Hey guitar friends! As guitar players, we constantly get asked "hey, so and so wants to learn guitar, can you recommend a good beginner guitar?" So I made this video for you to share the next time you get this question! Let me know which one sounded best to you. Cheers! - Tony
As a beginner player, the money spent on a setup at the guitar shop is money well spent. If you are purchasing one for a gift, add the money for the setup so they can and will love to practice.
An old audiophile tip is to make sure you equalize the volume on every product as the most efficient (loudest) will always sound better for the wrong reasons. That said, the Orangewood was much quieter and sounded dead in comparison to the others. The Yamaha sounded best. But, if you had turned up the mic to equal dB of the others, it likely would have revealed the character that you preferred. Thank you for the time and effort you gave to this review.
Hi I enjoyed your presentation! I’m 83 years old! I have the attention span of a gnat! I think I like lower sounds! I wear hearing aids I liked Orange-wood sound best! 🖖🦄🙉🤡
My pick in the blind test was the Yamaha. It has a nice clarity to it. Overall i can see the orangewood is a great buy, but a little too boomy for my taste.
Me too. I heard better articulation and balance. The Orangewood sounded like it swallowed all of its upper range and I didn't like the Fender at all. As respects the setup, I think it's appropriate to ship guitars with high action. It's easier for your LGS to lower action than to raise it.
The Yamaha was the clear sound winner. But, owning an Orangewood (Echo Live), I can't believe they can make a guitar like that for what I paid. $325 at that time! Whoever makes Orangewood guitars does a great job for the money. That being said, I thought the mahogany Orangewood didn't quite have the punch, or volume, either of the other guitars had. But, that is the nature of the wood, and the size.
The best recommendation for a beginner guitarist is, NOT to order your guitar online! At the lokal shop you can touch the guitar, notice the string height, feel whether the body size is comfortable or not. You have the chance to compare many guitars, the shop employes are helping to make a decision. If you are a beginner and have no experiences, only the shop can make a setup to your guitar or can change the strings. By the way, the top of the guitar defines its tone. If you can choose between two models with the same specs except, one has a solid top, always choose the solid top guitar.
@@Thecherokee4x4I agree totally. I bought an Orangewood a few years back .I immediately liked everything about the guitar except the neck. Too wide.. too thick... Like the business end of a baseball bat. I decided to keep it thinking I would get used to it. Didn't happen and I rarely touch it. Had I been able to go to a store and try it I wouldn't have bought it regardless of the gig bag,and accessories.
I agree, I bought my first Squire Strat online, but when it comes to acoustics that's something that needs to be more of a personal thing. My first acoustic was a used Guild GAD-30 that I got from my local music store who for some reason didn't have it even close to set up properly (not that I knew that at the time). I didn't think I had anything special until I got it professionally set up and realised I'd bagged an absolute bargain. I've had it 15 years and I've bought a Taylor 314 since (which I also bought used), but the Guild still gives it a run for its money despite the Taylor being over 3x the price tag. I'll never get rid of it. The point is that new players should definitely check out their local stores and try acoustics out before buying. It's a more personal choice than buying a first electric, but there are often options to buy used too which is strongly recommended for new players. Not only are they cheaper but older instruments have had time to open up and "figure out how to be a guitar" which usually improves them with age, and you have a better idea of its sound and playability in the long term.
My bandmate owned a music store, I could play multiple new guitars of the same brand and model, amazing the difference of playability between them! Always play an instrument before buying it..
I've helped a few friends through buying their first acoustic guitar, and the Yamaha FG800 (dreadnought) and FS800 (auditorium) are only $230 and the best deal in town, they have a *solid top* and great tone for the price. You can't find almost any other guitars with a solid top for that price and I, an advanced player, like playing them more than any other instruments I've played in that price range. You can also fairly easily find these available used on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp for prices sometimes well under $200. Also I recommend getting your instrument set up by a luthier or music store, and it will be *much more playable* and worth the money. I'd say that the FG800 coupled with a professional setup (setups will probably cost $50-$90 for a total cost around $300) is a better value than the FG820 without a setup, which costs $300 new.
I have 3 Orangewood guitars; Dana, Rey, & Oliver live + a Milo uke. Enjoy playing them all. All set up perfectly on arrival. Been playing guitar for 45yrs and still have my 1st acoustic, a Goya G210. I have several others but all spruce tops. I'm really loving the tone of Mahogany, even the 2 which are layered. Orangewood hits well above their weight class. They're trying to build a name while other's are resting on theirs.
At this moment the orangewood Oliver and Morgan are both on sale for 200 or less. Both have solid mahogany top and the Morgan is acoustic/electric. Awesome guitars
Re Tony’s Acoustic Challenge (aka TAC): I’ve been playing for 60 years but found myself playing the same stuff over and over again without much actual improvement to my technique or flexibility. I started TAC 6 months ago and love it. There are some weeks when the technique for the week is easy for me, but more often, the lessons have really challenged me, increasing my guitar skills significantly.
I agree that the Orangewood was the overall winner. However for $229.99 you can get a great sounding Yamaha FS800. It has a solid top! It has a smaller body. The ones that I have played were set up very well.
Agree 100% .........I bought one of these for my daughter ( a couple of years ago ). String action was a wee bit high so I did a slight adjustment on both the nut end and the saddle. ( Went slow and was careful ) Got it perfect. Whenever I'm over at her house, I love to take it down and play it for a while. ( basically .....it is an OM size guitar ) It has a wonderful sound. Yamaha not only used a good selection of spruce for the top......but......as far as I understand it.....they also 'scalloped' the braces on those guitars.😲 To me, they sound amazing. ( considering the price point ) I've been playing guitar for many years and the FS800 would be my recommendation for any beginner !!! ( especially a younger/ smaller person )
It's been years since I watched your last video, awesome that you're still around. I think I prefer the Yamaha out of these three, the Fender is okay and the Orangewood to me is a distant third.
Bought a Yamaha fg340 for $150 51 years ago, it lived on a boat for 10 years, been on many Mexico camping trips, played for hours and hours at a time…2 years ago I thought about buying a martin d35, brought my Yamaha into the shop to compare, to me the Yamaha played much better, had every bit as good sound, I even the sales guy compare them, he admitted the Yamaha played better, and the sound was comparable, his comment was that the Martin will get better with age..I passed on the $3000+ guitar..yesterday I took the Yamaha out of the case for probably almost 6-8 months (yes, I have other guitars) no lie, it was still in tune!! But all my Yamaha guitars are the same..they stay in tune! Highly recommend the brand!!!
Exactly,cheap guitars are much better quality then they used to be.I was given a First Act acoustic guitar which I think can be bought for around 100$ I dont care what anyone says about how bad they are,i play it everyday it never goes out of tune,low string action,very playable.I would never pay thousands for any guitar.
Great call! My only “beef” with open pore finish is that people don’t know how to take care of it and end up accidentally wrecking the guitar. People end up putting satin safe product to clean it, which will then lead to the finish eating away and/or sinking into the pores, leaving thousands of dots in its place. If you have any open pore finish, be sure to sure an extremely damp (as in barely wet), super soft microfiber cloth and gently wipe in large circular motions. IMMEDIATELY wipe the surface dry using the same large circular motion with a second super soft microfiber cloth. When you see a satin finish and don’t know if the pores were filled, assume they weren’t and use the same process above. Satin safe cleaners are only safe when the pores have been filled. Nobody explains this on products and many guitar specs fail to mention this. My friend’s Fender Dhani Harrison uke (the most expensive uke they sell) got ruined because nothing in the literature said the finish was open pore. I had borrowed it and thought I was being a good friend by cleaning it with my satin safe Music Nomad product. Twelve hours later, the next morning, I was shocked to see thousands of tiny dots all over the uke where the finish sank into the pores. After speaking to Music Nomad, Fender, and Sweetwater, we eventually solved the mystery and learned the finish was open pore. Thankfully Sweetwater very kindly covered it under their warranty and replaced the uke because it wasn’t explained on their own website or the Fender spec sheet. Very surprised Fender’s most expensive ukulele would not have had the pores filled when less expensive instruments have filled pores. Point is, if you don’t know, please don’t use a cleaning product. Ask the guitar manufacturer first if it doesn’t specify on their website. If you don’t get a response, just use the above method. Hopefully this info will help save a beginner out there from accidentally ruining the satin finish on their first guitar! Learn to take care of your instruments properly, and they will take care of you for life - even the low cost ones!
In my guitar journey I learned after 20 years that cheap guitars had robbed me of the tonal qualities that actually lead to emotionally charged playing. Hearing one's own playing through a fine instrument, is of critical importance. As a lefty, I could never do this because there were no fine guitars available to play, anywhere near me, ever. As a righty, you CAN play fine instruments at any decent guitar shop and I highly recommend that you do. I had to buy a Martin before I understood.
100% agree 👍 I did some work for an older gentleman who after talking too about guitars offered me his Gibson hummingbird (my lottery win)..... That's when I noticed what you described perfectly
During the initial play through, I chose guitar #3. It had a deeper overall tone with more depth. Turns out that was the Orangewood Rey. So based solely on tonality, I agree with Tony's choice. I also preferred the look of the Orangewood.
In the blind sound test I liked the clarity and brightness of the Yamaha. The other 2 sounded muted and comparitively like you cranked the treble down on them
Thanks, Tony. 41K students, over how many years? I am one of them. The comparison is good, and I would agree with your pick out of this group. I have had good and not so good experience with Orangewood guitars, but they do have their place. See you later on Tony's Acoustic Challenge (TAC).
One of the things I learned quickly when selling guitars years ago was that each one is unique - and this is more true than you might think with the mass produced lower priced models. Try several of "model X" by "manufacturer y", and you 'll find that one of them may be horrid, many are so-so, and perhaps, one of them is much better than you hoped for. If you are a novice, take along an experienced friend when shopping. Going strictly by recommendations of make or model is a crap shoot when purchasing low cost instruments.
Agree. I own an FG700S and an FG830. I took out my FG830 out one day recently but just let the 700 sit upright (stupid decision). It fell face forward, but only about 2 1/2 feet. I panicked. The old FG700S never was disturbed in the least bit. That guitar's built like a tank.
My guess is #1 is the Fender, #2 is the Yamaha, and #3 is the Orangewood. 1 has a lot of treble, but it really rings out nicely. 2 is more balanced, but doesn't bloom as much as 1. And 3 just doesn't ring or bloom at all, which is common in Orangewood guitars because they apply so much clear-coat to their guitars. Edit: So I mixed up the other two, but I got the Orangewood right 😂
My favorite cheap guitar is an FS800 yamaha.....I went through a mess but found one with almost a perfect neck. It's better then most I've seen in 30 years....plays tuned down a whole step without adjusting. Sound is okay.....I can add stuff to make it a functional gigger....It's super easy to play. Been using it to play out with a magnetic pick up that has chorus, delay, reverb. Light delay gives it a big sound. My LL16 sounds alot better but not an easy play even with a fairly low action. That 25" scale length makes a huge difference for a new player. The scalloped braces do make the bass harder to control plugged in....the magnetic pick up takes care of that with the three eq settings on it. Other pickups were harder to control bass. You can thicken it up with a touch of delay. I may try a TC mimiq with it....the doubling can make a cheap guitar sound bigger and better. Has a solid top!!!! I paid 200.00 out the door. You can always get 10% off at GC by just asking. If not leave them!
Honestly, I was slightly impressed with all. They are WAY better than what was available when I started, 40 years ago. I was gifted a nylon string classical acoustic from a pawn shop that my parents got for $30. That one lasted about 3 years and then I was on to bigger and better. When someone asks me to recommend a good starter guitar, I generally give them my least favorite acoustic. That opens up a spot for me to go guitar shopping! And it ensures that the new student is getting a "good" instrument...tried and true. 😊😊😊
It's so good to see you reviewing and demoing guitars again! I've always found Fender acoustics harsh and grating, glad to know I'm not the only one who would describe them that way. Of the 3 guitars, at least based on how the mic picked them up, the Orangewood is the only one I could mistake for possibly having a solid top. Somehow they've managed to get a touch of woody sound into it, which is extremely impressive for an all-laminate guitar. Also might be worth noting: you mentioned any guitar can have a setup done for around $30-50. Part of the value with Orangewood is that you're getting that, before the guitar ships to you. They're made overseas but set up in their facility in California before they get sent to the buyer. For me, that makes it fair to compare a $250 Orangewood to a $200 Yamaha or Fender, and I'm sure at that price you can probably get a solid top.
@@AmyAlbert-xc7yi -- Me three! 😊 I found the Orangewood to sound the best - a warm, mellow but with good trebles. If I were tempted to choose a steel string acoustic from the 3 presented, that would be my choice. (I prefer nylon strings.)
Between me and, my daughter and granddaughter, we own four Orangewoods, ranging from the $165 Rey all the way up to the $1075 Sage Torrified Spruce Live. They are all excellent. Even though they are built overseas, they each come through Orangewood in California where they are set up before they are shipped to the customer, so they each were incredibly playable right out of the box. I am a big fan.
The Orangewood did sound amazing. But I am still partial to my Yamahas . My Trans acoustic n my A3m are both Excellent sounding instruments. But I have to agree with you about your pick.😊
I bought an Orangewood Mahogany Live last December. It was my first guitar and I love it. I had done a lot of research on TY. There were plenty of reviews for guitars under $500 and the Mahogany always had top rated reviews. I am very happy with my purchase, and I would recommend Orangewood to anyone looking for a quality acoustic that doesn't break the bank.
Here's a quick test. Hum into the hole and find the frequency that "takes off" (resonance). A good guitar will resonate at F# so that will be the peak in its bass response. Below that it rolls off quickly getting back to "flat response" at E where it should be.
I don't know what was up with the Fender CD-60 that you got but I happen to own that very guitar & not only does it play like a dream but it sounds fantastic. I even went so far as installing a Piezo pickup, that's how much I love my Fender. I ask you, what other guitar can you buy WITH a hard shell case for $200??? BTW: The intonation is PERFECT on my Fender which I bought right off the shelf with NO SETUP NEEDED, so thanks for trashing the guitar I own!!! We can't all afford, or even want to spend for that matter, hundreds or even thousands of dollar on a guitar. But I get it, you're probably one of those guitar snobs who thinks anything less than Martin D28 or Gibson Hummingbird is crap!
I think it’s silly that cheap beginner guitars tend to be dreadnoughts. The size can be a real turnoff for beginners. Dreadnoughts used to be the top of the line guitars but nowadays they tend to be the standard and a cheap dreadnought never sounds very good whereas a cheap smaller body guitar I feel has more balanced tone and individuality. And is Big boomy Bass for a beginner really that desirable?
Good reviews. I got an Orangewood Rey (Spruce) about 5 years ago as my "beater" guitar to take camping. I looked at other guitars that were cheap - like Fender and Yamaha but choose the Rey. I've been really happy with it since it is a good guitar for the price. It is well made and the action was really good right from the factory. It sounds ok and would be a good beginner guitar. If I play it next to my Taylor 814ce I can see why the Taylor cost a lot more. My first Rey was damaged in shipping and Orangewood quickly replaced it. They have great customer service.
Curious if your take Tony is because you were playing the guitars and we are in front of them listening. It may be a function of a smaller body but the Orangewood sounded muffled and not projecting to me. On sound I would go with the Yamaha.
This video really brings up a good point. To me, it seems like the last several years anyway, the larger brand name guitars seem to take advantage of their brand names a little. Like how the setups on the fender and yamaha are both dismal, as compared to the lesser name option. Like they expect buyers to be impressed with their name brand therefore overlook their deficiencies, where the lesser named guitar has better build quality and the setup better right out of the box.
The Orangewood Rey is $130 on Orangewood's website. I have an Orangewood Oliver Mahogany Live. Have had it for a few years now and paid about $225 then.. Phenomenal guitar and all Orangewood comes with either a gig bag or a hardcore.
This was an excellent review of beginner guitars. You touched on all the important points especially playability. All beginners should watch this. Kudos
I have a. Orangewood Morgan Cutaway live. It has a solid top and costs about $250 new. I bought it as a beach/travel/grandkids coming to visit/ couch guitar. I was not expecting much and was pretty overwhelmed by how well it's put together and how nice it plays. I get a lot of comments from singers how they like how the tone doesn't detract from their voice,;I've made three or four demo videos playing the Orangewood Morgan on real songs that are on my channel so you can judge how goodf the mahogany guitars sound, even when played by a hack.
What a difference 50 years makes. When I was in high school in the early 70s, my father got me a CONN dreadnought. It was Japanese made, solid spruce top with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. That was a $200 guitar back then. Wish I still had that guitar.
I don't know. I like the looks of the Orangewood, but the projection, although warm, was a little low. The Yamaha had good projection and was bright, the Fender sounded meh. Maybe it's different in studio than on my PC speakers, or maybe I'm going deaf from listening to too much rock too loudly? All in all, I'd still pick the Orangewood and thanks for the review.
Tony; Why did the Orangewood Rey sound so muted compared with the other two? Could the microphone's response curve have some "culpability" (for lack of another word) in the results? Your ears would, no doubt, hear the fuller sound of them all. The tones of the Orangewood are sweeter than the others (my personal predilection), but the reserve sound level makes it more difficult to judge. Thank you for your work! - bro Paul -
Totally agree with the Orangewood. Plus its a cutaway. Deeper, smooth sounds like a more expensive model but don't let Orangewood know that. I like Yamaha have owned 2 through the years getting better more mellow sounding. My first guitar as a kid was a Gibson LG-1 from 1958 Great size for a little kid to learn on. What I would give to get that back, lost in the shuffle of life I guess someone liked it as much as I did very nice parlor guitar. You're very right about keeping a kids interest and getting an instrument that fits perfectly. If they are very young naturally they will want to play ball, hang with friends, then there's the girl/boy friend and school work but they will come back. Whatever the instrument.
I picked number three in the blind test for the best and number one for the worst. So yes, I agree with you on the Orangewood. With one and two you could hear the strings, more so with one. Three you could hear the wood. What you didn't mention was that three is a GA shape and a cutaway, which makes a double difference to the sound. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. For info, I'm a Martin D18er.
Listening to the three unmasked guitars at the beginning I really liked #3, which was the Orangewood del Rey. The tone was nice and mellow. The others were too tin sounding on strings GBE. I also like the cutaway body because it makes playing the highest frets easier. It’s also small and more comfortable. For a small guitar I was really surprised with the rich tone and depth. Thanks for making this video.
These are great tips, again! I was impressed not only with the accessory pack but, it being a cut-a-way guitar and it being around the $ 165.00 dollar price tag is great for the OrangeWood with it's satin finish. I think the sound is a more vibrant sound in the treble strings and I usually select a guitar based on that sound. I think they all sound decent but, the OrangeWood I think won out??! Maybe I'm wrong? As far as a guitar being gloss finish, I usually use my chstom arm sleeve and sometimes I just use long sleeve shirt, this will keep the finish from sticking to your skin. I have mostly classical guitars so, I use my arm sleeve to help protect the guitar finish and it does not come in contact with my skin. My guitars are too high end guitars so, I can't take a chance on my finishes: Cordoba, Alvarez and Gibson are my high end guitars. I'll soon be 63 and played guitar since I was 9 years old, I switched choices of my type of guitars because the plastic strings on the treble are easier on my fingertips as I've aged. The 6 string steels were cause me more pain in my finger joints.
Good test man. I was cheering for the Yamaha cause I've played a few and thought they were consistently 'good' and as a guitar teacher I always recommended them to people getting a first guitar or buying one for someone else as a gift (and I started making that recommendation 30 years ago and when their budget allowed for a little more wiggle room I would recommend a Tak because of the pickup but I do not reccomend Takamine today because their high end stuff is beautiful but there low end stuff does not compete with the Yamies for cool factor or sound and build quality for a living room guitar) . You did an excellent job presenting the guitars and I learned the sound of each guitar right away during the blind test. I thought the Fender sounded like a Fender but then when I heard the richer sounding guitar I assumed it was the Yamaha but was surprised to see it was the Orangewood.
Yamahas were always my "go to" place for affordable, great guitars. My FG-180 bought in 1971 was a cat amongst the pigeons in a blindfold test. Now, among my favourite guitars in my collection is a Yamaha LL6.
I was looking for a guitar that I could travel with and something I could tinker with by my other guitar was being serviced. Referencing that Orangewood REY guitar , I bought the spruce version of the one you have there first, then I bought one of those mahogany, then I bought the smaller parlor guitar, the sound across the board makes you wonder how they did it. Because it is a laminate top, but it just doesn't sound like a laminate top . I didn't notice any of that blue squeeze out that you found on the one you have, the action was a little bit higher than I liked, but they even included the Allen wrench to adjust the neck tension. So within five minutes, it was perfect. As far as that Yamaha 325 goes, they are hard to beat. But I'm so impressed with the durability of the Orangewood, I would give it first place if it was me choosing.
I have a Fender CC-60S Mahogany. I really like the guitar. I had it setup soon after getting the guitar. I also have a Dreadnaught, but it is just too big. As far as your group. I thought the Orangewoo and the Fender were very cloose. Of course, I am very used tos the Fender souund. By the way, this is "sNot that Roberrt Johnson" and I still sorely miss the Acoustic Tuesday videos. Nice to hear from youu again.
I bought a Yamaha FS800 in 2017 or 18 for 199$ at my local Ted Brown. Went in to buy some electric strings, wandered over to the acoustic room and saw guitars under 200. I had no idea you could get an acoustic that cheap so I started playing everything +or- 200$. Eventually a sales guy comes over to assist and I asked him to explain the differences between the lower priced and higher priced guitars, brand differences, sizes etc, . I then asked which one he would buy if he was looking for a 200$ guitar and he said the Yamaha FS800, which is the one I had picked. He said for budget acoustics, Yamaha can’t be beat, and I think I agree. Bought one for my grandson with a pro setup from Sweetwater and he loves it, doesn’t even play his Fender Squier anymore. Plus it has a solid spruce top and is concert size, much more comfortable than a dreadnaught for me. Worth twice the price at least.
Im an old guy and never played an instrument, I bought a orangewood when they 1st came out yrs ago,I was reading all the reviews and every single one was 5 stars(which i found suspect),but believe it or not,the thing was amazing and deserves the 5star rating,I love it
This video brought to you by Orangewood..... Seriously though, I certainly prefer the look and finish of the Orangewood by a very wide margin, but in the blind sound test I found myself preferring the Yamaha. It's hard to say for sure without hearing them in the room with you though.
Non-endorsed recommendation from me: the Harley-Benton Custom Line Superior-E VS, which looks and feels an awful lot like a Gibson J-45 dreadnought, and lists right now on Thomann's website at $210. I love mine, and I play it every day. The fit and finish are amazing for a budget guitar, it feels great in your hands, and it sounds crazy good.
I've bought 3 of those accessory kits from OW. The capo is excellent, and the tuner is really touchy any accurate. I have and gave one each to my granddaughters.
Truth here. I got my first guitar at 17, and it was a POS. Didn't enjoy playing it, bridge broke after a few months, never bothered to get it fixed or get another. Didn't pick up a guitar again until I was 23 when I got my first Martin. That was an entirely different experience, and I actually stuck with it that time. I highly recommend anyone starting out get the best guitar you can afford. It can make all the difference in whether you stick with it.
I've had a Fender CD60-SCE (solid top, cutaway, electronics) for four years and quite like it. I don't have much comparison though. The gloss back of the neck did bother me, so eventually I sanded it, and now it's fine. At some point I adjusted the truss rod to get the action right -- can't tell whether the action was too high from the start, or whether the guitar settled in after a while. Anyway I reckon that the guitar has to feel comfortable to the player first, sound good second, and look good third!
If it was me (and after this review, it just might be), I'd take that beautiful Orangewood. It just seems to exude quality. I was disappointed in this particular Yamaha, because I am usually quite impressed with what they have to offer, especially for the money. BUT... and I'm embarrased to admit it, I was preferring the Fender tone in the blindfold test! I'm sure my opinion was influenced by the fact that my 64 year old ears have lost a little of the higher frequencies, so the treble-heavy tone worked for me. The Orangewood seemed to be the darkest and warmest tone (in a good way), which is surprising since it was a smaller size. Of course I'm listening to these guitars through TH-cam and earbuds, so that's not exactly a real-world sound experience. Great video, and you may have just sold an Orangewood!
@@tacguitar I just received my OM-320 today and the sound that this thing makes in both tone and volume is jaw dropping! It sounds magnitudes more than the price tag!!
I have an Orangewood, next model up from this one. It was on sale, I paid $200+ for it. Bought it to be a travel guitar and it ot has not disappointed!
I’m a beginner on guitar, and I have a Yamaha F335 acoustic, which I think is great. I have my eye on an Orangwood-a non-cutaway mahogany model that’s a bit smaller than my Yamaha. As I said, I like the Yamaha and I’m going to keep it, but I’m a smaller man and I think the Orangewood might fit me a bit better, size-wise..
I love my Yamahas, it's true, but I've recently become an Orangewood fanboi. They just make an excellent guitar for the money. Fender... ah, Fender. They've been mailing it in for decades now. I just can't go there at any price. Great video. Thanks for making it.
I would go Orangewood, mostly because they do a basic setup on every guitar. Otherwise Yamaha, then Fender. At the very least you'll get some sell/trade in value, but they generally have good QC. But as others have said, there's millions of great used guitars for $200-300.
Tone... and... Playability... are my personal priorities... 1) The YAMAHA won this contest for me by a large margin ! Of course... I would have returned it, because of the damage sustained in shipping and adjusting "Action" is not problem... Regarding "Laminate" woods (?) in construction of a guitar ? There is a serious place for them., and I own two, chosen deliberately, for 'purpose' ... Otherwise, varieties of solid woods, give such a "range" of Tones... and are rewarding, in how they are so uniquely individual... 2) The Orangewood was 'acceptable' and "Value for money"... and 3) The Fender, sadly and justifiably, last... I say sadly, because I do own an excellent 'older' Fender Acoustic/electric, with satin finish neck, and also an excellent YAMAHA Acoustic/electric., but both of these guitars starting prices, were way above what Tony was displaying today... Price is NOT everything... but IS a guide... to workmanship and quality... Define "quality" ? THAT is subjective ! Have not yet heard a 'bad' YAMAHA guitar, whether old, expensive or cheaper., and even battered and bruised ! ... (Thanks Tony)...
I have a top of the line Orangewood. I bought it direct from Orangewood. Why would you buy a Rey from Amazon for $165 when they are $130 direct (They are on sale now regular price is $145...)
I recently replaced an old Alvarez that got beyond repair with an SWS series, Solid Wood Series, from Seagull. Do you guys have an opinion on their guitars? So far, I’m liking it. Thanks, Guitar player in Georgia - USA.
Back in the late 80's & early 90's I was "the repair guy" at a large independent guitar store. Our owner paid me to setup every new guitar we got before it ever hit the sales floor. Why? Because well setup guitars will sell themselves! Every beginner should get a pro setup on their guitar. It will play easier and sound better. Two things that can drive a beginner to practice MORE!
To my ears the Yamaha sounded the best by far. With that said, I'd definitely buy the Orangewood for a beginner since IMO playability is the most important thing for a new guitarist. It looked the best as well and the fact that it came with a HSC and all those accessories makes it a slam dunk!
My idea for beginners is to invest in an instrument that you will still enjoy and be proud to play a few years down the line. So I would advise going up a level or two. The one I’ve played a couple times and really enjoyed was the Taylor GS Mini, the least expensive model sounds great, small body, shorter scale, big sound, it is predictably set up well and has a fantastic thin and smooth neck for learning your first set of chords. It may be beyond the price range a beginner is looking at but … assuming a first guitar is sufficient for a year or two, it’s worth considering one that will be level appropriate for three or four.
The Orangewood would have not been my pick for tonal qualities, however, it looked comfortable. The Yamaha to my ear sounded nice and bright, as did the Fender. Getting back to the Orangewood, I liked the size as I have a Faith which is similar in size and shape, but the tone of the guitar was a little dull. The problem with tone tests is the very fact they are very subjective, what I hear is not necessarily what others hear.
I've been playing for over 30 years and I can say from personal experience, yamaha make AMAZING acoustic guitars!! I own one now and have zero need for a different acoustic. Not sure what they do, but they do it right!!
I liked the fender for some big strumming for its projection, but it's too bright overall. Unsurprisingly, the all mahogany orangewood is dark and quiet, which had its place. In fact, my number 1 is my Martin OOO-15m. It's beautiful for what/how I play. Objectively though, the Yamaha is the clear winner here, especially as a starter tone.
When I bought my first acoustic guitar, I was on my way to learning cowboy chords and open chords and strumming. But as soon as I reached the bar chords, specifically the F chord, I could not figure out how to do it. So I put the guitar down for 20 years. 20 years later I realized there's a thing called a guitar setup. And I set up my guitar and lower the strings, wow what a difference and now I can do bar chords easily. True story.
Hey guitar friends! As guitar players, we constantly get asked "hey, so and so wants to learn guitar, can you recommend a good beginner guitar?" So I made this video for you to share the next time you get this question! Let me know which one sounded best to you. Cheers! - Tony
#smallwins Hi Tony, Made it to 5,000 hours of practice on November 22 2024. Ill reach out again on new years day with the full breakdown.
As a beginner player, the money spent on a setup at the guitar shop is money well spent. If you are purchasing one for a gift, add the money for the setup so they can and will love to practice.
An old audiophile tip is to make sure you equalize the volume on every product as the most efficient (loudest) will always sound better for the wrong reasons. That said, the Orangewood was much quieter and sounded dead in comparison to the others. The Yamaha sounded best. But, if you had turned up the mic to equal dB of the others, it likely would have revealed the character that you preferred.
Thank you for the time and effort you gave to this review.
Hi I enjoyed your presentation! I’m 83 years old! I have the attention span of a gnat! I think I like lower sounds! I wear hearing aids I liked
Orange-wood sound best! 🖖🦄🙉🤡
My pick in the blind test was the Yamaha. It has a nice clarity to it. Overall i can see the orangewood is a great buy, but a little too boomy for my taste.
Same for me!
Only Yamaha!
I didn’t think it was close the other two sounded thin and jangly to me.
Me too. I heard better articulation and balance. The Orangewood sounded like it swallowed all of its upper range and I didn't like the Fender at all.
As respects the setup, I think it's appropriate to ship guitars with high action. It's easier for your LGS to lower action than to raise it.
The Yamaha was the clear sound winner. But, owning an Orangewood (Echo Live), I can't believe they can make a guitar like that for what I paid. $325 at that time! Whoever makes Orangewood guitars does a great job for the money. That being said, I thought the mahogany Orangewood didn't quite have the punch, or volume, either of the other guitars had. But, that is the nature of the wood, and the size.
The best recommendation for a beginner guitarist is, NOT to order your guitar online! At the lokal shop you can touch the guitar, notice the string height, feel whether the body size is comfortable or not. You have the chance to compare many guitars, the shop employes are helping to make a decision. If you are a beginner and have no experiences, only the shop can make a setup to your guitar or can change the strings. By the way, the top of the guitar defines its tone. If you can choose between two models with the same specs except, one has a solid top, always choose the solid top guitar.
I totally agree with you. However, they don't sell Orangewood guitars in stores. You can only buy online.. that sucks.
@@Thecherokee4x4I agree totally. I bought an Orangewood a few years back .I immediately liked everything about the guitar except the neck. Too wide.. too thick... Like the business end of a baseball bat.
I decided to keep it thinking I would get used to it. Didn't happen and I rarely touch it.
Had I been able to go to a store and try it I wouldn't have bought it regardless of the gig bag,and accessories.
I agree, I bought my first Squire Strat online, but when it comes to acoustics that's something that needs to be more of a personal thing.
My first acoustic was a used Guild GAD-30 that I got from my local music store who for some reason didn't have it even close to set up properly (not that I knew that at the time). I didn't think I had anything special until I got it professionally set up and realised I'd bagged an absolute bargain. I've had it 15 years and I've bought a Taylor 314 since (which I also bought used), but the Guild still gives it a run for its money despite the Taylor being over 3x the price tag. I'll never get rid of it.
The point is that new players should definitely check out their local stores and try acoustics out before buying. It's a more personal choice than buying a first electric, but there are often options to buy used too which is strongly recommended for new players. Not only are they cheaper but older instruments have had time to open up and "figure out how to be a guitar" which usually improves them with age, and you have a better idea of its sound and playability in the long term.
My bandmate owned a music store, I could play multiple new guitars of the same brand and model, amazing the difference of playability between them! Always play an instrument before buying it..
I've helped a few friends through buying their first acoustic guitar, and the Yamaha FG800 (dreadnought) and FS800 (auditorium) are only $230 and the best deal in town, they have a *solid top* and great tone for the price. You can't find almost any other guitars with a solid top for that price and I, an advanced player, like playing them more than any other instruments I've played in that price range.
You can also fairly easily find these available used on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp for prices sometimes well under $200. Also I recommend getting your instrument set up by a luthier or music store, and it will be *much more playable* and worth the money. I'd say that the FG800 coupled with a professional setup (setups will probably cost $50-$90 for a total cost around $300) is a better value than the FG820 without a setup, which costs $300 new.
Yeah 100% always my recommendation
I have 3 Orangewood guitars; Dana, Rey, & Oliver live + a Milo uke. Enjoy playing them all. All set up perfectly on arrival. Been playing guitar for 45yrs and still have my 1st acoustic, a Goya G210. I have several others but all spruce tops. I'm really loving the tone of Mahogany, even the 2 which are layered. Orangewood hits well above their weight class. They're trying to build a name while other's are resting on theirs.
At this moment the orangewood Oliver and Morgan are both on sale for 200 or less. Both have solid mahogany top and the Morgan is acoustic/electric. Awesome guitars
Re Tony’s Acoustic Challenge (aka TAC): I’ve been playing for 60 years but found myself playing the same stuff over and over again without much actual improvement to my technique or flexibility. I started TAC 6 months ago and love it. There are some weeks when the technique for the week is easy for me, but more often, the lessons have really challenged me, increasing my guitar skills significantly.
I agree that the Orangewood was the overall winner.
However for $229.99 you can get a great sounding Yamaha FS800.
It has a solid top! It has a smaller body. The ones that I have played were set up very well.
I concur. It's worth a few more bucks to jump up to a solid spruce top Yamaha. That Orangewood is pretty sweet, though!
FS800 with a setup, can’t beat it for the cost!
Agree 100% .........I bought one of these for my daughter ( a couple of years ago ). String action was a wee bit high so I did a slight adjustment on both the nut end and the saddle. ( Went slow and was careful ) Got it perfect. Whenever I'm over at her house, I love to take it down and play it for a while. ( basically .....it is an OM size guitar ) It has a wonderful sound. Yamaha not only used a good selection of spruce for the top......but......as far as I understand it.....they also 'scalloped' the braces on those guitars.😲 To me, they sound amazing. ( considering the price point ) I've been playing guitar for many years and the FS800 would be my recommendation for any beginner !!! ( especially a younger/ smaller person )
It's been years since I watched your last video, awesome that you're still around. I think I prefer the Yamaha out of these three, the Fender is okay and the Orangewood to me is a distant third.
Bought a Yamaha fg340 for $150 51 years ago, it lived on a boat for 10 years, been on many Mexico camping trips, played for hours and hours at a time…2 years ago I thought about buying a martin d35, brought my Yamaha into the shop to compare, to me the Yamaha played much better, had every bit as good sound, I even the sales guy compare them, he admitted the Yamaha played better, and the sound was comparable, his comment was that the Martin will get better with age..I passed on the $3000+ guitar..yesterday I took the Yamaha out of the case for probably almost 6-8 months (yes, I have other guitars) no lie, it was still in tune!! But all my Yamaha guitars are the same..they stay in tune! Highly recommend the brand!!!
I bought one back in the mid 70's. Worst sounding and no volume acoustic I've ever owned. Ended up trading it for a Sunn Betta lead combo amp.
Exactly,cheap guitars are much better quality then they used to be.I was given a First Act acoustic guitar which I think can be bought for around 100$
I dont care what anyone says about how bad they are,i play it everyday it never goes out of tune,low string action,very playable.I would never pay thousands for any guitar.
Excellent! Yamaha acoustics are brilliant.
Great call! My only “beef” with open pore finish is that people don’t know how to take care of it and end up accidentally wrecking the guitar. People end up putting satin safe product to clean it, which will then lead to the finish eating away and/or sinking into the pores, leaving thousands of dots in its place. If you have any open pore finish, be sure to sure an extremely damp (as in barely wet), super soft microfiber cloth and gently wipe in large circular motions. IMMEDIATELY wipe the surface dry using the same large circular motion with a second super soft microfiber cloth.
When you see a satin finish and don’t know if the pores were filled, assume they weren’t and use the same process above. Satin safe cleaners are only safe when the pores have been filled.
Nobody explains this on products and many guitar specs fail to mention this. My friend’s Fender Dhani Harrison uke (the most expensive uke they sell) got ruined because nothing in the literature said the finish was open pore. I had borrowed it and thought I was being a good friend by cleaning it with my satin safe Music Nomad product. Twelve hours later, the next morning, I was shocked to see thousands of tiny dots all over the uke where the finish sank into the pores. After speaking to Music Nomad, Fender, and Sweetwater, we eventually solved the mystery and learned the finish was open pore. Thankfully Sweetwater very kindly covered it under their warranty and replaced the uke because it wasn’t explained on their own website or the Fender spec sheet. Very surprised Fender’s most expensive ukulele would not have had the pores filled when less expensive instruments have filled pores.
Point is, if you don’t know, please don’t use a cleaning product. Ask the guitar manufacturer first if it doesn’t specify on their website. If you don’t get a response, just use the above method. Hopefully this info will help save a beginner out there from accidentally ruining the satin finish on their first guitar! Learn to take care of your instruments properly, and they will take care of you for life - even the low cost ones!
I have 2 orangewood guitars i bought on sale, both right around 200. I love both.
In my guitar journey I learned after 20 years that cheap guitars had robbed me of the tonal qualities that actually lead to emotionally charged playing. Hearing one's own playing through a fine instrument, is of critical importance. As a lefty, I could never do this because there were no fine guitars available to play, anywhere near me, ever. As a righty, you CAN play fine instruments at any decent guitar shop and I highly recommend that you do. I had to buy a Martin before I understood.
100% agree 👍 I did some work for an older gentleman who after talking too about guitars offered me his Gibson hummingbird (my lottery win)..... That's when I noticed what you described perfectly
During the initial play through, I chose guitar #3. It had a deeper overall tone with more depth. Turns out that was the Orangewood Rey. So based solely on tonality, I agree with Tony's choice. I also preferred the look of the Orangewood.
In the blind sound test I liked the clarity and brightness of the Yamaha. The other 2 sounded muted and comparitively like you cranked the treble down on them
Love that orangewood. The Orangewood guitars I have seen always have such a nice finish! Great guitars and the price is awesome!
Thanks, Tony. 41K students, over how many years? I am one of them. The comparison is good, and I would agree with your pick out of this group. I have had good and not so good experience with Orangewood guitars, but they do have their place. See you later on Tony's Acoustic Challenge (TAC).
Guitar #2 sounded best to me initially, but by the end of the comparison, the Orangewood had my vote.
One of the things I learned quickly when selling guitars years ago was that each one is unique - and this is more true than you might think with the mass produced lower priced models. Try several of "model X" by "manufacturer y", and you 'll find that one of them may be horrid, many are so-so, and perhaps, one of them is much better than you hoped for. If you are a novice, take along an experienced friend when shopping. Going strictly by recommendations of make or model is a crap shoot when purchasing low cost instruments.
Very warm sound to the Orangewood, best value out of all 3 too!
Yamaha never fails . Best for the money in my experience.
Agree. I own an FG700S and an FG830. I took out my FG830 out one day recently but just let the 700 sit upright (stupid decision). It fell face forward, but only about 2 1/2 feet. I panicked. The old FG700S never was disturbed in the least bit. That guitar's built like a tank.
My guess is #1 is the Fender, #2 is the Yamaha, and #3 is the Orangewood.
1 has a lot of treble, but it really rings out nicely. 2 is more balanced, but doesn't bloom as much as 1. And 3 just doesn't ring or bloom at all, which is common in Orangewood guitars because they apply so much clear-coat to their guitars.
Edit: So I mixed up the other two, but I got the Orangewood right 😂
My favorite cheap guitar is an FS800 yamaha.....I went through a mess but found one with almost a perfect neck. It's better then most I've seen in 30 years....plays tuned down a whole step without adjusting. Sound is okay.....I can add stuff to make it a functional gigger....It's super easy to play. Been using it to play out with a magnetic pick up that has chorus, delay, reverb. Light delay gives it a big sound. My LL16 sounds alot better but not an easy play even with a fairly low action. That 25" scale length makes a huge difference for a new player. The scalloped braces do make the bass harder to control plugged in....the magnetic pick up takes care of that with the three eq settings on it. Other pickups were harder to control bass. You can thicken it up with a touch of delay. I may try a TC mimiq with it....the doubling can make a cheap guitar sound bigger and better. Has a solid top!!!! I paid 200.00 out the door. You can always get 10% off at GC by just asking. If not leave them!
Honestly, I was slightly impressed with all. They are WAY better than what was available when I started, 40 years ago. I was gifted a nylon string classical acoustic from a pawn shop that my parents got for $30. That one lasted about 3 years and then I was on to bigger and better.
When someone asks me to recommend a good starter guitar, I generally give them my least favorite acoustic. That opens up a spot for me to go guitar shopping! And it ensures that the new student is getting a "good" instrument...tried and true.
😊😊😊
I'm new to guitar
Could you recommend
a good starter instrument? 🥹
@bikerjon8934
I think I have an old Cordoba laying around somewhere. Come get it...
@@nohillforahighstepper 😆
@@bikerjon8934
🤣
It's so good to see you reviewing and demoing guitars again!
I've always found Fender acoustics harsh and grating, glad to know I'm not the only one who would describe them that way. Of the 3 guitars, at least based on how the mic picked them up, the Orangewood is the only one I could mistake for possibly having a solid top. Somehow they've managed to get a touch of woody sound into it, which is extremely impressive for an all-laminate guitar.
Also might be worth noting: you mentioned any guitar can have a setup done for around $30-50. Part of the value with Orangewood is that you're getting that, before the guitar ships to you. They're made overseas but set up in their facility in California before they get sent to the buyer. For me, that makes it fair to compare a $250 Orangewood to a $200 Yamaha or Fender, and I'm sure at that price you can probably get a solid top.
The Orangewood is #3 (before you told us.) It has a nice lower mid bump.
The clear warmth of number 3 had me from the get-go...and its great looking! Thanks for sharing bro💪😎👍
Called the Orangewood during the blind play. Hell yeah
Me too. It is not as loud but has a lovely sound.
@@AmyAlbert-xc7yi -- Me three! 😊 I found the Orangewood to sound the best - a warm, mellow but with good trebles. If I were tempted to choose a steel string acoustic from the 3 presented, that would be my choice. (I prefer nylon strings.)
Between me and, my daughter and granddaughter, we own four Orangewoods, ranging from the $165 Rey all the way up to the $1075 Sage Torrified Spruce Live. They are all excellent. Even though they are built overseas, they each come through Orangewood in California where they are set up before they are shipped to the customer, so they each were incredibly playable right out of the box. I am a big fan.
The Orangewood did sound amazing. But I am still partial to my Yamahas . My Trans acoustic n my A3m are both Excellent sounding instruments. But I have to agree with you about your pick.😊
I bought an Orangewood Mahogany Live last December. It was my first guitar and I love it. I had done a lot of research on TY. There were plenty of reviews for guitars under $500 and the Mahogany always had top rated reviews. I am very happy with my purchase, and I would recommend Orangewood to anyone looking for a quality acoustic that doesn't break the bank.
Here's a quick test. Hum into the hole and find the frequency that "takes off" (resonance). A good guitar will resonate at F# so that will be the peak in its bass response. Below that it rolls off quickly getting back to "flat response" at E where it should be.
I picked the Orangewood in the blind test. They are by far the best low-cost guitars on the market.
I don't know what was up with the Fender CD-60 that you got but I happen to own that very guitar & not only does it play like a dream but it sounds fantastic. I even went so far as installing a Piezo pickup, that's how much I love my Fender. I ask you, what other guitar can you buy WITH a hard shell case for $200??? BTW: The intonation is PERFECT on my Fender which I bought right off the shelf with NO SETUP NEEDED, so thanks for trashing the guitar I own!!! We can't all afford, or even want to spend for that matter, hundreds or even thousands of dollar on a guitar. But I get it, you're probably one of those guitar snobs who thinks anything less than Martin D28 or Gibson Hummingbird is crap!
I think it’s silly that cheap beginner guitars tend to be dreadnoughts. The size can be a real turnoff for beginners. Dreadnoughts used to be the top of the line guitars but nowadays they tend to be the standard and a cheap dreadnought never sounds very good whereas a cheap smaller body guitar I feel has more balanced tone and individuality.
And is Big boomy Bass for a beginner really that desirable?
Good reviews. I got an Orangewood Rey (Spruce) about 5 years ago as my "beater" guitar to take camping. I looked at other guitars that were cheap - like Fender and Yamaha but choose the Rey. I've been really happy with it since it is a good guitar for the price. It is well made and the action was really good right from the factory. It sounds ok and would be a good beginner guitar. If I play it next to my Taylor 814ce I can see why the Taylor cost a lot more. My first Rey was damaged in shipping and Orangewood quickly replaced it. They have great customer service.
Curious if your take Tony is because you were playing the guitars and we are in front of them listening. It may be a function of a smaller body but the Orangewood sounded muffled and not projecting to me. On sound I would go with the Yamaha.
This video really brings up a good point. To me, it seems like the last several years anyway, the larger brand name guitars seem to take advantage of their brand names a little. Like how the setups on the fender and yamaha are both dismal, as compared to the lesser name option. Like they expect buyers to be impressed with their name brand therefore overlook their deficiencies, where the lesser named guitar has better build quality and the setup better right out of the box.
The Orangewood Rey is $130 on Orangewood's website. I have an Orangewood Oliver Mahogany Live. Have had it for a few years now and paid about $225 then.. Phenomenal guitar and all Orangewood comes with either a gig bag or a hardcore.
17:36 Price, comfort, playability to overall sound...
don't leave out visual beauty.
19:02
IMO the best looking
one in the bunch.
Great vid. I preferred the sound of the Fender .. cheers
This was an excellent review of beginner guitars. You touched on all the important points especially playability. All beginners should watch this. Kudos
i knew right off the bat before anything happened the orange wood would be the best sounding
My pick is also the Orange Wood. Thank you. This is very informative.❤
I have a. Orangewood Morgan Cutaway live. It has a solid top and costs about $250 new. I bought it as a beach/travel/grandkids coming to visit/ couch guitar. I was not expecting much and was pretty overwhelmed by how well it's put together and how nice it plays. I get a lot of comments from singers how they like how the tone doesn't detract from their voice,;I've made three or four demo videos playing the Orangewood Morgan on real songs that are on my channel so you can judge how goodf the mahogany guitars sound, even when played by a hack.
What a difference 50 years makes. When I was in high school in the early 70s, my father got me a CONN dreadnought. It was Japanese made, solid spruce top with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. That was a $200 guitar back then. Wish I still had that guitar.
I don't know. I like the looks of the Orangewood, but the projection, although warm, was a little low. The Yamaha had good projection and was bright, the Fender sounded meh. Maybe it's different in studio than on my PC speakers, or maybe I'm going deaf from listening to too much rock too loudly? All in all, I'd still pick the Orangewood and thanks for the review.
Playability, playability, playability. A brand new player, especially a younger student won’t know anything about desirable tone.
Tony; Why did the Orangewood Rey sound so muted compared with the other two? Could the microphone's response curve have some "culpability" (for lack of another word) in the results? Your ears would, no doubt, hear the fuller sound of them all. The tones of the Orangewood are sweeter than the others (my personal predilection), but the reserve sound level makes it more difficult to judge. Thank you for your work! - bro Paul -
Totally agree with the Orangewood. Plus its a cutaway. Deeper, smooth sounds like a more expensive model but don't let Orangewood know that. I like Yamaha have owned 2 through the years getting better more mellow sounding. My first guitar as a kid was a Gibson LG-1 from 1958 Great size for a little kid to learn on. What I would give to get that back, lost in the shuffle of life I guess someone liked it as much as I did very nice parlor guitar. You're very right about keeping a kids interest and getting an instrument that fits perfectly. If they are very young naturally they will want to play ball, hang with friends, then there's the girl/boy friend and school work but they will come back. Whatever the instrument.
I picked number three in the blind test for the best and number one for the worst. So yes, I agree with you on the Orangewood.
With one and two you could hear the strings, more so with one. Three you could hear the wood.
What you didn't mention was that three is a GA shape and a cutaway, which makes a double difference to the sound. Not necessarily better or worse, just different.
For info, I'm a Martin D18er.
Listening to the three unmasked guitars at the beginning I really liked #3, which was the Orangewood del Rey. The tone was nice and mellow. The others were too tin sounding on strings GBE. I also like the cutaway body because it makes playing the highest frets easier. It’s also small and more comfortable. For a small guitar I was really surprised with the rich tone and depth. Thanks for making this video.
These are great tips, again! I was impressed not only with the accessory pack but, it being a cut-a-way guitar and it being around the $ 165.00 dollar price tag is great for the OrangeWood with it's satin finish. I think the sound is a more vibrant sound in the treble strings and I usually select a guitar based on that sound. I think they all sound decent but, the OrangeWood I think won out??! Maybe I'm wrong? As far as a guitar being gloss finish, I usually use my chstom arm sleeve and sometimes I just use long sleeve shirt, this will keep the finish from sticking to your skin. I have mostly classical guitars so, I use my arm sleeve to help protect the guitar finish and it does not come in contact with my skin. My guitars are too high end guitars so, I can't take a chance on my finishes: Cordoba, Alvarez and Gibson are my high end guitars. I'll soon be 63 and played guitar since I was 9 years old, I switched choices of my type of guitars because the plastic strings on the treble are easier on my fingertips as I've aged. The 6 string steels were cause me more pain in my finger joints.
Picked the Orangewood blind as well. It’s the only one that sounds like a guitar. The others hurt my brain. 🙉
Good test man. I was cheering for the Yamaha cause I've played a few and thought they were consistently 'good' and as a guitar teacher I always recommended them to people getting a first guitar or buying one for someone else as a gift (and I started making that recommendation 30 years ago and when their budget allowed for a little more wiggle room I would recommend a Tak because of the pickup but I do not reccomend Takamine today because their high end stuff is beautiful but there low end stuff does not compete with the Yamies for cool factor or sound and build quality for a living room guitar) . You did an excellent job presenting the guitars and I learned the sound of each guitar right away during the blind test. I thought the Fender sounded like a Fender but then when I heard the richer sounding guitar I assumed it was the Yamaha but was surprised to see it was the Orangewood.
Great Reviews and my pick was the orange wood also.
Yamahas were always my "go to" place for affordable, great guitars. My FG-180 bought in 1971 was a cat amongst the pigeons in a blindfold test. Now, among my favourite guitars in my collection is a Yamaha LL6.
I own an orangewood Rey and love it; I am pleased you agree with my choice.
I was looking for a guitar that I could travel with and something I could tinker with by my other guitar was being serviced. Referencing that Orangewood REY guitar , I bought the spruce version of the one you have there first, then I bought one of those mahogany, then I bought the smaller parlor guitar, the sound across the board makes you wonder how they did it. Because it is a laminate top, but it just doesn't sound like a laminate top . I didn't notice any of that blue squeeze out that you found on the one you have, the action was a little bit higher than I liked, but they even included the Allen wrench to adjust the neck tension. So within five minutes, it was perfect. As far as that Yamaha 325 goes, they are hard to beat. But I'm so impressed with the durability of the Orangewood, I would give it first place if it was me choosing.
I have a Fender CC-60S Mahogany. I really like the guitar. I had it setup soon after getting the guitar. I also have a Dreadnaught, but it is just too big. As far as your group. I thought the Orangewoo and the Fender were very cloose. Of course, I am very used tos the Fender souund. By the way, this is "sNot that Roberrt Johnson" and I still sorely miss the Acoustic Tuesday videos. Nice to hear from youu again.
I bought a Yamaha FS800 in 2017 or 18 for 199$ at my local Ted Brown. Went in to buy some electric strings, wandered over to the acoustic room and saw guitars under 200. I had no idea you could get an acoustic that cheap so I started playing everything +or- 200$. Eventually a sales guy comes over to assist and I asked him to explain the differences between the lower priced and higher priced guitars, brand differences, sizes etc, . I then asked which one he would buy if he was looking for a 200$ guitar and he said the Yamaha FS800, which is the one I had picked. He said for budget acoustics, Yamaha can’t be beat, and I think I agree. Bought one for my grandson with a pro setup from Sweetwater and he loves it, doesn’t even play his Fender Squier anymore. Plus it has a solid spruce top and is concert size, much more comfortable than a dreadnaught for me. Worth twice the price at least.
Im an old guy and never played an instrument, I bought a orangewood when they 1st came out yrs ago,I was reading all the reviews and every single one was 5 stars(which i found suspect),but believe it or not,the thing was amazing and deserves the 5star rating,I love it
This video brought to you by Orangewood.....
Seriously though, I certainly prefer the look and finish of the Orangewood by a very wide margin, but in the blind sound test I found myself preferring the Yamaha. It's hard to say for sure without hearing them in the room with you though.
Non-endorsed recommendation from me: the Harley-Benton Custom Line Superior-E VS, which looks and feels an awful lot like a Gibson J-45 dreadnought, and lists right now on Thomann's website at $210. I love mine, and I play it every day. The fit and finish are amazing for a budget guitar, it feels great in your hands, and it sounds crazy good.
I've bought 3 of those accessory kits from OW. The capo is excellent, and the tuner is really touchy any accurate. I have and gave one each to my granddaughters.
With a case? That's awesome. Hardshell cases are the best!
Truth here. I got my first guitar at 17, and it was a POS. Didn't enjoy playing it, bridge broke after a few months, never bothered to get it fixed or get another. Didn't pick up a guitar again until I was 23 when I got my first Martin. That was an entirely different experience, and I actually stuck with it that time. I highly recommend anyone starting out get the best guitar you can afford. It can make all the difference in whether you stick with it.
I've had a Fender CD60-SCE (solid top, cutaway, electronics) for four years and quite like it. I don't have much comparison though.
The gloss back of the neck did bother me, so eventually I sanded it, and now it's fine. At some point I adjusted the truss rod to get the action right -- can't tell whether the action was too high from the start, or whether the guitar settled in after a while.
Anyway I reckon that the guitar has to feel comfortable to the player first, sound good second, and look good third!
If it was me (and after this review, it just might be), I'd take that beautiful Orangewood. It just seems to exude quality. I was disappointed in this particular Yamaha, because I am usually quite impressed with what they have to offer, especially for the money. BUT... and I'm embarrased to admit it, I was preferring the Fender tone in the blindfold test! I'm sure my opinion was influenced by the fact that my 64 year old ears have lost a little of the higher frequencies, so the treble-heavy tone worked for me. The Orangewood seemed to be the darkest and warmest tone (in a good way), which is surprising since it was a smaller size. Of course I'm listening to these guitars through TH-cam and earbuds, so that's not exactly a real-world sound experience. Great video, and you may have just sold an Orangewood!
I pick the Orangewood. But I’m biased. I have 5 Orangewood guitars and I love all them.
I like the Fender for some reason. It’s just so bright and snappy and I like the headstock. ❤
Would love to see a $300-400 list next! Guild just released the 300 series last month and the OM-320 looks to be an amazing option!
Great idea! I’m thinking about doing that.
@@tacguitar Please test Yamaha FG/FS series with solid tops! Best value I've seen anywhere
@@tacguitar I just received my OM-320 today and the sound that this thing makes in both tone and volume is jaw dropping! It sounds magnitudes more than the price tag!!
I have a Martin and two orangewood guitars. Both orangewood guitars are solid top and laminate sides. I love all three equally.
I have an Orangewood, next model up from this one. It was on sale, I paid $200+ for it. Bought it to be a travel guitar and it ot has not disappointed!
I thought Orangewood only sold direct from their website.
Listening on my phone , I thought they all sounded acceptable for their price points....but # 1 ( yamaha) seemed to stand out the best.
I’m a beginner on guitar, and I have a Yamaha F335 acoustic, which I think is great. I have my eye on an Orangwood-a non-cutaway mahogany model that’s a bit smaller than my Yamaha. As I said, I like the Yamaha and I’m going to keep it, but I’m a smaller man and I think the Orangewood might fit me a bit better, size-wise..
Do you think the Orangewood Rey had a different set of strings than the other two? It sounded so mellow, very nice.
I love my Yamahas, it's true, but I've recently become an Orangewood fanboi. They just make an excellent guitar for the money. Fender... ah, Fender. They've been mailing it in for decades now. I just can't go there at any price. Great video. Thanks for making it.
Orangewood for me. I like a darker tone even if it didn't project as well..
I would go Orangewood, mostly because they do a basic setup on every guitar. Otherwise Yamaha, then Fender. At the very least you'll get some sell/trade in value, but they generally have good QC. But as others have said, there's millions of great used guitars for $200-300.
Tone... and... Playability... are my personal priorities... 1) The YAMAHA won this contest for me by a large margin ! Of course... I would have returned it, because of the damage sustained in shipping and adjusting "Action" is not problem... Regarding "Laminate" woods (?) in construction of a guitar ? There is a serious place for them., and I own two, chosen deliberately, for 'purpose' ... Otherwise, varieties of solid woods, give such a "range" of Tones... and are rewarding, in how they are so uniquely individual... 2) The Orangewood was 'acceptable' and "Value for money"... and 3) The Fender, sadly and justifiably, last... I say sadly, because I do own an excellent 'older' Fender Acoustic/electric, with satin finish neck, and also an excellent YAMAHA Acoustic/electric., but both of these guitars starting prices, were way above what Tony was displaying today... Price is NOT everything... but IS a guide... to workmanship and quality... Define "quality" ? THAT is subjective ! Have not yet heard a 'bad' YAMAHA guitar, whether old, expensive or cheaper., and even battered and bruised ! ... (Thanks Tony)...
I have the Mahogany Orangewood and I am very impressed with it. I also have the Yamaha but an older model, I still prefer the Orangewood.
I have a top of the line Orangewood. I bought it direct from Orangewood. Why would you buy a Rey from Amazon for $165 when they are $130 direct (They are on sale now regular price is $145...)
I have to go with the pro. You are the one playing it. I should try and Orangewood sometime
I recently replaced an old Alvarez that got beyond repair with an SWS series, Solid Wood Series, from Seagull.
Do you guys have an opinion on their guitars?
So far, I’m liking it.
Thanks,
Guitar player in Georgia - USA.
My pick was the Orangewood. Sounded the best all around.
I just picked up an Epiphone PR-4E for $129. It's pretty good. I did change the strings and file the nut just a bit.
Back in the late 80's & early 90's I was "the repair guy" at a large independent guitar store. Our owner paid me to setup every new guitar we got before it ever hit the sales floor. Why? Because well setup guitars will sell themselves! Every beginner should get a pro setup on their guitar. It will play easier and sound better. Two things that can drive a beginner to practice MORE!
I was right, the orange sound was more appealing to my taste, even though I'm a huge Fender & Yamaha fan but on these ones the Orange won
To my ears the Yamaha sounded the best by far. With that said, I'd definitely buy the Orangewood for a beginner since IMO playability is the most important thing for a new guitarist. It looked the best as well and the fact that it came with a HSC and all those accessories makes it a slam dunk!
My idea for beginners is to invest in an instrument that you will still enjoy and be proud to play a few years down the line. So I would advise going up a level or two. The one I’ve played a couple times and really enjoyed was the Taylor GS Mini, the least expensive model sounds great, small body, shorter scale, big sound, it is predictably set up well and has a fantastic thin and smooth neck for learning your first set of chords. It may be beyond the price range a beginner is looking at but … assuming a first guitar is sufficient for a year or two, it’s worth considering one that will be level appropriate for three or four.
Couple of good things about spending more.. you get better tone, and because you've spent more. Might help keep you wanting to learn.
I picked #3 also. The first two sounded to me about the same. The orange wood was just sas you described tone wise and I liked it also.
The Orangewood would have not been my pick for tonal qualities, however, it looked comfortable. The Yamaha to my ear sounded nice and bright, as did the Fender. Getting back to the Orangewood, I liked the size as I have a Faith which is similar in size and shape, but the tone of the guitar was a little dull. The problem with tone tests is the very fact they are very subjective, what I hear is not necessarily what others hear.
I've been playing for over 30 years and I can say from personal experience, yamaha make AMAZING acoustic guitars!! I own one now and have zero need for a different acoustic. Not sure what they do, but they do it right!!
I liked the fender for some big strumming for its projection, but it's too bright overall. Unsurprisingly, the all mahogany orangewood is dark and quiet, which had its place. In fact, my number 1 is my Martin OOO-15m. It's beautiful for what/how I play. Objectively though, the Yamaha is the clear winner here, especially as a starter tone.
When I bought my first acoustic guitar, I was on my way to learning cowboy chords and open chords and strumming. But as soon as I reached the bar chords, specifically the F chord, I could not figure out how to do it.
So I put the guitar down for 20 years. 20 years later I realized there's a thing called a guitar setup.
And I set up my guitar and lower the strings, wow what a difference and now I can do bar chords easily. True story.
Well it seems the Orangwood is NIS. I do have a question about nut width. Were they the same? What was the nut width? Thanks , good video
Yamaha, period!😎👌🏼