that he made on my guitar makes me want to keep it forever even though it was an inexpensive guitar.

Bill, they don't compare. A guitar is a beautiful musical instrument.

[Unsettled 1]

Hey! I forgot all about his thread. By the way, I ended up passing on the more expensive Taylor and Gibson, for an 84 Guild D 30 Jumbo Maple. I picked it up off Craigslist for $600. Plays like a dream and a looker to boot, and will still be in tune when the aforementioned loose women are gone. Come to think of it, they already are...

Brian

[Patti]

Sounds like you settled on a good one, Unsettled 1.

[Bill]

Those big Guilds are great -- congrats!

[fezo]

That's a very nice buy on a good guitar. Way to go!