Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:17 pm
Short answer:
With $300, I’d buy used. If I couldn’t find a nicked up higher end guitar at a super bargain, I would also look at Ovation, Yamaha, Alverez, and (possibly) Epiphone.
Long answer:
With a $300.00 budget, I wouldn’t be looking at a new guitar. I would look for something that is used and has a few nick, bumps, bruises, and memory marks that tend to bring the price down drastically (I prefer quality over looks). If you take your time, and watch carefully, I wouldn’t be surprised if you could leverage your budget into a good used one that originally sold for over $1,000 – 1,500 without too many compromises, especially in our current economy.
I have an Ovation Legend (deep bowl) that I bought in 1973 and still play. It is a fine sounding/playing instrument and very durable. I have seen similar on ebay selling in the $200 - $300 range. A few weeks ago, I played a Yamaha at a friend’s house and that was very nice. I don’t know what model it was, but it was similar in shape to a Martin OM. Action was very good, sound was good, it seemed well constructed, and was in very good condition. He had traded an electric bass valued at $200 for it.
I have played other Yamahas and brands such as Alverez and Epiphone. Those that I tried could have used adjustments to the action, but I have seen that with other higher end brands, too. It always seems that this aspect (action) is always a crap shoot when you get a guitar and I tend to assume that I will be hiring a luthier to do this when I find the one in which I am interested. But that’s just me.
Just to qualify myself, I have owned higher end Martins, Gallagher, Adamas, and lean toward spending more, but I wouldn’t turn my nose up at any of the brands that you are contemplating. Some of my most fun times have been spent sitting around campfires banging out songs on a $50 special.
Good luck . . . . and remember . . . . . sometimes the quest is more fun than the actual acquisition.