All-Hog Candidates under $1K

[Avenged24]

I really love my Godin Fairmount CH Composer.

I tried a 000-10, 000-15m, and the similar models from guild and fender and was decided on the 000-15m until I tried the Godin.

I tried it having no expectation of liking it, having never played any of godins brands, but it fit the specs I was looking for. I went to the store expecting to reinforce the 000-15m being the right choice, but ended up leaving with the Godin. That was almost 4 months ago and I'm still thrilled with my choice.

I liked it so much I decided to try a godin bass that I've also added to my collection.

[rllink]

The Guilds are nice and priced right.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by personatech

After upgrading my dread, getting an acoustic amp, and procuring a 12-string, my last (for the time being) herd upgrade is to find an all-hog/sapele OM/000/GA for under $800 (I know the title says $1K - I had a moment of financial whatever). Yes, I might luck out and find a used Martin 000-15M, but I tried one recently and its slightly narrow nut was a bit off-putting (its 000-15SM brother was far superior, but alas far too expensive!)

So far, I'm looking at these models with 1.75" nuts:

• Guild OM-120
• Martin 000-10e
• Eastman E2OM older all-sapele model
• Alvarez MFA66SHB
• Alvarez MG66CE (new, all-solid hog GA)

I appreciate any comments/recommendations!

Thanks!

Just because they are all mahogany guitars doesn't mean they will sound similar and are comparable. What is on paper and what you hear are two different things.

[SingingSparrow]

if you like the 000-15, then if it is possible to wait and save up the couple hundred more for it, i would recommend that you wait and save. those are great sounding guitars and it is worth it to get the guitar you really want. there are quite a few 000-15s on reverb right now priced between 1100 and 1200 dollars, which isn't much more than your current budget.

this one is 1100 dollars with free shipping: https://reverb.com/item/37945456-mar...-15m-2009-2019.

here is another for 1150 and free shipping: https://reverb.com/item/56784654-mar...-15m-with-ohsc

hope you find a guitar you love playing.

[nrand]

Check out the Yamaha FS5 or FSX5 if you can save a bit more.
I have one of these Yamaha Red Label reissues in the FG5 and it really projects.
It replaced my Martin D25K and I consider it a sonic upgrade by some margin.

[Marty C]

Originally Posted by personatech

After upgrading my dread, getting an acoustic amp, and procuring a 12-string, my last (for the time being) herd upgrade is to find an all-hog/sapele OM/000/GA for under $800 (I know the title says $1K - I had a moment of financial whatever). Yes, I might luck out and find a used Martin 000-15M, but I tried one recently and its slightly narrow nut was a bit off-putting (its 000-15SM brother was far superior, but alas far too expensive!)

So far, I'm looking at these models with 1.75" nuts:

• Guild OM-120
• Martin 000-10e
• Eastman E2OM older all-sapele model
• Alvarez MFA66SHB
• Alvarez MG66CE (new, all-solid hog GA)

I appreciate any comments/recommendations!

Thanks!

Martin made a model for Guitar Center some years ago called a GPRS1. It is all hog and has a 1.75" nut width. I purchased a new one at GC and it had a hard case for around $800. I see a used one listed as mint with Free shipping on Reverb for $599.00. Looks like new with a hard shell case.

https://reverb.com/item/13293384-mar...series-special

I love mine. It is a great all wood guitar for that money.

[personatech]

Originally Posted by nrand

Check out the Yamaha FS5 or FSX5 if you can save a bit more.
I have one of these Yamaha Red Label reissues in the FG5 and it really projects.
It replaced my Martin D25K and I consider it a sonic upgrade by some margin.

Actually, the dread I just purchased is an FGX3. I'm looking to add a hog top to my collection (small as it is) for a different sound.

[personatech]

Originally Posted by Marty C

Martin made a model for Guitar Center some years ago called a GPRS1. It is all hog and has a 1.75" nut width. I purchased a new one at GC and it had a hard case for around $800. I see a used one listed as mint with Free shipping on Reverb for $599.00. Looks like new with a hard shell case.

https://reverb.com/item/13293384-mar...series-special

I love mine. It is a great all wood guitar for that money.

Whoa, that's nice. Sadly, it must have just sold but I'll keep my eye out for another.

[Br1ck]

There were five or six Martin 15 series guitars on my Craigslist the other day, all under a grand. Dreads and 000s mostly.

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by Marty C

Martin made a model for Guitar Center some years ago called a GPRS1. It is all hog and has a 1.75" nut width. I purchased a new one at GC and it had a hard case for around $800. I see a used one listed as mint with Free shipping on Reverb for $599.00. Looks like new with a hard shell case.

https://reverb.com/item/13293384-mar...series-special

I love mine. It is a great all wood guitar for that money.

Good call on a great candidate in the sub-$1000 catagory. Not mahogany, but Sapele body wood, though.

What was Martin thinking by NOT producing these on a regular basis? There aren't many of them out there in the wild. (It looks like the posted Reverb listing was from 4 years ago.)

[zombywoof]

I have only owned two all mahogany guitars - a 1973 Guild D25M and a 1942 Harmony H165. Not sure about prices these days but both were dirt cheap when I bought them. While the Guild (or whatever the modern equivalent is) would probably work better for modern ears I have stuck with the Harmony. It has a raw power and almost addictive percussive sound to it. Plus the Figure 8 body and one piece mahogany back is about as cool as it gets. While this body style is not easy to come by the model was in production for over 30 years so plenty of them floating around. Mance Lipscomb and Lightnin' Hopkins both played them so none too shabby,

[EllenGtrGrl]

Originally Posted by Wellington

I always hearing really good things about the Guild OM-120, I'm often looking them up and thinking what I could sell to buy one.

I have a Guild OM-120. It plays and sounds great, and has become my main church band guitar. It's all solid mahogany, has a 1.75" wide nut, a 25.5" scale length, and best of all for me, has a significantly chunkier neck than your typical Guild (Guilds usually have pretty thin necks), making it nice and comfortable for my left/fretting hand. Mine is NOT for sale.

[Marty C]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Good call on a great candidate in the sub-$1000 catagory. Not mahogany, but Sapele body wood, though.

What was Martin thinking by NOT producing these on a regular basis? There aren't many of them out there in the wild. (It looks like the posted Reverb listing was from 4 years ago.)

Sorry to the OP. I didn't realize the listing was four years old!

However i think this is the same guitar, just named differently sold outside of guitar center

https://reverb.com/item/56978662-mar...1-2017-natural

[Quebec Picker]

Another very happy Guild Om-120 owner here. Have had mine for 5 years. It is my main guitar and I dig it very much. Sounds and feels great.

[personatech]

Musician's Friend made me an offer on a returned OM-120 that I couldn't refuse. It arrived today and, so far, I'm digging it! NGD post will go up once I have some photos!