I thought they all sounded better than most budget models in guitar center. However, the difference between a $150 guitar and a $350 guitar is massively worth it
I counter with the fact that you will want to practice more, if the guitar in your hands is "nice." I practiced as much as my hands and fingers would tolerate with my beginner Yamaha FG830. After some months I upgraded to a Martin D16E. My practice increased 3x simply because I liked what I was doing and liked the result more.
None of these sounded “bad” or “cheap”. They are what they should be for a beginner guitar. I have a Yamaha FG model a couple of steps up in price and quality from the one here and it has an impressive bright, full and detailed sound. It looks great too. I was so taken with how well it competed with other brands above its price range that I bought it as my first serious acoustic when I had no intention of getting a Yamaha. They make quality instruments for all skill levels.
For the price, I believe Seagull builds some of the best guitars out there. A lot of them have solid wood construction and very good playabilty... imho
The first guitar I got was a $89 Epiphone classical guitar from Sam Ash. No matter how cheap it is I'll keep it as long as I survive cause my mom bought it for me.
i got a fifty dollar rouge as my first guitar and damn man it didn’t help at all think hardly stays in tune by the time i’m done playing a song and is quiet. oh well you get what you pay for but i didn’t know that when i bought it i was just like “cool, it’s red and it’s a guitar i’ll buy it” lmao
Amen. Every guitar I've ever owned was second hand. My current baby is a second hand guitar and does everything a $1000 dollar guitar would do. I play for myself and I'm at peace with it.
Yamaha has always been my first choice in a budget-priced guitar that I would not be afraid to play on stage and gig with. It is a brand that is known and respected everywhere, and for the price it really delivers.
Beginner guitars definitely have to be playable out of the box. You can’t assume they’ll have an experienced player on standby to adjust this and that to make them play well. My first guitar was a strat-copy around 20 years ago and it was terrible. I thought it was purely down to my lack of skill but then I played an Epiphone that maybe cost twice as much and those chords that I struggled with immediately sounded clean. There’s comments saying about how a good guitar player can make them sound good, but that’s not who is buying cheap guitars so the comments are misguided. Learning guitar is hard enough and I’ll bet that bad guitars have been the reason for many beginners giving up learning to play. Playability is definitely more important than nuances of tone in a beginner guitar. It’s good to see that things have improved a lot
I agree that good players aren't typically the ones buying them. But as a professional myself, I endorse budget instruments and encourage other professional players to try cheap ones they otherwise would ignore. I think beginners shouldn't watch these videos, but I think intermediate and above players see these videos as sort of a "I need a new guitar, I don't want to spend too much money, but I want to know if these things can sound decent". And when you hear somebody like that playing on it, it's reassuring.
100% this. The playability of a more expensive guitar can take a weaker player and instantly improve upon that. A beginner will have a difficult time to find a "cheap" guitar that is playable, because they don' know any different. Solution - go with a guitar player to purchase that first guitar and use a team approach.
Trying to figure out rn if it's me or the guitar. My dad bought me a guitar when I was a kid that was $30 from target. I couldn't figure out how to tune it and couldn't play well so I kind of gave up. I've been wanting to get into guitar again so I picked it back up (10 years old) after learning all the guitar chords and hand placements to make sure I would not give up. Still sounds awful. Not sure if it's me
On that note, I remember as a kid I also wanted to learn how to skateboard so he bought me a board from Walmart. I spent years thinking I was just really shit at skateboarding. Brought it into a skate shop to get it fixed one day and the guy at the counter was horrified. Now I'm a great skateboarder 😂
I'm still a beginner by most standards just because I'm self teaching and just enjoy messaging around. But I realized the neck is way too big for my hand. I am a piano player, but am a woman so my hands are a bit smaller. I've quit so many times because it feels so much harder than it should be. Then I played on a smaller one and I was immediately able to play things I struggled with even after tons of practice on my regular one. The guitar makes so much of a difference for beginner players.
I've played the same entry-level Fender acoustic since 2007 -- over half my life. It's traveled around the world with me; three countries, five states, and countless random basements in high school. I just bought a Yamaha A series, and though I'm sad to retire the only possession I still have from my childhood, it's going to be a much needed step up. That "cheap" guitar from the 2000s ended up giving me so much over the years.
Just keep it. I bought an Harley Benton (with cut away, otherwise comparable) as second acoustic just for alternate tunings. Currently in CGCGGE for some soundgarden
When I was young my parents wouldn’t buy me a guitar, they said I’d give up on it. I ended up getting an old Samick classical acoustic for 25 bucks that was laying in the back of my friends sisters closest. I played it daily for 2 yrs before getting a Mexican strat and small 15 watt practice amp. I honestly think the only thing that kept me playing that pos closet find was the need to prove my parents wrong. That was 26yrs ago. I have a replaced shoulder now from 10 yrs ago and may never play like I could before but after the surgery I decided to actually learn how to play instead of being totally self taught. My only regret was waiting so long to learn the theory. I was one of those kids that thought theory would take away “my sound” but now that I’m in my 40s I know how wrong I was. Keep the great videos coming!
I am 65 years old and studied last year with a young man who is senior in college studying music theory great experience I can now read music. It's never too late. Corona virus interrupted my study.
I agree. You dont need to get your Doctorates in music theory, but knowing the basics, like knowing how to play in key, is a good foundation for creating music. I always used to play covers, and really hard covers I might add, but that doesnt mean Im good at creating, only good at copying. Once you know your keys, you can listen to music with guitars and know what key they're playing in and thats why it sounds good and makes sense.
@@sc12100 Being able to read music really helpful understand in each different key has different sharps and flats. Understand what a natural I'd or sustain , pull of or hammer on. Than you get to the hardest for me is rythum.
The worst part of cheap guitars are cheap tuning heads and bad intonation. You can always play an acoustic guitar through a mic and run it through an E.Q., but with bad tuning heads you can never tune the guitar properly!
Tuning issues usually lie more within the bridge. I realized this because I have 2 guitars with total shit tuning pegs but they keep tune very well.. It's the good bridge.
A slightly more $$$ expensive guitar is worth it alone for the fact that the strings are less likely to blow up in your face. Playing string roulette is terrifying 😨
I picked up a CD60 used a few months ago. It’s about 2 years old but rarely played by previous owner. Put some elixir bronze coated light gauge strings on it,adjusted the neck and action and it just sings and plays beautifully now. I am finding the nut is not cut deep enough so I’ll be taking care of that on the next restring.
@@sc12100 In some ways I would agree, but I couldn't even afford a set of strings and made them out of fishing line. Solid top would never have happened. Even the back of mine was stuck on with tape.
Yea it’s surprising how much better it is then the other. I always assumed orange wood guitars was the best value guitar but it looks like I’m going to have to start recommending the HB to beginners
I just purchased an Orangewood, Oliver M (Mahogany). Solid Mahogany top, layered Mahogany sides and back. Set up perfectly, right out of the box. Full, well balanced tone, and pretty loud for being a Concert size. I have yet, to be disappointed, no matter what genre I am playing. Playability is excellent. Price point, is hard to beat, considering the workmanship, and quality.
I started playing guitar 56 years ago when I was 8 and my first acoustic guitar was a made in Japan Yamaha FG-180. A few years ago I developed Arthritis and Trigger Finger in my left hand and had to quit playing. I sold all of my guitars.Later, my Physical Therapist encouraged me to start playing again to exercise my hand. Not wanting to spend too much money on something that I’d never be able to play in public, I bought an Orangewood Rey Mahogany like the one in the video. It’s the perfect guitar for a beginner which is what my ailing hand has turned me into.
Dear Mr Davids, Thank you for one of the most informative and interesting guitar channels on the planet. Every time I tune in I learn something new. Paul, I think one thing needs to be said and that is that no one is even questioning how little money we are talking about here. The workmanship, the materials, and the time! My god, the time spent on making an instrument like any of the 4 you are showcasing is a lot of time. In today’s world, where you can go out with your girlfriend to dinner and drop 100 or 130 Euros for a half-decent meal, or a pair of bluejeans for 150 plus euros or other perishable things that are outrageously expensive puts things in perspective. I have seen parents come into a guitar shop of a friend of mine and actually ask for the cheapest, and when he shows the cheapest, for them it's too expensive. When I pipe in to say it’s better to get a quality axe when someone is starting out, the parents of course think I am trying to get a better deal for my friend. My point is that the guitars you are showing play pretty good and look fantastic when you think how cheap they are. Paul, they are the price of a dinner in a restaurant and there is quality work on display. It’s an opinion. But those instruments were made by professionals with good material and we're not talking about 2 hours of work.
As a novice guitarist, who just spent £15 on his first 2nd hand Martin Smith acoustic, I have to say I really love the look and sound of that Orangewood.
Nash - I’d buy that Orangewood! I have some very expensive guitars, and some very inexpensive guitars! My Danelectro U2 is a favourite electric, and cost just a few hundred dollars, and I play it as much as my White Falcon! !$! But the Orangewood takes it, in this show down. They make extremely well built guitars at the $300 - $400 range!
Cheaper end Yamahas always gave me a diverse and easy feel, and if you take good care of them, they'll last a loooong time. Just slap a good pair of strings on them. Also, First Act had a 20 dollar mini guitar (wasn't a toy), and it honestly sounded and felt great. Definitely an option for practice if your a homely poor boy like I use to be.
I actually started out on a first act mini guitar. It wasn't to shabby. 6 years later I'm still playing guitar, so I guess it did its job and worked out well.
bro i agree. i started on a f310. and over the years my guitar collection grew but i still prefer the f310 above all my fancy guitars. theres just something about it. i slapped some EB 11s on there. sings like an angel. love the mat finish on the neck. and the neck is really thin and comfortable. just something abour it.
I own a Yamaha FG-365S that I've played for nearly 40 years, and it's held up great. My experience is that Yamaha guitars are like Honda Accords: not the flashiest or sexiest machines out there, but they are well-made, reliable, dependable, suitable to the task, and yes, if you take care of them they will last a long, long time. BTW I also own Martin D-35 that is about the same age, and while there is really no comparison on tone, the Yamaha has required way less maintenance than the Martin.
I mean, we have all seen the arguments that "it is the player, not the guitar" but how much does that really matter to us as players specifically? I remember watching a video that was making the rounds (specifically in this type of discussion) some years back where Joe Satriani was playing one of his songs through a fan's really cheap Ibanez and a cheap amp. He played well (obviously) and while the sound wasn't the same as he would get with his usual setup, the most important part was when he finished and said "That was a little painful on this guitar". Did he play it well? Yes. Did he enjoy it? Likely not. We have to remember that in any enthusiast art/hobby, there is a point where the artist's own comfort and pleasure when using a particular instrument/tool comes into play. That it is important to like what you are using so it doesn't act as a point of unwanted creative resistance.
Yeah, but that doesn't mean everybody should start on a 3 string cigar box made by themselves, ease of play is important, I started learning bass a couple of months ago and while I'm having fun one of my troubles is, because it's a p bass with a long honkin' neck it's a bit difficult to practice in my small crowded room, also the action is very high and I can't really adjust lower it without getting a lot more fret buzz. I'm persisting, but annoying things like that can be very discouraging to someone just starting.
I've had an F310 for the last 7 years and its served me faithfully. Finally in the market for an upgrade but I've never had any real problems with the Yamaha, stick some new strings on it and it sounds like a new guitar every time
@@HykaFT Just today gone and bought a Faith actually. I'm self taught and just play for fun so still don't feel I can justify a quality Martin or similar
Converting my country's currency to dollars, my first guitar costed probably 20$ or less. It had nylon strings and made by a national company. The second one was an Epiphone, it costed about 222$, and according to everyone that played it, the guitar sounds amazingly well
I have the Harley Benton and after 5 years it got better. The sound matured and can rival sound of guitars 3 times it's price. Only for the playability could be space for improvement.
Yes Harley Bentons do tend to mature a lot as they age, my youngest Harley Benton is a pain in the butt right now I give her a few years and she'll hopefully behave better.
@fartpooboxohyeah8611 They also proved artificial sweenteners are harmful, and they also proved it's not. Proving has become a myth itself. Everybody knows solid wood resonates and develops overtime
@fartpooboxohyeah8611Its a basic understanding of wood. When a guitar is newly manufactured, its humidity content falls above the ideal range, and over time it dries out, going from a dull-waterlog to a full resonance.
Paul, what I appreciate so much about you is that I’ve seen other guitar you tubers (don’t have to name anyone ) and it feels like all they do is just want to show you how much more money they have than everyone else with the insane ridiculous amount of guitars that they own and honestly do not even need (Not even that great at guitar) But Paul you are so humble and chill that it’s not even funny. That’s why I mainly go to you for guitar advice , there’s no “clout” showing off here , you just show the best way to make the best sounds using the best chords. I literally took my playing to the next level just watching your videos. Thank you.
I think that over the years the expected quality of entry level instruments has gone up quite a lot compaired to when I started playing in the mid 1990's. Add to the fact that manufacturing and transportation techniques have improved and new players are able to get far better equipment for a much lower cost than in my day.
The setup is so important on these guitars . If you would've aquired these guitars off a music store's wall , you'd get a more honest representation than contacting the companies and saying " I'm a very popular youtube personality and I'd like a guitar right off your line . This review will be viewed by thousands . Do you think the companies are going to grab the next guitar off the line and send it to you ? Or do you think the boss will ask his top setup man to choose a lively one and do a great setup ?
Exactly. I bought a Yamaha F310 about a year ago and the setup was horrible. I had to get it fixed because it was almost unplayable. The worst part was the very high action that caused a lot of finger pain. That being said, after it was set up right, I've been having a real good time with the guitar and have made a lot of progress.
A good musician can setup their own instrument themselves. Also you dont think a reviewer should review something at its peak? To show how good it can really sound? You think someone should review something untuned too? Since most guitars come out of tune out of the box/off the walls.
@@joyboyblues5808 The guy explicitly made the point in the video, and he was damn right to do so: most beginners are not supposed to know how to set up a guitar by themselves... Let alone have the right tools and experience to do that job. I can do a reasonably good setup today, but when I started playing forty years ago, the cheap unplayable crap I had in my hands almost made me give up. But I think you're right in saying it's a good thing to show how good cheap guitars can be if you work on them a bit! Although I can't understand how you can stay in business if you need to do a total setup on each guitar that you have to sell for 100 or 150 dollars/euros... @Steven Mortensen: I was thinking exactly the same thing ;-) But, I must add to this: I have a cheap Les Paul and a cheap six string bass from two distinct German webshops and certainly from Asian factories (both bought second hand from the first owners, I'd never buy a guitar online) and I must say the bass is pretty reasonable, and the set neck Les Paul is close to fantastic for it's price point. I bought it for the price of the Seymour Duncans the first owner put in it, and it's a great guitar! I'm not a big fan of "modern technology ", I'm more into traditional craftsmanship, but the technological progress in the Far East coupled to exploitation of cheap labor have made cheap beginner guitars much better than they used to be, say forty or even thirty years ago. Most of them will demand a decent setup though.
I started with a Harley Benton D120CEBK (at the moment: 77€ online) and its still fine after being used for like 13 years. Of course some srachtes and signs of use but I'm impressed everytime I pick it up. For your first guitar it doesn't matter, you don't need a guitar worth more than hundres of dollars. And a beginner would not be able to hear any sound differences. The guitar's worth comes with the years you played on it. It's your root to music - and that's invaluable. Thanks for the great video. I enjoyed watching it and liked your effort you put into it, Paul. P.S. my favorite is of course the HB :D Greez from germany.
As a 90s kid I've must've seen every Unplugged MTV ever made and honestly a little string buzz actually sounds kinda cool and it certainly exists (listen to Alice in Chains unplugged for example). Just a little buzz ain't bad when playin' acoustic... Take it as the equivalent of the crispy fizzy sound when playing an an electric thru a tube amp. I'd take a comfy action over clean pristine sound any day.
Ive got an ovation from the 80s and the sound is very similar. Which, given the price point is very nice for the orangewood. I want to get something slim like that, having learned on the roundback ovation. They're all very nice looking guitars >.
The orange wood appears to be a grand auditorium shape, tend to be nice and loud in the middle, but the bass notes wont ring as deep compared to the dreadnoughts.
Having a guitar that fits comfortably is so important. If the thing is hard to play, you'll stop a song or two sooner than you otherwise would. That adds up over time. If there is one element of a guitar that is worth paying a bit for, it's the comfort in your hands and playability.
For 3 or 4 years as a beginner I've been playing a cheap 80€ western guitar which was sooo incredibly hard to play, by the time I upgraded to an ibanez I was used to applying so much pressure on the fretboard, my worldview collided when I was able to execute a clean barre chord with almost no stress on the fingers. You are correct, playability should be prioritized over sophisticated sound. You're not going to gig anytime soon anyways
@FabienPath 80€ is objectively cheap for a guitar, and I don't know why you feel like we're playing a game of "who had it worse" rn, I was just telling a little anecdote
Jesus loves you!! Were in the last days Jesus is coming he's the way the truth and the life. Dont trust the covid vaccine it's got 666 written allll over it, litterally
@@justchilling704 Jesus loves you!! Were in the last days Jesus is coming he's the way the truth and the life. Dont trust the covid vaccine it's got 666 written allll over it, litterally God bless you
Honestly, the sort of guitar you can get for that kind of money these days is better than some of the upper mid tier instruments when I started out. I would have done some very morally dubious things to get my hands on any of these for a starter guitar 30 years ago. It's getting increasingly hard to buy a 'bad' guitar, the worst thing you generally encounter is a bad factory setup.
Very useful review. As for the solid top vs laminated top ABSOLUTELY this is going to make a difference. I'm a professional studio designer, and we use the behavior of laminated materials in order to absorb sound, (using the principle of sheer to convert movement of membranes into heat as one layer works to move against another e.g. laminated 'studio' glass). The advantage of lamination is greater resistance to flexing, this is contrary to what we want from a sound diffusing membrane like an acoustic guitar top.
@@silkysmoof5697 it is the same for drum skin, or speaker cone, acoustic guitar top, or a studio wall: a membrane must flex. The center of the membrane moves while the edges stay still. For a speaker cone to function and reproduce a range of frequencies simultaneously the flexing is a very complex set of waveforms superimposed on each other.
@@silkysmoof5697 It's not so much a belief system as my day job, and is not the glue that makes the sheets more rigid as much as the fact that the layers are cross-bonded. You can buy plywood that is not cross-bonded, (which is called Bender Board in the States), and is used to achieve a controllably curved surface. I believe that x-bracing of a guitar top is designed to prevent the top belly-ing under string pressure. it is a design compromise, but not one that completely damps the top. When carpenters use plywood it is often for its rigidity, when studio builders use it to construct bass traps it is a design compromise because trees don't come big enough to give us an 8' x 4' sheet of stable solid wood, and ply is cheap enough that we can work around its failings as an acoustic material.The subject of materials and their acoustic properties is yet more complex than this, but I am going to leave it here. If you want to know more there is a book called 'Sound Materials' by Tyler Adams
I can't help but add my opinion on tone when it comes to acoustic guitars and solid vs.laminate tops ! To me it's simple if your looking for a guitar save your money and when you have enough to play as many as you possibly can and you should find one that you like ! I've been playing guitar and music for over 40 years and have owned everything at one point or another from Custom shop USA Jackson's and Fenders and High end Yamaha acoustics and many many other brands . When I was young it mattered to me the name on the headstock. Now it means absolutely nothing ! If I want a guitar now I only buy what would be considered low to mid range instruments simply because of the sound and feel of the guitar . I thinned my acoustic herd by taking a chance on a $140 Harley Benton acoustic/electric. It played better than my much more expensive Yamaha but didn't match the sound ........but after a couple years of playing it ......it's sound is getting better with age and I don't care what anyone thinks about the name ! To me the tone and sound you hear comes more from your hands and soul than what the wood is made of . Don't believe me ? Put your guitar in a master's hands and see how it's sounds with someone else playing it ! Everything else is just politics !
My dad started dropping hints that he wished he had been able to learn guitar, so this year I bought him his first guitar, I went with the Orangewood Oliver, I've never played one (and still havent since my dad and I dont live near each other) but by going off youtube reviews, they seemed to be decent enough for a beginner. If I could have found him a used Taylor GS for that price point I probably would have done it-I have one for just playing around on the couch or traveling. While the GS's tone really doesnt hold a candle to a nice high end model acoustic, I would say that they're pretty decent sounding for the $$.
Cheaper guitars in Brazil go for around 50$, so you'd imagine how many kids will give up before even getting a chance of learning, the necks are usually unplayable. The solid top makes a huge difference, when I got my second guitar, my step up was the solid top (though to be fair I didn't know it at the time, it just felt better). Cheers
Mano, eu comecei com um Del Vecchio antigasso que tava perdido na casa da minha vó, o violão devia ter uns 30 anos e já tava com as cordas apodrecendo, mas eu troquei, dei uma limpada e passei uns 3 anos com ele antes de poder fazer um upgrade pra um Di Giorgio. Infelizmente a gente sofre aqui tendo que se virar com o que aparece.
@@joaopedro.marinho6503 eu comecei com um Gianini com o tampo colado com durepoxi kkkk depois fui pra um Tagima Juninho afram (que é o de tampo maciço). O custo benefício dele é top, mas ano passado fui pra londres e trouxe um faith classic burst... Não faz nem sentido comparar, mas instrumento bom ou faz com luthier ou compra fora, a importação aqui mata o cara... Quando comprei minha guita, paguei 2000 reais (+- 850us$ na época), e ela estava pra venda no US por 450us$, é um absurdo
The same used to apply in India till 10 years back, I got a horrid model blind picked by my clueless dad during the 90s as I wasn't educated about action and playability. Now that I am a dad myself got my kid her first proper Chinese starter guitar off Amazon after looking at many expert reviews and hearing the tone myself (with good speakers). Her Guitar teacher was impressed with the instrument.
I’ve played some cheap guitars, but fender acoustics that are on a budget are the hardest things to play. I wasn’t expecting anything but I could fit a bottle cap under the strings that’s how bad the action was
It constantly amazes me how good budget guitars aimed at beginners are these days. I've been playing for over 40 years now and find the quality of sub-£200 guitars to be consistently good. You should check out some of the Tanglewood range: they're fantastic for the money and punch well above their weight in terms of playability.
True. I just saw on Amazon a 74€ guitar, +bag, +tuner, +6strings, +etc etc, all one needs for 74€. 🤔 Comments are enthusiastic about the sound, the quality, the playability, even from several guitar teachers who highly recommand it ! Plus, it is cool to have a guitar you don't worry about because it costs nothing.
Depends on the sound you’re going for. Certain guitars sound good for certain styles of music. Even the expensive ones. A warmer tone sounds better for a 2 to 3 piece acoustic jam. For a professional band sound, you need a bright sound in order to sit in the mix.
Hi Paul. I purchased an Orangewood and after putting on Elixir strings - I was very happy with the sound, and it looks great. Wonderful for traveling or outdoors.
My first acoustic my parents got for me for Christmas when I was 12. It was an art and Lutherie dreadnought. I can still remember the excitement I had. Taught myself and now I’m 32 with my dream guitar, the Martin ceo-7! Play whatever brings you joy, no matter the price tag
The Harley Benton's bridge design is actually something you'd want to look for in an acoustic guitar. That scoop where the pin holes are attached is going to help with the break angle of the strings once you start adjusting the saddle - something you'll inevitably do when you own a guitar.
If you're just starting out on the guitar, there are a few fairly affordable things that you can do to make your playing experience more enjoyable. For some of these steps you may want to take your guitar to a shop. First, remove the strings and throw them away. Trust me. A good set of new strings is an investment. Then remove the tuners and replace them with higher quality brand. Schaller and Gotoh are very reputable. Grover is also a decent. Next, replace the bridge pins, nut, and saddle w/ Tusq or bone. Anything that touches the strings should be the best material and not cheap plastic. Finally, ask your shop to dress the frets. This is a process where the sharp edges are sanded down and made smooth. Finally check the intonation and action (which if you are a new player, you should definitely take your guitar to a shop and let them do it for you). If you do these basic items, you can make a $150 guitar play and feel like you paid a lot more. Of course nothing can replace a solid wood body but as long as the guitar is in good shape (which it looks like these are), these steps will get you in the right direction. One final note, if you're just starting out, try installing light or custom light gauge strings (ask for .010 or .011). I've done this several times for family and friends over the years and it's worked out and they really enjoyed it. There is so much more I could cover but do these things. If you're not comfortable doing these things, have your shop do it for you. Good luck and have fun!
@@MrCoffeekelly Adjusting intonation usually involves filing the saddle. Acoustic guitars can be fussy. I personally don't mess around with adjusting intonation. I let the pros do it. Sometimes on more inexpensive guitars, the saddle is not placed in the proper position at all and no amount of filing and sanding will fix that. Sometimes a luthier can reposition the saddle. If you have concerns about intonation, you should take your guitar to a shop. But you can do a quick check yourself by first tuning your guitar to pitch (E-A-D-G-B-E). Use a good quality tuner. Then check the harmonics at the 12th fret and write down any discrepancies. If the guitar is in tune but the harmonics are different, take your guitar to a shop and have someone look at it. The key word is "set-up". Tell them you want a set-up done on your guitar. Good luck!
@@gia6978 It depends on what needs to be done and how long it will take to do it. I don’t know where you live but in my area, a normal setup costs about $60-80 USD. To add tuners it might run a little more but it shouldn’t be a whole lot more. I just had a full setup done on my mom’s guitar and I paid $140 USD. But nothing is too good for my mom so, you know. Anyhow, plan on spending around $100 or just under that number.
I was not surprised that the Harley Benton had a solid top I even could seemingly hear it over the internet's audio. Having taken up building instruments in my retirement fixing playability issues by leveling and crowing frets and setting action with saddle and nut adjustments along with a new bone nut and saddle will turn them all into very playable.
Not having played or heard any in person, the Orangewood's got to be my favourite on sheer looks alone. I'm a sucker for a matte mahogany top, like on my Taylor 320
I own and love my Orangewood. I don’t own the Rey but love my guitar all the same. It’s great to just pick up and play. Good for ideas to create. I love the aesthetics. The tuners, I find are excellent for a “budget” guitar.
Loved the video David! Could you also make a video with guitars in the $300 range. I think thats a good price point for beginners that are serious into playing guitar and a price that provides many good options.
I bought a Rogue RD -80 For around $100 . It sounds good, stays in tune and the neck has a nice fingerboard action. I have two other guitars more expensive and it seems the Rogue is easy to play. Good for a beginner etc
The music teacher at the end was a sweetie. She knew full well what the Martin was and picked the guitars which would best suit her students rather than even initially joking about the Martin.
My first acoustic guitar was this Yamaha, in 1994. My second was a fancy Martin D28, in 2020. It took me that long to be able to afford a guitar that really sounded better. It’s so good. I put about a million finger-miles on that thing and still love it.
For anyone wondering the song he plays around 11:30 Mark is called autumn leaves and he has a tutorial for it! th-cam.com/video/Pr7qWXClmpk/w-d-xo.html
I think Jack White once said he keeps the guitars that are “a little bit bent” and “a struggle” because he wants to have to battle it and conquer it. Pfft! I’ll take the Martin ;)
I taught acoustic for 2 years. When the person got better they couldn't hear the difference. When I placed a good guitar in their hands, then they heard it. It encouraged them to keep practicing.
Hey If you do not mind i have a question, does the price of the guitar affect how well the learning process could be? I have just started with a jasmine guitar 80$, and i have heard lots saying that if it is cheap and horrible you can't continue and you will quit out of frustration Thank you
When I first started playing a friend lent me this awful yamaha that I later found out was from a 'make your own guitar' kit. Needless to say I was shocked how much easier it was to play once I got my own guitar which was a fairly cheap fender.
I have an $80 dreadnought by Rogue that I received as a gift one year. By all means it's not amazing, currently the D-string tuning machine is slowly being ripped out of the headstock but it gets the job done for practice. It has been fun playing it and for $80 it doesn't sound half bad, I'm saving up for a better acoustic though.
I listened to them all early in the video, and thought that the only one of the four I would want is the Harley Benton, with its fuller sound. Interesting to see it's the only one with the solid top.
honestly just get something super cheap to gedt started it so worth spending that extra money on like a mexican strat, went into guitar shop the other day, gave me some off brand strat to test pedals and amps and honestly dude the feel of your tool makes so much difference, in saying that i learnt most of my stuff on a semi shitty acoustic and would always go acoustic as a first step, get into the fun stuff on the eletric when ya know what youre doing ]
@@octopusman5175 My first electric guitar was a squier bullet strat buy 40$ in a pawn shop. Very bad experience, i never wanted to play with. We gave me a pacifica ( yamaha ) after , i'd love to play with. Buy something not too bad for first experience, u could be disgusted.
Yeah. Got all the stuff I know from borrowing guitars too. Never had the money to purchase one for myself back then. My first guitar was a gift it was a Les Paul copy, much like a "Fakiphone". Then repaired one of my grandpa's Hondo II Les Paul. So the first one I really bought was an SX Thinline. Modding it out to look like Paul's. Haha.
The comment above is facts. I have two Mexican strats and having upgraded them they play like something that costs $2000. That said, I recently bought a Squier Bullet Mustang for $140 to mod and after a minor DIY setup and fret polish it plays great and is ready to accept some better pickups and electronics
My first guitar was a black Harley Benton western dreadnought with cut-out and was about 80€ including some stuff like a gig-bag, picks etc. My teacher could't believe it was so cheap, as it felt and sounded better than some of his that costed several thousands, so he constantly 'stole' my guitar to explain new things. I've had it for about 10 years now and besides some scratches on the back, it is basically like the day I got it. I'm sure there are some really horrible cheap guitars out there, just as there are horrible expensive ones, but it is definetly possible to get a good guitar for less than a hundred euros.
i would also choose orange wood because of shape ;P this cutaway body makes many freets available without strange wrist movement ;P Im strugling with it with my yamaha c40 ;(
I would always pick the Harley B over all 3 others. Simply because it has a solid top! That resonates much more, and the top is the part were the most sound is coming from. And i bet if you put decent strings on them it would even be better! (for the others as well) And tuning a guitar is always a good idea. It's important it's plays comfortable, surly for a beginner. And if you start playing guitar, i think it's even way better to buy a used guitar from a good brand, like Martin, or Taylor. You can have a great guitar to begin with from around 500€ used, and you can always sell it for a good price later if you don't have the skill to play guitar. I think all that begin to play guitar should never buy a true budget guitar. It's usually plays harder, sounds worse, and those things itselve could be the dropdown!
@@thomasross2777 yamaha or fender would be a good choice in my opinion for a beginner because they have good build so they will be more reliable and convenient like staying in tune for longer etc and you can then invest in better solid wood guitars later if you want.
I've always recommended Yamaha's as a great first guitar. Typically inexpensive, well built, and setup to be able to play out of the box. And they don't sound horrible. If you are going to pick up an acoustic for the first time and want one that will be a decent player - I'd still recommend Yamaha out of all of these. Oh, and my youngest daughter still has hers 20 yrs later and it still looks and plays great :-) Fender's - I love their electrics, but their acoustics always were "meh". I'm not sure where they are manufactured - but it just looks boring and bland. Though it did sound "OK" to me. I've never liked the way they played. I think the Harley Benton looked the nicest and definitely sounded great. But as you mentioned with the tuners - typical China junk pot metal. You'd want to replace the tuners. Though - I don't have any personal knowledge of them - I've heard nothing but good things about them. I recently heard about Orangewood and was excited that they were based out of Los Angeles. But - manufactured in Indonesia - these are only QC inspected and setup in L.A. before they are shipped out. This one I'd say is a roll of the dice on how well the one you order will be if you can find one. (this is according to the reviews I've read from their website)
My Yamaha was made in China, and so was my Orangewood. I think they are both fantastic, with perhaps a slight nod to the Orangewood maybe since it was professionally setup and feels perfect. I think the cheaper Fender acoustics are kinda "meh" from what I've seen, but the Yamahas or Orangewoods I recommend for sure. Can't speak on the HB.
Idk what it is about them but I’ve never played a fender acoustic that I liked. Always flubby and thin at the same time somehow. Which is weird because I pretty much only play fender electrics and amps.
@@dougthealligator Acoustics are the one thing Fender could never do well. They made 2 legendary revolutionary solid body electrics, two of the greatest basses and a host of great amplifiers. Acoustics? Nope.
And for true beginners, a decent tuner. When I was a novice, I found that having a guitar that would fall out of tune quickly, coupled with being difficult to tune in general (especially for beginner) was in fact, the most discouraging thing for me, hands down. When the G chord sounds like shit, immediately after spending the better part of an hour, giving it your best college effort, to tune the pos, it made giving up, seem pretty attractive! Defining moments, I’d say. You either do, or you just don’t
I got a real cheap Cort to when I went traveling and it actually became my favorite acoustic to play. Nice and light, easy to play and sounds fine. Because it was cheap I'm not so precious about it and generally have more fun with it.
I have a "cheap" Cort acoustic mixed in with my Taylor, Martin, Breedlove, and a few others that I had to save for to be able to purchase over the years. The Cort can hold its on, for sure. I heard something about the company being part of some of the more recognizable companies out there, so that may be part of it.
My favorite is most definitely the orangewood, whenever I decide to make another acoustic purchase I’ll look into buying one of those, plus I’m a sucker for mahogany guitars.
To be honest: the Harley Benton sounded the best to my ears. A very vivid, sparkling and clear tone for a guitar below 200 Euros. Well done Harley Benton
Orange wood is my favorite. Had a Yamaha but got rid of it after 2 months. I needed a guitar I could take around w me and orange wood makes really great quality stuff.
I bought a used Yammy F310. The set up was not good, I had to re-cut the nut to lower it, and replace the bridge that was also far too high. After that it is good to play, has a rich full sound. Must admit that Orangewood looks and sounds great, a bit more compact and the cutaway looks useful.
@@SaxJockey , why did you have to re-cut the nut? You can just sand the bottom down and glue it back in place again. I have played guitar on and off for about 20 years. Bought a Yamaha F310 6 months ago after not playing for at least 5years. I had about 10 cheap acoustics during my guitar playing years and this Yamaha is the best sounding acoustic I have ever had. The only problem I have with it is that it's not the best fit for my left hand and it doesn't play easy. Lowered the action since day one and it still plays hard. Also the 43 nut width is a problem if you have thick fingers tips.
@@wernercolyn892 Hi, it was my first guitar, I was not sure how easy removing/refitting the nut would be. So I carefully made the nut slots slightly deeper. It was still not enough so I then removed the nut, sanded the base and fixed it back as you say! Even then it was far too high at the bridge, an experienced player gave me a spare bone saddle for the bridge that was lower, that helped a lot. We were both surprised how high the action was (for a student instrument). But it does sound nice, good value when set up.
Laughed when he said he could detect some fret buzz on one of the guitars. I couldn't hear a thing and nothing like the fret buzz I've had on my cheap guitars.
12:47 - 12:49 lol. It messed up his slide BUT, the good thing is you can fix that pretty easily. A few turns of the truss rod and you can raise the action and get rid of it. (Which I'm guessing he did before donating it.)
I would disagree that glue between plies dampens sound. Almost all drums are made from glued plies. Drum shells are very resonant. Although it does depend on the process used to glue them together.
Gotta say, I improved my playing a lot since I picked up the course. Now in level two of Next Level Playing, which is indeed what the title of the course says, it goes a lot deeper into the underlying connections hidden under the fretboard. Big fan here, thanks!
I like that you don't say anything that would prevent anybody from trying any of these. I see fender and yahmaha have options with a solid top for just a little more. I'd like to try them but my local shop is always sold out.
4:02 I wonder whether you get the same guitars as a regular customer when you email the dealer/webshop asking for a review guitar. They will at least get a control to check for major flaws, I guess, a check on playability and probably maybe even a set up. The last three acoustics i bought online all had a (too) high nut and a (too) high saddle, both understandable, for too low is disastrous, but discouraging for novices. Oddly enough my first acoustic had an adjustable saddle (yes, a horror for tone purists), but you could simply lower the action to optimal playability and at open mic evening everyone wanted to play my guitar (being nervous one less issue). I think an adjustable saddle is ideal for beginners, no luthier needed.
Frits van Zanten they know who they’re sending it to. I’m guarantee they’re sending a slightly better than average example. Most reviewers understand this and mention it while they’re reviewing. All reviews should be noted as “this is what you’ll get for a good example of this guitar.” With cheap guitars though, there’s always a chance you get a total dud with sharp frets, bad nuts, or duller sound.
I have a couple of Chinese-built guitars here (not necessarily from HB, though ;-) and I have to say that the tuners are a pretty consistent issue with all of them. Good thing, though, that tuners are also the easiest part to change in any of these guitars, even for a beginner with no or little wood-working experience, and with the money saved in these you can easily get some very high-quality tuners and still save a good bit of cash.
I have an old Fender Squire that I got as a gift probably 20 years ago. I never really got any good at guitar and hadn't played in many years, but I started practicing again a year ago. I could tell the playability of my old Fender wasn't great - perhaps in part of it having had the same strings for 20 years and it being full of dust. 4 months ago I bought a Harley Benton CLA Mahogany solid wood and it absolutely amazing - from my standards naturally. It's night and day compared to my old one and I really love the matte dark wood look.
I recently bought a sigma guitar, I'd never heard of the brand but it's one of the nicest guitars I've ever played and it only cost me 360 euros. It's great.
Sigma used to be Martin's budget line. They sold off the division some time ago and the new owners moved production to China from Indonesia. Interestingly, that company can't market them as Sigma in the US (they're called Kindred) because Martin let the trademark lapse a couple years before they sold the division and another company swooped in and registered the trademark for guitars in the US.
I've got a sigma from the 1970's. It sounds awesome! Some days I play it over my Taylor 426ce ltd or my Guild DV6. It has really held up to the test of time. Got it for $100 at a yard sale.
@@CharlesHess Nice! I have the DM-5S. Had to play it when I got home today...just because. Still sounds so good. I've got it tuned to an open D. One of the best sounding dreadnoughts I've ever played.
First, I love your videos. Very informative and not too 'marketing'. As for someone trying to do research, that's very refreshing to see. Second, I already have 3 guitars (2 acoustic, 1 electric), and I'm only looking for a 3rd acoustic to keep at work in my office for practice. This was a good review. Third, I have to know. What was the song you were playing at about minute 7? It was beautiful and I'd like to play around with that for a possible song.
Yuri Gassity , it is a improv he made on Instagram. He goes in depth about it in another video of his named “turn this old chords in something beautiful” or something like that
I have to admit that even through my crappy computer speakers the Harley Benton came through each time as sounding surprisingly lively and vibrant. Thanks Paul! Keep up the good work!
Which one is your favorite? Also, feel free to drop any recommendations in the comments!
Paul Davids what about a cheap electric guitar amp and electric guitar showdown of four models? For beginners.
I thought they all sounded better than most budget models in guitar center. However, the difference between a $150 guitar and a $350 guitar is massively worth it
That HB and orangewood sound so different but both are my favorite
I like the Fender and the Harley Benton
Recommendation!
Colab with Guitar Pilgrim, you both are super awesome
My father brought me the Yamaha 310 as a birthday present a little while before he past away. So this is clearly my favourite! (Thanks dad x)
I hope you're having fun with it😊
That's tough. Good luck buddy. And have fun with the guitar :)
Enjoy that guitar. Praying for u 🙏🏽
I learned on a f310 as well , my son has it now and I still love and can play comfortably on it ! A fantastic guitar
have fun with it!!
Remember kids: a good guitar player with a cheap guitar sounds better than a bad player with an expensive guitar
Thanks I needed this.
Put me in my place
I counter with the fact that you will want to practice more, if the guitar in your hands is "nice." I practiced as much as my hands and fingers would tolerate with my beginner Yamaha FG830. After some months I upgraded to a Martin D16E. My practice increased 3x simply because I liked what I was doing and liked the result more.
@@danr5105 i agree
what about a bad player and a cheap guitar?
None of these sounded “bad” or “cheap”. They are what they should be for a beginner guitar. I have a Yamaha FG model a couple of steps up in price and quality from the one here and it has an impressive bright, full and detailed sound. It looks great too. I was so taken with how well it competed with other brands above its price range that I bought it as my first serious acoustic when I had no intention of getting a Yamaha. They make quality instruments for all skill levels.
Remember kids: a cheap guitar from a good brand sounds better than an expensive guitar from a bad brand.
had one back in the day …. great sound… wish Zi had kept it
My first acoustic was an Alvarez … not too of the line btw…. but wow… what a great first guitar !
Should have kept it.
What is a good upper middle price acoustic that you would recommend
For the price, I believe Seagull builds some of the best guitars out there. A lot of them have solid wood construction and very good playabilty... imho
The first guitar I got was a $89 Epiphone classical guitar from Sam Ash. No matter how cheap it is I'll keep it as long as I survive cause my mom bought it for me.
🙏🏾
Every time I see that name it feels so bizarre
@@sameash3153 true this and Ibanez both sounds so cheap.
I feel this. I had a silvercreek that was handed down 13 years ago from my older brother. Was stolen on the dc metro yesterday:(
@@jonathanharris6232 Sorry to hear that man, hope you find it back someday 🙏🏻
If it stays in-tune and doesn't rattle, it's good enough.
but also needs to be loud enough
i got a fifty dollar rouge as my first guitar and damn man it didn’t help at all think hardly stays in tune by the time i’m done playing a song and is quiet. oh well you get what you pay for but i didn’t know that when i bought it i was just like “cool, it’s red and it’s a guitar i’ll buy it” lmao
@@ezralee4370 my brother got a 60€ guitar and it is pretty good for the money, stays in tune, sounds nice and is overall a fine acustic
Amen. Every guitar I've ever owned was second hand. My current baby is a second hand guitar and does everything a $1000 dollar guitar would do. I play for myself and I'm at peace with it.
There is your 300th like my good sir
Every guitar sounds like an expensive guitar in this guy's hands.
No , because he got some very high quality sound setup , ive play these guitar , they really sound not that good
@@STEVENV0 I was complementing his guitar playing. Don't be so literal.
Editing goes a long way.
Anything in tune should sound good right?
agree. they sounds all same to me ...... im very new begginer
Yamaha has always been my first choice in a budget-priced guitar that I would not be afraid to play on stage and gig with. It is a brand that is known and respected everywhere, and for the price it really delivers.
Beginner guitars definitely have to be playable out of the box. You can’t assume they’ll have an experienced player on standby to adjust this and that to make them play well. My first guitar was a strat-copy around 20 years ago and it was terrible. I thought it was purely down to my lack of skill but then I played an Epiphone that maybe cost twice as much and those chords that I struggled with immediately sounded clean. There’s comments saying about how a good guitar player can make them sound good, but that’s not who is buying cheap guitars so the comments are misguided. Learning guitar is hard enough and I’ll bet that bad guitars have been the reason for many beginners giving up learning to play. Playability is definitely more important than nuances of tone in a beginner guitar. It’s good to see that things have improved a lot
I agree that good players aren't typically the ones buying them. But as a professional myself, I endorse budget instruments and encourage other professional players to try cheap ones they otherwise would ignore. I think beginners shouldn't watch these videos, but I think intermediate and above players see these videos as sort of a "I need a new guitar, I don't want to spend too much money, but I want to know if these things can sound decent". And when you hear somebody like that playing on it, it's reassuring.
100% this. The playability of a more expensive guitar can take a weaker player and instantly improve upon that. A beginner will have a difficult time to find a "cheap" guitar that is playable, because they don' know any different. Solution - go with a guitar player to purchase that first guitar and use a team approach.
Trying to figure out rn if it's me or the guitar. My dad bought me a guitar when I was a kid that was $30 from target. I couldn't figure out how to tune it and couldn't play well so I kind of gave up. I've been wanting to get into guitar again so I picked it back up (10 years old) after learning all the guitar chords and hand placements to make sure I would not give up. Still sounds awful. Not sure if it's me
On that note, I remember as a kid I also wanted to learn how to skateboard so he bought me a board from Walmart. I spent years thinking I was just really shit at skateboarding. Brought it into a skate shop to get it fixed one day and the guy at the counter was horrified. Now I'm a great skateboarder 😂
I'm still a beginner by most standards just because I'm self teaching and just enjoy messaging around. But I realized the neck is way too big for my hand. I am a piano player, but am a woman so my hands are a bit smaller. I've quit so many times because it feels so much harder than it should be. Then I played on a smaller one and I was immediately able to play things I struggled with even after tons of practice on my regular one. The guitar makes so much of a difference for beginner players.
You know what, I'm gonna like this video straight from the start because of the great editing. Just epic guitar changes
When Paul plays them they don't sound cheap at all
That's because a guitar is merely a tool.
I think they still do - which is definetly not Pauls fault!
Tone is in the fingers.
You could definitely tell that some of them were hard to play.
Yeah they do lmao
How are these "Cheap" Guitars. My first guitar is literally like 40$
Mine also...
Mine was 21 dollar man
@@darkiet1181 Oh, Girl/Man...🤣🤣🤣
New? If so where and what?
I start with 5$ guitar
I've played the same entry-level Fender acoustic since 2007 -- over half my life. It's traveled around the world with me; three countries, five states, and countless random basements in high school. I just bought a Yamaha A series, and though I'm sad to retire the only possession I still have from my childhood, it's going to be a much needed step up. That "cheap" guitar from the 2000s ended up giving me so much over the years.
Dude, as an "older guy" hang on to that fender! You'll be glad you did in the future. I really liked your comment
Just keep it. I bought an Harley Benton (with cut away, otherwise comparable) as second acoustic just for alternate tunings. Currently in CGCGGE for some soundgarden
When I was young my parents wouldn’t buy me a guitar, they said I’d give up on it. I ended up getting an old Samick classical acoustic for 25 bucks that was laying in the back of my friends sisters closest. I played it daily for 2 yrs before getting a Mexican strat and small 15 watt practice amp. I honestly think the only thing that kept me playing that pos closet find was the need to prove my parents wrong. That was 26yrs ago. I have a replaced shoulder now from 10 yrs ago and may never play like I could before but after the surgery I decided to actually learn how to play instead of being totally self taught. My only regret was waiting so long to learn the theory. I was one of those kids that thought theory would take away “my sound” but now that I’m in my 40s I know how wrong I was. Keep the great videos coming!
I am 65 years old and studied last year with a young man who is senior in college studying music theory great experience I can now read music. It's never too late. Corona virus interrupted my study.
You gave me something to think about. I better stop thinking in keeping my sound self taught and start learning theory. Thanks for that!
I agree. You dont need to get your Doctorates in music theory, but knowing the basics, like knowing how to play in key, is a good foundation for creating music. I always used to play covers, and really hard covers I might add, but that doesnt mean Im good at creating, only good at copying. Once you know your keys, you can listen to music with guitars and know what key they're playing in and thats why it sounds good and makes sense.
@@sc12100 Being able to read music really helpful understand in each different key has different sharps and flats. Understand what a natural I'd or sustain , pull of or hammer on. Than you get to the hardest for me is rythum.
@@charlesputnam9370 Reading music is becoming a lost skill set in the guitar world.
The worst part of cheap guitars are cheap tuning heads and bad intonation. You can always play an acoustic guitar through a mic and run it through an E.Q., but with bad tuning heads you can never tune the guitar properly!
Tuning issues usually lie more within the bridge. I realized this because I have 2 guitars with total shit tuning pegs but they keep tune very well.. It's the good bridge.
You cant save the plasticy muffled sound of cheap acoustics
beef nacos it’s easier to upgrade a set of tuners for most folks though. You can do it yourself with pretty much no technical expertise.
A slightly more $$$ expensive guitar is worth it alone for the fact that the strings are less likely to blow up in your face. Playing string roulette is terrifying 😨
@@beefnacos6258 Agree completely. Intonation is through the placement of the bridge.
The Fender CD-60 was my first guitar, pretty decent for its price. I still play it today and I'm not disappointed at all by its playability and sound.
How Long have you been playing for?
Would you recommend it?
I have a cd 60 cutaway for 13 years now and still playable🤩
I just got the cd60 for my first guitar
I picked up a CD60 used a few months ago. It’s about 2 years old but rarely played by previous owner. Put some elixir bronze coated light gauge strings on it,adjusted the neck and action and it just sings and plays beautifully now. I am finding the nut is not cut deep enough so I’ll be taking care of that on the next restring.
The Harley Benton stands out from the rest. The solid spruce top does make the difference. In my opinion.
i totally agree
YUP !
IMO - someone who wants to learn how to play should start out with a model with a solid top - new or used.
@@sc12100 In some ways I would agree, but I couldn't even afford a set of strings and made them out of fishing line. Solid top would never have happened. Even the back of mine was stuck on with tape.
Yea it’s surprising how much better it is then the other. I always assumed orange wood guitars was the best value guitar but it looks like I’m going to have to start recommending the HB to beginners
I own a Harley Benton ST62 (Stratocaster) and it truly is a surprisingly good guitar. Thinking of buying an acoustic from them too.
I just purchased an Orangewood, Oliver M (Mahogany). Solid Mahogany top, layered Mahogany sides and back. Set up perfectly, right out of the box. Full, well balanced tone, and pretty loud for being a Concert size. I have yet, to be disappointed, no matter what genre I am playing. Playability is excellent. Price point, is hard to beat, considering the workmanship, and quality.
Where did u buy it I’m looking for that one
@@huntertharp3112 same here.
I love my Orangewood.
Do you still like it ????
I started playing guitar 56 years ago when I was 8 and my first acoustic guitar was a made in Japan Yamaha FG-180. A few years ago I developed Arthritis and Trigger Finger in my left hand and had to quit playing. I sold all of my guitars.Later, my Physical Therapist encouraged me to start playing again to exercise my hand. Not wanting to spend too much money on something that I’d never be able to play in public, I bought an Orangewood Rey Mahogany like the one in the video. It’s the perfect guitar for a beginner which is what my ailing hand has turned me into.
Thanks for your story. Now in my 40s, it's one I'm going to remember about how to grow older gracefully.
One of my early acoustic guitars was a Yamaha FG140. I still have it almost 50 years later, and still play it occasionally.
Dear Mr Davids, Thank you for one of the most informative and interesting guitar channels on the planet. Every time I tune in I learn something new. Paul, I think one thing needs to be said and that is that no one is even questioning how little money we are talking about here. The workmanship, the materials, and the time! My god, the time spent on making an instrument like any of the 4 you are showcasing is a lot of time. In today’s world, where you can go out with your girlfriend to dinner and drop 100 or 130 Euros for a half-decent meal, or a pair of bluejeans for 150 plus euros or other perishable things that are outrageously expensive puts things in perspective. I have seen parents come into a guitar shop of a friend of mine and actually ask for the cheapest, and when he shows the cheapest, for them it's too expensive. When I pipe in to say it’s better to get a quality axe when someone is starting out, the parents of course think I am trying to get a better deal for my friend. My point is that the guitars you are showing play pretty good and look fantastic when you think how cheap they are. Paul, they are the price of a dinner in a restaurant and there is quality work on display. It’s an opinion. But those instruments were made by professionals with good material and we're not talking about 2 hours of work.
Nice comment. Cheers dude.
I’m not reading this, but man that sucks, or good for you, hey man keep doin u 😀
@@elleon9895
😆🤣😜
As a novice guitarist, who just spent £15 on his first 2nd hand Martin Smith acoustic, I have to say I really love the look and sound of that Orangewood.
You sure got bargain, enjoy it.
So your opinion means nothing
@@oh-not-the-bees7872 isn't that the point of opinions... that it's just an opinion??
Nash - I’d buy that Orangewood! I have some very expensive guitars, and some very inexpensive guitars! My Danelectro U2 is a favourite electric, and cost just a few hundred dollars, and I play it as much as my White Falcon! !$! But the Orangewood takes it, in this show down. They make extremely well built guitars at the $300 - $400 range!
Cheaper end Yamahas always gave me a diverse and easy feel, and if you take good care of them, they'll last a loooong time. Just slap a good pair of strings on them. Also, First Act had a 20 dollar mini guitar (wasn't a toy), and it honestly sounded and felt great. Definitely an option for practice if your a homely poor boy like I use to be.
I actually started out on a first act mini guitar. It wasn't to shabby. 6 years later I'm still playing guitar, so I guess it did its job and worked out well.
bro i agree. i started on a f310. and over the years my guitar collection grew but i still prefer the f310 above all my fancy guitars. theres just something about it. i slapped some EB 11s on there. sings like an angel. love the mat finish on the neck. and the neck is really thin and comfortable. just something abour it.
Yeah just put good string on them every week! Lol!
I own a Yamaha FG-365S that I've played for nearly 40 years, and it's held up great. My experience is that Yamaha guitars are like Honda Accords: not the flashiest or sexiest machines out there, but they are well-made, reliable, dependable, suitable to the task, and yes, if you take care of them they will last a long, long time. BTW I also own Martin D-35 that is about the same age, and while there is really no comparison on tone, the Yamaha has required way less maintenance than the Martin.
My cousin has a Fender Pacifica electric. Super cheap cost but I really like the playability! Very smooth!
End of the day it’s the player. I’ve seen seasoned players absolutely shred a hello kitty guitar.
Zac Wilde for one, right here on TH-cam! Check it out
I mean, we have all seen the arguments that "it is the player, not the guitar" but how much does that really matter to us as players specifically? I remember watching a video that was making the rounds (specifically in this type of discussion) some years back where Joe Satriani was playing one of his songs through a fan's really cheap Ibanez and a cheap amp. He played well (obviously) and while the sound wasn't the same as he would get with his usual setup, the most important part was when he finished and said "That was a little painful on this guitar". Did he play it well? Yes. Did he enjoy it? Likely not.
We have to remember that in any enthusiast art/hobby, there is a point where the artist's own comfort and pleasure when using a particular instrument/tool comes into play. That it is important to like what you are using so it doesn't act as a point of unwanted creative resistance.
the dooo in a nutshell
Yeah, but that doesn't mean everybody should start on a 3 string cigar box made by themselves, ease of play is important, I started learning bass a couple of months ago and while I'm having fun one of my troubles is, because it's a p bass with a long honkin' neck it's a bit difficult to practice in my small crowded room, also the action is very high and I can't really adjust lower it without getting a lot more fret buzz. I'm persisting, but annoying things like that can be very discouraging to someone just starting.
I wish I had a Hello Kitty.
1:55 : hmmm, sounds familiar. Where have I heard that before 🤔
The Travis picking tutorial!
Sounds actually like Street Spirit from Radiohead
and Rollercoaster by Danny Vera
is it an actual song?
I've had an F310 for the last 7 years and its served me faithfully. Finally in the market for an upgrade but I've never had any real problems with the Yamaha, stick some new strings on it and it sounds like a new guitar every time
Bought mine a year ago that was pre-owned and it has done wonders for me.
Buy a martin then
@@HykaFT Just today gone and bought a Faith actually. I'm self taught and just play for fun so still don't feel I can justify a quality Martin or similar
Get an L series they’re amazing Yamaha’s. So much bang for your buck
@@thewindow6 or you could buy yamaha transcoustic
Converting my country's currency to dollars, my first guitar costed probably 20$ or less. It had nylon strings and made by a national company.
The second one was an Epiphone, it costed about 222$, and according to everyone that played it, the guitar sounds amazingly well
I have the Harley Benton and after 5 years it got better. The sound matured and can rival sound of guitars 3 times it's price. Only for the playability could be space for improvement.
Yes Harley Bentons do tend to mature a lot as they age, my youngest Harley Benton is a pain in the butt right now I give her a few years and she'll hopefully behave better.
@fartpooboxohyeah8611 They also proved artificial sweenteners are harmful, and they also proved it's not. Proving has become a myth itself. Everybody knows solid wood resonates and develops overtime
You meant to say that you got better. 😊
@fartpooboxohyeah8611Its a basic understanding of wood. When a guitar is newly manufactured, its humidity content falls above the ideal range, and over time it dries out, going from a dull-waterlog to a full resonance.
Paul, what I appreciate so much about you is that I’ve seen other guitar you tubers (don’t have to name anyone ) and it feels like all they do is just want to show you how much more money they have than everyone else with the insane ridiculous amount of guitars that they own and honestly do not even need (Not even that great at guitar) But Paul you are so humble and chill that it’s not even funny. That’s why I mainly go to you for guitar advice , there’s no “clout” showing off here , you just show the best way to make the best sounds using the best chords. I literally took my playing to the next level just watching your videos. Thank you.
I got a Yamaha F-310 when I was 14 or 15 and I still have it to this day (I’m 32). It’s still going strong.
It is a souvenir of life.
Dude....your voice is so relaxing and your playing style is even more relaxing. Love watching your playing. thanks
Great video editing paul. Really kept me engaged from start to finish.
I think that over the years the expected quality of entry level instruments has gone up quite a lot compaired to when I started playing in the mid 1990's. Add to the fact that manufacturing and transportation techniques have improved and new players are able to get far better equipment for a much lower cost than in my day.
The setup is so important on these guitars . If you would've aquired these guitars
off a music store's wall , you'd get a more honest representation than
contacting the companies and saying " I'm a very popular youtube personality
and I'd like a guitar right off your line . This review will be viewed by
thousands . Do you think the companies are going to grab the next guitar
off the line and send it to you ? Or do you think the boss will ask his top
setup man to choose a lively one and do a great setup ?
That's actually a good point that I never thought of.
Exactly. I bought a Yamaha F310 about a year ago and the setup was horrible. I had to get it fixed because it was almost unplayable. The worst part was the very high action that caused a lot of finger pain. That being said, after it was set up right, I've been having a real good time with the guitar and have made a lot of progress.
A good musician can setup their own instrument themselves. Also you dont think a reviewer should review something at its peak? To show how good it can really sound? You think someone should review something untuned too? Since most guitars come out of tune out of the box/off the walls.
@@joyboyblues5808 The guy explicitly made the point in the video, and he was damn right to do so: most beginners are not supposed to know how to set up a guitar by themselves... Let alone have the right tools and experience to do that job. I can do a reasonably good setup today, but when I started playing forty years ago, the cheap unplayable crap I had in my hands almost made me give up.
But I think you're right in saying it's a good thing to show how good cheap guitars can be if you work on them a bit!
Although I can't understand how you can stay in business if you need to do a total setup on each guitar that you have to sell for 100 or 150 dollars/euros...
@Steven Mortensen: I was thinking exactly the same thing ;-)
But, I must add to this: I have a cheap Les Paul and a cheap six string bass from two distinct German webshops and certainly from Asian factories (both bought second hand from the first owners, I'd never buy a guitar online) and I must say the bass is pretty reasonable, and the set neck Les Paul is close to fantastic for it's price point. I bought it for the price of the Seymour Duncans the first owner put in it, and it's a great guitar!
I'm not a big fan of "modern technology ", I'm more into traditional craftsmanship, but the technological progress in the Far East coupled to exploitation of cheap labor have made cheap beginner guitars much better than they used to be, say forty or even thirty years ago. Most of them will demand a decent setup though.
I started with a Harley Benton D120CEBK (at the moment: 77€ online) and its still fine after being used for like 13 years. Of course some srachtes and signs of use but I'm impressed everytime I pick it up. For your first guitar it doesn't matter, you don't need a guitar worth more than hundres of dollars. And a beginner would not be able to hear any sound differences.
The guitar's worth comes with the years you played on it. It's your root to music - and that's invaluable.
Thanks for the great video. I enjoyed watching it and liked your effort you put into it, Paul.
P.S. my favorite is of course the HB :D
Greez from germany.
As a 90s kid I've must've seen every Unplugged MTV ever made and honestly a little string buzz actually sounds kinda cool and it certainly exists (listen to Alice in Chains unplugged for example). Just a little buzz ain't bad when playin' acoustic... Take it as the equivalent of the crispy fizzy sound when playing an an electric thru a tube amp. I'd take a comfy action over clean pristine sound any day.
Mmm no excuses unplugged. Made me immediately want an acoustic.
Give me a 2000 pound Acoustic Id make it sound like a two bob guitar
@Romanes eunt domus lmao
@Romanes eunt domus Some guitars you should pound with a baseball bat 2000 times
I call B.S. !!!
You couldn't even pick up a 1 ton guitar.
Can you make a similar comparison with squier guitars for electric guitars?
Yea the bullet and affinity series
Classic vibes as well :D
@@AnishKumar-pf5mz And a Vintage Modified to complete the set!
@@AnishKumar-pf5mz Classic vibes are far from cheap , dude .
@@valbastiancontraio2795 they're not 150 dollars or whatever, but all things considered they are actually pretty cheap for everything you get.
Even if it's only veneers, the Orangewood looks cooler. And the shape is more attractive too.
Binod
@Joe Binod
Ive got an ovation from the 80s and the sound is very similar. Which, given the price point is very nice for the orangewood. I want to get something slim like that, having learned on the roundback ovation. They're all very nice looking guitars >.
Mm no.
The orange wood appears to be a grand auditorium shape, tend to be nice and loud in the middle, but the bass notes wont ring as deep compared to the dreadnoughts.
Having a guitar that fits comfortably is so important. If the thing is hard to play, you'll stop a song or two sooner than you otherwise would. That adds up over time. If there is one element of a guitar that is worth paying a bit for, it's the comfort in your hands and playability.
For 3 or 4 years as a beginner I've been playing a cheap 80€ western guitar which was sooo incredibly hard to play, by the time I upgraded to an ibanez I was used to applying so much pressure on the fretboard, my worldview collided when I was able to execute a clean barre chord with almost no stress on the fingers.
You are correct, playability should be prioritized over sophisticated sound. You're not going to gig anytime soon anyways
3 or 4 years would probably make you at least an intermediate player.
@@braidenr4 not the way I played back then :^)
@@braidenr4 also with every complex chord hurting my fingers my motivation was way down in that period
@FabienPath its cheap for a guitar. Extremely cheap
@FabienPath 80€ is objectively cheap for a guitar, and I don't know why you feel like we're playing a game of "who had it worse" rn, I was just telling a little anecdote
i still remember the horror of my first attempt to play a guitar, bleeding fingers on a half an inch high action..
Yikes!
Jesus loves you!! Were in the last days Jesus is coming he's the way the truth and the life. Dont trust the covid vaccine it's got 666 written allll over it, litterally
@@justchilling704 Jesus loves you!! Were in the last days Jesus is coming he's the way the truth and the life. Dont trust the covid vaccine it's got 666 written allll over it, litterally
God bless you
@@psalm3496 It’s people like you that make Christians seem like cultists.
No kidding. It was fingers in da cheese grader sessions. LOL. Bad or worn out guitars can make or break a beginner...
Honestly, the sort of guitar you can get for that kind of money these days is better than some of the upper mid tier instruments when I started out. I would have done some very morally dubious things to get my hands on any of these for a starter guitar 30 years ago. It's getting increasingly hard to buy a 'bad' guitar, the worst thing you generally encounter is a bad factory setup.
I think you can still get bad guitars if you pat less than 150ish squid.
Very useful review. As for the solid top vs laminated top ABSOLUTELY this is going to make a difference. I'm a professional studio designer, and we use the behavior of laminated materials in order to absorb sound, (using the principle of sheer to convert movement of membranes into heat as one layer works to move against another e.g. laminated 'studio' glass). The advantage of lamination is greater resistance to flexing, this is contrary to what we want from a sound diffusing membrane like an acoustic guitar top.
That's crazy. That's by far the best explanation I've read about the differences between solid and laminated tops.
@@silkysmoof5697 it is the same for drum skin, or speaker cone, acoustic guitar top, or a studio wall: a membrane must flex. The center of the membrane moves while the edges stay still. For a speaker cone to function and reproduce a range of frequencies simultaneously the flexing is a very complex set of waveforms superimposed on each other.
@@silkysmoof5697 It's not so much a belief system as my day job, and is not the glue that makes the sheets more rigid as much as the fact that the layers are cross-bonded. You can buy plywood that is not cross-bonded, (which is called Bender Board in the States), and is used to achieve a controllably curved surface. I believe that x-bracing of a guitar top is designed to prevent the top belly-ing under string pressure. it is a design compromise, but not one that completely damps the top. When carpenters use plywood it is often for its rigidity, when studio builders use it to construct bass traps it is a design compromise because trees don't come big enough to give us an 8' x 4' sheet of stable solid wood, and ply is cheap enough that we can work around its failings as an acoustic material.The subject of materials and their acoustic properties is yet more complex than this, but I am going to leave it here. If you want to know more there is a book called 'Sound Materials' by Tyler Adams
I can't help but add my opinion on tone when it comes to acoustic guitars and solid vs.laminate tops ! To me it's simple if your looking for a guitar save your money and when you have enough to play as many as you possibly can and you should find one that you like ! I've been playing guitar and music for over 40 years and have owned everything at one point or another from Custom shop USA Jackson's and Fenders and High end Yamaha acoustics and many many other brands . When I was young it mattered to me the name on the headstock. Now it means absolutely nothing ! If I want a guitar now I only buy what would be considered low to mid range instruments simply because of the sound and feel of the guitar . I thinned my acoustic herd by taking a chance on a $140 Harley Benton acoustic/electric. It played better than my much more expensive Yamaha but didn't match the sound ........but after a couple years of playing it ......it's sound is getting better with age and I don't care what anyone thinks about the name ! To me the tone and sound you hear comes more from your hands and soul than what the wood is made of . Don't believe me ? Put your guitar in a master's hands and see how it's sounds with someone else playing it ! Everything else is just politics !
The Hb solid top guitar wasn't my pick of the best sound, I think the orangewood sounded better.
My dad started dropping hints that he wished he had been able to learn guitar, so this year I bought him his first guitar, I went with the Orangewood Oliver, I've never played one (and still havent since my dad and I dont live near each other) but by going off youtube reviews, they seemed to be decent enough for a beginner. If I could have found him a used Taylor GS for that price point I probably would have done it-I have one for just playing around on the couch or traveling. While the GS's tone really doesnt hold a candle to a nice high end model acoustic, I would say that they're pretty decent sounding for the $$.
Cheaper guitars in Brazil go for around 50$, so you'd imagine how many kids will give up before even getting a chance of learning, the necks are usually unplayable.
The solid top makes a huge difference, when I got my second guitar, my step up was the solid top (though to be fair I didn't know it at the time, it just felt better).
Cheers
Mano, eu comecei com um Del Vecchio antigasso que tava perdido na casa da minha vó, o violão devia ter uns 30 anos e já tava com as cordas apodrecendo, mas eu troquei, dei uma limpada e passei uns 3 anos com ele antes de poder fazer um upgrade pra um Di Giorgio. Infelizmente a gente sofre aqui tendo que se virar com o que aparece.
@@joaopedro.marinho6503 eu comecei com um Gianini com o tampo colado com durepoxi kkkk depois fui pra um Tagima Juninho afram (que é o de tampo maciço).
O custo benefício dele é top, mas ano passado fui pra londres e trouxe um faith classic burst... Não faz nem sentido comparar, mas instrumento bom ou faz com luthier ou compra fora, a importação aqui mata o cara...
Quando comprei minha guita, paguei 2000 reais (+- 850us$ na época), e ela estava pra venda no US por 450us$, é um absurdo
The same used to apply in India till 10 years back, I got a horrid model blind picked by my clueless dad during the 90s as I wasn't educated about action and playability. Now that I am a dad myself got my kid her first proper Chinese starter guitar off Amazon after looking at many expert reviews and hearing the tone myself (with good speakers). Her Guitar teacher was impressed with the instrument.
I’ve played some cheap guitars, but fender acoustics that are on a budget are the hardest things to play. I wasn’t expecting anything but I could fit a bottle cap under the strings that’s how bad the action was
It constantly amazes me how good budget guitars aimed at beginners are these days. I've been playing for over 40 years now and find the quality of sub-£200 guitars to be consistently good. You should check out some of the Tanglewood range: they're fantastic for the money and punch well above their weight in terms of playability.
True. I just saw on Amazon a 74€ guitar, +bag, +tuner, +6strings, +etc etc, all one needs for 74€. 🤔
Comments are enthusiastic about the sound, the quality, the playability, even from several guitar teachers who highly recommand it !
Plus, it is cool to have a guitar you don't worry about because it costs nothing.
Depends on the sound you’re going for. Certain guitars sound good for certain styles of music. Even the expensive ones. A warmer tone sounds better for a 2 to 3 piece acoustic jam. For a professional band sound, you need a bright sound in order to sit in the mix.
People calling 150 dollar guitars cheap.
Me playing a 70dollars guitar: Interesting.
Yup, double standards are always a thing.
Me playing a 45dollars guitar seeing people comment how their guitars are only 70dollars: oh
Mines $100, lol
😐16$
@@kenz2756 how is it a double standard?
Hi Paul. I purchased an Orangewood and after putting on Elixir strings - I was very happy with the sound, and it looks great. Wonderful for traveling or outdoors.
My first acoustic my parents got for me for Christmas when I was 12. It was an art and Lutherie dreadnought. I can still remember the excitement I had. Taught myself and now I’m 32 with my dream guitar, the Martin ceo-7! Play whatever brings you joy, no matter the price tag
The Harley Benton's bridge design is actually something you'd want to look for in an acoustic guitar. That scoop where the pin holes are attached is going to help with the break angle of the strings once you start adjusting the saddle - something you'll inevitably do when you own a guitar.
That Harley Benton is on a whole other level from the other three on sound quality
If you're just starting out on the guitar, there are a few fairly affordable things that you can do to make your playing experience more enjoyable. For some of these steps you may want to take your guitar to a shop. First, remove the strings and throw them away. Trust me. A good set of new strings is an investment. Then remove the tuners and replace them with higher quality brand. Schaller and Gotoh are very reputable. Grover is also a decent. Next, replace the bridge pins, nut, and saddle w/ Tusq or bone. Anything that touches the strings should be the best material and not cheap plastic. Finally, ask your shop to dress the frets. This is a process where the sharp edges are sanded down and made smooth. Finally check the intonation and action (which if you are a new player, you should definitely take your guitar to a shop and let them do it for you). If you do these basic items, you can make a $150 guitar play and feel like you paid a lot more. Of course nothing can replace a solid wood body but as long as the guitar is in good shape (which it looks like these are), these steps will get you in the right direction. One final note, if you're just starting out, try installing light or custom light gauge strings (ask for .010 or .011). I've done this several times for family and friends over the years and it's worked out and they really enjoyed it. There is so much more I could cover but do these things. If you're not comfortable doing these things, have your shop do it for you. Good luck and have fun!
How do you adjust the intonation on an acoustic guitar?
@@MrCoffeekelly Adjusting intonation usually involves filing the saddle. Acoustic guitars can be fussy. I personally don't mess around with adjusting intonation. I let the pros do it. Sometimes on more inexpensive guitars, the saddle is not placed in the proper position at all and no amount of filing and sanding will fix that. Sometimes a luthier can reposition the saddle. If you have concerns about intonation, you should take your guitar to a shop. But you can do a quick check yourself by first tuning your guitar to pitch (E-A-D-G-B-E). Use a good quality tuner. Then check the harmonics at the 12th fret and write down any discrepancies. If the guitar is in tune but the harmonics are different, take your guitar to a shop and have someone look at it. The key word is "set-up". Tell them you want a set-up done on your guitar. Good luck!
how much do you think it would cost to get all that done at a shop? thanks!
@@gia6978 75-90 bucks.
@@gia6978 It depends on what needs to be done and how long it will take to do it. I don’t know where you live but in my area, a normal setup costs about $60-80 USD. To add tuners it might run a little more but it shouldn’t be a whole lot more. I just had a full setup done on my mom’s guitar and I paid $140 USD. But nothing is too good for my mom so, you know. Anyhow, plan on spending around $100 or just under that number.
I was not surprised that the Harley Benton had a solid top I even could seemingly hear it over the internet's audio. Having taken up building instruments in my retirement fixing playability issues by leveling and crowing frets and setting action with saddle and nut adjustments along with a new bone nut and saddle will turn them all into very playable.
Not having played or heard any in person, the Orangewood's got to be my favourite on sheer looks alone. I'm a sucker for a matte mahogany top, like on my Taylor 320
I have the martin d 15s
I own and love my Orangewood. I don’t own the Rey but love my guitar all the same. It’s great to just pick up and play. Good for ideas to create. I love the aesthetics. The tuners, I find are excellent for a “budget” guitar.
Loved the video David! Could you also make a video with guitars in the $300 range. I think thats a good price point for beginners that are serious into playing guitar and a price that provides many good options.
My grandma bought me the Yamaha back in 2006 and I learned Jack Johnson songs on it. It's still my only guitar and I love it.
I bought a Rogue RD -80 For around $100 . It sounds good, stays in tune and the neck has a nice fingerboard action. I have two other guitars more expensive and it seems the Rogue is easy to play. Good for a beginner etc
This man looks like when he’s not playing guitar he hangs out in an artisan coffee shop and brews his own craft beer
Good videos dude- keep it up
He probably hangs out in ‘Kush Café’s’
And why not? I love me some craft 🍺
he's conor mcgregor
Yes, that's how he makes his living. This guitar stuff is just to pass the time. 🎸
The music teacher at the end was a sweetie. She knew full well what the Martin was and picked the guitars which would best suit her students rather than even initially joking about the Martin.
yeah, wish she were my teacher.
My first acoustic guitar was this Yamaha, in 1994. My second was a fancy Martin D28, in 2020. It took me that long to be able to afford a guitar that really sounded better. It’s so good. I put about a million finger-miles on that thing and still love it.
Just got a yahama it was a good buy?
@@slugnation1699 Excellent
For anyone wondering the song he plays around 11:30 Mark is called autumn leaves and he has a tutorial for it! th-cam.com/video/Pr7qWXClmpk/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much!
thanx man ,
"yesterday, when I was young" ...
What's the song at 7:00 ? I know I know it but I can't remember the name
@@williamstm92 - Sounds like Sia's "Breathe" to me...
Paul- Asked for review unit guitars
Also, Paul- How BAD are they?
🤫
Paul Davids could you perhaps tell me what the song you was playing at 12:48 is please
@@0-0-s3i That's "Autumn Leaves". Paul teaches playing it here th-cam.com/video/Pr7qWXClmpk/w-d-xo.html
Bart Massey thank you so much!:)
I think Jack White once said he keeps the guitars that are “a little bit bent” and “a struggle” because he wants to have to battle it and conquer it.
Pfft! I’ll take the Martin ;)
He changed his mind a couple years ago because he got sick of the work of keeping in control
@@gonzoengineering4894 Yeah I'd say that's a wonderful representation of that dastardly notion of 'getting old.'
I taught acoustic for 2 years. When the person got better they couldn't hear the difference. When I placed a good guitar in their hands, then they heard it. It encouraged them to keep practicing.
Hey
If you do not mind i have a question, does the price of the guitar affect how well the learning process could be? I have just started with a jasmine guitar 80$, and i have heard lots saying that if it is cheap and horrible you can't continue and you will quit out of frustration
Thank you
When I first started playing a friend lent me this awful yamaha that I later found out was from a 'make your own guitar' kit.
Needless to say I was shocked how much easier it was to play once I got my own guitar which was a fairly cheap fender.
I have an $80 dreadnought by Rogue that I received as a gift one year. By all means it's not amazing, currently the D-string tuning machine is slowly being ripped out of the headstock but it gets the job done for practice. It has been fun playing it and for $80 it doesn't sound half bad, I'm saving up for a better acoustic though.
I listened to them all early in the video, and thought that the only one of the four I would want is the Harley Benton, with its fuller sound. Interesting to see it's the only one with the solid top.
I love the Orangewood's aestetics and sound. Wish I could get something like that beauty here...
Oooh could you do an electric guitar under 150 or 200? Hehehe
honestly just get something super cheap to gedt started it so worth spending that extra money on like a mexican strat, went into guitar shop the other day, gave me some off brand strat to test pedals and amps and honestly dude the feel of your tool makes so much difference, in saying that i learnt most of my stuff on a semi shitty acoustic and would always go acoustic as a first step, get into the fun stuff on the eletric when ya know what youre doing
]
@@octopusman5175 My first electric guitar was a squier bullet strat buy 40$ in a pawn shop. Very bad experience, i never wanted to play with. We gave me a pacifica ( yamaha ) after , i'd love to play with. Buy something not too bad for first experience, u could be disgusted.
Yeah. Got all the stuff I know from borrowing guitars too. Never had the money to purchase one for myself back then. My first guitar was a gift it was a Les Paul copy, much like a "Fakiphone". Then repaired one of my grandpa's Hondo II Les Paul. So the first one I really bought was an SX Thinline. Modding it out to look like Paul's. Haha.
@@octopusman5175 Are you real octopus?
The comment above is facts. I have two Mexican strats and having upgraded them they play like something that costs $2000. That said, I recently bought a Squier Bullet Mustang for $140 to mod and after a minor DIY setup and fret polish it plays great and is ready to accept some better pickups and electronics
My first guitar was a black Harley Benton western dreadnought with cut-out and was about 80€ including some stuff like a gig-bag, picks etc. My teacher could't believe it was so cheap, as it felt and sounded better than some of his that costed several thousands, so he constantly 'stole' my guitar to explain new things. I've had it for about 10 years now and besides some scratches on the back, it is basically like the day I got it. I'm sure there are some really horrible cheap guitars out there, just as there are horrible expensive ones, but it is definetly possible to get a good guitar for less than a hundred euros.
"Niet deze?"
"Nouja als je 'm graag weg wil geven.."
"Neuh niet per se"
Fantastisch Paul hahaha
Merijn Haha, dat was zo grappig 😂 Vooral omdat we Nederlands verstaan lol
Yup, eindbaas dat het is.
kleine 6000 euro die ie niet perse wilt weg geven haha
Is is Dutch?
@@YoIv49 Yup we as Dutch people mostly hear this instantly.
Great video. I bought my grandson an orangewood Rey last year and I was very impressed that I could get that good of a guitar for that price range.
The orange wood for me is the fav. Looks, tone, heard some fret buzz but still like it
i would also choose orange wood because of shape ;P this cutaway body makes many freets available without strange wrist movement ;P Im strugling with it with my yamaha c40 ;(
I would always pick the Harley B over all 3 others. Simply because it has a solid top! That resonates much more, and the top is the part were the most sound is coming from.
And i bet if you put decent strings on them it would even be better! (for the others as well)
And tuning a guitar is always a good idea. It's important it's plays comfortable, surly for a beginner. And if you start playing guitar, i think it's even way better to buy a used guitar from a good brand, like Martin, or Taylor. You can have a great guitar to begin with from around 500€ used, and you can always sell it for a good price later if you don't have the skill to play guitar.
I think all that begin to play guitar should never buy a true budget guitar. It's usually plays harder, sounds worse, and those things itselve could be the dropdown!
Would you recommend any to buy?
@@thomasross2777 yamaha or fender would be a good choice in my opinion for a beginner because they have good build so they will be more reliable and convenient like staying in tune for longer etc and you can then invest in better solid wood guitars later if you want.
Buy a Seagull, for the same price as a entry level martin or taylor you can get a solid wood guitar that can last a life time...imho
I've always recommended Yamaha's as a great first guitar. Typically inexpensive, well built, and setup to be able to play out of the box. And they don't sound horrible. If you are going to pick up an acoustic for the first time and want one that will be a decent player - I'd still recommend Yamaha out of all of these. Oh, and my youngest daughter still has hers 20 yrs later and it still looks and plays great :-)
Fender's - I love their electrics, but their acoustics always were "meh". I'm not sure where they are manufactured - but it just looks boring and bland. Though it did sound "OK" to me. I've never liked the way they played.
I think the Harley Benton looked the nicest and definitely sounded great. But as you mentioned with the tuners - typical China junk pot metal. You'd want to replace the tuners. Though - I don't have any personal knowledge of them - I've heard nothing but good things about them.
I recently heard about Orangewood and was excited that they were based out of Los Angeles. But - manufactured in Indonesia - these are only QC inspected and setup in L.A. before they are shipped out. This one I'd say is a roll of the dice on how well the one you order will be if you can find one. (this is according to the reviews I've read from their website)
My Yamaha was made in China, and so was my Orangewood. I think they are both fantastic, with perhaps a slight nod to the Orangewood maybe since it was professionally setup and feels perfect. I think the cheaper Fender acoustics are kinda "meh" from what I've seen, but the Yamahas or Orangewoods I recommend for sure. Can't speak on the HB.
Idk what it is about them but I’ve never played a fender acoustic that I liked. Always flubby and thin at the same time somehow. Which is weird because I pretty much only play fender electrics and amps.
@@dougthealligator Acoustics are the one thing Fender could never do well. They made 2 legendary revolutionary solid body electrics, two of the greatest basses and a host of great amplifiers. Acoustics? Nope.
Yep. I agree. Yamaha has been doing it a long time. They also do the manufacturing for many of the other companies as well.
James Fetherston I mean they were good enough for Johnny Cash but I’ve never found one that wasn’t a dud
Just a note, Re-stringing a 'beginner' acoustic guitar with high quality strings will do wonders with the sound too!
Martin medium bronze make a world of difference on every guitar I've ever put them on.
True that!
And for true beginners, a decent tuner. When I was a novice, I found that having a guitar that would fall out of tune quickly, coupled with being difficult to tune in general (especially for beginner) was in fact, the most discouraging thing for me, hands down. When the G chord sounds like shit, immediately after spending the better part of an hour, giving it your best college effort, to tune the pos, it made giving up, seem pretty attractive! Defining moments, I’d say. You either do, or you just don’t
I got a real cheap Cort to when I went traveling and it actually became my favorite acoustic to play. Nice and light, easy to play and sounds fine. Because it was cheap I'm not so precious about it and generally have more fun with it.
Yeah man same, I bought this like 70 bucks Harley Benton (Delta Blues T or whatever it’s called) and it’s a joy to play and I love taking it with me 😌
Cort is just awesome. Always surprised of the sound for the money you pay
I have a "cheap" Cort acoustic mixed in with my Taylor, Martin, Breedlove, and a few others that I had to save for to be able to purchase over the years. The Cort can hold its on, for sure. I heard something about the company being part of some of the more recognizable companies out there, so that may be part of it.
If you guys aren't in Asia you're prone to underrate Cort, but in reality it's very famous in Asia, and people really like the brand.
@@toddbeeman5933 They manufacture for some low end models of some brands.
My favorite is most definitely the orangewood, whenever I decide to make another acoustic purchase I’ll look into buying one of those, plus I’m a sucker for mahogany guitars.
Oh my god Paul, are you playing "Autumn Leaves"? Be still my heart.
To be honest: the Harley Benton sounded the best to my ears. A very vivid, sparkling and clear tone for a guitar below 200 Euros. Well done Harley Benton
garbage, LOL
@Mike Fu Without explaining why, your opinion means nothing LMAO.
Orangewood sounded best to me.
I would recommend the Epiphone FT-100CE, mine is in vintage sunburst and I'd say it's beautiful, cost around £160
Orange wood is my favorite. Had a Yamaha but got rid of it after 2 months. I needed a guitar I could take around w me and orange wood makes really great quality stuff.
I bought a used Yammy F310. The set up was not good, I had to re-cut the nut to lower it, and replace the bridge that was also far too high. After that it is good to play, has a rich full sound. Must admit that Orangewood looks and sounds great, a bit more compact and the cutaway looks useful.
@@SaxJockey , why did you have to re-cut the nut? You can just sand the bottom down and glue it back in place again.
I have played guitar on and off for about 20 years. Bought a Yamaha F310 6 months ago after not playing for at least 5years. I had about 10 cheap acoustics during my guitar playing years and this Yamaha is the best sounding acoustic I have ever had.
The only problem I have with it is that it's not the best fit for my left hand and it doesn't play easy. Lowered the action since day one and it still plays hard. Also the 43 nut width is a problem if you have thick fingers tips.
@@wernercolyn892 Hi, it was my first guitar, I was not sure how easy removing/refitting the nut would be. So I carefully made the nut slots slightly deeper. It was still not enough so I then removed the nut, sanded the base and fixed it back as you say! Even then it was far too high at the bridge, an experienced player gave me a spare bone saddle for the bridge that was lower, that helped a lot. We were both surprised how high the action was (for a student instrument). But it does sound nice, good value when set up.
I really liked what you were playing for the tone test (around 7:10), what are the basics of playing it?
I love how passionately you talk about guitars, that’s super cool, and I can tell that you love what you do.
Laughed when he said he could detect some fret buzz on one of the guitars. I couldn't hear a thing and nothing like the fret buzz I've had on my cheap guitars.
12:47 - 12:49 lol. It messed up his slide BUT, the good thing is you can fix that pretty easily. A few turns of the truss rod and you can raise the action and get rid of it. (Which I'm guessing he did before donating it.)
I've heard it even without headphones.
Mine have so many , it makes me so mad 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I would disagree that glue between plies dampens sound. Almost all drums are made from glued plies. Drum shells are very resonant. Although it does depend on the process used to glue them together.
You are comparing apples to oranges
Gotta say, I improved my playing a lot since I picked up the course. Now in level two of Next Level Playing, which is indeed what the title of the course says, it goes a lot deeper into the underlying connections hidden under the fretboard. Big fan here, thanks!
Thanks man!
I like that you don't say anything that would prevent anybody from trying any of these. I see fender and yahmaha have options with a solid top for just a little more. I'd like to try them but my local shop is always sold out.
4:02 I wonder whether you get the same guitars as a regular customer when you email the dealer/webshop asking for a review guitar. They will at least get a control to check for major flaws, I guess, a check on playability and probably maybe even a set up. The last three acoustics i bought online all had a (too) high nut and a (too) high saddle, both understandable, for too low is disastrous, but discouraging for novices. Oddly enough my first acoustic had an adjustable saddle (yes, a horror for tone purists), but you could simply lower the action to optimal playability and at open mic evening everyone wanted to play my guitar (being nervous one less issue). I think an adjustable saddle is ideal for beginners, no luthier needed.
Frits van Zanten they know who they’re sending it to. I’m guarantee they’re sending a slightly better than average example. Most reviewers understand this and mention it while they’re reviewing. All reviews should be noted as “this is what you’ll get for a good example of this guitar.” With cheap guitars though, there’s always a chance you get a total dud with sharp frets, bad nuts, or duller sound.
@@TylerPresents Andy the Guitar Geek once ordered five HBs at the same time, that was a nice experiment.
I would recommend the takamine affordable line which is jasmine guitar and they're the best in that price range👌👍
I have a couple of Chinese-built guitars here (not necessarily from HB, though ;-) and I have to say that the tuners are a pretty consistent issue with all of them. Good thing, though, that tuners are also the easiest part to change in any of these guitars, even for a beginner with no or little wood-working experience, and with the money saved in these you can easily get some very high-quality tuners and still save a good bit of cash.
I have an old Fender Squire that I got as a gift probably 20 years ago. I never really got any good at guitar and hadn't played in many years, but I started practicing again a year ago. I could tell the playability of my old Fender wasn't great - perhaps in part of it having had the same strings for 20 years and it being full of dust. 4 months ago I bought a Harley Benton CLA Mahogany solid wood and it absolutely amazing - from my standards naturally. It's night and day compared to my old one and I really love the matte dark wood look.
I recently bought a sigma guitar, I'd never heard of the brand but it's one of the nicest guitars I've ever played and it only cost me 360 euros. It's great.
Sigma used to be Martin's budget line. They sold off the division some time ago and the new owners moved production to China from Indonesia. Interestingly, that company can't market them as Sigma in the US (they're called Kindred) because Martin let the trademark lapse a couple years before they sold the division and another company swooped in and registered the trademark for guitars in the US.
I've got a sigma from the 1970's. It sounds awesome! Some days I play it over my Taylor 426ce ltd or my Guild DV6. It has really held up to the test of time. Got it for $100 at a yard sale.
camcarb3 Same here. Mine is a pristine DR28H
@@CharlesHess Nice! I have the DM-5S. Had to play it when I got home today...just because. Still sounds so good. I've got it tuned to an open D. One of the best sounding dreadnoughts I've ever played.
First, I love your videos. Very informative and not too 'marketing'. As for someone trying to do research, that's very refreshing to see.
Second, I already have 3 guitars (2 acoustic, 1 electric), and I'm only looking for a 3rd acoustic to keep at work in my office for practice. This was a good review.
Third, I have to know. What was the song you were playing at about minute 7? It was beautiful and I'd like to play around with that for a possible song.
Did you find out?
Could someone point out names of the songs he was playing in this video? Especially when he was doing the Tone Test (7:07).
11:28 as well. Does this tune have “summer” in the title?
Click the pop up around 11:30!
@@anomalous9448
It's "Autumn leaves".
You were close😉
Jacob Koch Thanks Jacob.
Yuri Gassity , it is a improv he made on Instagram. He goes in depth about it in another video of his named “turn this old chords in something beautiful” or something like that
I have to admit that even through my crappy computer speakers the Harley Benton came through each time as sounding surprisingly lively and vibrant. Thanks Paul! Keep up the good work!