I have about £300 to spend on an acoustic guitar new/used, I currently own a fender electro/acoustic any suggestions?

you could do worse than to check out Simon & Patrick guitars, or Tanglewoods - both reasonable instruments for the money - but as always in this case, the only real answer is to go to a few shops and try as many as you can in your price range... at around the £280-£300 Yamaha guitars start to get a bit nicer, too. Scouring the ads in your most local gumtree.com site might help you for second hand guitars, but make sure you're getting something decent for your money - it might sound and feel nice, but are the frets so worn that you'll have to have them replaced, etc, etc...


happy shopping...

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when in doubt, play harmonics

My god! There's a world of choice out there! My friend, get yourself to a really decent guitar shop, tell the owner that you have 300 squid to burn, but that you want to find something that suits you and that you are going to take your time. He'll give you all the time you want, and make sure you do take it. Get yourself comfy, and try out everything from £200 upwards to about £375.

I did this when I bought my acoustic. I had about £450 to spend. I tried the Tanglewoods, the Fenders, the Yamahas, etc. I wanted something that sounded tight and bright, not big and boomy. In the end, I settled for a guitar that I'd never heard of before, called a Norman. It's a Canadian made guitar, and is made mainly of cedar wood. It plays, feels and sounds ace. And have no laquer finish it will mellow with age. I think I paid £375 for it, having got the owner to knock off about £50 (they'll always knock something off).

My point is, take your time to play every guitar that you can (hence the reason for going into a well-stocked shop), and don't be hung up on price. The build quality of modern guitars is quite breath-taking these days. Let your hands and your ears be your judge.

Good luck! Tell us what you end up getting.

Good advice from the other replies. I did a similar thing a couple of years ago, and at the time my local guitar shop had just started selling a new brand called Faith. I managed to get a fairly decent solid top, back and sides acoustic for a shade over £300. Depends on your opinion of Chinese made guitars though...

I have a friend who has a Yamaha, which are also excellent guitars for the money.

All I would add is this... Play every single guitar you can within your budget. But NEVER play anything above your budget unless you are prepared to break the bank.

There is nothing worse than finding your perfect guitar but not being able to afford it. After that you'll always end up disappointed.

Andy

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When the going gets weird, the Weird turn Pro.

Yeah, good advice from Andy. When I said "don't get hung up on price" I mean't don't get hung on looking at guitars below your budget ceiling, since modern guitars are built to such high standards these days. The acoustic I bought was below my budget ceiling. But the only other guitar I liked was a Yamaha that was selling for £600, and the owner wouldn't come down close enough to my budget. The Norman I actually bought was, in any event, a better sounding guitar (to my ears).

Unlike Andy, I would look at the guitars slightly above your budget price, since the owner will always have some leaway to haggle with. Even it you pick a guitar within your budget, always try to get a few quid knocked off. I recently got £250 knocked off the price of a new Patrick Eggle Berlin JS Legend, which was more than I was expecting. It just goes to show how much commission mark-up shops add to their stock!

I've never had money knocked off. I always get a plain, straight NO if asked.

Why is this?

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My Jukebocks

Quote Carlospresents...............:

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I've never had money knocked off. I always get a plain, straight NO if asked.

Why is this?

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It's probably something to do with that desperate, hungry look in your eyes as you approach the counter. The shop keeper just knows you're gonna take it for the full price!

I've actually told the store that "I'll think about it." Then, I've gone back a couple of days later, tutted a bit longer and said "I really do want to take it, but you do need to drop the price a little bit. What can you do?" It never fails. Always ask the owner "what's the best price you're prepared to offer on this?"

The only other course of action is to change stores. I find it's best to have a few stores to visit, any how. And let the owners know that you do the rounds. It'll keep on them on their toes.

There is a skill to negotiating, slip me a few quid and I'll let you know how

Do we have a deal?

OK.. it's fun to have a laugh about it, but negotiating isn't about what you ask for, it's HOW you ask for it. The bottom line is simple, it's your money and you have the final decision on whether you spend it or not. Negotiating is essentially getting that point over, letting the seller know that it is up to them to find a way to make you part with your hard earned money.

Andy

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When the going gets weird, the Weird turn Pro.

Best advice when it come to negotiation is 'be prepared to walk away'

Also can help to have someone with you so the assistant can 'over hear' you talking to your mate about how you like it, but it's just too expensive (be carefull though, if you do this to blatently you just look a bit stupid).

Rich.