im sure that a locally made guitar would be 100% better than something made in china, even if the guitar from china is over 500 dollar , i doubt it would recieve the same craftsmanship as a local brand.
Picked up a used cedar top 12 string. Barely played, still had film on pickguard! With brand new hard shell gator case for $300. It’s a beauty and sounds amazing. Keeper. Couple tunes on my channel playing it.
Thanks all for watching! Jonathan Lee here, a point of clarification, our Walden D550E has a Street price similar to other guitars in this shoot out. The higher price is the MSRP, not the price you’ll find if you search Walden D550E :)
Yeah, Yamaha, best bang for the buck and that goes for all price classes! Even the super cheap F-310 is an awesome guitar that can hold its own against guitars two or three times as expensive!
As always great playing, but dude, your videography skills are badass! I think a lot of guitar players probably don’t pay much attention to that sort of thing so I just wanted to show a little appreciation for the production you put into your videos. The lighting, camera angles, slider shots, crisp audio, ext. are things that most people take for granted but those things take a video from being good to being great. Learning a camera is a skill just like learning guitar and man, you’re a master at both! Keep up the great work!
The Orangewood sounded the best to me. A few years ago I was looking at buying an Epiphone acoustic but the guitar shop I was at didn't carry Epiphones and the owner suggested a Breedlove acoustic that was around the same $400 price point. I tried it out and fell in love with it, so I would suggest trying one of Breedlove's budget acoustic models for the next instalment.
I traded an Epiphone that hurt my thumb, and got an OrangeWood pawnshop rescue. $160 for two dents in top, it is a non electric all mahogany model. Nice and doesn’t hurt my thumb.
I own a Taylor that I paid over $3400 for. It's a beautiful instrument that just keeps getting better over time. I refused to take it to the lake so I bought a Breedlove Discovery Concert CE. It's all mahogany and I got it used from GC for $275. I actually only play it now, even when I am home. It plays much better, sounds better and there's something about that all mahogany body that is so dark and warm. When other guitarist hear it, they always stop what they're doing and come over to see what just made that awesome sound. I haven't played the Taylor in over a year now.
I owned a Breedlove and thought it was a great guitar. But I had to many so I sold it...it just never got played...but yeah Breedlove great value for the money.
I tried to like them but I personally found it too hard to get a decent sound out of one (and I tried a bunch). I'd like like to find that Takamine I played at GC once and never saw it again, never played an acoustic that just exploded with sound and tone with so little effort like that Takamine (I wasn't ready to spend $1300 on an acoustic at that time)
The Seagull, Art & Lutherie, and Simon & Patrick brands out of Quebec may not get showcased here unless Rhett wants to bring them across the border. My pride and joy is the Simon & Patrick Songsmith that I picked out of a pawn shop for a "song".
I bought an Echo Live a year and a half ago for my son. I liked it. I liked it so much that I brought it to a gig. It sounded fine at the gig, but the composite wood sides and back isolated it from my body. As a result it felt a little dead to me. For someone that isn't use to playing an all wood guitar this would never be noticed or even known to the player. I like Orangewood guitars so much that I purchased another to keep it strung for Nashville tuning. Their communication and customer service is fantastic. As someone who has 45 years experience playing, and who owns some seriously nice guitars, I have no problem recommending an Orangewood as a budget guitar. You'll get a lot of value from an Orangewood.
Acoustics are really interesting to work with without a doubt. Really glad to see how more popular and more quality in models they've come in this day and age. I'm always up to see a shootout!
I surprised myself. lol, I picked the Orangewood too. I would love to see you do the same thing with parlour guitars. They are just so practical when your gig is primarily solid body electric.
I’m an old retired dude that used to teach guitar at a state university. What came with the job was ‘managing and maintaining the fleet’. I had to vet and purchase lots of forty to fifty guitars at a time over my tenure. I only used nylon stringed guitars for the loin’s share of my ‘classroom’ students were beginners fulfilling requirements of various degrees (mostly pedagogical). I found the “best bang for the buck” with the in Fender FC-100. At the time was paying around $100/each. I still, along with my Ramírez, go to my almost 40yr old FC-100. It’s nice to have a decent playing classical that I don’t have to treat like a holy relic! 😅👍🏻
2Legit 2BReal, lol, right on brother, it’s like an old comfortable shoe! It almost has a ‘Willie Nelson wear hole’ at the present but in it’s defense it’s been a lot of places I wouldn’t even take your guitar! 😉😅👍🏻
@@robertw1871 I actually have one, except its 25 years old. Checked the serial and I'm only 6 months older than it is. I really love how it sounds, I think part of that is the age.
Yamaha is a really good choice in this range too. the tone on them is really well balanced and the build quality seems exceptional for the price . If you revisit this subject in a future video try out a Yamaha in the mix.
Agreed! A buddy of mine graciously gifted me his old Yamaha F310 and when i first tried it i genuinely thought it was a pricier guitar than what it actually is.
I have a 25 year old Yamaha FG-411S (I'm 6 months older) and I love the sound of it. Some of that might be nostalgia because its been in my family that long, but it sounds amazing. It was $300 in 1995 so its still a budget guitar. Yamahas are a great choice for acoustics in my opinion.
As someone who had their headstock snap off on them a couple weeks ago this was definitely the video I’ve been looking for. Thanks man! Also have to agree with the orangewood as the overall winner.
The upper end Cort guitars are available in Europe as are Eastman and other higher end China guitars. Orangewood guitars are basically the same guitars, all made in China with high quality woods, equipment and care of construction.
Yamaha FG 800, is considered by many people including me to be one of the best student sub $1000 guitars around, I think they are around $250 some places...
I started learning in December and have been playing my mom's FG400! I love it, maybe because it's the only guitar I've ever played, but looking online a lot of other people seem to love it too!
I get the reason for sticking to all dreads, but my humble recommendation for something in the $350-$500 range, Breedlove Guitars are an amazing value. Great playability, typically good pickups. Always my recommendation for individuals looking to learn or something they're not worried about beating up. Regarding the 4 you tested out, it took about 15 seconds to echo your sentiments on the Orangewood. Sounded great. Looks great.
I absolutely love my Breedlove too, it’s a Cocert Ce, about 350 used and it just plays and sounds great, not super loud but it’s electric so it doesn’t even matter! Records great as well
The Orangewood sounds the best to my ears. I agree with a couple of folks here that unless you're a professional, a built in pickup isn't necessary. For this price range, I would recommend Yamaha, Alvarez or a Takamine. Yamahas seem to be the most consistent over the years, and I have owned 4 over 40 years. I have played a couple of Alvarez that have made me drool. Maybe a shootout with non-pickup acoustics?
Martin X Series made in Mexico are surprisingly great. I got one for $499. It came with a heavy duty gig bag. The fishman pickup is basic but works fine. In the end, the sound is way above any guitar I've played in that price range or below. It's also probably the toughest and least effected by weather and humidity change. Go watch a video about how these are made. It's all recycled wood from the main Martin factory in PA. They take the saw dust and add a resin and make a pressed wood ...kind of. It's really made of spruce and mahogony...sawdust.
For me the Orangewood sounded the best, with and without pickups. And for the next budged acoustic guitar shootout I would recommend checking out something from Takamine, Ibanez, Guild. Keep making more high-quality videos like this one! :)
Yamaha definitely makes some sweet acoustic guitars and prices are extremely affordable. I have found that earthwood strings play and sounds the best on my 250 dollar Yamaha. The reason I bought mine was due to comparison between several different models. My choices were between the Taylor CE 314 (over $1500 bucks) versus the $250 Yamaha and I chose the Yamaha because the sound was equal to the Taylor
With a budget limited to ~500 i would avoid models with pickups at all costs, honestly. You pay for a feature you will most likely not use, and if you use ist you will be disappointed by the sound quality. My personal experience.
Burnt Weenie, indeed! Put your money in the craftsmanship not the electronics at first. If you later so choose to amplify, for about $100 the best passive three point pickups I’ve ever found were from a Portland company, “K&K Sound”. Extremely well balanced and not too hard to install. Great conversation btw!
I have a really cheap acoustic with pickup, and i use it on gigs. I could/would not use it if it didn't have a good sounding pickup, so to me that's something I look at when buying a new one!
My entire room full of instruments.. guitars amps.. fuzz pedals.. etc.. come in under $500 and I've got magnetic pickups.. piezo UST and Contact.. $500 isn't a limited budget. It's a limited mindset
Thanks Rhett you did a good job on this. I loved the sound of the Orangewood I have seen quite a few videos showing Orangewood guitars and I think they sound great. I am almost tempted to buy an Orangewood, I have three Martins but the Orangewood for a simple economical guitar that you wouldn't worry about as much the Orangewood seems hard to beat.
Honestly man, thank you!! I been playing guitar for 20 something years. And I been wanting to get a nice decent price acoustic. I have a 1962 Gibson acoustic that I love but I rather not take to jams or really out of the house. I been looking at those orangewood acoustics, but alot of the typical TH-cam people that have had there hands on them and demo them 1 felt like they were paid to say what they said. 2 never compaired it head to head with others. I have tried the epeiphones and fenders that you have had in this very video and was left wanting more. And that orangewood blew them out of the water! So thank you! I feel like your one of the last few trust worthy people still on the internet and I appreciate this video! Thank you!!
For the beginner, the smaller neck on the Fender is very helpful. I agree the tone isn't the best (my beginner guitar was a CD60SCE), but the playability is great.
Breedlove and Alvarez both make VERY good guitars under $500. They're imported, obviously, but I've found their sound and construction to rival just about anything up to the $1500 range. I record primarily with a Breedlove that ran $450.
Several years ago I bought an Ibanez exotic wood acoustic for $400 It has the pickup, three band EQ, a tuner and a chorus effect As well as high and low z outputs. It has the cutaway and plays beautiful. Plays better than a lot of electric guitars. It has a low action and stays in tune forever. I really love that guitar.
@@americanbystandard the Hummingbird sounds absolutely nothing like a Taylor. The Epiphone is all boxy midrange - no detailed highs and no full lows. Taylors are all about clarity; not “less bass,” but rather more treble.
@@slysendice - Yeah I was about to fight him on this haha. I have literally never heard/played another acoustic that sounds anywhere as good as a mid-range (price) Taylor.
Proof that playing technique, room and mic techniques make any reasonably well made guitar sound AMAZING. Would loved to have heard a couple of higher end models at the end to show the difference. Great video!
Interesting to me that as I listened I was making mental notes and I came to the same conclusions and heard the same things as you apparently. Went ahead and picked up the Orangewood Echo Live Torrified. Can't wait to hear it
Great shoot out. Those pezios suk, your mic job was excellent. I could hardly tell any difference between those guitars except for the epiphone. Brilliant idea using all the same strings although a lot of work, changing strings on all four guitars, that's dedication to your craft. Excellent production, thank you.
I bought a used Seagull Coastline, a step up from the S6 Original for about 330, it's 700 new, I think, and the quality, fit and finish definitely rivals my 1300 Takamine GB7c I bought 20 years ago, the Original S6 is about 400 to 450 new, it's very high quality.
Guild is so underrated. Honestly, I think their Westerly series, which mostly run in the $500-ish range, are better than just about anything sold in the sub $1000 segment. If you're looking for that great Gibson punchy sound and are willing to drop several grand on an acoustic, I'd definitely go with something like the Guild American made D55 of F55 over a Gibson Hummingbird or J-200. I think Guild has a better sound, which is subjective, but they're also objectively better made when comparing the minutia of fit and finish side by side with a Gibson, or at least any modern Gibson. I guess they're just not carried in enough places for people to get a good comparison. I've noticed I never see them in a Guitar Center for example, other than maybe 1 or 2 of their cheapest models. I got turned onto them 20+ years ago at a shop that carried the whole line. Nothing else in there had the same sound, and only the most expensive Martins measured up to the build quality. Martins are great, just not my type of sound, same with Taylors. Every acoustic player owes it to themselves to track down a shop that carries a decent selection of Guilds and give them a try, before going in on the more common/easier to find brands.
I agree, but I would also seriously look at comparing Crafter Guitars too. I see Guilds and Crafter's more often than anything else on church singing stages, which I think is a good indication of an allrounder. That said, personally I use a Cort SFX guitar for unplugged accoustics, but I'm not impressed at all with the included preamp. I also recently payed the extra £100 for a luthier to replace Nut and Bridge with bone ones and fully pro-setup the action. That made a huge difference. Total cost of the Guitar and the extra replacements and pro setup came in at just £340.
Starting off, I personally own an Orangewood guitar and I love it. The Epiphone sounded just plane muddy and honestly not vintage considering I also play a ‘72 Guild. The Fender, well I’ve never been a fan of their acoustics. Ya might notice ya never see them being played on stage by professional musicians. Entry level at best for all their acoustics. The Walden, it did sound great, but like you mentioned it would be a better comparison to the lower end Taylor’s and Martins. So winner winner chicken dinner, I vote Orangewood! Great episode Rhett!
Johnny Cash, George Jones, Buck Owens, Tex Ritter, Wanda Jackson, Charley Pride, Ray Davies, Robbie Robertson and Elvis Presley all fender. Yeah just a bunch of scrubs lol. But at least you are honest you are an Orangewood loyalist its all good.
Thanks for the video and comparison. I was in the market for a new acoustic/electric for Worship in early 2019 for the same price range in this video. I know I played over 20 different guitars trying to figure it all out, and the short list included Alvarez, Orangewood and Seagull. I ended up going with the Seagull because it just felt and sounded the best to me, which is all very subjective in the long run because each person has a different ideal for what feel and sound is.
Haha, same, Ive been collecting Japanese vintage guitars for a long time, and what you get for 500 even today is amazing. I did just splurge on a 78 Morris d45 copy that sounds like heaven, it was 450.
Some folks are name brand nuts. I'm playing a recording king against higher name brands. I'm getting along in bluegrass jams just fine against loud banjos and other instruments in the group.
@@wishlist123 mine is a 1979 tf morris w 650, that's what they called the w 50 in the American market. The w 50 is the lowest rung of their high end line. In 1979 the w 50 was made with solid spruce , jacaranda and chestnut. Don't be afraid of the Japanese guitars with laminates though, after 40 years, the woods dry out and can sometimes sound better than the solid ones. I have a couple of Kiso Suzuki guitars as well. For Japanese guitars, I like to focus on guitars made between 76 and 81. Just a personal preference though.
i just bought a baby taylor full mahogany for chillin around the house or by a grill out and its literally my go to over my other much more expensive guitars. the thing is so tiny but oh so powerful, such a warm sound the bass is incredible. The size might freak you out when you see it but its a charm.
The Orangewood sounded best to me, with Walden being second. I started learning to play guitar in the early 80s. The quality of the beginner instruments available today is so much better than any of the first several acoustic guitars that I owned. This is also true for electric guitars and basses. The entry level Squiers, Epiphones, and Ibanezes are great instruments.
It's a travesty that you didn't look at Yamaha. I ran the sales floor of a guitar shop for a decade and we carried just about everything and in the $100-500 range, Yamaha delivers value that rivals the industry standards costing twice as much.
The Orangewood is the best sounding to my ears. Also the Fender CD , but the Orangewood I think it sounds better, and is beautiful and I love the quite unique design of the inlays across the fretboard. I'm just thinking about selling one of the two acoustics that I have to buy the Echo Live, but I don't know if they sell in Europe. Thanks a lot for the video Rhett!!!
Really great video, RS! I was strictly an acoustic player for a 4-5 year period but now I rarely ever play one, as I’ve become obsessed with pedals and ambient soundscapes. Thanks to this video, I might need to pull the Taylor out of the closet. I entered your generous giveaway, so maybe I’ll have a new friend to spark that fire. For my money, the Orangewood was by far the best. Love the look, too. Cheers!
Rhett, I enjoyed your "shoot out" very much. I must admit that I started out favoring the Orangewood because I own two of their guitars. (I also have a '66 Gibson J-50 and a '74 Gibson Hummingbird) I bought an Oliver M Live last January. The factory setup was fine, the electronics are the same as the Epiphone in your review, the gig bag is much better made than one would expect to get, and I love the warmer tone from the all mahogany construction. I changed the Ernie Ball 12s for a set of D'Addario 11s and liked the feel better. In April, I bought the Mason LE live which is a sister to the Echo. The larger body and spruce top give it more volume and a brighter tone. Both sound great unplugged or plugged in, just different. Thanks again for your review.
@@WaldenGuitars never heard of you guys before, but I'd say it's a very close second place to the orangewood. Do you have any distrubters in Western Europe? I'd love to check some of your models!
If you’re really on a budget go for the F series from Yamaha! Awesome sound, easy to play, stays in tune and can hold its own against guitars 2, 3 times as expensive! I had an F-310 that cost me a hundred bucks brand new. Three years later I’ve sold it to get a Yamaha DW-7, which is definitely a better guitar, but to this day I miss the 310 because there was just something about it when playing power chords that the 7 doesn’t have. It’s like the 310 is the 16 year old snotty little punk kid with an attitude and the 7 is the same kid 20 years down the road, all grown up, civilized and sophisticated.
I just spent a good 6 hours trying to figure out what to get. I just started the video I had settled on the fender I hope my own research did me good I'm about to find out. Great timing on this video by the way literally couldnt have been timed better for my needs
They all sound great through the microphone. It’s amazing how far the quality of budget instruments has progressed I’m my lifetime. In the mid nineties a $400 acoustic would play and sound like garbage. Now you can consistently find a $300 acoustic that plays and sounds close to premium instruments. This causes a strange market for instruments. People are either looking for something that plays and sound great; a market where people are looking for the best bang for their buck, or they’re looking for something in a new niche: heirloom quality instruments that will hold value and can be passed on to future generations. We’re past the time where a D18 will hold its value because its quality far surpasses almost any instrument on the market. Why buy a D18 for $2000 when it’s a similar quality to a $500 guitar and it will depreciate by 30% the moment you buy it?
First let me say that over the years I've owned; a Martin, Gibson, Guild, Yamaha and one or two others. Right now I have my oldest guitar, a 1964 Harmony Sovereign, and an Alvarez Yairi that I've had for about 35 years. My newest addition was a big surprise for me, a Luna Trinity Parlor guitar...I'm a dreadnought guy. So, including the Luna and a Koa Alvarez, both under $500 I'm quite happy with these two acoustic guitars. And definitely, pleasantly surprised by the Luna Trinity Parlor.
I agree the Orangewood sounded the best of those. I would also recommend Gretch for a budget acoustic. Great sound and electronics for the money. I would also like to see your impressions of the Martin SC-13E. It is supposed to be more setup for those who most often play electrics.
My ears told me the OrangeWood was the best sounding, Walden 2nd, Fender 3rd, Epi last. It looks I share with Rhett tones preferences. Too bad Orange wood does not ship to France. Now considering the Harley Benton CLG650 at €450, all solid Mahogany. Thomann from Germany ships to USA their Harley Benton lines.
Hey Rhett! Loved the comparison video. I agree with your choice for your favorite, which is the Orangewood. Not sure if you've ever reviewed any of Harley Benton Acoustics, while we're on the topic of budget acoustics. If not, have you considered reviewing one? Some of them are Solid Top acoustic guitars, and they're priced very low. Thanks once again for your great reviews.
Playability is really critical for someone buying at this price point. Many times they are new players. When I started I did not notice the neck profile, but did notice the string action. String action also will really help with the newer students learning barre chords!
Blueridge guitars are incredible for the money as well.. Ive had my first cheap Br40 beat countless number of friends high end and vintage Martins,Taylors, and Gibsons tracking for sessions
There are several solid top guitars floating around out there at around $200. This was unheard of a couple decades ago. The issue that I think you'll find with them though is quality control. That seems to be what you lose with the budget guitars. Orangewood has a well-reviewed guitar called the Oliver at around $200 without a pickup.
Good comparison video. The Orangewood also sounded the best overall in my opinion. I had heard that they made a very good guitar for the money. The "shoot out" concept is something you should consider as a series.
Great idea you have hear...just wish you kept the head of each guitar in the pic frame throughout so it makes it easier to know which guitar your playing each time All four sounded nice but to my surprise Epiphone guitar had best sound from my phone, followed by Orangewood Walden then Fender.
It would be interesting to pick the cheapest one of the four (I assume the Epi Hummingbird) and have it setup, get a new saddle and bone nut on it. It might still remain the cheapest and people report a very noticeable improvement.
Cool video! Orangewood would be my choice too. I thought it sounded the best. Good looking too! However 500$ is already quite a price! My first real guitar was less than 200$. A Yamaha FG720, if I remember correctly. I own a Gibson J45 now (which I love). But I still remember that Yamaha fondly. She sounded really nice and never felt like a cheap guitar.
Yeah the Orangewoods are good. I wonder if Gibson has some entry level models. I would check out, Acepro, Airline, Alvarez, Anderson (electric tho), Balaguer(electric), B.C. rich, Breedlove, Carvin, Charvel(electric), Cordoba, Cort(electric) Crafter, D'Angelico, Dean, De Rosa, Eastman, Eastwood, Ernie Ball, Esteban, EVH, Freidman, Framus, Fever, Hagstrom, Harley Benton, Hofner, Hohner, Gretsch, Godin, Grote, Guild, Ibanez, Indie, Jay Turser, Jackson, Jennings (electric), Kay, Kramer, Luna, Mayones, Ovation, Palir, Paul Reed Smith, Rouge, Strandberg, Washburn, Yamaha, and Zager. if you've made it this far good job. Time for Amps and, Pedals lol.
I recently did some extensive shopping, and the Epiphone Hummingbird made it onto my short list. But I ended up buying a Mitchell MX430 with the "quilted ash" body. $479 at Guitar Center. I'm no expert, but to me, it really stood out from the crowd: sounded good, and felt very comfortable in my hands. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
My first and only acoustic which I still use after 7 years was about 20 bucks, and it is great. I live in Colombia it is a local instrument
im sure that a locally made guitar would be 100% better than something made in china, even if the guitar from china is over 500 dollar , i doubt it would recieve the same craftsmanship as a local brand.
Picked up a used cedar top 12 string. Barely played, still had film on pickguard! With brand new hard shell gator case for $300. It’s a beauty and sounds amazing. Keeper. Couple tunes on my channel playing it.
Yo im in Colombia as well. What guitar is it?
Thanks all for watching! Jonathan Lee here, a point of clarification, our Walden D550E has a Street price similar to other guitars in this shoot out. The higher price is the MSRP, not the price you’ll find if you search Walden D550E :)
I just bought the 550e very happy with it.....for under 500.
@@ladge431 Yay! Welcome to the Walden fam! May your Muse be a frequent visitor :-)
Indeed. A quick check shows the D550E is available through many sources for $399. And the cutaway version is in the low $500's range.
I just joined your family too, I am coming from Cort. Really like your guitars!
@@fengcarlos Welcome to the Walden family!!!
Don't "discount" Yamahas! They make some really nice guitars.
FG800 is very impressive for half the price of some of these
Completely agree
I seriously love my Yamaha! I reach for it more than other expensive ones.
@@bhobg I tried every acoustic under $1000 and bought an FG830.
Yeah, Yamaha, best bang for the buck and that goes for all price classes! Even the super cheap F-310 is an awesome guitar that can hold its own against guitars two or three times as expensive!
Epiphone Masterbilt. Test drive one of them today. Amazing. Solid Sitka Spruce Top. Solid Mahogany Sides and Back. Amazingly affordable too.
As always great playing, but dude, your videography skills are badass! I think a lot of guitar players probably don’t pay much attention to that sort of thing so I just wanted to show a little appreciation for the production you put into your videos. The lighting, camera angles, slider shots, crisp audio, ext. are things that most people take for granted but those things take a video from being good to being great. Learning a camera is a skill just like learning guitar and man, you’re a master at both! Keep up the great work!
The Orangewood sounded the best to me. A few years ago I was looking at buying an Epiphone acoustic but the guitar shop I was at didn't carry Epiphones and the owner suggested a Breedlove acoustic that was around the same $400 price point. I tried it out and fell in love with it, so I would suggest trying one of Breedlove's budget acoustic models for the next instalment.
I traded an Epiphone that hurt my thumb, and got an OrangeWood pawnshop rescue. $160 for two dents in top, it is a non electric all mahogany model. Nice and doesn’t hurt my thumb.
The Orangewood is probably my favorite of these
I agree that guitar really stood out above the rest.
it held together when strummed hard the rest got a bit muddy.
I have a Orangewood Brooklyn and echo 12 string. Great guitar for the price.
I have an Orangewood Ava live that's a really good quality instrument.
I agree & just purchased that model.
I own a Taylor that I paid over $3400 for. It's a beautiful instrument that just keeps getting better over time. I refused to take it to the lake so I bought a Breedlove Discovery Concert CE. It's all mahogany and I got it used from GC for $275. I actually only play it now, even when I am home. It plays much better, sounds better and there's something about that all mahogany body that is so dark and warm. When other guitarist hear it, they always stop what they're doing and come over to see what just made that awesome sound. I haven't played the Taylor in over a year now.
Once I played my Korean breedlove over a 614ce for a gig I knew...i have several breedloves's and a Yairi
@@augmentedkeys5971 It has the solid mahogany sides and top, but the back is laminated it appears.
I owned a Breedlove and thought it was a great guitar. But I had to many so I sold it...it just never got played...but yeah Breedlove great value for the money.
I own Breedlove and love it
I tried to like them but I personally found it too hard to get a decent sound out of one (and I tried a bunch). I'd like like to find that Takamine I played at GC once and never saw it again, never played an acoustic that just exploded with sound and tone with so little effort like that Takamine (I wasn't ready to spend $1300 on an acoustic at that time)
Seagull, my friends. Recommended many times. Never sad with recommendation
The Seagull, Art & Lutherie, and Simon & Patrick brands out of Quebec may not get showcased here unless Rhett wants to bring them across the border. My pride and joy is the Simon & Patrick Songsmith that I picked out of a pawn shop for a "song".
@@MelodyMaker Seagull imports to the US, they have some down at our local Mom & Pop, great guitars from what I can tell.
@@fladification Nice!
@@MelodyMaker I bought a Seagull about a year ago. Great guitar, I really like it!
My acoustic is an old seagull S6 I got off Craigslist for $40 bucks. Nothing was wrong with it, guy just wanted to get rid of it.
I bought an Echo Live a year and a half ago for my son. I liked it. I liked it so much that I brought it to a gig. It sounded fine at the gig, but the composite wood sides and back isolated it from my body. As a result it felt a little dead to me. For someone that isn't use to playing an all wood guitar this would never be noticed or even known to the player. I like Orangewood guitars so much that I purchased another to keep it strung for Nashville tuning. Their communication and customer service is fantastic. As someone who has 45 years experience playing, and who owns some seriously nice guitars, I have no problem recommending an Orangewood as a budget guitar. You'll get a lot of value from an Orangewood.
Acoustics are really interesting to work with without a doubt. Really glad to see how more popular and more quality in models they've come in this day and age. I'm always up to see a shootout!
I surprised myself. lol, I picked the Orangewood too.
I would love to see you do the same thing with parlour guitars. They are just so practical when your gig is primarily solid body electric.
I’m an old retired dude that used to teach guitar at a state university. What came with the job was ‘managing and maintaining the fleet’. I had to vet and purchase lots of forty to fifty guitars at a time over my tenure. I only used nylon stringed guitars for the loin’s share of my ‘classroom’ students were beginners fulfilling requirements of various degrees (mostly pedagogical). I found the “best bang for the buck” with the in Fender FC-100. At the time was paying around $100/each. I still, along with my Ramírez, go to my almost 40yr old FC-100. It’s nice to have a decent playing classical that I don’t have to treat like a holy relic! 😅👍🏻
40 year old guitar builds up a sound that makes it a "magnet" go to guitar.
2Legit 2BReal, lol, right on brother, it’s like an old comfortable shoe! It almost has a ‘Willie Nelson wear hole’ at the present but in it’s defense it’s been a lot of places I wouldn’t even take your guitar! 😉😅👍🏻
Best bang for buck today is Yamaha FG series, $200-$300 and sound like 2 to 3 thousand.... they are a steal for beginners....
@@robertw1871 I actually have one, except its 25 years old. Checked the serial and I'm only 6 months older than it is. I really love how it sounds, I think part of that is the age.
" the loin's share " is a phrase I'm going to use from now on.
I liked the Walden and Orangewood Guitars. You did a nice review of these guitars 👍
Yamaha is a really good choice in this range too. the tone on them is really well balanced and the build quality seems exceptional for the price . If you revisit this subject in a future video try out a Yamaha in the mix.
Yamaha Fg830 or fs830 you can't gi wrong
I am a Yamaha fan and would have wanted to see how an 800 series compares.
Agreed! A buddy of mine graciously gifted me his old Yamaha F310 and when i first tried it i genuinely thought it was a pricier guitar than what it actually is.
@@Riddle99-v7q I have a $150 F335...it plays like an electric. I'd put the neck on my Martin if I could.
I have a 25 year old Yamaha FG-411S (I'm 6 months older) and I love the sound of it. Some of that might be nostalgia because its been in my family that long, but it sounds amazing.
It was $300 in 1995 so its still a budget guitar. Yamahas are a great choice for acoustics in my opinion.
As someone who had their headstock snap off on them a couple weeks ago this was definitely the video I’ve been looking for. Thanks man! Also have to agree with the orangewood as the overall winner.
I'm sorry for your loss man
how tf
Get a seagull
I'll be gentle with my acoustic😫
Astolfo a gust of wind dropped it flat on the face... happens though
Orangewood in this comparsion is a winner all the way. Shame it is so hard to buy in Europe. Great vid man ,cheers!
The upper end Cort guitars are available in Europe as are Eastman and other higher end China guitars. Orangewood guitars are basically the same guitars, all made in China with high quality woods, equipment and care of construction.
Seagulls have been around quite a while and have always been a great choice for all levels of players. And made in north america.
Yamaha FG 800, is considered by many people including me to be one of the best student sub $1000 guitars around, I think they are around $250 some places...
I was blown away by the Orangewood. So glad you did this review.
Yamaha FG. Still playing mine after 25 years. There is beach sand inside the body from when I was a teenager.
Hard to knock a Yammie.
I started learning in December and have been playing my mom's FG400! I love it, maybe because it's the only guitar I've ever played, but looking online a lot of other people seem to love it too!
I get the reason for sticking to all dreads, but my humble recommendation for something in the $350-$500 range, Breedlove Guitars are an amazing value. Great playability, typically good pickups. Always my recommendation for individuals looking to learn or something they're not worried about beating up.
Regarding the 4 you tested out, it took about 15 seconds to echo your sentiments on the Orangewood. Sounded great. Looks great.
I absolutely love my Breedlove too, it’s a Cocert Ce, about 350 used and it just plays and sounds great, not super loud but it’s electric so it doesn’t even matter! Records great as well
Love my Breedlove
My Korean Atlas is a tank! Its been dropped and banged around for the last 6 years and doesn't have a mark on it,lol
@Kwenz Landah My comment is relevant to Breedlove,,which makes the "Atlas" series.
Rhett is by his own admission a "utility acoustic" player. He's a big loud dread strummer. That's not a bad thing but it frames his perspective.
Man, that Epiphone sounded downright awful.
i was very surprised :( Fender sounds the best to me
@@TheRealSlobo I played that Fender at G.C. and I was surprised it sound so good.
But the ORANGE sounds best to me.
@@souloftheage remember you are listening through compressed and filtered video/audio.
It also had the most adaptable sound .... I think with a little bit of EQ this could be the most versatile of the bunch
I did not like the walden at all ... and the orangewood had a strange ring to it
The Orangewood sounds the best to my ears. I agree with a couple of folks here that unless you're a professional, a built in pickup isn't necessary. For this price range, I would recommend Yamaha, Alvarez or a Takamine. Yamahas seem to be the most consistent over the years, and I have owned 4 over 40 years. I have played a couple of Alvarez that have made me drool. Maybe a shootout with non-pickup acoustics?
Martin X Series made in Mexico are surprisingly great. I got one for $499. It came with a heavy duty gig bag. The fishman pickup is basic but works fine. In the end, the sound is way above any guitar I've played in that price range or below. It's also probably the toughest and least effected by weather and humidity change. Go watch a video about how these are made. It's all recycled wood from the main Martin factory in PA. They take the saw dust and add a resin and make a pressed wood ...kind of. It's really made of spruce and mahogony...sawdust.
For me the Orangewood sounded the best, with and without pickups. And for the next budged acoustic guitar shootout I would recommend checking out something from Takamine, Ibanez, Guild. Keep making more high-quality videos like this one! :)
My ranking after hearing you play... Orangewood, Waldon, Epiphone, Fender.
I was really impressed by the Orangewood. Great video.
Guild D240e acoustic it´s a great guitar too, Love the sound of the Orangewood. Great Video!
I own that Guild, best budget guitar on the market !
Yamaha definitely makes some sweet acoustic guitars and prices are extremely affordable. I have found that earthwood strings play and sounds the best on my 250 dollar Yamaha. The reason I bought mine was due to comparison between several different models. My choices were between the Taylor CE 314 (over $1500 bucks) versus the $250 Yamaha and I chose the Yamaha because the sound was equal to the Taylor
I have an FG800 and a 314ce. I reach for the Yamaha 9/10 times I go to play
With a budget limited to ~500 i would avoid models with pickups at all costs, honestly. You pay for a feature you will most likely not use, and if you use ist you will be disappointed by the sound quality. My personal experience.
Burnt Weenie, indeed! Put your money in the craftsmanship not the electronics at first. If you later so choose to amplify, for about $100 the best passive three point pickups I’ve ever found were from a Portland company, “K&K Sound”. Extremely well balanced and not too hard to install. Great conversation btw!
agree
I have a really cheap acoustic with pickup, and i use it on gigs. I could/would not use it if it didn't have a good sounding pickup, so to me that's something I look at when buying a new one!
My entire room full of instruments.. guitars amps.. fuzz pedals.. etc.. come in under $500 and I've got magnetic pickups.. piezo UST and Contact..
$500 isn't a limited budget. It's a limited mindset
@Jake de Jongh Or install an LR Baggs Anthem. Low price electronics are nothing to write home about.
Thanks. That really help me a lot in buying my first guitar. My choice was the orangewood. I will keep that in mind, once i save enough money.
Orangewoods kick ass.
Guild Westerlys, Seagull and I found a brand from Korea, caller Crafter, very well made and great playing/sounding.
My original Seagull has brought many friends into the guitar world. It still sounds and plays so smooth.
Thanks Rhett you did a good job on this. I loved the sound of the Orangewood I have seen quite a few videos showing Orangewood guitars and I think they sound great. I am almost tempted to buy an Orangewood, I have three Martins but the Orangewood for a simple economical guitar that you wouldn't worry about as much the Orangewood seems hard to beat.
Yes mate,the orangewood had the best Sound imo !!!
I like the image of the Epiphone, and the sound of Orangewood. Thanks for the video
I'm looking at picking up a Yamaha FG/S 800 tomorrow
How is it? I love mine.
@@jeramym9506 Those were out of stock so I picked up a FGX800C, and I absolutely love it
Honestly man, thank you!! I been playing guitar for 20 something years. And I been wanting to get a nice decent price acoustic. I have a 1962 Gibson acoustic that I love but I rather not take to jams or really out of the house. I been looking at those orangewood acoustics, but alot of the typical TH-cam people that have had there hands on them and demo them 1 felt like they were paid to say what they said. 2 never compaired it head to head with others. I have tried the epeiphones and fenders that you have had in this very video and was left wanting more. And that orangewood blew them out of the water! So thank you! I feel like your one of the last few trust worthy people still on the internet and I appreciate this video! Thank you!!
For the beginner, the smaller neck on the Fender is very helpful. I agree the tone isn't the best (my beginner guitar was a CD60SCE), but the playability is great.
Yes: Seagull and Yamaha.
That orange wood is impressive.
Guild d 240e is another great option.
I own that Guild ! Best budget guitar on the market !
Alvarez - absolutely love my AG60CEAR, which is around the £500 pricemark here in the UK. Well worth checking out!
Breedlove and Alvarez both make VERY good guitars under $500. They're imported, obviously, but I've found their sound and construction to rival just about anything up to the $1500 range. I record primarily with a Breedlove that ran $450.
Several years ago I bought an Ibanez exotic wood acoustic for $400 It has the pickup, three band EQ, a tuner and a chorus effect As well as high and low z outputs. It has the cutaway and plays beautiful. Plays better than a lot of electric guitars. It has a low action and stays in tune forever. I really love that guitar.
Orangewood sounded best to me.
Epiphone sounded the worst; to my ears, it has a cheap, nasally quality to it.
The other two sound fine.
Hummingbird has less bass... some people actually desire that sound in acoustic and get Taylor, which also has less bass.
@@americanbystandard I mean, isn't that the purpose of other body shapes? The Dreadnaught body has a low end by design, it is, most usually, intended.
All according to what sound ur looking for. I like a 000 sound best for my type of playing..
@@americanbystandard the Hummingbird sounds absolutely nothing like a Taylor. The Epiphone is all boxy midrange - no detailed highs and no full lows. Taylors are all about clarity; not “less bass,” but rather more treble.
@@slysendice - Yeah I was about to fight him on this haha. I have literally never heard/played another acoustic that sounds anywhere as good as a mid-range (price) Taylor.
I have a Yamaha LL16 A.R.E. but I fell in love with the Orangewood in this video. It is most reminiscent of a Yamaha acoustic by sound.
Proof that playing technique, room and mic techniques make any reasonably well made guitar sound AMAZING. Would loved to have heard a couple of higher end models at the end to show the difference. Great video!
Interesting to me that as I listened I was making mental notes and I came to the same conclusions and heard the same things as you apparently. Went ahead and picked up the Orangewood Echo Live Torrified. Can't wait to hear it
Parlor guitar shoot out?!?! Don’t think I’ve seen you play one before😂 thanks for the great content
Great shoot out. Those pezios suk, your mic job was excellent. I could hardly tell any difference between those guitars except for the epiphone. Brilliant idea using all the same strings although a lot of work, changing strings on all four guitars, that's dedication to your craft. Excellent production, thank you.
I bought a used Seagull Coastline, a step up from the S6 Original for about 330, it's 700 new, I think, and the quality, fit and finish definitely rivals my 1300 Takamine GB7c I bought 20 years ago, the Original S6 is about 400 to 450 new, it's very high quality.
Taylor GS mini... Lots of good used ones under $500 all day long falls in a fine instrument category.. Fantastic for beginner or advanced players.
Guild is so underrated. Honestly, I think their Westerly series, which mostly run in the $500-ish range, are better than just about anything sold in the sub $1000 segment. If you're looking for that great Gibson punchy sound and are willing to drop several grand on an acoustic, I'd definitely go with something like the Guild American made D55 of F55 over a Gibson Hummingbird or J-200. I think Guild has a better sound, which is subjective, but they're also objectively better made when comparing the minutia of fit and finish side by side with a Gibson, or at least any modern Gibson.
I guess they're just not carried in enough places for people to get a good comparison. I've noticed I never see them in a Guitar Center for example, other than maybe 1 or 2 of their cheapest models. I got turned onto them 20+ years ago at a shop that carried the whole line. Nothing else in there had the same sound, and only the most expensive Martins measured up to the build quality. Martins are great, just not my type of sound, same with Taylors.
Every acoustic player owes it to themselves to track down a shop that carries a decent selection of Guilds and give them a try, before going in on the more common/easier to find brands.
I agree completely. And the consistency is important
💯 👍👍👍👍👍
I agree, but I would also seriously look at comparing Crafter Guitars too. I see Guilds and Crafter's more often than anything else on church singing stages, which I think is a good indication of an allrounder. That said, personally I use a Cort SFX guitar for unplugged accoustics, but I'm not impressed at all with the included preamp. I also recently payed the extra £100 for a luthier to replace Nut and Bridge with bone ones and fully pro-setup the action. That made a huge difference. Total cost of the Guitar and the extra replacements and pro setup came in at just £340.
The only guitar that ever BLEW MY MIND completely tone wise was a Guild. Holy shit that tone...
Starting off, I personally own an Orangewood guitar and I love it. The Epiphone sounded just plane muddy and honestly not vintage considering I also play a ‘72 Guild. The Fender, well I’ve never been a fan of their acoustics. Ya might notice ya never see them being played on stage by professional musicians. Entry level at best for all their acoustics. The Walden, it did sound great, but like you mentioned it would be a better comparison to the lower end Taylor’s and Martins. So winner winner chicken dinner, I vote Orangewood! Great episode Rhett!
Johnny Cash, George Jones, Buck Owens, Tex Ritter, Wanda Jackson, Charley Pride, Ray Davies, Robbie Robertson and Elvis Presley all fender. Yeah just a bunch of scrubs lol. But at least you are honest you are an Orangewood loyalist its all good.
Of these four guitars, my preference would be:
1 - Orangewood
2 - Fender
3 - Walden
4 - Epiphone
Thanks for the video and comparison. I was in the market for a new acoustic/electric for Worship in early 2019 for the same price range in this video. I know I played over 20 different guitars trying to figure it all out, and the short list included Alvarez, Orangewood and Seagull. I ended up going with the Seagull because it just felt and sounded the best to me, which is all very subjective in the long run because each person has a different ideal for what feel and sound is.
I'd go with Yamaha every day. My friend has one and it sounds awesome
Really impressed with the Orangewood. May look to a grab a cheap one of those as a living room guitar.
There has to be. I have 30 good ones and never paid more than $250 for any of them.
Haha, same, Ive been collecting Japanese vintage guitars for a long time, and what you get for 500 even today is amazing. I did just splurge on a 78 Morris d45 copy that sounds like heaven, it was 450.
Thomas Campbell I like Japanese vintage guitar too, can I know the name of that morris? 🤩😍
Some folks are name brand nuts. I'm playing a recording king against higher name brands. I'm getting along in bluegrass jams just fine against loud banjos and other instruments in the group.
@@wishlist123 mine is a 1979 tf morris w 650, that's what they called the w 50 in the American market. The w 50 is the lowest rung of their high end line. In 1979 the w 50 was made with solid spruce , jacaranda and chestnut. Don't be afraid of the Japanese guitars with laminates though, after 40 years, the woods dry out and can sometimes sound better than the solid ones. I have a couple of Kiso Suzuki guitars as well. For Japanese guitars, I like to focus on guitars made between 76 and 81. Just a personal preference though.
Thomas Campbell Thank you for the info friend~^
I'm 73 and have a Yamaha FG-200 bought in Austin Texas 1974 sweet sound great price.
Best part was Tilly yelling at him about the correct pronunciation of "orange".
Rhymes with door hinge☺
Scared me through my headphones- I thought there was a stranger in the house behind me XD
@@lanelederer175 Only if you have a speech defect... or if you are American. 🤔😉🤣
i just bought a baby taylor full mahogany for chillin around the house or by a grill out and its literally my go to over my other much more expensive guitars. the thing is so tiny but oh so powerful, such a warm sound the bass is incredible. The size might freak you out when you see it but its a charm.
The Orangewood sounded best to me, with Walden being second. I started learning to play guitar in the early 80s. The quality of the beginner instruments available today is so much better than any of the first several acoustic guitars that I owned. This is also true for electric guitars and basses. The entry level Squiers, Epiphones, and Ibanezes are great instruments.
Quite impressed with the Orangewood actually. Warm and balanced
It's a travesty that you didn't look at Yamaha. I ran the sales floor of a guitar shop for a decade and we carried just about everything and in the $100-500 range, Yamaha delivers value that rivals the industry standards costing twice as much.
The Orangewood is the best sounding to my ears. Also the Fender CD , but the Orangewood I think it sounds better, and is beautiful and I love the quite unique design of the inlays across the fretboard. I'm just thinking about selling one of the two acoustics that I have to buy the Echo Live, but I don't know if they sell in Europe. Thanks a lot for the video Rhett!!!
Really great video, RS! I was strictly an acoustic player for a 4-5 year period but now I rarely ever play one, as I’ve become obsessed with pedals and ambient soundscapes. Thanks to this video, I might need to pull the Taylor out of the closet. I entered your generous giveaway, so maybe I’ll have a new friend to spark that fire. For my money, the Orangewood was by far the best. Love the look, too. Cheers!
Rhett, I enjoyed your "shoot out" very much. I must admit that I started out favoring the Orangewood because I own two of their guitars. (I also have a '66 Gibson J-50 and a '74 Gibson Hummingbird) I bought an Oliver M Live last January. The factory setup was fine, the electronics are the same as the Epiphone in your review, the gig bag is much better made than one would expect to get, and I love the warmer tone from the all mahogany construction. I changed the Ernie Ball 12s for a set of D'Addario 11s and liked the feel better. In April, I bought the Mason LE live which is a sister to the Echo. The larger body and spruce top give it more volume and a brighter tone. Both sound great unplugged or plugged in, just different. Thanks again for your review.
My Yamaha Fs800 is one of the nicest sounding guitars I’ve ever played.
And it’s $200
Hard to knock a Yammie!
I have small hands... the fender looked and sounded right to me. I would have to play the orange wood to know better. Thanks, nice review!
to my ears:
1. orangewood
2. walden
3. fender
4. epiphone
Thanks for the listen!
@@WaldenGuitars never heard of you guys before, but I'd say it's a very close second place to the orangewood. Do you have any distrubters in Western Europe? I'd love to check some of your models!
100% agree
My ears: 1. Fender, 2. Orangewood, 3. Walden, 4. Epiphone. I think it’s ultimately gonna come down to sound preference .
100 % agree with you!
If you can find a used Taylor GS mini for around $400-$500 they are a great little guitar with a big sound!!
That Orangewood sounds fantastic
Alvarez guitars are also pretty great for that price point. They also have some cool wood combinations.
If you’re really on a budget go for the F series from Yamaha! Awesome sound, easy to play, stays in tune and can hold its own against guitars 2, 3 times as expensive! I had an F-310 that cost me a hundred bucks brand new. Three years later I’ve sold it to get a Yamaha DW-7, which is definitely a better guitar, but to this day I miss the 310 because there was just something about it when playing power chords that the 7 doesn’t have. It’s like the 310 is the 16 year old snotty little punk kid with an attitude and the 7 is the same kid 20 years down the road, all grown up, civilized and sophisticated.
I just spent a good 6 hours trying to figure out what to get. I just started the video I had settled on the fender I hope my own research did me good I'm about to find out. Great timing on this video by the way literally couldnt have been timed better for my needs
An Eastman E1D or E2D would've been great to add.
Yea all solid wood and sound better than my Gibson
Yes, I’ve got an E2D and it’s got an incredible warm and thick sound. Also have an E1OM.
I liked the orange wood. And the Walden. I would like too see a thinline acoustic guitar shoot out
Yay! Thank for the listen:)
They all sound great through the microphone. It’s amazing how far the quality of budget instruments has progressed I’m my lifetime. In the mid nineties a $400 acoustic would play and sound like garbage. Now you can consistently find a $300 acoustic that plays and sounds close to premium instruments.
This causes a strange market for instruments. People are either looking for something that plays and sound great; a market where people are looking for the best bang for their buck, or they’re looking for something in a new niche: heirloom quality instruments that will hold value and can be passed on to future generations.
We’re past the time where a D18 will hold its value because its quality far surpasses almost any instrument on the market. Why buy a D18 for $2000 when it’s a similar quality to a $500 guitar and it will depreciate by 30% the moment you buy it?
Dude, the way you review guitars is so informative and fair.
Great great job.
✌🏼🦁
I think you should do more acoustic videos definitely turn this to a series
First let me say that over the years I've owned; a Martin, Gibson, Guild, Yamaha and one or two others. Right now I have my oldest guitar, a 1964 Harmony Sovereign, and an Alvarez Yairi that I've had for about 35 years. My newest addition was a big surprise for me, a Luna Trinity Parlor guitar...I'm a dreadnought guy. So, including the Luna and a Koa Alvarez, both under $500 I'm quite happy with these two acoustic guitars. And definitely, pleasantly surprised by the Luna Trinity Parlor.
I agree the Orangewood sounded the best of those. I would also recommend Gretch for a budget acoustic. Great sound and electronics for the money. I would also like to see your impressions of the Martin SC-13E. It is supposed to be more setup for those who most often play electrics.
I agree with you, I am a beginner and it sounds and looks great to me! Thank you for the demo and your comments.
How it goin
My ears told me the OrangeWood was the best sounding, Walden 2nd, Fender 3rd, Epi last. It looks I share with Rhett tones preferences. Too bad Orange wood does not ship to France. Now considering the Harley Benton CLG650 at €450, all solid Mahogany. Thomann from Germany ships to USA their Harley Benton lines.
I think if you email orange wood personally you can get one, they just make you pay the shipping costs.
@@ninjaturdle69 thanks for suggestion. Their website says they are preparing to sell outside the USA.
Hey Rhett! Loved the comparison video. I agree with your choice for your favorite, which is the Orangewood. Not sure if you've ever reviewed any of Harley Benton Acoustics, while we're on the topic of budget acoustics. If not, have you considered reviewing one? Some of them are Solid Top acoustic guitars, and they're priced very low. Thanks once again for your great reviews.
segull!!! they make amazing guitars for the money! most are turned off by their headstocks, but they are rad and sound 10x their price point.
Playability is really critical for someone buying at this price point. Many times they are new players. When I started I did not notice the neck profile, but did notice the string action. String action also will really help with the newer students learning barre chords!
Idea for next shoot-out: P-90 guitars under $1,000
Blueridge guitars are incredible for the money as well.. Ive had my first cheap Br40 beat countless number of friends high end and vintage Martins,Taylors, and Gibsons tracking for sessions
I'd like to see another acoustic shoot-out, but for people just starting out and with >very< limited budgets!
There are treasures to be found at your local pawn shop. That's your best bet in the sub $400 range.
There are several solid top guitars floating around out there at around $200. This was unheard of a couple decades ago. The issue that I think you'll find with them though is quality control. That seems to be what you lose with the budget guitars. Orangewood has a well-reviewed guitar called the Oliver at around $200 without a pickup.
This is cool... wasn't expecting the Orangewood to sound so good... My fav's, Oragewood, Walden and Fender.
Good comparison video. The Orangewood also sounded the best overall in my opinion. I had heard that they made a very good guitar for the money. The "shoot out" concept is something you should consider as a series.
Great idea you have hear...just wish you kept the head of each guitar in the pic frame throughout so it makes it easier to know which guitar your playing each time
All four sounded nice but to my surprise Epiphone guitar had best sound from my phone, followed by Orangewood Walden then Fender.
It would be interesting to pick the cheapest one of the four (I assume the Epi Hummingbird) and have it setup, get a new saddle and bone nut on it. It might still remain the cheapest and people report a very noticeable improvement.
You should do more reviews like this. Great job! A review from a pro hard working musician is the best thing to have.
Can’t believe the Fender sounds better than the Epi
Cool video!
Orangewood would be my choice too. I thought it sounded the best.
Good looking too!
However 500$ is already quite a price! My first real guitar was less than 200$.
A Yamaha FG720, if I remember correctly.
I own a Gibson J45 now (which I love). But I still remember that Yamaha fondly.
She sounded really nice and never felt like a cheap guitar.
I would buy the Orangewood. The Walden was great also.
Yeah the Orangewoods are good. I wonder if Gibson has some entry level models. I would check out, Acepro, Airline, Alvarez, Anderson (electric tho), Balaguer(electric), B.C. rich, Breedlove, Carvin, Charvel(electric), Cordoba, Cort(electric) Crafter, D'Angelico, Dean, De Rosa, Eastman, Eastwood, Ernie Ball, Esteban, EVH, Freidman, Framus, Fever, Hagstrom, Harley Benton, Hofner, Hohner, Gretsch, Godin, Grote, Guild, Ibanez, Indie, Jay Turser, Jackson, Jennings (electric), Kay, Kramer, Luna, Mayones, Ovation, Palir, Paul Reed Smith, Rouge, Strandberg, Washburn, Yamaha, and Zager. if you've made it this far good job. Time for Amps and, Pedals lol.
Robert Finch I have been playing D’Angelico! Really do like it!!!
I recently did some extensive shopping, and the Epiphone Hummingbird made it onto my short list. But I ended up buying a Mitchell MX430 with the "quilted ash" body. $479 at Guitar Center. I'm no expert, but to me, it really stood out from the crowd: sounded good, and felt very comfortable in my hands. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. Thanks!