everben14 - Posted - 08/14/2020:  16:35:39

I've been looking into getting the Blueridge 160A. Any other bluegrass guitars that can compete?

Texasbanjo - Posted - 08/15/2020:  04:48:43

How about a used Martin? Might check around and see what some of them sell for. I believe there's several on the Banjohangout that you can look at.

Jim Yates - Posted - 09/02/2020:  10:48:23

I'd look at Eastman as well.

IrishPicker - Posted - 09/04/2020:  18:47:21

Yamaha Fg5's are FANTASTIC!! they sound a wholoe lot like the guitar in this video youtube.com/watch?v=cBGkhPx529g warm yet also have airy trebles.. $1200 last i checked, the budget one is the FG3 for about $799, very similiar tone, though no bone nut!

Dick Hauser - Posted - 09/06/2020:  14:05:25

I had sold my Santa Cruz guitar and quit playing because of a physical problem. I decided to start playing again. My main instrument is the 5 string banjo so I didn't want to spend around $4 - 5K for another Santa Cruz. I had owned Eastman stringed instruments, and thought highly of them. So, I purchased an Eastman E-10D TC. I bought my guitar from Soundpure and had no problems. The performance of the guitar exceeded my expectations.
It cost me just a little over $1300 and they paid shipping.

The guitar is modeled after the Martin D18. The woods may not be quite as good as the D18, but the Eastman is quite a big cheaper. Be sure to give on a try.

JamesP - Posted - 10/13/2020:  06:02:37

I use the Martin Streetmaster and absolutely love it. I wound maybe give it try. I also usually like takamines.

lucabbedirectory - Posted - 12/09/2020:  21:35:02

Expensive guitars are more durable and have better tones unlike cheaper ones because they only use low-quality wood. 

https://bestlocalcitations.com/

68d28 - Posted - 12/10/2020:  15:49:11

These are all powerhouses for the price, and you can’t shop from a better store than Banjo Ben! Seriously - these guitars are going to play and sound like one 2-3x their price. From someone who has owned and played guitars of many price ranges, I know his guitars are a real deal that won’t break your budget.

store.banjobenclark.com/collec...60-guitar

store.banjobenclark.com/collec...6d-guitar

store.banjobenclark.com/collec...ic-guitar

Swerve - Posted - 02/15/2021:  19:37:13

quote:

---

Originally posted by JamesP

I use the Martin Streetmaster and absolutely love it. I wound maybe give it try. I also usually like takamines.

---

Do you play the D or 000 model? Considering buying one. Also curious if have gotten any marks on it from no pick guard?

tleek - Posted - 02/21/2021:  10:39:37

I realize this thread was posted back in August, but I was in the same boat you were in a brought a new guitar home a couple of days ago.



I was set on a Martin 000-15 or one of the 000-16/17s, maybe a 000-18 if I could find a deal on a used one. I have gone back and forth on picking up a 15 series Martin for maybe 10 years. I went to a small local shop that used to always have 15 series Martins stocked, but they recently dropped Martin and are focusing on Taylor’s.



I added a used 000-15 and a used 000-16 to my cart in guitar centers website.



I went to another local shop to see what they had before ordering online. I played a couple of Larrivees I really liked and then picked up a Yamaha FS5. Part of their Red Label “reissue”. I immediately fell in love with it. It just felt perfect to me and I was blown away by the sound. The action was perfect, the finish was flawless, the tone was warm with great bass and a good mid range. Not as sparkly as a Taylor, but it still had some decent highs.



I play more old time and folk than bluegrass and wanted the smaller body, but they had a couple of the FG5s as well. They also felt and sounded amazing.



For whatever reason, I associate Yamaha with dirt bikes and cheap guitars, so I didn’t buy it right away. I’ve never owned a Martin but was set on getting one because all of them I have played have been amazing and because I associate them with old fashioned american music. Maybe it’s marketing, maybe it’s their heritage, maybe it’s monkey see monkey do, I don’t know, I just wanted a Martin.



But I kept thinking of the little FS5 and decided it’s more important to me to support an awesome local guy than it is to show loyalty to a brand I’ve never owned. Specially when that guitar just felt so right to me. I went back that afternoon and picked it up, and haven’t regretted it. It honestly feels and sounds, to me, better than almost any guitar I can remember playing.



Sorry for the story book of a first post. I recommend checking out the new Red Label guitars. I didn’t play any of the Chinese ones but the Japanese ones are just awesome and I’m sure the FG5 would make a great bluegrass guitar for around $1200 bucks.

Edited by - tleek on 02/21/2021 10:45:45

Hilly Strings - Posted - 02/21/2021:  13:16:55

Nothing wring with Yamaha, very underestimated in my opinion. Everyone I have picked up sounded great. Bought a dreadnaught a few years ago for £350.00 and then decided to sell it on as it wasn't my style at the time. IRW and Spruce had to let it fo for £250.00 in the end. I should have kept hold of it.

Hilly Strings - Posted - 02/21/2021:  13:17:57

PS - Try and find a L00 shape, middle of the road or a Small Jumbo

JamesP - Posted - 05/11/2021:  11:33:31

What are the top brands you guys recommend in this price range? I've been considering buying something like this myself.

Cheers -

James

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JamesP - Posted - 10/07/2021:  11:40:07

I just bought a used les paul in this price range and I couldn't be more pumped. If you rove around on craigslist you'll eventually find some fantastic deals.

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Vognell - Posted - 10/14/2021:  11:19:53

Just picked up an Alvarez Masterworks MD60BG (D-18 style with mahogany back and sides) for about $700, and the MD70EBG (D-28 style with rosewood back and sides and L.R. Baggs Element VTC pickup) for about $1000. 1 3/4" nut-width (like a Martin), bone nut and saddle, herringbone binding and rosette, crystal clear, thin polyurethane finish. Neck feels great, and they sound very similar to the Martin guitars (J.P. Cormier did a blind comparison between the MD60 and a Clarence White D28.. A significant number surveyed prefered the Alvarez). I like my MD70, but the MD60 is one of the best sounding guitars I have ever played... punchy, lush, and sustaining all at once... the sound envelops you like a warm hug. If you get a chance to try one out, give it a shot. They're great guitars, not just great "for the money".

JamesP - Posted - 12/02/2021:  16:58:09

Nice! I might try out one of those Alvarez guitars

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